Another @*%! Air Conditioner Question

[caseydog]

Okay, I bought this $99 AC form Sears, and now I gotta figure out how to mount it in my Little Guy, or take it back.

find sears clicky

One idea, that puts it out of my way in my small sleeping quarters, is to mount it though the bulkhead wall between the cabin and galley. But then, I would need to vent the galley for heat to escape with the lid down. I only plan to use this AC to sleep. I won't be in the cabin much during the day, unless the weather forces me inside.

Another option is through a wall, but I'm not crazy about that.

Will the heat from this thing be too much for the galley? Will I need huge vents for that heat? Am I nuts to even try this thing?

CD

[Chuck Craven]

Set the AC on the ground next to the TD. Make a sheet metal duct over the AC’s cool air output. Then use a 4” drier flexible duct to a hole in the floor or through the galley bulkhead. That way in the spring or fall when it is cooler you don’t have to carry it along.
If you search there is several that have done it that way and have posted pictures.

Chuck

[Jiminsav]

CD,make a second door away from where you normally sleep and mount the A/C to it, and when you need it, just change doors.

[sdtripper2]

Okay, I bought this $99 AC form Sears, and now I gotta figure out how to mount it in my Little Guy, or take it back.

find Sears here Clicky

One idea, that puts it out of my way in my small sleeping quarters, is to mount it though the bulkhead wall between the cabin and galley. But then, I would need to vent the galley for heat to escape with the lid down. I only plan to use this AC to sleep. I won't be in the cabin much during the day, unless the weather forces me inside.

Another option is through a wall, but I'm not crazy about that.

Will the heat from this thing be too much for the galley? Will I need huge vents for that heat? Am I nuts to even try this thing?

CD

***
caseydog:

A/C is an subject that has lots of ideas.
Here are a few that may help you think inside and outside the box?

Get the A/C in cause in the summer you will thank goodness you got it.


Here are some novel Ideas of the past:
Side tent air conditioner idea
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=9499
Two door method swing out A/C & set on ground and one pipe hole in:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=5136
Tongue & front install:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=12116
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=9041
Rear type install:
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 603#150603
Bob Osborn's in and out window install
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... 157#115157
Hide away A/C
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=7084

[Chuck Craven]

This is what I like, Mary K's Post is how I would do it.
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=14532

But I don’t have AC in my house and never had one in the tent when camping.
Now that I am older and well, it may it's time to have one in the TD.


Chuck

[Podunkfla]

Okay, I bought this $99 AC form Sears, and now I gotta figure out how to mount it in my Little Guy, or take it back.

One idea, that puts it out of my way in my small sleeping quarters, is to mount it though the bulkhead wall between the cabin and galley. But then, I would need to vent the galley for heat to escape with the lid down. I only plan to use this AC to sleep. I won't be in the cabin much during the day, unless the weather forces me inside.

Another option is through a wall, but I'm not crazy about that.

Will the heat from this thing be too much for the galley? Will I need huge vents for that heat? Am I nuts to even try this thing?

CD

Caseydog... Mounting it in the galley wall is not all that bad an idea... Lots of folks have done that. If you move it all the way to one side you can make an intake vent through the side wall and cover it with a nice aluminum vent cover. The other side vent should be closed off so all the intake air is coming from outside, it will still get plenty of air. The warm air that exits the rear condenser coil will have to go somewhere... But you could just leave the galley hatch cracked open a couple inches and it should do fine. The good thing is your thermostat will work and it will look good without boogering up your nice tear. Someone here has some pix of an install like this, I just don;t remember who?

[john]

To keep that old look on my tear I wanted to avoid all visible vents for the A/C. I also wanted a permanently mounted A/C. I'm too lazy for a non permanent setup. So I chose to vent through the floor.

Air enters the front set of holes and exits through the rear hole....









A/C fully hidden when the hatch is open and a view from the inside....


[/img]

[caseydog]

Caseydog... Mounting it in the galley wall is not all that bad an idea... Lots of folks have done that. If you move it all the way to one side you can make an intake vent through the side wall and cover it with a nice aluminum vent cover. The other side vent should be closed off so all the intake air is coming from outside, it will still get plenty of air. The warm air that exits the rear condenser coil will have to go somewhere... But you could just leave the galley hatch cracked open a couple inches and it should do fine. The good thing is your thermostat will work and it will look good without boogering up your nice tear. Someone here has some pix of an install like this, I just don;t remember who?

As long as the unit will not overheat in my galley, I'm fine with putting it there. I was thinking of putting it to one side, and putting a hole with a nice vent plate in the side near the compressor. I guess I'd need to deal with condensation watter, too. A simple pan with a plastic tube running out the bottom of the TD should deal with that.

I guess running inside a galley at night is no more likely to overheat the unit than running out in the open air on a hot Texas summer day. I just want to make sure that one vent in the galley would provide enough ventilation for the "outdoor" side of the AC unit.

Anyone else want to chime in on this method?

CD

[b.bodemer]

Jim's suggestion of the second door makes me think I might have a door insert, much like I've seen people do for their screens. I'd be set up under a 12' x12' shelter so the door could remain in it's open position and the insert idea could work real well....................

I'll only need ac sometimes so I'm looking for a temporary solution.
Great ideas have been posted in lots of past and recent threads.

Barb

[caseydog]

Well, I dove in and got it installed between the galley and the sleeping area. I just need to do some caulk and trim work to cover the gaps, and run a drain hose for condensation.

Here it is from the galley side, with two of the screwdrivers used during the installation.



And here is the inside view -- trim needed for those gaps.



I need to put a vent in the side of the TD for intacke of air to cool the AC workings, and I will probably put one of my fancy Mushroom Vents (plumbing vent cap and pipe) above the unit for hot air to escape.

[lcurrie]

I guess running inside a galley at night is no more likely to overheat the unit than running out in the open air on a hot Texas summer day.

Amen, my brother!

[Dooner]

Hey Caseydog,
You will need alot more vent to get that hot air out of there. You will need close to the same size as the coil at the back of the unit. There is an old thread that explains that. I'll search and post.


Found it. Read these.
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=4563&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[Podunkfla]

Hey Caseydog,
You will need alot more vent to get that hot air out of there. You will need close to the same size as the coil at the back of the unit. There is an old thread that explains that. I'll search and post.

Caseydog... Yeah, I agree with Dooner. You will not be able to dump all that heat into the galley area without a pretty good sized vent... or just cracking open the hatch, like I mentioned before. Of course, you could just run it like it is with the hatch open. John's vents from the bottom look interesting... Looks like a good idea to me.

I think I'm just gonna take the easy way out and build mine into the tongue box.

[caseydog]

Well, what if I force the air through the small vent with a vent fan? That should have a similar effect to a largervent, wouldn't it?

The way a Little Guy is made, the bottom vent idea wouldn't be practical.

I don't want a huge vent on my galley hatch, if I can help it.

leaving the galley open a bit, or all the way, is okay in some circumstances, but not in others.

I'm hoping a small vent with a fan will work. What do you think?

CD

[Miriam C.]

Seems to me what we need is some HVAC guidance on how much airflow we really need for small units that are enclosed. Must be a chart or maybe someone can get their home service person to give some guidance.