PetCool vs "Plan b"

[Pdbeta]

The trips over, the bills are paid, and the Air Conditioning fiasco of last years trip has been eliminated.

"Princess", the wife, can only "travel" August/Schoolmarm, luv's the TD.
XC we go!

Recap:
Last year, '08, trip 2, we took our 6 wide LG XC and ran into temps exceeding 105 degree's in Utah.
The '07 PetCool, the cute little AC unit that "could", that had never failed to cool us (up to 93 degree's) up and froze, into a PupCicle.

Till we got to cooler climes some five daze later we nearly died.

Returning home:
I combed every post I could find here? Window units, Home made units, ducting, insulation, the works?


Solution:
removed the headliner and used foil-foam-foil insulation followed up by normal and cheap 1 inch styrofoam. Covered the insulation with cedar planking from Lowe's. (see album)

Months pass, Spring '09 comes, summer's here, nothing else done?
Two days prior to this years trip (3) / Panic?


Desperate now!

Back to Lowes, buy one half sheet of oak over substrate 1/2" plywood.
Make a cardboard template of one of the two LG door frames.
Cut cardboard to fit now open door.
Transfer design to plywood and jigsaw the "door dam".

Run to Walmart / buy the cheapest GE AC window unit in the place. Measure case and cut hole in plywood door dam.
Too late to stain and finish off nice so. . .
So two coats of Sear's Weather Beater/ satin finish white inside and out.

Used "cutout" for the AC shelf.
Rip a piece of 1 by 3 to support AC shelf .
Looks not so good, but does hold AC in door.

Go to Ace Hardware,
buy 4 small door bolts, slide kind, to hold dam w/AC in the door fast. Luck, holds the AC in the hole.
Hey, we're under a "time gun" here!

Result:
Upon leaving Yellowstone, some eight daze into the month long trip we slam head long into 107 degree heat in Yuma, AZ.
Oye (techincal term) Ouch!

Bypass Petcool (also in TV) Go to & use "Plan b".

The thermo device in the 6 wide said 98 degree's one minute, and twenty nine minutes later . . .
Heaven on Earth!
Fifty eight degrees, and dropping!

OUTSTANDING !


From prior posts and discussions i knew if we left a window, or the roof vent, open a smidgeon (techinical measurement) the window AC unit might cycle on & off and dehumidify.
You guys out there, are brilliant!

Princess thinks i'm a brain Sturgeon!
We froze our Asprins off!

Utterly Fantastic!
"Plan b" You da man!


Cost:
Walmart GE AC $106.83,
Lowes plywood & furring strip $ 47.00,
Ace hardware $11.50,
Conmfort Level
PRICELESS

Can't wait till next summah!
Trip 4 Death Valley here we come!
P

[mikeschn]

In simple English...

5000 BTU window units are the only way to go!!!



Mike...

[caseydog]

I agree with Mike. And, I like the way he mounted his in the roof.

CD

[aggie79]

Good to hear that Plan B worked.

I bought a PetCool but am concerned it won't cut the heat. I plan to install it in the tongue box which will allow me to go to Plan B if it doesn't work. My plan A is to do PetCool surgery to make it a recirculating system only and adding a return air fan) since I've already made that investment.

[wlooper89]

I also have the PetCool already and have been planning to build a slide-out for it on the side of the trailer under the galley shelf. I would like to be able to substitute a Walmart type window unit in the same opening if the PetCool does not do the job. So now I am wondering whether it is possible to make an opening for the slidout that would accomodate either unit. One advantage of the PetCool is that it will also make heat in cold weather.

Bill

[Pdbeta]

Bill,
Not to rain on the parade, but I found using the PC on heat mode difficult to regulate.
I found however that a fifteen dollar Wally World ceramic heater w/tip over cut off, about the size of a ceral box, to be superior. That also works flawlessly.

Note to other PC users/potential buyers:
I have met and sought out other TD PC users, most of us having cooling "problems" have the 6 wide models, large volume campers. In extreme heat conditions it can be, well, its somewhat problematic.
Our PC worked, and still does great, to about 93 degree's. We do camp August in the Southwest. So if you do not, you will/may be satisfied.

It's not so much the product but the application and location. "Plan B" is just that, another way to acheive a "cool" result w/o cutting a store bought camper. And saving some $$$.

[Arne]

The way I built my t/d, the pc was was the best choice. However, it is doing a marginal job regulating the a/c temp, but it is livable. I carry it in the galley, and move it to the front/outside when in use. That part I like.

I agree that a box heater will heat the t/d, but the heat tends to stratify, very warm by the ceiling, cooler around my head when lying down.

I've yet to try the heat function of the pc, but will probably use a box heater anyway, but would like to 'stir up the air' with an additional ceiling fan. I may disable the fantastic shut off switch and use that on low speed, since I've done the resistor mod and it runs very slowly on low.

So, for now, the convenience of storing and using the pc is an advantage, but if someone can go with a built in window shaker, I'd say that is the way to go...

If my pc craps out some day, I'll mod a window unit with a manifold so it can be used outside and save a couple hundred dollars.

final comment, the pc does work, but it isn't the 100% solution I thought it would be.

[Shadow Catcher]

Yep we bumped up against PC limitations and I am now working on plan B. The 5000btu Frigidaire I picked up for 50$ (return at Lowe's) now has a plenum on the front with 4" hoses (easy to come by as opposed to 60mm very hard to come by for the PC"). I am having 4" deck plates put in the MM.
To control the PCoid 5000 I found a digital Johnson Control thermostat (Indstrial) that feeds/controls 110 that will be wired into the PCoid. the great thing about this is that it will also work with the Pelonis I will be getting for heat.
The set up I have for the fans, Antec case fans, works to recirculate and destratify the air with the vent closed. (pics in the album)

[Ageless]

WallyWorld has (3) 5000 BTU units; Haier, Daewoo and Fridgidare, based on the experiences here; which is the best pick?

[chorizon]

What's with all of those 'out of context' words?

Looks like 'Ol Spammie-Joe snuck in the back door...

[starleen2]

What's with all of those 'out of context' words?

Looks like 'Ol Spammie-Joe snuck in the back door...

Some creative editing at work Glad you got cooled down

[Pdbeta]

Ageless,
In our area we had two of the three brands you mentioned. I bought "GE" you may want the Frigidaire.
All of them are chinese made. My engineer friend told me its how there spec'd that may make a difference in longevity.

[Russ in California]

These are all shore powered, right?
If so, what happens when you're camped and don't have shore power?
Anyone use a 12V swamp cooler? Not to hijack...

[Pdbeta]

Yes, there all shore powered.
No 110v?
Then crank up the Fantasic Vent and then change locations.
Other's may use a generator(OK in some National Parks p/t).
P

[Arne]

I have a pet cool. I would not bother spending the money on it again. A cheap a/c and a little heater is a better deal...