A/C problems

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Postby steve smoot » Mon May 24, 2010 3:44 pm

Thanks Larwyn,

Your pictures are very helpful, as well as your explanation of how and why you did what you did.

The more I see and hear, the better I learn. If you just tell me once, I don't get it.. :?

I'm thinking my idea is now going to work very well. I will install the AC under the bed, add a grille to the right of the AC, put an access in the bottom for the supply air, and vent the exhaust up and over to the side.

I like the idea of letting it exhaust straight back, but mine is on the front and I'm not sure I want a trap door on the front? I'll think about it some more.

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Postby caseydog » Mon May 24, 2010 5:09 pm

The way Larwyn let's his condensor blow off hot air his is pretty common, too -- at least in Texas. Some people even do it that way on front mounted AC unit. I thought about it, but got too worried about leaks while driving at highway speeds in the rain. Besides, I wanted my AC unit "invisible" from the outside.

Like Lawryn, I like a mix of fresh air in my sleeping cabin, so I leave my side windows open about an inch with the AC running. Fresh air comes in, and the AC runs enough to take down the humidity.

Same basic concept, but two different ways to get it done.

At the end of the day, all AC units have two airflow paths. One fan on the cabin side of the unit circulates cabin air across an evaporator coil to cool the cabin. Another fan on the "outside" side of the unit circulates air over the condenser coil to remove heat.

Steve, from your description, it sounds like what you plan to do should work just fine.

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Postby steve smoot » Mon May 24, 2010 6:35 pm

Thanks everyone for your imput.

Caseydog, I would appreciate the name/ part number for the vent cover. I like that black one you have.

Take care. Oh and I posted some pictures from the Southeast Spring campout at Raccoon Hollar this past weekend. They let me visit for a while Saturday afternoon.

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Postby dh » Mon May 24, 2010 7:29 pm

bobhenry wrote:Man a quadruple post not just everyone can do that !


WOW!


Ya, that happens sometimes when I'm mobile. I usually clean up after myself when that hapens, but it wouldn't give me the delete post button, just the edit button :lol:
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Postby dh » Mon May 24, 2010 7:33 pm

Larwyn wrote:Image


Larwyn, what did you use in the floor where the water runs out of the AC?
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Postby Larwyn » Mon May 24, 2010 8:01 pm

dh wrote:
Larwyn, what did you use in the floor where the water runs out of the AC?


That is a drain strainer/basket intended for a wet bar sink, it works with 1 1/4" drain pipe, which really helps to keep the floor dry. I usually raise the tongue well above level when breaking camp to allow the A/C to thoroughly drain before hitting the road.

I used the same type of strainer/basket on the drip pan that I made for my h/v bandsaw. I do not remember the size hole saw that I used but it was one that I already had around, so is probably a common size...... :thumbsup:

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Postby caseydog » Mon May 24, 2010 8:13 pm

steve smoot wrote:Thanks everyone for your imput.

Caseydog, I would appreciate the name/ part number for the vent cover. I like that black one you have.

Take care. Oh and I posted some pictures from the Southeast Spring campout at Raccoon Hollar this past weekend. They let me visit for a while Saturday afternoon.

Steve


I got my vents at West Marine. They were not black, but I sanded them and painted them flat black.

BTW, my AC unit does not have a drain. It has a pan, and the fan blowing over the condenser is supposed to evaporate condensation. So far, it has worked fine. I'm not sure how it would work in New Orleans, or some other place with extreme humidity. In North Texas and Oklahoma, it works just fine.

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Postby dh » Mon May 24, 2010 8:50 pm

caseydog wrote:
BTW, my AC unit does not have a drain. It has a pan, and the fan blowing over the condenser is supposed to evaporate condensation. So far, it has worked fine. I'm not sure how it would work in New Orleans, or some other place with extreme humidity. In North Texas and Oklahoma, it works just fine.

CD


:lol: :lol: My GF has window ACs in her place. I put the one in her livingroom in this season AFTER installing all the others in the house and enjoying a few brews, and put it in incorectly, the back was higher than the front and the water ran all over the floor. In my neck of the woods, high humidity is the norm
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Postby bdosborn » Mon May 24, 2010 9:57 pm

I built mine into the front cabinet. The AC is on drawer slides and the hot end sticks out a baggage door.

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Postby asianflava » Tue May 25, 2010 2:15 am

This is what my unit sits in, a pan built into the shelf sealed with epoxy and cloth. My unit came with a nipple that presses into a hole at the bottom. I ran a piece of tubing directly from the nipple to the drain. I also added another drain at the other corner in case the campsite wasn't level.

The bottom of the a/c housing acts like a pan preventing the condensation from running to the drain. Due to the bend in the sheetmetal, the drain nipple isn't as far down as I'd like. There could be a 1/4in of water in the a/c unit before it starts to run out the drain. I should have drilled some holes in the bottom of the a/c unit so that water can run out.

BTW: the black plastic vent is just laying there, it mounts to the rear wall which isn't installed in the photo. I used the same vents for intake and exhaust.

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Postby steve smoot » Tue May 25, 2010 3:08 pm

Okay, I made the first move and bought the AC.

Amazon.com had a small Frigidaire unit for $109.99 I signed up for their Visa and got $40 off that price and they gave me free shipping. So, I got it delivered for $69.99. :applause:

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Postby caseydog » Tue May 25, 2010 3:12 pm

steve smoot wrote:Okay, I made the first move and bought the AC.

Amazon.com had a small Frigidaire unit for $109.99 I signed up for their Visa and got $40 off that price and they gave me free shipping. So, I got it delivered for $69.99. :applause:

Steve


Good deal. :thumbsup:

Mine is a Fridgidaire 5,000 BTU. It is quieter than the Kenmore I had in my last TD. I think I paid $89 plus tax at Lowes for mine.

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Postby asianflava » Tue May 25, 2010 5:08 pm

I bought mine offseason for $79 at Lowe's. It just happened to be the time when I needed it. If you look at them, Goldstar, Haier, GE, Hampton Breeze they are all the same. I'll bet that they all come from the same Chinese factory then get stamped with different names later. Regardless of it's origin, mine has run like a champ.
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