Just fitted a 1hp Teco household air coan unit to my van. The unit cost me $617 and $350 to fit. Did some of the work myself like mounting the external unit where the spare wheel was (about the same weight) and now need to remount the spare wheel. When this thing is really pumping you cannot hear it going, the only way you know its going is the cold air coming out of it. A small noise can be heard if you stand right next to it. Wish the one in the house was as quiet. Had people visit with caravan ones and they are seriously thinking of removing them and fitting one.
cheers
blaze
-- Edited by blaze on Sunday 5th of February 2012 07:46:01 PM
I'm on my second split system, this time with inverter, so it's even quieter, without the jump in and out. The internal unit is a little bigger but still fits where the old one was. Cost me $1200 supply and fit the 1.5 HP unit.
This pic is the original unit.
-- Edited by Cruising Granny on Sunday 5th of February 2012 08:58:54 PM
hi blaze, that is FANTASTIC. we have to get our air con serviced soon and i am concerned about the serviceman getting on the roof. your idea is FANTASTIC and a much better option than putting a hole in the roof. u rock. rocket n strop
No cover ever. They're designed to be outside. I don't go on too much dirt except road works, driveways and the road to my daughter's house on Yorke Peninsula. Everything is actually well-sealed except the fan, and you can take it off to clean it and lubricate if you feel the need. It is important to keep the internal filters clean though. Just sweep them off regularly and give them a wash a couple of times a year. Make sure the outlet hose is clear for the water to drain from the overhead unit. I recently had a major leak inside my van because something blocked the hose. All fixed now.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Friends of our did the same thing with the air con in there van worked wonderfully, this was about seven years ago all they got a lot of visitors looking at it in the parrks
Mine has created a bit of interest wherever I've gone. I had the idea when I saw one on the back of a Coaster bus. Now I've seen quite a few on vans as well. I'm on my second one. The first one was 5 years old and went to Aircon heaven.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
First time i saw that set-up, was at woomera caravan park 2 years ago. It was 44 Deg and we were battling with our standard air-con. went into the old travellers van with the domestic set-up, and it was like an iceblock, decided then and there when my air/con packs up, that is the way i will go
CG and blaze, can you advise me are the units reverse cycle ?? 'ie' cold and heat ?? and also can they be started and run with a Honda 2.0i
Hi Dazren Mine is 1hp and even with the start up load my 2kva gennie should run it, untested as yet. Also it is an invertor type that appently have a soft start )take less power to start. It is split cycle- heat as well as cool cheers blaze
Friends of our did the same thing with the air con in there van worked wonderfully, this was about seven years ago all they got a lot of visitors looking at it in the parrks
I forgot to mention they had there's fitted to the front of the van
Hello Gerty, they are not very heavy, about the same as a spare wheel, and lots of people carry 2 spare wheels on the back bumper, It's really all about the strength of the bar, and also Balance of load, and if you have plenty of 'ball weight up your sleeve, all can be compensated.
I am surprised that one of the caravan manufacturers has not got onto this idea as yet, as with the old technology that dometic and Ibis use, there seems to be around 30% 'satisfied' and 70% not 'satisfied users. especially when we have really hot weather, the old technology seems useless
I think it will grow in popularity, especially if the Honda will run it, dazren
A good one Blaze! I tried all the brands to do the same thing, but our poptop doesn't have anywhere long enough to fit any of the inside units. So I fitted a Truma underbunk. The whole thing comes cased in hard foam and the loudest noise from it is the sound of the air coming through the registers. From outside, you have to be right next to the van before you can hear anything.