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InsideOut · 06-12-2005, 01:38 PM

I plan on removing it during travel so it will not be under any load...again, we will only use it once a year...at most, not worth the extra expense of Lexan IMO. If it fails sooner than we think, we may consider Lexan on the next go around...right now, it's a temporary fix to an immediate need for A/C in MO next week.

Shari

eljay · 06-12-2005, 04:21 PM

Yes, Shari, you'll need AC in Missouri and a dehumidifier!

It's 85 here today and humidity is 73%...and I'm NORTH of the international location. It's usually a bit warmer and muggier there

.

I bought one of those portable units several years ago for daughter at college. We use it in our bedroom. Ours is AC/dehumidifier/heat. Thinking of using it in Icky when the occasion arises.

InsideOut · 06-12-2005, 04:30 PM

Ours has a dehumidifier too...no heat though. Too chilly (58-degrees) to test it out here today, it's been raining off and on all day. It runs fine...we did have to rewire an outlet for the three prong plug first though...no problemo!

Shari

balrgn · 06-12-2005, 04:38 PM

Nice venting, Have you considered venting through the furnace? Exploring that avenue..........
I actually ordered one yesterday. Figure it was versatile enough when not camping to use it in the hours or our camp in the mountains.

InsideOut · 06-12-2005, 04:57 PM

There is actually a cabinet behind the heater...the heater is only about 4" deep. We wanted to be as non-effecting (is that a word?) as possible so we could remove it and nobody would ever know it was there. I'm sure there is a way to use the heater flue though...but then you would have to have a cap or something for when the A/C is not in use...which for us is 99% of the time.

Shari

Over59 · 06-12-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Here's the pix I promised...looks like it's going to work out fine, it does hang into the aisle about 5", but there is still plenty of room to get around it. Again, we only need the A/C occaisionally as most of our trips are in the mountains where the temps rarely get high enough to warrant a full-time permanent A/C.

The screen is replaced with a 1/4" piece of plexi-glass with the vent routed into it. When the A/C is not in use, the screen can be easily replaced.

Shari

Real nice node with swapping out the screen.

balrgn · 06-12-2005, 05:44 PM

I got the 10,000 BTU on order, Will look at the furnace, Have to block off the second vent. If not I like the way you went!

uwe · 06-12-2005, 07:43 PM

Using the refrigerator vent might work for some applications. Or, providing a small duct through the floor in an inconspicous place, that has screen on teh belly pan side, and a removable cover in the interior

muddy_hollow · 06-13-2005, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balrgn

I got the 10,000 BTU on order, Will look at the furnace, Have to block off the second vent. If not I like the way you went!

What was the model you ordered and how much was it? I'm thinking about a similar set-up.

Doug

balrgn · 06-13-2005, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddy_hollow

What was the model you ordered and how much was it? I'm thinking about a similar set-up.

Doug

I got a 10.000 BTU AC only @
http://www.priceground.com/su10poaircod.html

Model: WA-1010E(cooling only)
Memorial Day SALE: $329.00 I think shipping was $50

driftwood · 06-13-2005, 07:52 AM

Did you get the pewter colored one to match the Airstream?

Hit'nMiss · 07-14-2005, 09:36 AM

So how did the portable AC unit work at the Intl Rally Shari?

and Inland Andy could you please comment on the Carrier Drip Pan confusion that I refer to in post # 29 ?

swebster · 07-14-2005, 10:05 AM

That split unit is really interesting. We have one in our conference room and it cools a 20 x 30 x 14 room loaded with six people in the 90 degree summer and heats it in the 30 degree winter. Ours is a bigger unit but same concept is really interesting in an AS.

I have to admint however, it's purely vanity that is keeping my interest in a basement air solution. I just can't stand the look of those two roof units on top of what is an otherwise clean roofline on our mh.

Inland RV Center, In · 07-14-2005, 10:54 AM

HitnMiss

Originally, we had planned on making a drip pan for the Carriers.

The more we got into it, the more we decided that there must be a better way.

We then tested a unit, that we had slightly modified.

It worked great, which negated the need for any "drip pan".

We simply drilled a hole at the bottom of the water "catch basin", attached a fitting, and then hooked it up to the trailer AC drain hose.

The fan blade that Carrier uses is a "slinger type". The water would normally gather in the catch basin, until it reached the fan blade, which in turn, would "sling it" onto the hot coil, which in turn, would cause most of the water to evaporate, which also assisted in turning the hot freon gas, back into a liquid.

After the modification, the water could no longer reach the slinger fan blade, but simply drain out.

During high humidity extremes, the slinger setup, would not always get rid of all the water, which then caused the water to run down the sides of an Airstream. With the small modification, that problem was eliminated.

Admittedly, by not allowing the water to assist in the cooling of the "condensing coil", some cooling efficiency was sacrificed.

We determined that sacrifice, was minimal, and had no real easily measured effect on the overall operation of the AC.

Andy

TomW · 07-14-2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

..Admittedly, by not allowing the water to assist in the cooling of the "condensing coil", some cooling efficiency was sacrificed.

We determined that sacrifice, was minimal, and had no real easily measured effect on the overall operation of the AC.

Andy,

I would think the sacrifice would be minimal, also.

I have not seen the innards of the unit you are working on, but would it be possible to modify the fitting screwed into the hole you drilled so that it would act like an overflow tube? The idea is similar to what is in a home toilet's tank.

With that mod, you would get your cooling assist, and ensure water does not run down the side of the Airstream.

Just a thought,
Tom

InsideOut · 07-14-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HitnMiss

So how did the portable AC unit work at the Intl Rally Shari?

and Inland Andy could you please comment on the Carrier Drip Pan confusion that I refer to in post # 29 ?

Well...it worked as well as I expected.

It lowered the inside temp about 15/20-degrees lower during the heat of the day and very noticably reduced the humidity. It was in the mid-90's mid-day outside and the trailer felt great compared to that, however we didn't spend much time inside during the day. It was able to cool it down to 65-degrees at night for sleeping.

The portable A/C did take up valuable floor space and made the trailer feel a bit smaller...but I was glad we had it overall.

Fred (47 WeeWind) with the same model/year trailer had a smaller BTU wall unit temporarily installed in his front window which seemed to work just as well if not better. I think having the portable's exhaust tube routed inside the trailer to the window was less effecient than the window mount where it could exhaust directly outside.

Shari

Hit'nMiss · 07-14-2005, 12:48 PM

How about the noiseiness Shari?

I suppose it is a bit loud since it's all indoors. But is it so loud that conversation and say TV watching/hearing is or would be no longer pleasurable?

InsideOut · 07-14-2005, 01:02 PM

I don't have a TV in our trailer...so I can't say whether it would drown it out. We also don't entertain much inside...mostly under the awning outdoors. The noise was there, but it wasn't too bad...most nights we left it on as white-noise to sleep by. I'm sure the noise level would vary from manufacturer to manufacuter and model to model.

Shari

balrgn · 07-19-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

I don't have a TV in our trailer...so I can't say whether it would drown it out. We also don't entertain much inside...mostly under the awning outdoors. The noise was there, but it wasn't too bad...most nights we left it on as white-noise to sleep by. I'm sure the noise level would vary from manufacturer to manufacuter and model to model.

Shari

Ours came in a while back, but have not puti it in the camper yet. It is set up in the Master bedroom in the house. 10,000 BTU's keeps it nice and cool.

It is louder than I had expected but not anoying......

fun2bethad · 10-25-2005, 02:50 PM

I've had great luck with a portable AC unit in my 65 Caravel. It's positioned in the shower well and drains right into the shower. When traveling, I stack my pillows and blankets around it to keep it from jostling around. It is the perfect solution for keeping the look vintage. I bought the thickest piece of acrylic I could get and cut vent holes in it. It's a great solution.l