Air Conditioner: first one for my '75 Airstream Sovereign

[dennis82468]

Believe it or not..My 75 Airstream Sovereign has never had an air conditioner. It will be a must to add one. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good reliable air conditioner to install that I can buy new?

Thanks in advance!!!

[Melody Ranch]

Hi! First of all....get a 15,000 BTU. You won't regret that. If your not obsessive about the height of the top unit a Carrier or Coleman or Dometic are all OK. Individuals have preferences. Also, some Folks like the heat strip option on the AC. Your trailer should be prewired...search forums for that location. Also the drain line. Don't install an ac on an Airstream without a drainline to the street side of the body.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

Hi! First of all....get a 15,000 BTU. You won't regret that. If your not obsessive about the height of the top unit a Carrier or Coleman or Dometic are all OK. Individuals have preferences. Also, some Folks like the heat strip option on the AC. Your trailer should be prewired...search forums for that location. Also the drain line. Don't install an ac on an Airstream without a drainline to the street side of the body.

Carrier has been out of the RV business for several years, and no low profile units are currently available.

[Melody Ranch]

68RV15103A 99 00469 00 76 50096 00 Carrier RV Air Conditioner Kit | eBay

[daveswenson]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

68RV15103A 99 00469 00 76 50096 00 Carrier RV Air Conditioner Kit | eBay

“New in box. Sold as it with no warranty.”
This is being sold as is, new in box. These were purchased in March 2009. Operating condition is unknown. Purchased
for project that never materialized.

Also seller has 0 rating.


Beware!!

[lewster]

Originally Posted by lewster

Carrier has been out of the RV business for several years, and no low profile units are currently available.

.............FROM RELIABLE SOURCES

[cwf]

Originally Posted by lewster

.............FROM RELIABLE SOURCES

Yup..
I saw one on fleebay ... The picture was cropped to remove the former roof it was still attached to. Come to find out, it was from SOB which was caught in a tornado then was ripped from the trailer.

Of course they would take my money.

[nickmeloy]

Originally Posted by dennis82468

Believe it or not..My 75 Airstream Sovereign has never had an air conditioner. It will be a must to add one. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good reliable air conditioner to install that I can buy new?

Thanks in advance!!!

Do consider getting a heat pump model, rather than using heat strips for heating.

[shadrick5]

Originally Posted by nickmeloy

Do consider getting a heat pump model, rather than using heat strips for heating.

What is the difference between a heat pump model and a regular RV A/C?? Is one more efficient or cools better than the other on the cold side or on the heat side does one produce more heat than the heat strip model?? Thanks.

[arktos55343]

I have read in other threads that heat pumps are not very effective if you camp in weather with temps dipping below 40 degrees. They don't work very well in cooler climates. In a 31', it is likely that you would want a 15k a/c unit if you camp in warm climates. An added heat strip will probably take the chill off in the morning, but also probably would not be a good substitute for an actual furnace.

I have a '72 25' Trade Wind. I'm putting on a 13.5k lo-pro Penguine with a heat strip. If I decide I like camping in the winter, I will ad a furnace, a catalytic heater and/or supliment with some ceramic heaters. I don't like it too hot anyway.

[shadrick5]

We use the furnance almost every camp trip and are completely satisfied with that. I am looking to replace the A/C as it is shot in several ways and is original but am, frankly, confused with all the options available. I have settled on 15k and the Mach 8 but not certain whether the heat pump or the regular unit is what I need. Heat as an option when plugged in would be nice but not really a need

[lewster]

Originally Posted by shadrick5

What is the difference between a heat pump model and a regular RV A/C?? Is one more efficient or cools better than the other on the cold side or on the heat side does one produce more heat than the heat strip model?? Thanks.

A heat pump is actually an air conditioner running backwards. The efficiency and cooling capacity should be identical in a 15K heat pump and a 15K A/C only unit. The flow of the refrigerant is reversed with a 'reversing valve' at the compressor. When this happens, the normally cold evaporator (inside coil) that removes the heat from the inside air as it flows across it becomes the condenser.

The condenser (outside coil), which is hot when on A/C mode (ever stand next to a window A/C unit and feel the hot air coming out of it?) usually exhausts into the outside air. When on heat pump mode with the flow reversed, the inside coil becomes the condenser and the air coming across it from inside the trailer picks up heat and warms the trailer instead of cooling it. The outside coil (now the evaporator) is actually blowing cold air into the atmosphere.

Once you get below 40ºF outside ambient temperature, the outside coil that is now the evaporator can not operate to spec. and the unit will not produce any more heat inside the trailer.

If you are planning on using your trailer below 40ºF on a regular basis, be sure to have an auxiliary heating system like an LP furnace, catalytic heater or heat cube. I personally have found that heat strips are not worth their cost in that they only have the capacity to remove a bit of chill from the air and do not function well as a heat source. Better to get an A/C only unit and use the furnace. (just MY opinion on that)

[Belegedhel]

I saw above the note that "no low profiles are currently available." Dometic still makes the Penguin low profile ACs, and they are available from PPL.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Belegedhel

I saw above the note that "no low profiles are currently available." Dometic still makes the Penguin low profile ACs, and they are available from PPL.

That post referred to CARRIER low profile units ONLY.