I see earleier you posted a few pics of the inside of the AC with the shroud removed. Do you have any more Pics that you can share. I'd like to see if there is room in there for an Easystart. I see a lot of posts about Easystart and a lot of posts bout Houghton but don't see any about a Houghton with an Easystart installed.
BYU2BEACH - unfortunately I do not have any more pics. The pics I posted were stock pics from manufacturer when I was doing my own research. And since I abandoned the search due to our need for the A/C to be fully functional even whilest driving at 65-80mph, I have not searched further. Look for the ARV Youtube video and hopefully you will see enough details to make the determination. I distincly remember that video was very comprehensive with lots of close-ups.
If the ARV video does not answer your question, a call to Micro-Air should confirm. Their site does not list what model A/C their 364 fits in physically; electrically no reason to think it wont work.
M4 Aviation
I am interested in the long term (2+ year) experience to the installation you describe in post 101. Did the thick bead of silicone between the 'high spots' seal for the long term?
You mention needing to cut the high spots in order to use the upper mount? I envision the high spots being the roof ribs that are about 1 1/2" wide and stick up about 1/4". Is that correct? If so, wouldn't removing the high spots leave gaps in the roof where the high spots were? So in the area of these gaps the upper and lower mounts would be separated by a bead of silicone, rather than by the metal of the roof? How thick is the upper mount, and could you have notched it to fit over the high spots?
In a perverse sort of way I'm kinda looking forward to having my Dometic fail - can't really justify replacing a unit that works - given that we use it so little.
Check with DIYvan online, I believe they have a custom adapter that will give you a smooth flat surface.
2017 Interstate Lounge Ext
Mooresville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 19
Using Houghton AC while driving - No issue.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
M4 Aviation
I am interested in the long term (2+ year) experience to the installation you describe in post 101. Did the thick bead of silicone between the 'high spots' seal for the long term?
You mention needing to cut the high spots in order to use the upper mount? I envision the high spots being the roof ribs that are about 1 1/2" wide and stick up about 1/4". Is that correct? If so, wouldn't removing the high spots leave gaps in the roof where the high spots were? So in the area of these gaps the upper and lower mounts would be separated by a bead of silicone, rather than by the metal of the roof? How thick is the upper mount, and could you have notched it to fit over the high spots?
In a perverse sort of way I'm kinda looking forward to having my Dometic fail - can't really justify replacing a unit that works - given that we use it so little.
HOUGHTON AC UPDATE: I was concerned about running the Houghton AC while driving, but this summer took the AI on a 6500 mile trip and we spent a few weeks in AZ, UT and CO and the temps were 104 and with a black AI, it was needed especially when we stopped. I ran the AC anytime we wanted and quite a lot WHILE DRIVING. Had no issue at all. AC unit worked just fine.
For the install, yes the ribs on the roof created a high spot that I was concerned with. When tightening down the 4 mounting bolts, the rubber / foam gasket compressed on the ribs and filled in the lower valleys pretty well. I was not satisfied and then sealed all around the foam rubber. I do not hear any wind noise nor have I had any water leaking and we drove through a terrible storm in OH during the trip.
It is my understanding that ARV has made a 3D printed plastic adapter that sits on the roof and the AC mounts on that adapter. If I were installing it again, I would look into purchasing that adapter.
Stating again, NO issue running the Houghton AC while driving. I have also recently installed the new Onan 2500i generator and by far the two best additions to the AI for noise. Houghton AC and Onan 2500i generator.
Also, I read somewhere that the Houghton AC already had the soft start installed. On the AI panel, I see only 13amps when the compressor starts and then settles back down to 9 pretty quickly. I will still try to remove the interior cover and check the amps with a proper amp meter that I do have.
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2017 Lounge Ext pulling a 2017 24' ATC trailer
HOUGHTON AC UPDATE: I was concerned about running the Houghton AC while driving, but this summer took the AI on a 6500 mile trip and we spent a few weeks in AZ, UT and CO and the temps were 104 and with a black AI, it was needed especially when we stopped. I ran the AC anytime we wanted and quite a lot WHILE DRIVING. Had no issue at all. AC unit worked just fine.
I have also recently installed the new Onan 2500i generator and by far the two best additions to the AI for noise. Houghton AC and Onan 2500i generator.
M4AVIATION - you were in my neck of the woods for your ultimate road test (both in scorching summer temps & altitude). It's 3 states near NV that we consider our home base. This is great news. I think next summer would be a better summer for me, albeit short a few thousand bucks. We'll worth the expense IMHO. Thank you for reporting.
Has anyone had issues with the Houghton 3400 QuietAC remote display failing? (And yes, I checked and replaced the batteries, lol.) The remote display suddenly doesn't work. I was able to turn on the AC and control the fan/AC from the bezel controls in the unit itself, so it's not a deal breaker, but not being able to control it from the remote was inconvenient.
We have the Houghton but no problems with the remote. It does have a second or two delay, and sometimes fails to respond without repeating an instruction sequence.
Our issue has been leaking in heavy rains, possibly due to a faulty installation.
We recently had our super-noisy Demonic air conditioner replaced with a unit made by Gree. Works great, super-quiet, and very effective, pulling only around 10 amps vs. the greedy Dometic. Installers used the same roof "gasket" form that folks are seeing used with the Houghton to get it to fit correctly on the roof due to the ridges up there so that it seals tightly. That added a little to the cost, but it's done right. The Gree includes moving louvered vents in front and back that slowly rotate up and down (but not side to side), and an adjustable vent right in the middle that points down.
The Gree, like the Houghton, is controlled via a remote or via buttons on the unit. The Gree unit can be controlled via an app on your phone, but it's not Bluetooth. The unit only supports WiFi connectivity, which is not very helpful given our use case (e.g. on the road, no WiFi in the van unless we hotspot something, etc). Still, the remote is fine, and we're using that without any real issues. Oh, the remote doesn't seem to light up when in use, which can be plus and minus. On the plus side, lower battery consumption. On the minus side, to adjust settings after dark you'll need a light.
Can't say whether the Gree is better or worse than Houghton, but I can say the Gree is 100% made in China, which I didn't realize when we had it installed. I could have looked that up, but neglected to do so. If Hougton is made in Australia, which I've read, that alone might make it the better choice given the high level of similarity and the slightly lower profile of a Houghton on the roof.
I had read a few humidity complaints with Houghton, which led us to consider the Gree. Haven't seen any humidity issues with that, and we were using it in horrendous heat / humidity conditions. It hummed right along, kept the van cool in the blasting sun without complaint. I'll also add that since the Gree draws fewer amps in operation than the Dometic, we are comfortable running our Victron 3kW inverter and the Gree while driving, arriving at our destination with batteries still charged and the van already comfortable in back. Pretty sweet!
Oh, and we had them leave the control board from the old Dometic up in the ceiling so the thermostat still controls the propane heater. That was a bit more involved than the installer expected, perhaps because our unit is a 2016 and Dometic has gone with smaller control boards in recent years? Anyhow, it worked, and we're happy.
One last thing, for installation we did not go to an Airstream dealer. We went to a custom van shop that was willing to take on this job since they install AC units into their custom-built vans all the time. Quick easy job for them, and they had the time to do it for us. We paid their full asking price for parts and labor, so this is not some kind of "affiliate" thing - we're just paying customers like everyone else, and they did a good job for us. https://customcoachcreations.com/
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Rocinante Piccolo is our 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
We recently had our super-noisy Demonic air conditioner replaced with a unit made by Gree. Works great, super-quiet, and very effective, pulling only around 10 amps vs. the greedy Dometic. Installers used the same roof "gasket" form that folks are seeing used with the Houghton to get it to fit correctly on the roof due to the ridges up there so that it seals tightly. That added a little to the cost, but it's done right. The Gree includes moving louvered vents in front and back that slowly rotate up and down (but not side to side), and an adjustable vent right in the middle that points down.
The Gree, like the Houghton, is controlled via a remote or via buttons on the unit. The Gree unit can be controlled via an app on your phone, but it's not Bluetooth. The unit only supports WiFi connectivity, which is not very helpful given our use case (e.g. on the road, no WiFi in the van unless we hotspot something, etc). Still, the remote is fine, and we're using that without any real issues. Oh, the remote doesn't seem to light up when in use, which can be plus and minus. On the plus side, lower battery consumption. On the minus side, to adjust settings after dark you'll need a light.
Can't say whether the Gree is better or worse than Houghton, but I can say the Gree is 100% made in China, which I didn't realize when we had it installed. I could have looked that up, but neglected to do so. If Hougton is made in Australia, which I've read, that alone might make it the better choice given the high level of similarity and the slightly lower profile of a Houghton on the roof.
I had read a few humidity complaints with Houghton, which led us to consider the Gree. Haven't seen any humidity issues with that, and we were using it in horrendous heat / humidity conditions. It hummed right along, kept the van cool in the blasting sun without complaint. I'll also add that since the Gree draws fewer amps in operation than the Dometic, we are comfortable running our Victron 3kW inverter and the Gree while driving, arriving at our destination with batteries still charged and the van already comfortable in back. Pretty sweet!
Oh, and we had them leave the control board from the old Dometic up in the ceiling so the thermostat still controls the propane heater. That was a bit more involved than the installer expected, perhaps because our unit is a 2016 and Dometic has gone with smaller control boards in recent years? Anyhow, it worked, and we're happy.
One last thing, for installation we did not go to an Airstream dealer. We went to a custom van shop that was willing to take on this job since they install AC units into their custom-built vans all the time. Quick easy job for them, and they had the time to do it for us. We paid their full asking price for parts and labor, so this is not some kind of "affiliate" thing - we're just paying customers like everyone else, and they did a good job for us. https://customcoachcreations.com/
Rocinante, thanks for posting this info on the Gree. Did the AC finally hit the skids or did you guys just get tired of the noise and replaced it? I've not yet seen that one around so please give us updates in between if you can.
I know that this is something that I will be tackling soon. However, we're still on the fence as we have a few hard requirements on trying to decide between a 12VDC or a 120VAC replacement. Pros and cons to both course. I prefer 12v's as this will allow us to run it longer on our 600 Ah's of batteries. However 120 VAC is true and tried and not so much are the 12VDC options. Some claim that they struggle to cool in higher elevations or extreme heat. The two must haves are:
1. We want a heat pump to take the chill out of the air especially during the fall season.
2. I need to be able to keep our existing thermostat that we replaced with the MicroAir Easy touch thermostat. We can can control it remotely which is what we want. Some 120VAC options only offer a remote with no option to hardwire it back to the thermostat.
So, we're faced with some having what we want and some coming up short - the story of my life!
Actually, I’ve seen this unit on the YouTube video that I’ve linked. Overall, I really like this unit and probably an easy install self install too. I would have to move over the MicroAir Easy Start for the generator to be happy and mess around with the thermostat wiring. Definitely on the list for me as it also has an heat pump and checks most of the boxes.
Rocinante, any issues with you running it on the genny and did you install an Easy Start?
I installed 2 TOSOT A/C units in my 30" and love them! Gree is now called TOSOT. Super quiet compared to the Dometic units, heat pump works well, and we love the "swing" on the end vents. This seems to move the air around a lot better. On A/C the fan runs continuous, but in heat pump it cycles. Very good upgrade and very good pricing from Amazon. Install took about an hour and a half for each unit. Excelent instructions and very DIY friendly.
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ACI #7394
2012 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Denali
2010 Classic Limited 30' ,1994 Excella 34'
1987 Limited 34', 1976 31', 1976 Argosy 22' Gone to new homes
Hensley Hitch
One thing that I forgot to mention, these units DO NOT connect to your internal condensate drain tubes, so the water does run down to the awning mount rail and then runs down either end of the trailer. To me that is not a big concern, as most of the water is evaporated on a very hot day. I believe that Airstream is the only manufacturer that uses the drain tube system, and by all the complaints on this forum about the drains, it becomes a non issue for me. My 5th wheel in Arizona drains the water on the roof and sometimes a small amount drips down the side.
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ACI #7394
2012 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Denali
2010 Classic Limited 30' ,1994 Excella 34'
1987 Limited 34', 1976 31', 1976 Argosy 22' Gone to new homes
Hensley Hitch
One thing that I forgot to mention, these units DO NOT connect to your internal condensate drain tubes, so the water does run down to the awning mount rail and then runs down either end of the trailer. To me that is not a big concern, as most of the water is evaporated on a very hot day. I believe that Airstream is the only manufacturer that uses the drain tube system, and by all the complaints on this forum about the drains, it becomes a non issue for me. My 5th wheel in Arizona drains the water on the roof and sometimes a small amount drips down the side.
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FWIW, Airstream Interstates do not have internal condensate drain tubes. Since this is a Sprinter / Class B Forum thread, I don't want an AI owner to read this and think otherwise.
Actually, I’ve seen this unit on the YouTube video that I’ve linked. Overall, I really like this unit and probably an easy install self install too. I would have to move over the MicroAir Easy Start for the generator to be happy and mess around with the thermostat wiring. Definitely on the list for me as it also has an heat pump and checks most of the boxes.
Rocinante, any issues with you running it on the genny and did you install an Easy Start?
I pulled the trigger on the Gree unit after viewing this attached install video. He get’s into the wiring for the Dometic board to control the Airstream thermostat for the furnace. I want to install the AC before our trip down to Florida later this month and then test the heat pump when we get back up here for fall camping. This is a 15k BTU unit vs the Dometic which is a 13.5k BTU and 30% more efficient which will be a bit easier on the batteries and allow us to run it a bit longer on the 600Ah battery bank. This unit also only takes 9A’ish on full blast vs 15A’s for the Dometic. The heat pump will draw 15A’s though.
I plan on moving over our Micro-Air Easy Start over to this unit as I don’t believe that it has variable speed compressor as they claim. At least not with a start up rated at 45A’s as it says on their spec sheet. So it’s easy enough to install the Micro-AirEasy Start and no harm/no foul and prevent any potential issues with the Victron 3k inverter or the generator. I’ve linked the wiring diagram from Micro-Air and an install video for folks that may need it. The Soft Start video is an install on a Atmos but the same unit with a different name if you look at the wiring diagram.
Lastly, I’m also going to shoot an email to Premier Products to see if they have any updated info on the integration of the AC / furnace working with an Airstream or Micro-Air thermostat or provide me with any helpful info to try to make them work together.
With the help of another forum member (Heckler56), I was able to order the AC adapter base from Diyvan.com as we have the same chassis year. Hopefully everything makes it here on time together so that I can begin the install as the weather is perfect for it.
Overall, it shouldn’t be too hard of an install. Thanks for putting this back on my radar Rocinante and also thanks to the others for chiming in.
Currently Looking...
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Traverse City
, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 220
Quote:
Originally Posted by StogieMan
I plan on moving over our Micro-Air Easy Start over to this unit as I don’t believe that it has variable speed compressor as they claim. At least not with a start up rated at 45A’s as it says on their spec sheet. So it’s easy enough to install the Micro-AirEasy Start and no harm/no foul and prevent any potential issues with the Victron 3k inverter or the generator.
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