Airconditioner question

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 at 20:22
ThreadID: 139310 Views:6146 Replies:4 FollowUps:3
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Noticed at a recent 4x4 show that one manufacture was installing as standard, domestic type (room style) air conditioner units to robust style caravans.
I was under impression that the household type units were not suitable due to not being resilient enough for highway and off-highway travel in the compressor areas of the units?
Thoughts on this concept, members ???
Thanks
Mineral
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Reply By: Kazza055 - Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 at 20:47

Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 at 20:47
Lots of people are doing it and enjoying a much more effient unit rather than one specifically for RVs at a much higher price.

Same thing is happening with small inverter fridges that can run from a small inverter.
AnswerID: 628628

Reply By: eaglefree - Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 at 21:56

Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019 at 21:56
We arrived in Darwin Mid May 2016 and near melted. We went to Bunnings and purchased a shop soiled room (Mistral) aircon and it saved us in our 11ft van. The unit has been used in our bedroom also at home. We built our latest caravan with space for the unit and a vent for hot air extraction. The unit isnt quiet but it is efficient and portable not to mention no unit on the roof. Worth considering. Also these units can be operated on a small generator.
AnswerID: 628630

Reply By: RMD - Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 12:11

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 12:11
Mineral
It isn't unusual, a mate of mine, 11 years ago, bought a 19' caravan with raised suspension , ie rough road use. It has a small, house style unit in the RH rear corner with two doors to open when being used. The Evaporator at front is above the bed and has been very effective. for warming and cooling. It also runs from a 2400 Yamaha generator quite easily.
AnswerID: 628637

Follow Up By: Mineral - Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 13:11

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 13:11
Hi thanks for input.
The caravan builder did indicate that they were way more efficient with cooling/heating and didn't require a humungas gen set to run. I.E the one he had set up ran rather comfortably on a Honda 2kva.
Mineral
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 13:29

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 13:29
If you are clever enough, you could design it so it will run on battery/solar setup.

The Inverter units do not have the big current draw on startup as the non inverter models of yesteryear and should run on the Honda 2kva.
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FollowupID: 903091

Follow Up By: RMD - Thursday, Nov 14, 2019 at 18:15

Thursday, Nov 14, 2019 at 18:15
While it is possible to run an AC from solar/battery setup, most vans won’t have enough. Solar or battery to sustain such work. The energy of a reasonable worked Honda eu2 is substantially more and sustainable with petrol. If you have the BIG INVERTER , good sun and 600+ watts of solar you might have a chance.
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FollowupID: 903114

Reply By: Batt's - Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 17:19

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2019 at 17:19
I had a split system mounted to our van back in 2005 which we sold about 3yrs later it worked great and is very quiet didn't go off road with it though. I had a vinyl cover made up from a canvas shop which slipped over the unit and it had a few velcro tabs which held it in place when travelling. I also put a rubbed chair leg stopper from Bunnings over the water outlet to stop dust building up when travelling. Just make sure you check the legs on the A/C are strong as they can be flimsy looking don't won't it falling off onto the hwy you may have to add some additional brackets for support better safe than sorry.
AnswerID: 628641

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