Dometic B1900S Aircon questions
Submitted: Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 22:10
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Rocko Wallaby
Heya Folks
Looking at putting Aircon in my Coromal Pioneer 402 poptop van, and wondered who has experience with the above Dometic B1900S rooftop aircon?
How does it go? Realise the heating isn't that flash, but this IS Queensland, and I have no probs with cold weather anyways. Alwqay put on more cothes ;) Heat is my enemy.
Heard a few things about the B2200 having a few teething problems, with 2 installers recommending the 1900 instead, so I'm cool with this. Similar unit, really...just a few nice features extra. In my van, it'd make no difference...it's teeny ;)
Also, seriously considering installing it myself. Anyone done this? Seems relatively straightforward, and I'm quite mechanically minded. Needs an H Frame, I gather, but otherwise it seems quite straightforward.
So, anyone with an opinion? Really appreciate it.
Cheers,
Scotty
Reply By: Rocko Wallaby - Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 23:15
Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 23:15
Hmm, also does anyone know if the H frame is curved to match van roof profiles? If not, any suggestions on how to curve it?
AnswerID:
395086
Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 23:32
Monday, Dec 14, 2009 at 23:32
Scotty,
we had a B1900 on our van that we bought in 2007. I would expect problems from that era to be sorted out by now, hopefully, because ours was dead out of the box. Fractured pipes let the gas escape apparently. It was a common fault with that model, then.
It was replaced but it would have been good if the van manufacturer had tested it first and replaced it before giving it to us.
Ask the question. You never know.
AnswerID:
395087
Reply By: WYSIWYG (Bundaberg Qld) - Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 at 10:31
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 at 10:31
We bought a secondhand van early last year and the aircon (B1900S) was dead then so we replaced it with a new one of the same model. That lasted about a dozen uses and then wouldn't cool at all. Not sure of the reason but suspect a cracked pipe that allowed the gas to escape.
That one was replaced under warranty (in
Darwin) but the replacement was dead out of the box - no gas. The workman who did the replacement told us that his boss had about 10 sitting in the workshop that had been replaced for the same reason.
We then had another warranty replacement done back home in September 2008 which is still working so far, but every time we turn it on we are on tenterhooks waiting to see if it will cool. As we are now on our fourth B1900S I would have say they are not worth the time, effort, money and stress.
AnswerID:
395124
Reply By: Marty-VIC - Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 at 16:37
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 at 16:37
Have you thought about fitting an inverter home split system?
$699 for split system $250 for install. Powers on little more than idle on Subaru 1400 gennie 100X better than the Aircommand Ibis brother took off and fitted a hatch. Ibis was terrible and made more noise inside and outside than Yammie 2400
AnswerID:
395157
Follow Up By: Rocko Wallaby - Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 at 18:34
Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009 at 18:34
Real problem is finding somewhere for the compressor. Only a 13 foot van, with rear entry, so minimum space on A frame for anything, with a huge 4x4 tyre already on it. Plus, I'll be doing some minor offroad stuff, such as Fraser, so have concerns about vibrations killing the compressor.
Van A/C are overpriced. But so's everything caravan related ;)
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Mikee5 (Logan QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 09:39
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 09:39
Hi Scotty,
My Dad had a caravan place fit a roof top aircond to his Jayco pop top. I think it was a Dometic. The unit was fairly inefficient and very noisy and the roof leaked. He had the H frame fitted for strength as part of the job. He took it back each time it rained and the dealer claimed it was fixed. He lived with this sh*t during a round Aust trip, taking it to various repair shops en route. In the end he decided to give up. He sold the aircond for a huge loss, bought a new roof and went back to opening the windows. So be very careful. It appears that the original roof is flat and that the weight of the A/C caused it to bow down resulting in a puddle around it.
AnswerID:
395258