As some of you folks know, Linda and I have been around this hobby for quite some time. We entering our 32nd year of traveling in a converted bus.
When we converted our present coach, a1984 Eagle model 10 6v92 TA with an Allison 740 automatic in 2000, we opted for a Dometic basement HVAC system.
It has been a FORD from jump street. This summer has been the last straw. We contacted our friend and HVAC contractor par excellence, Nick Badame. He knows our system well. Actually he is the only service man including the techs at Dometic that ever made it run half way. I guess it was just poorly designed. Dometic dropped this product almost before it hit the market.
We asked Nick for a price to get rid of the old system and install 3 roof top, low profile HVAC's. These will be our A/C and only source of heat. The 6v92 cuts in below 38 degrees and carries us to a warmer climate.
We were shocked by Nicks price it was less than I could source the equipment for and I didn't know that most of the bits and piece are ala cart. This little item alone was a deal breaker for me. Nick Badame Refrigeration, got the job.
We arrive at his shop in Cape May Court House, NJ on Sunday evening and were greeted by his Dad, Nick. We were plugged into a 50 amp service and connected to cable TV and told that wifi was available for our use also a courtesy item.
His men arrived at work around 7:30 AM Monday. A couple of young, strong, slim hard workers. I can hardly imagine how much work they could produce if the temp was reasonable. The equipment was at the front of the shop and everyone was familiar with the project. They went right to work.
We are waiting with baited breath for the start up which should take place soon.
We can't recommend Nick's team highly enough. Nick Badame Refrigeration has a terrific "can do" attitude. If you require service of any sort on your coach, you could do worse than contacting Nick
Sounds like Nick is a heckava go to guy! I just wish he was closer to Texas. I guess that's why our buses have round wheels on um!
glen
I got two 15,000btu/hr Dometic Penguins from Nick that were at least $200.00 less then anywhere else-and that's including shipping. I'm converting them to basement units since the Penguins are the only roof top A/C with a squirrel cage blower on the condenser that can be ducted. Will let you know when I've done the conversion. Good Luck, TomC
I truly wonder if Dometic even knows how to make anything that works anymore, and if they even need to. They have the RV industry convinced to buy their junk, all they have to do is get most of it to function for one year and they make money.
We have two Dometic roof tops, not sure of the age though. Been there since we bought our Eagle back in '03. I'm sure they are at least 10 years older than that, making them at least 18 YO. They work great, never had a problem. The newer stuff might not last as long as our super old ones. ;)
Quote from: Dreamscape on August 09, 2011, 11:05:54 AM
The newer stuff might not last as long as our super old ones. ;)
Thats the point. Were supposed to be getting smarter, using better materials, computers and robots that build things to microscopic tolerances with repeatability. Yet some of the oldest electric and mechanical appliances are still running, 50, 60, 70 years after they went into service, while todays appliances generally wont last more than a year or two without complete failure, if were lucky. The stuff were building today should be virtually indestructable. We know how to do it, we all just choose not to.
The problem is nobody, particularly RV manufacturers, wants to pay for the best quality. Another issue is weight. The manufacturers want everything built as light as possible since they are adding granite and all kinds of other heavy items the older RVs never had.
I see it all the time where the American built heavy duty item is say $75. The Chinese version at Harbor Freight might be $15 and look like crap, but if it works why not? Now if the heavy duty one wasn't fives times as much I would buy it.
I just emailed Nick for some pricing on some Dometic parts. I didn't think of him when I was going to order the stuff elsewhere.
Quote from: Alan Baker on August 09, 2011, 05:14:43 AM
The 6v92 cuts in below 38 degrees and carries us to a warmer climate.
Now that is funny!
Thank You Alan!
You know you were spoiled with your basement unit all these years.... [quiet operation]
Sorry for the shocker with the 15K penguins. They are right over your head and much louder
then your use to I'm sure.. The pay off will be the next heat wave your in and you will be
able to freeze a real penguin out of your coach... Lol
3- 15,000 btu Heat Pump Penguins are the best you can do in a finished coach since basements
are no longer made.. I just hope Linda will be able to adjust too!
Remind me to measure your new clearance height in the am before you roll out.
Nick-
Actually as the coach cooled down and the units began to cycle normally we found the noise to be not as shocking as the first impression.
We have already found that setting the unit, zone 2, closest to the TV 2 or 3 degrees higher than the one midships. The volume of the TV doesn't have to be adjusted every time zone 1 cycles.
I'm sure that being able to step into the coach and experience temps 10 or 15 degrees below ambient will soon, actually its happened already, cause us to forget the quite of the basement system that actually could produce 97 degree indoor temp on a 98 degree day.
What a great time for testing the new system. I hope it never has to work this hard in the other season. As I recall it may be called winter!
Alan
Quote from: Nick Badame Refrig. Co. on August 09, 2011, 06:37:43 PM
3- 15,000 btu Heat Pump Penguins are the best you can do in a finished coach since basements are no longer made..
Isn't Cruiseaire still around?
We haven't had time to research it much yet, but I'd love to look into replacing our roof airs with a mini-split system for quieter and more energy efficient cooling. Ideally we'd put another MaxxFan in the hole over the bed, and turn the hole in the living area into a skylight / roof access hatch.
I'm curious - since we are planning to wire our AC units through the inverter and run off of the alternator while driving and batteries while sleeping, energy efficiency for cooling is very important to us. What is the current most efficient system for cooling a bus out there?
- Chris