Can it be done? (A/C Dilema)

[NewbeeMC9]

From what you describe. Seems lines window type unit would be cheaper and easier.  Especially since you already have the ducting.  And might be able to pur I in the box and vent the sides of the box.

[Oonrahnjay]

From what you describe. Seems lines window type unit would be cheaper and easier.  Especially since you already have the ducting.  And might be able to pur I in the box and vent the sides of the box.

     TomC has already posted -- he has a super neat install of a (or two???) rooftops inside.  Installed, ambient air and drains the condenser and evaporator, and ducts for the cold air.  Real good.  Maybe he'll post more.

[buswarrior]

In these musings, make sure you compare apples to apples.

Traditional roof top AC's are typically 12-15000 btu, placed perfectly up high for maximum effect.

If there was a more economical way to provide AC, the RV industry would already be doing it?

Window units are famously advertised cheaply, but for those little 5000 btu units that would be next to uselesss in a bus conversion. The big ones matching the performance of a roof air close up the price difference, and still need you to do something more elaborate that cut a 14 inch square hole in the roof.

On a budget, it is hard to beat a roof air for simple and self contained.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[86102A3]

I also contemplated running the OTR air while parked. I was thinking about an electric motor connected to the compressor with a electromagnetic clutch. So it would run either off the engine or the electric motor. The issue I had was trying to power the condensor fan. It's 2 hp at 24 volts. It just started getting too complicated, plus the condensor fan and compressor would be too noisy for a campground setting. I ended up with a 25000 BTU window unit in the basement, that's a little over 2 tons and it seems to do the job so far. I priced a replacement for it and it's about $500 for that size unit, I had mine laying around the house. You could not beat free...