Mini Split A/C's and Heat Pumps

[DavidInWilmNC]

I'm still wondering about using mini-split heat pumps in my bus.  I believe two condenser units would fit in the original condenser bay.  One evaporator over the driver's area and one mid-way back would work really nicely.  I know some say that they are not durable enough for the vibrations, etc. of a vehicle.  I'll accept those comments.  What I'm wondering is how difficult they are to install.  Some of them say that the lines are precharged and only require the connection of two freon lines.  Am I missing something?  Do they not need to be evacuated with a vacuum pump prior to charging, or are they pre-evacuated and closed off with valves?  I'm also thinking about using one in my house, so if they are that easy to install, I'd certainly use the one at home first as the guinea pig.  So, who has experience installing mini-splits, either in a vehicle or a building?  Thanks for any feedback or comments.

David

[jjrbus]

Dave I do not have any experience installing them. If I were doing it again I would definately use the mini splits. 3 small units I think would be ideal.Not sure but I belive one condensor unit could be fitted in the area of the front axle

[Jerry32]

I have not used the mini splits but I did install a heat pump in my shop last year and the unit came precharged and all I had to do is evacuate the lines and indoor coil before turning on the valves to the outside unit. I had installed a unit in my house years ago that had the precharged lines and it was really simple to hookup. This is an idea that has promise over those rooftop units. Jerry

[TomC]

Go to www.dometictruck.com and pull up truck air conditioning.  These are 11,000btu and 14,000btu units designed for the riggers of over the road trucks.  They have two types-one that is a typical basement unit that is all in one where you have to cut two holes about 3x6" each for air supply, then duct the cold air.  Then is the split system where the condenser with fan is outside and the evaporator/compressor unit is indoors connected by just the freon lines.  The advantage to this unit is the outside condenser is smaller than a compressor unit (like from a household split system), and the evaporator/compressor mounts inside, typically at the base of a cabinet with a simple duct up to the top to have the cold discharge at the highest point. 
Seriously look at these units since they are made for the trucking industry and can take the vibrations set up with road travel-compared to a household unit that is not reinforced for such travel.  Cost wise, they are very close together.  The split unit is what I would use in my next conversion project.  I didn't use it now since I have a transit with limited under floor space.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

I looked at mini-splits, but I couldn't see how to possibly fit three of the condensers in a bus without sacrificing a lot of bay space.  

The precharged linesets are nice, but they are usually pretty long so you might have a lot of excess line to deal wth.

[Don4107]

Tom C, where can one buy the Dometic units and what do they cost?  Looks like they could be a good way to go. 

Thanks,

Don 4107

[TomC]

You might try Camping World, and I think the split system is around $2000.  Good Luck, TomC

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi David,

Just from, been there done that, you need 3 mini splits in a 40 ft bus. Thoose 12,000 btu units that are 115v seem to be a little undersized in

their ratings...??..??  I have 2 customers that can tell you that now. Daniel Odio, and Dave Schmidtt.. Both ended up having us install a 3rd mini split.

By far, theese mini splits cretinly take up alot of room under the bus too. Just their configuration of the connections and the air flo makes you

realize that they were not designed for mobile use in compact spaces.

Here is a pic of my design that has proven now to work super well, Bruce Knee now also has the same design as my coach.

They are 2 self contained 15,000btu heat pumps made by Dometic. We both added a hydronic heat coil in the return box powered by a Proheat as a redundent system.

Good Luck
Nick-

[belfert]

I looked at mini-splits, but I couldn't see how to possibly fit three of the condensers in a bus without sacrificing a lot of bay space.  

The precharged linesets are nice, but they are usually pretty long so you might have a lot of excess line to deal wth.

Yes, quoting myself here

I believe the mini-splits most of the posters have been talking about are the ones designed for home use with the evaporator in the bus and the condenser down below.  The ones Nick is talking about are Cruise-Airs.  I think the Cruise-Airs are really package units and not mini-splits since the evap and the condenser are both down below.

[luvrbus]

I have 3 cruise-airs in my bus and they are split units i guess they are made both ways

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

I looked at mini-splits, but I couldn't see how to possibly fit three of the condensers in a bus without sacrificing a lot of bay space.  

The precharged linesets are nice, but they are usually pretty long so you might have a lot of excess line to deal wth.

Yes, quoting myself here

I believe the mini-splits most of the posters have been talking about are the ones designed for home use with the evaporator in the bus and the condenser down below.  The ones Nick is talking about are Cruise-Airs.  I think the Cruise-Airs are really package units and not mini-splits since the evap and the condenser are both down below.

Brian,
You are correct. The cruiseair's are called "self contained" or package unit..  The good thing about them is if either goes bad, just pull one out very
easily and replace it by my self. About an hour would complete it.
Nick-

[mc8 tin tent]

Dave
IF THIS HELPS WE HAVE TWO MINI-SPLITS (HEAT/PUMPS).we are very happy with these .We live in southern Indiana with high humidity . Both units are 12,000 btu s. The only thing I set up differently was my aux heat is ducted into the bay with the condensing units, the aux stat. is set at 45* F. I was got these units from united refrigeration 3 yrs ago. The price was less than $900. for each unit(the prices have gone up around 30%) still very happy with this set up.
  Dwayne Mc8 Tintent

[DavidInWilmNC]

I realize that mini-split A/C's aren't designed for a bus.  I would use a standard basement unit, but I don't have a raised roof and know that running ductwork to the driver's area, in particular, would be a real pain.  Where does one find the split Cruise-Air units?  They'd certainly look better than the mini-splits.

David

[TomC]

www.dometicusa.com

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi David,

Here are pics of the self contained and split systems that Tom Referred you to.

Nick-