Would you replace this generator?

[windtrader]

I wonder if anyone has tried to reconfigure the working parts inside the outdoor half of a mini split to allow it to be mounted horizontally instead of standing upright? That would allow it to be mounted in a bay with the fan blowing out through the floor, and it would be simple to rig up an intake to draw fresh air in through the side of the bay either through a door or a bulkhead.

OT now talking about mini-splits but turning the compressor on its side would be a major alteration to its original design orientation. Not an experiment for me. Remember even a slight off vertical mounting of the fan unit causes drain water accumulation and leak problems.

[dtcerrato]

Of turning a unit on it's side! IMO the condensate issue would just be the tip of the issue. Turning a sealed compressor on it's side would probably be catastrophic after revealing how compressors are oil cooled & lubricated at the bottom of the sealed unit they operate in... Again no expert just IMO.

[richard5933]

Re-read what I wrote - I wasn't suggesting turning the unit on its side as is. My suggestion was to deconstruct the unit and remount the internals so that the form factor could be changed. For a residential install the tall slim unit works well, not so much for some buses.

I don't believe there is any condensate in the condensing unit either - isn't that in the evaporator unit up inside the bus?

The Custom Coach a/c units are basically a mini split setup. Here's a photo of the internals - the only thing not showing is the actual condenser coil and fan, but you can figure out from the external view where they are. The rear of the fan (motor) is showing at the bottom of that photo.

My basic point is that it's not necessary to be beholden to the form factor in the outdoor unit of a mini-split system. As long as the compressor maintains the same orientation, it can be moved inside the cabinet. By laying the cabinet flat and venting out through the floor of the bay like CC did, you gain a lot more potential for positioning things in a bay without losing the entire bay. Be creative.

[luvrbus]

The Custom Coach units I have saw were just copies of the Cruise Air units

[belfert]

Could one modify a mini-split to work in a different orientation, probably.  Would it really make sense to do so unless you just like to tinker, no.  You would have to get someone to recover the refrigerant and you would have to be able to braze the lines back together.

Custom Coach almost certainly had those units manufactured in that configuration.  It is unlikely took apart A/C units and put them back together in a different configuration.

[lovetofix]

Is the rear cap fiberglass? If so, not that difficult of a repair.

I don't want to highjack this thread, it is already wandering OT.
I'll start a new thread.

[richard5933]

Could one modify a mini-split to work in a different orientation, probably.  Would it really make sense to do so unless you just like to tinker, no.  You would have to get someone to recover the refrigerant and you would have to be able to braze the lines back together.

Custom Coach almost certainly had those units manufactured in that configuration.  It is unlikely took apart A/C units and put them back together in a different configuration.

Without a doubt the CC units were spec built to be mounted the way they were. I was just thinking that with the low cost of the mini-split units it seems like a good way to get all the components, even if they need to be recharged.

For a guy that has basic a/c skills and equipment, it's also possible to buy the components off-the-shelf to build one from scratch. An option that would probably allow for higher-quality components chosen for a spec built unit that would fit exactly where you want it.

I looked at a very early CC conversion built on a Flxible recently. The CC a/c unit had the condensing unit mounted in the space above and to the side of the engine in the rear cap. A vent was cut to provide air to cool the coil.

A/C units can be tucked in all kinds of places with a little creativity.

[belfert]

I have decided to replace my generator with a new 12.5 KW model.  A 10KW might work, but the price difference isn't all that much to go to 12.5KW.  I am pretty sure it will be a WRICO.  Justin has been very helpful.