Coach a/c repair or . . .

[ChuckMC8]

Steve, another twist.

   Here's how it works- take the opinions and experiences of everyone who replies to your thread and form your own opinion. Any thread, any subject. I said this on my radiator technogoly question last week. Nobodys right and nobodys wrong. The guy that rides with his head out the window has a viable opinion...just not my way.(Unless its dangerous, like bad air brake advice or electrical misinformation, In which case it's not OK, but that's not the case here)
     
  $3,800 is Mucho Dinero, so before I plunked it down, consider these options-

Heres a couple things that you may be able to use If youre genny's just a lttle short of juice, an inverter such as a Trace SW4024 with your house batteries will sense the genny overload and come on to help start the A/C unit. Its sweet all the time.

Next, You could ditch the factory  bus air (nobody throw anything!) which is what I'd do and what I did- Install a Welch Industries system that uses a Sanden Air Conditioning compressor that will hook to your dash air and make it work. I also have a second Evaporator in the salon of my bus.  Google "Welch Industries" in Jonesboro Ga. They install it all, or you buy components and DIY. They cool great going down the road and are not usually a continous fix once installed properly.

Last but not to be ruled out would be to replace your roof airs with more efficent new ones that use less electricity.

I have 7.5 Onan Marquis and run both (2) roof airs and my Trace, fridge and whatever else I want- sure would like to have your quiet diesel!

I reccomend  first that you have the generator output wiring and the relationship of that to the bus 120Volt load center is checked by a qualified RV electrician. It may cost $100 or so.......but that is the right place to start, regardless of how one feels about any suggested remedy........This could fix the whole shebang....I have found that another pair of eyes reveal something that I have looked over many times....

just my $3.00 worth (Hey, our opinion should be worth as  much as a gallon of diesel!)

[Steve102C3]

Thanks again to all who have provided input.

The two options I'm going to explore first are the larger generator and repairing the coach air. Wrico has a 20kw for $7220 plus another $500 - $1000 for insulation, fan, etc.

Chuck, thanks for the link to welch industries. They may be a valuable resource.

Nick, you can expect a call from me soon.

Steve

[DrivingMissLazy]

Steve, based on your previous posts, 20,000 watts (20kw) is way way overkill for what you need. Probably double, and that is bad for a genset to run very lightly loaded. Bad for the engine really.Unless you are running a total electric coach with electric cooking and electric heat, you should look for a much smaller unit. I am extremely surprised that Dick Wright would offer you that large a unit unless he knows something that the rest of us do not.
Richard

Thanks again to all who have provided input.

The two options I'm going to explore first are the larger generator and repairing the coach air. Wrico has a 20kw for $7220 plus another $500 - $1000 for insulation, fan, etc.

Chuck, thanks for the link to welch industries. They may be a valuable resource.

Nick, you can expect a call from me soon.

Steve

[Hi yo silver]

Steve,
I agree wholeheartedly with your statement that the opinions expressed on this board help more folks than we realize.  Obviously, many of us are merely reading from the peanut gallery (telling my age) than are actively posting in any given discussion.  Man, you wouldn't believe the volume of stuff I've printed and filed in appropriate catagories, just for future reference!  I'm still a wannabe, shopping for the right bus.  Following this BB and visiting the chat room provides some intellectual knowledge, based on the combined experience of all you guys.  The way I see it, when I get my own bus, my own practical experience might be just starting, but at least you all will have given me a leg up in many ways. 

Yeah, Nick, everybody has a different opinion or takes a different approach.  I said it once and I'll say it again; if we all agreed on issues, the second opinion wouldn't have any value at all!

Thanks everyone,
Dennis
Hi Yo Silver!

P.S.  One more thing; frequently when I read a post, I find myself wondering where the writer is located, and what kind of bus he owns.  I wish more owners would put that info on their profile.  I keep hoping to find an MCI owner close by so I can check out some clearances, see how he has done some things, etc.             

[Busted Knuckle]

Thanks everyone,                Dennis     Hi Yo Silver!

P.S.  One more thing; frequently when I read a post, I find myself wondering where the writer is located, and what kind of bus he owns.  I wish more owners would put that info on their profile.  I keep hoping to find an MCI owner close by so I can check out some clearances, see how he has done some things, etc.

Hi Yo Silver, I too agree it'd be nice to know where other members are posting from and what type bus they have ! Some of us list that info in our profiles, some of us brag about where we are or what coach we have so often that everyone knows where we are and what coach we have ! I tried to learn to put that info in the spot below my user name but was unable to make it work so I just left it alone !

Now I usually avoid the OTR/roof air issue because as everyone knows at this time our coaches are still in charter service generating revenue so OTR air is  a must for US! However I tend to side with Nick when I do convert one of our buses (right after having the company do a major overhaul on the A/C system) I plan to keep the OTR A/C ! If a unit is fixed properly in a conversion it should last forever with minor maintance up keep, no more than it would be used!

Steve- If it were me (I don't know where you are located or who told you $3,800.00 just to convert & change the motor) I'd check out Welch Industries as Chuck recommended, but before taking the OTR A/C out I'd have Welch tell you what it needs and how much $ ! Welch Industries are very well respected in the Charter Industry as they have a very good reputation for fixing it right the first time where it lasts almost forever with proper maintance which in the long run makes us $ by keeping our coaches on the road with cool and happy customers! BK Just my 2 cents worth which with $ 3.00 will hardly buy you a gallon of diesel to stay cool with! LOL!

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

BK,

You said the magic words!

[If a unit is fixed properly in a conversion it should last forever with minor maintance up keep, no more than it would be used!]

Theese systems are designed to last a million miles or so... nothing else needs to be said!

Nick-

[Busted Knuckle]

BK,  You said the magic words!
[If a unit is fixed properly in a conversion it should last forever with minor maintance up keep, no more than it would be used!]
Theese systems are designed to last a million miles or so... nothing else needs to be said!
Nick-

Nick, I usually try to stay away from the A/C subject (along with some of the other conversion specific subjects) because I do believe in OTR A/C as a very useful item while traveling ! But I get flamed enough without sticking my head out of my fire proof suit since I have no conversion experince or expertise to lean on ! LOL!  BK

If enough people put on their registrations that they are interested in having a great (the BEST in my opinion) Bus A/C man look at and discuss their A/C's with them I'll invite my A/C specialist to the "TN Fall Bus Bash"


But ya gotta register and put it on the registration form, so I know there is enough interest in it to ask him to take time out of his schedule to come over for a day! BK

[JerryH]

I have (3) basement air and OTR air.  No regrets about having the OTR air.  The coach is easily and fairly quickly cooled with the OTR air.  Can't say the same about the basement airs.  On the #2 bus, we took out the OTR air and have installed (3) roof airs.  The jury is out on that -- but I am already having my concerns and reservations.

Jerry H.