Interesting AC

[Zephod]

I'm idly looking at compact AC units. Ideally, I'd have a small unit that could fit in the 14 inches height underneath my bus. That's the height between the underside of the ribs and the bottom of the skirt. Cold air could be blown upwards through a purpose made hole in the floor.

Anyway, I looked at this one online https://www.themine.com/air-conditioners/honeywell-appliances-mf08ces-8-000-btu-portable-air-conditioner-w-remote-control_10194424.html?ppc=2615&af=2615&cm_mmc=sce_google&s_kwcid=AL!4500!3!188533467504!!!g!495290005912!&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh_bLBRDeARIsAH4ZYENsxKx0aPwTXypai8HtZqMkKUtgnf5SzTwIpk_fxGJorcWVcm6609gaAjY1EALw_wcB&ef_id=V0PhZQAAAMMyhDkv:20170730155904:s

If I had spare space, that could be an interesting option. As it is, I can't see quite where I'd install it. Hence, I'm only idly looking. I just thought this might be neat for people actively needing AC units.


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[muldoonman]

At,
Height:   24.41 inches
Length:   19.49 inches
Width:   19.49 inches
Weight:   52.03lbs

just put unit inside and vent exhaust out the window.

[Oonrahnjay]

    You might want to think about a "portable".  I have 5K BTU portable (sort of a no-name brand from Lowes) that I bought for less than this one.  I can't say that I like it much.  I mostly use it in my bedroom and it just doesn't do a very good job.  The way that they're made (at least mine and every other one I've checked out in detail) is to pull inside air into the unit, run that air over the condenser, and then exhaust it out the vent.  That means that air you've already cooled is being pushed overboard and natural air infiltration brings warm air inside to replace it (through window/door cracks, etc.).  I've only used it with my bus under a shelter or in a shop and when it's really hot outside, the unit begins to cool down quickly and then get "swamped" and just never cools to the thermostat level.  Dunno where you're planning to use this but SC isn't much different from southern NC.

    I guess it works, in some senses, but it sure doesn't seem to work well.  On the other hand, the unit you pictured looks well designed.  It should be easy to improvise a collector around the air intake for the condenser and run dryer hose to an inlet in a window, you'll have to have and exhaust for the hot air out the condenser which comes from the round fitting on the back panel.  I use 1/8" hardboard panel, cut it to fit so that you can slip it into an open window and then snug the window up to it, and cut the inlet and outlet holes as you need them.

   But if you ask me "does it work well" I'd have to tell you "no, not really; maybe in just light-duty conditions but not in terms of genuine hot environments".

[Zephod]

Yeah, I'm only idly looking. If I could get something that I could bolt under the bus then I might be interested in working out the logistics of installing it. As it is, everything is too bulky. I have Idly considered putting together a Peltier unit since it'd have to run from shore power. No onboard generator bar 35W of solar that solely powers ventilation.

I still have a little space under the body on the outside of the main chassis members and between front and rear wheels. I don't fancy putting anything behind the rear wheels as there it would get bounced around a lot. That might be good for a septic tank though!


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[belfert]

There are dozens of similar air conditioners.  Others who have tried them in buses say they don't work very well.

If space is the primary issue why not a roof top air conditioner?  You can probably find a used one pretty cheap if you look for a while.

[windtrader]

How many folks use those standalone units with the external intake hose? They seem quiet and put out a fair amount of btu and run on 110v. Seems like a reasonable option if you don't run the AC often. Not too big to store in the bay.

[Zephod]

How many folks use those standalone units with the external intake hose? They seem quiet and put out a fair amount of btu and run on 110v. Seems like a reasonable option if you don't run the AC often. Not too big to store in the bay.

I've turned down roof units because of the trees. Same for roof mounted solar panels. Round here nobody cuts the trees. The roof of my work bus is regularly whacked by tree branches. I avoid 99% of them but that 1% takes out marker lights, dents the roof and would make mincemeat of solar panels and rooftop AC. It doesn't matter how many times the highway dept is told, nothing ever gets trimmed.

I've seen the portable ac units. They seem to take up plenty space. Had I designed my bus to take one then it would be great. I didn't though.


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[belfert]

Interesting about the trees.  My bus is 12'-9" to top of rooftop A/C units and trees have never been that big an issue for me.  I was in Chattanooga and all of the telephone and electric lines seemed really low, but I never hit one with my bus.  I recall talking to a bus owner who has taken out lines hanging over roads before.  He didn't worry about breaking them since he feels they should be high enough to clear a standard 13'-6" truck.

[Iceni John]

If you mount almost any A/C under the floor you will be asking it to blow cold air upwards, against gravity.   Whatever you think about gravity, it's the law, and we all have to obey laws . . .   You probably will need an extra circulation fan or blower to move the cold air to where it's needed.   Could you instead mount it inside at ceiling height, then the cold air will naturally gravitate downwards by itself.   There's a reason that A/C registers are normally high and heating registers low!

John

[Oonrahnjay]

How many folks use those standalone units with the external intake hose? They seem quiet and put out a fair amount of btu and run on 110v. Seems like a reasonable option if you don't run the AC often. Not too big to store in the bay.   

    I do.  Doesn't work well.   And it's an external exhaust hose.

[Brassman]

I bought a portable heat pump a couple of years ago with the idea reworking the condenser air flow so it sucks in outside air and then exhausts outside, and then maybe ducting the evaporator air flow. It would be fixed at that point. I believe it's rated at 9,000 btu (but could be 12k). I haven't done anything with that AC yet (or even used it for that matter), but a heat pump for $329 seemed like a good idea for my bus -- if it's possible to get it to perform.

[Oonrahnjay]

I bought a portable heat pump a couple of years ago with the idea reworking the condenser air flow so it sucks in outside air and then exhausts outside, and then maybe ducting the evaporator air flow. It would be fixed at that point. I believe it's rated at 9,000 btu (but could be 12k). I haven't done anything with that AC yet (or even used it for that matter), but a heat pump for $329 seemed like a good idea for my bus -- if it's possible to get it to perform.

Please tell more about this unit.  If the power draw is low, it could be very useful.

[Brassman]

It's a De'Longhi Penguino 12,500 BTU Portable AC with heat pump function. Don't have more info at the moment, as it's time to go to work.

[Gordie Allen]

I have a 4104 that I heat and cool with two 9000 btu mini splits. I wanted the bus to look original, so I have nothing on the roof. The minis aren't very efficient going down the road, so I'm looking at installing one of these units in the spare tire compartment. The flexible ducting overcomes the issue of gravity and will allow me to make custom grills in the dash.
https://climateright.com/climateright-5000-btu-a-c-heater-2.html#product_tabs_product-specs

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I have used the portable units with the exhaust hose with very good luck in fact my landlord even put one in my office rather than having us use the big unit. In the bus you may need two to keep you cool in SoCal, but up north one may be fine.  They are much quieter than the roof mounted units but not as powerful.  I had two roof airs in my MCI, not so good insulated bus which were inadequate on days where it got close to 100 degrees here, but the portable unit would be just enough to keep it comfortable inside the bus.  I also used my bus for my office for a while and it was nice to be able to run the portable unit when making phone calls.  I vented it though the drivers side ticket window.