Fired up the heat pumps today!

[muddog16]

The temps today hit 101F with the humidity around 60% and the heat index setting on 125F, it was time to fire up the Duo-Therm low profile heat pumps........the first one kicked on without insulation other that overhead OEM original!  It took about 45 minutes to cool the inside down and make if comfortable enough to work in!  I have these tied together in 3 zones, the digital control runs all three heat pumps but zone 2 and 3 have their own remote temp sensors, they are all programmable for their specific area in the bus.  I purchased these from Nick about 2 years ago.....if they do this well without the side walls or floor insulated, they will handle the heat load to make this conversion comfortable!   I'm running these off of a feed to one of my panels in the electrical compartment and its fed through my welding receptable and cord! (breakers are in the panel for each heat pump).  Each of these units are rated at 15,000 BTU my duct work did really well!    Now the only problem is the water being removed, and pooling on the roof!  I tried to find where I could install scuppers at each rear corner but there isn't anything available.  I'm going to try to find some ready made scuppers to install and not cause any leaks.......if anyone has an idea throw it out there!                Thanks

[steve wardwell]

last year I put   catchbasins around our ACs.. using 1 1/2 " aluminum angle. they are a trapezoid shape to deflect rain so as not to overpower the gaskit seal under the units, the curve of the rooftop helps keep the water away from the seals also as the back end of the basin is wider than the front. I have the drains at the lowest possable points each side and drain into a 1/2  PVC collector pipe which runs down foreward at an angle with pitch  then to  downspouts port and starb just behind the door and the window.. I used rivets and gunk to seal it up and it works well ..we have no AC drips and we are in FL ! when it rains it simply overflows the tops of the lower sides of the "form "   this has helped with corrosion and paint problems from the constant flow of AC water...PS the down spouts are removeable and held on with wire Tye's but I leave them on ..this setup may be visible on my pictures on the post your bus photos  page # 25 near the bottom (the photo ready for NC trip w/trailer) 

[robertglines1]

I had to look scuppers up...drains on a boat to let water over deck back out..wow been boating for over 45 yrs and I learned something new today.. Question does your new ac units not reuse condisate thru condensor to aid cooling of freon?..need to know here for I'm still learning hvac.  Never had a sailboat...I do understand the problem of dripping off roof usually where you don't want it...Bob

[steve wardwell]

When I was looking for a solution for the dripping ACs I found a site on the net that made a basin that was made  to be installed between the AC and roof. It was made of a indestructible plastic form about a inch tall, hollow , with a ridge on the top edge to funnel the water through inboard holes to the lower "tank" then out the sides through barbed fittings. The system was  reasonable cheap, under 100 bucks. However the website was AWOL and I never got anywhere. I thought long and hard about trying to mimic that solution but opted for the simpler angles riveted to the roof setup..You might pursue the other type as they had no holes in the roof try googleing  AC water basins etc,etc etc...

[muddog16]

I don't think this is actually a major fix........I'm just trying to find the right item to use or make if I have to!   I'm not sure the dam works for me.   There wasn't a problem with water until I turned the unit off and then the water poured off of the roof,  this is one of those problems to fix at this point in the conversion.   The cooling capacity of the low profile units were awesome, I looked long and hard trying to find a fix from the manufacturer but they don't even mention it anywhere!   Scuppers is a boating term and a good way to allow water a route back to the sea!  I saw on serveral new Prevosts that had recessed roof tops over the bedroom area to allow clearance for KVH dome's  in each corner of this recess there were scuppers!  I might mention that I noticed these at a college football game the Prevosts pulled below the area where I was seated and I was distracted (buses do that).   

[bevans6]

When I read  the title, I thought you were firing up the webasto's because you were too cold!  Anyway, so far I find the stock rain gutters on my MCI are doing a good job of handling the condensation, but that may be due in part to the off-center install.  The AC is off center to the drivers side, the roof is curved, so no condensation ever comes down the entry door side.

Brian

[steve wardwell]

went back and found the website, works now, although they must have changed the disign.  "Van Pan" in FL.