New Air Conditioner

Escape · Veteran Member

New Air Conditioner

Cruising Granny · Guru

It would probably be refrigerated.
I don't like any of the specific van air cons. Too noisy, not very efficient and cost the earth to run if you're paying for power. (Long term stayers sometimes pay for metered power)
Could you do that installation with a normal house aircon which fits in that space?
A mate installed one of those under the couch air cons and it was quite effective.
Good luck with that.

DeBe · Guru

Hi Escape Domestic split A/C is a dam site cheaper & work alot better than purpose built caravan A/C Cheers Daryl

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Escape
We have a Truma (Dometic) Climaster in our 15.5 poptop caravan. It is under/behind our café seats at the front of our van. The controller is wired to the space above our fridge, which is next to our café seats. http://www.allstores.com.au/product_images/files/climaster-user.pdf

The cabin recycled air intake is on the main "wall" supporting the seat. The three outlets are "plumbed" one behind the cupboards to down near the bed at waist height, the second to the side of the seat pointing into the kitchen area at about knee height, and the third into the space under the table somewhat near the cabin air intake at floor level. The low positioning of the outlets does not seem to be a problem as the cold air is not being blown directly at our feet, or us, and the air flow seems to circulate very well thoughout the van.

Inside the van the noise level is quite low and outside I feel it is not as noisy as some that we have heard. Recently on a 39+C day here in Melbourne I fired it up and the closed van temperature dropped from 37C to 24C in 2hrs. We have not used it much and only once for heating as we prefer our diesel heater when warmth is required.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Monday 1st of March 2010 07:56:08 AM

Paddy · Veteran Member

Escape. I have a factory fitted Truma in my Jayco Penguin van.A dream in the hot and humid Qld conditions,a great unit in the cold of a Tasmanian winter.Unit is fitted in the storage space beneath the D/Bed,all very neat and shipshape.Regards Paddy.

Escape · Veteran Member

Thanks for your input Ron and Paddy.....so there would be no problem of noise under the bed...I would hate to be kept awake while it was runing..thanks again to both of you .

Escape · Veteran Member

Thanks Daryl....are you talking from experience and if so what brand would you recomend.

DeBe · Guru

Well Yes & no Escape I use a domestic A/C in the front window on my van, there is pictures on Tech corner on Denises thread about A/C. But i have freinds who have fitted Split A/C on there vans different brands, some the Condenser unit is on the A frame & others on the back of the van. The evaporator unit can be mounted most any where suitable inside the van. Daryl

Cruising Granny · Guru

I prefer split system AC's, but I don't know where you'd install the outlet in the pop-top van.
I have one mounted on the modified back bumper with the outlet over the stove where the rangehood used to be.
I don't cook inside, and the frame work is been reinforced to take the weight of the range hood, so I figured it would be strong enough for the AC outlet.
I have a back kitchen.
I don't know if this installation is possible for pop-tops.