I did search through topics, but all old or not relevant.
Our Ibis 3 has started to play up / not cool, only in the last month or so. It has always been a bit noisy and worked better in humid heat not so great in dry heat, especially in 40+.
As van a/c can be pricey we are thinking or replacing with house unit, split system cooling only.
1. Any recommendacious on Brands and what size for a 22ft van ?
2. Who to fit ? northern Adelaide area preferably.
3. Anybody else done this ? If so, what have you done with the hole in roof where old unit was ?
See an Air-conditioning tech. your current Ibis may only need a couple of "O" rings and a re-gas. There would be a local guy somewhere near you that does car air-conditioning Stay away from Caravan dealers.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
I did search through topics, but all old or not relevant.
Our Ibis 3 has started to play up / not cool, only in the last month or so. It has always been a bit noisy and worked better in humid heat not so great in dry heat, especially in 40+.
As van a/c can be pricey we are thinking or replacing with house unit, split system cooling only.
1. Any recommendacious on Brands and what size for a 22ft van ?
2. Who to fit ? northern Adelaide area preferably.
3. Anybody else done this ? If so, what have you done with the hole in roof where old unit was ?
Any help and ideas appreciated, many thanks
After much research,looking at different brands,and talking to many independent "experts" I chose a Mitsubishi HEAVY INDUSTRIES (NOT Mitsubishi Electric) 2.5kw that cost me $700 at Good Guys,and find that it s heaps big enough.To cover the outside hole I simply Sikaflexed a piece of aluminium to the roof,and inside I fitted a bit of the inner roofing material over the inside hole.Easy.MHI seems very efficient,and I can run it all night off batteries,no worries.Cools 20 van quickly,and easily maintained 18 degrees 24/7 while I was testing,with over 30 degree days.Main unit is on drawbar and cassette is mounted on side wall above table.Highly recommended.Cheers.
I did search through topics, but all old or not relevant.
Our Ibis 3 has started to play up / not cool, only in the last month or so. It has always been a bit noisy and worked better in humid heat not so great in dry heat, especially in 40+.
As van a/c can be pricey we are thinking or replacing with house unit, split system cooling only.
1. Any recommendacious on Brands and what size for a 22ft van ?
2. Who to fit ? northern Adelaide area preferably.
3. Anybody else done this ? If so, what have you done with the hole in roof where old unit was ?
Any help and ideas appreciated, many thanks
I have no idea about using a domestic style A/c but and there always is a but.
A few months back I needed to use our Ibis a/c for heat (a week earlier I had run it on cool, worked as I would expect) and it failed. After talking with a local Dometic agent in Coffs Harbour, he said "it could be 1 or 2 cheap things or buy new one". leave it go till I get home, not that important as we mainly go off power.
The local guy here in Brisbane after doing some simple test said easy fix, while he was at it threw some new rubber mounts in. about $240 well spent money, works better then ever, start up is so much quieter and closes down without the thump. Best money spent.
The part is a electrical thingy when you switch the A/C on its the capacitier I think,
I did search through topics, but all old or not relevant.
Our Ibis 3 has started to play up / not cool, only in the last month or so. It has always been a bit noisy and worked better in humid heat not so great in dry heat, especially in 40+.
As van a/c can be pricey we are thinking or replacing with house unit, split system cooling only.
1. Any recommendacious on Brands and what size for a 22ft van ?
2. Who to fit ? northern Adelaide area preferably.
3. Anybody else done this ? If so, what have you done with the hole in roof where old unit was ?
Any help and ideas appreciated, many thanks
Most dealers use the local Dometic approved technician to do their warranty and repair work. He is usually mobile so he will come to you.
A call to a local dealer will get you his contact number. He will work on all brands of air cond.
3. Check your external 240volt power point supply. This may of been our problem, when We were replacing the power point the wires were not fitted real well, very unprofessional.
4. We stay at a Showgrounds, sometimes if we really want power we have joined a second lead, NOT a good idea, The a/c serviceman said will cause power drop on start up buggering the capacitor.
So there you go make up your minds but I hope this helps.
3. Check your external 240volt power point supply. This may of been our problem, when We were replacing the power point the wires were not fitted real well, very unprofessional.
4. We stay at a Showgrounds, sometimes if we really want power we have joined a second lead, NOT a good idea, The a/c serviceman said will cause power drop on start up buggering the capacitor.
Perhaps a service person who understands the slightest thing about electricity would be able to offer better advice?
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
We replaced our rooftop rattler in 2015 with a Mitsubishi Electric - aircon serviceman in the Pilbara told us to avoid Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. He was servicing air cons not selling them. It is the best thing we have done in our van. Many caravan service centres say they will not fit them as they are not made for caravans but we have had no issues with ours except for a broken spot weld where the leg of the compressor unit is attached to the compressor. We have not restricted our dirt road travel and spend 6 mths away each year. We also found it great for frosty nights.
All up cost was $1600 - $800 for unit and $800 to fit (done by Roma in Cambelfield Vic)
Ask Delta18 - he had one fitted to is new van and may have had it done in SA
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Sunday 29th of December 2019 07:49:23 PM
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Sunday 29th of December 2019 07:50:53 PM
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
3. Check your external 240volt power point supply. This may of been our problem, when We were replacing the power point the wires were not fitted real well, very unprofessional.
4. We stay at a Showgrounds, sometimes if we really want power we have joined a second lead, NOT a good idea, The a/c serviceman said will cause power drop on start up buggering the capacitor.
Perhaps a service person who understands the slightest thing about electricity would be able to offer better advice?
Mike. Perhaps a service person might but poster asked here where get a lot of amateur replies and then the so called pros not much better.
I cleaned the heat exchanger fins with soapy water then rinsed with mix of metho and water . So much wooly material came out ! Its a wander it worked . The metho, ethanol dried out fast .
3. Check your external 240volt power point supply. This may of been our problem, when We were replacing the power point the wires were not fitted real well, very unprofessional.
4. We stay at a Showgrounds, sometimes if we really want power we have joined a second lead, NOT a good idea, The a/c serviceman said will cause power drop on start up buggering the capacitor.
Perhaps a service person who understands the slightest thing about electricity would be able to offer better advice?
Mike. Perhaps a service person might but poster asked here where get a lot of amateur replies and then the so called pros not much better.
now get back on subject.
It is my view that any work on an appliance run by 240V power should be carried out by a qualified person and not amateurs!
-- Edited by montie on Tuesday 31st of December 2019 09:34:24 AM
Busted pipe inside unit, told it was fixable, but due to amount of dirt and rubbish through system, would always have issues.
So after replacing the solar system, now more $ for another air con.
I think we have worked out why there are so many 2 to 3 yr old vans on the market. People replace them before things start to break or fall apart. Our van has just gone 4 yrs.
Another postper on this forum mentioned lots of issues on a maiden trip with a new retreat.
Doesnot really matter how much you pay, quality products are falling by the wayside.
We had an Electrolux Roof Mounted Monster fitted when we had our caravan built, we seldom used it because it was so Noisy. We took it out a couple of years ago and reduced our weight by 43KG.
We bought a Carframo 12 V fan about 10 years ago and it was better than any air conditioner for us. Have just had to replace it as a small Micro Switch packed it in and are not available to get as a replacement, so bought the latest Carframo from Caravans Plus, it was $140-00 + freight, saw the same fan in a Caravan Parts place the other day for $178-00, needed some other bits so that made the freight charge a lot easier to take.
We did contemplate a domestic split system, as we only need cooling, as have diesel heater, but not sure how it would travel on a lot of the rough roads, (some being worse than dirt roads)
We were informed that running off a genie was ok, but not sure how it would travel.
It all seems like a toss up, save pennies and possibly be prepared to replace it, or spend the pennies and hope you dont end up with amother dud unit
Only have a bit of hot weather to get through so will need to put more thought into it before making a final decision.
Neil, where did you get your unit and who fitted it, if you dont mind me asking?
We did contemplate a domestic split system, as we only need cooling, as have diesel heater, but not sure how it would travel on a lot of the rough roads, (some being worse than dirt roads)
We were informed that running off a genie was ok, but not sure how it would travel.
It all seems like a toss up, save pennies and possibly be prepared to replace it, or spend the pennies and hope you dont end up with amother dud unit
Only have a bit of hot weather to get through so will need to put more thought into it before making a final decision.
Neil, where did you get your unit and who fitted it, if you dont mind me asking?
Thanks, Alana
Sorry Alana, I didnt see your post til just now.
I got my a/c at a Golden Grove A/c specialist whose name now evades my, it was off Yatla Vale Road from memory. They installed it as well.
