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Subject Topic: Air conditioning units
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02/2/2016 at 9:52am
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Elddis accordo Motorhome
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Do the new caravan systems have inverter driven scroll compressors? On house a/c they are much nicer than the noisy old reciprocating ones that bang in and out.

I still wouldn't bother with the extra weight though. I fitted a fan in our sunroof which is excellent.


02/2/2016 at 11:27am
 Location: County Armagh
 Outfit: Hobby 700
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Mark we have a domestic air-con unit we take to France in our caravan. It works very well, chills down to 18 degrees, and was quiet enough to run at night. It is quite heavy but my husband made a kind of shallow box with foam rubber inside and rubber mat attached to the underneath for it to sit in for the journey and it sits over the axle, never moved. It doesn't have a condenser so you either have a fiddly tray underneath - which you have to try hard not to kick! - or a hose out through a window. Again my husband designed a piece of plastic for the hose to go through, which fitted into the window opening and allowed you to bring the blind down to stop any warm air getting in. It's a bit of a faff but as there's only the two of us it doesn't get in the way at all and it's been very welcome when the temperature outside goes over 30. Our lab used to go in and sleep in front of it. When we changed the caravan for a small camper van a few years back we fitted a Dometic roof job. It was expensive and to me didn't seem to cool the wee camper down to the same degree and we were cautious to run it at night in cramped campsites as we thought it sounded quite noisy outside. Now that we're back to a caravan, the trusty old domestic unit will come out of the garage and go back into service for this year - assuming it still works! We paid £79.99 in a sale in B&Q for it about 8 years ago. I'm scared to remember how much the Dometic unit cost but it was 000's

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Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly


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02/2/2016 at 11:44am
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When we bought our van the previous owner took down the air con unit (dont know the make) he let me see the unit and said try lifting it.What a weight was in it i think it must have weighed about 2 cwt.

-------------
Animals have feelings..

JEFF................


02/2/2016 at 11:59am
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser
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Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 02/2/2016
When we bought our van the previous owner took down the air con unit (dont know the make) he let me see the unit and said try lifting it.What a weight was in it i think it must have weighed about 2 cwt.


Our Dometic 2200 weighs about 32kg!


02/2/2016 at 12:44pm
 Location: Greece
 Outfit: Stirling Elite Searcher
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Quote:
I still wouldn't bother with the extra weight though. I fitted a fan in our sunroof which is excellent.



The weight is irrelevant to me, i wouldn't use the caravan through a Greek summer without a AC unit.
So whatever the solution weighs it's worth it to me.

Don't know if you've spent any time in hot climates, but at 35c and over a fan is absolutely pointless, all it does is blow hot air over you.

Riding a motorbike at anything over 40c and the air can be warm enough in places to cause some discomfort to exposed skin.


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02/2/2016 at 12:46pm
 Location: Greece
 Outfit: Stirling Elite Searcher
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Quote: Originally posted by TravellinPam on 02/2/2016
Mark we have a domestic air-con unit we take to France in our caravan. It works very well, chills down to 18 degrees, and was quiet enough to run at night. It is quite heavy but my husband made a kind of shallow box with foam rubber inside and rubber mat attached to the underneath for it to sit in for the journey and it sits over the axle, never moved. It doesn't have a condenser so you either have a fiddly tray underneath - which you have to try hard not to kick! - or a hose out through a window. Again my husband designed a piece of plastic for the hose to go through, which fitted into the window opening and allowed you to bring the blind down to stop any warm air getting in. It's a bit of a faff but as there's only the two of us it doesn't get in the way at all and it's been very welcome when the temperature outside goes over 30. Our lab used to go in and sleep in front of it. When we changed the caravan for a small camper van a few years back we fitted a Dometic roof job. It was expensive and to me didn't seem to cool the wee camper down to the same degree and we were cautious to run it at night in cramped campsites as we thought it sounded quite noisy outside. Now that we're back to a caravan, the trusty old domestic unit will come out of the garage and go back into service for this year - assuming it still works! We paid £79.99 in a sale in B&Q for it about 8 years ago. I'm scared to remember how much the Dometic unit cost but it was 000's



Exactly the sort of info i was after, thank you.

The noise won't be much of a problem as every other caravan will be running a AC, so as long as it's not crazy loud it'll be fine.

Do you have any pics of your set up please?


02/2/2016 at 1:28pm
 Location: County Armagh
 Outfit: Hobby 700
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Quote: Originally posted by kwaked on 02/2/2016

Exactly the sort of info i was after, thank you.

The noise won't be much of a problem as every other caravan will be running a AC, so as long as it's not crazy loud it'll be fine.

Do you have any pics of your set up please?



I think we threw out the plastic hose holder thingy as it got damaged in the garage - have to make a new one - but I'll have a look and see if there are any photos. we're hoping for Greece ourselves this year so it will be a necessity!


-------------
Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly


02/2/2016 at 6:45pm
 Location: Somewhere
 Outfit: Hobby 540 Premium
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kwaked, with all due respect, if the temperature is so important to you, don't mess around with some 'Heath Robinson' affair, invest in a decent roof mounted device I'm sure you won't regret it....   


02/2/2016 at 7:29pm
 Location: Greece
 Outfit: Stirling Elite Searcher
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Quote: Originally posted by Nick J on 02/2/2016
kwaked, with all due respect, if the temperature is so important to you, don't mess around with some 'Heath Robinson' affair, invest in a decent roof mounted device I'm sure you won't regret it....   



Thing is though Nick, these "heath Robinson" things are what i've been using at home the last 16 years.

They're tried, tested, have spare parts available and i have a good idea on what size to choose.

I've never seen or used a roof mounted AC, i have absolutely no idea where i'd start to find spares for one in Greece, i have no idea on sizing or how they cope with 40c+ temps and they're over twice the price of the "heath robinson" ones.

The kind folks here have kindly shared their experiences with the roof mounted versions, this has put my mind to rest on how well they work.

If i moved the caravan on a regular basis then it's a easy choice, the roof mounted would be a LOT easier.

It's unlikely my caravan will be moved after it's been towed here though, at least for the 12 months i've paid for the pitch, so adapting a home unit does have it's advantages.

Any thoughts or ideas you have on the subject greatly appreciated.


02/2/2016 at 8:49pm
 Location: Somewhere
 Outfit: Hobby 540 Premium
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My roof mounted device has been installed for 3 years without any need for service or repair...


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02/2/2016 at 11:36pm
 Location: Stockton on Tees
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman SB Kia Sorento
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I have a Cool my Camper, and find it works very well.
Whatever you get, apart from a roof mounted unit, it is going to be bulky and take up space.
The Cool my Camper unit can be clamped on the inside of a window, or if you have a suitable space it can just stand on any flat surface.


03/2/2016 at 9:06am
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser
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Quote: Originally posted by kwaked on 02/2/2016
Quote: Originally posted by Nick J on 02/2/2016kwaked, with all due respect, if the temperature is so important to you, don't mess around with some 'Heath Robinson' affair, invest in a decent roof mounted device I'm sure you won't regret it....   



Thing is though Nick, these "heath Robinson" things are what i've been using at home the last 16 years.

They're tried, tested, have spare parts available and i have a good idea on what size to choose.

I've never seen or used a roof mounted AC, i have absolutely no idea where i'd start to find spares for one in Greece, i have no idea on sizing or how they cope with 40c+ temps and they're over twice the price of the "heath robinson" ones.

The kind folks here have kindly shared their experiences with the roof mounted versions, this has put my mind to rest on how well they work.

If i moved the caravan on a regular basis then it's a easy choice, the roof mounted would be a LOT easier.

It's unlikely my caravan will be moved after it's been towed here though, at least for the 12 months i've paid for the pitch, so adapting a home unit does have it's advantages.

Any thoughts or ideas you have on the subject greatly appreciated.



Dometic is an International company and spares are plentiful worldwide even in Greece! If you are happy with your Heath Robinson unit why ask our opinion as it is your choice?


03/2/2016 at 10:42am
 Location: County Armagh
 Outfit: Hobby 700
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Quote: Originally posted by Nick J on 02/2/2016
kwaked, with all due respect, if the temperature is so important to you, don't mess around with some 'Heath Robinson' affair, invest in a decent roof mounted device I'm sure you won't regret it....   



my husband would be very flattered to be compared to Heath Robinson I'm sure. However the fact remains that having experienced both, it was and is the more efficient and cheaper solution. For a permanent/seasonal pitch such as Mark needs it for -   its a no-brainer.

-------------
Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly


03/2/2016 at 10:54am
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I think when you get abroad is to buy some thing that your gonna get parts for or some thing with a warranty ?

-------------
Animals have feelings..

JEFF................


03/2/2016 at 11:18am
 Location: West Sussex
 Outfit: 2003 Swift Charisma 540
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Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 03/2/2016
I think when you get abroad is to buy some thing that your gonna get parts for or some thing with a warranty ?



There is no such thing in Greece.
That's why there so cheap.


03/2/2016 at 5:43pm
 Location: Somewhere
 Outfit: Hobby 540 Premium
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A/C units are very reliable, similar to refrigerators...



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