Portable A/C

[kodiakcamper]

Our 31.5 FBHS has only 1 A/C and 30 amp service. On the days above 90F it can't quite keep up, despite my best efforts to make the system as efficient as possible.

Although rewiring and installing a 2nd roof unit was as possibility the cost of over $900 was hard to swallow. I was inspired when I saw one of these units at Sams club. Low amperage, <5, and can heat, dehumidify and cool up to 800 sqft. It should be the extra umpf we need.

In the case that both A/Cs will be too much of a load, I can always run the portable a/c directly to the pedestal, via extension cord.

 

[kodiakcamper]

The setup inside.

This is a Soleus Air 8,000 btu model.

 

[kodiakcamper]

I used 3/8 in thick plexi to fill in around the open slider window and routed an opening for the exhaust. I under sized the plexi both height and width just enough so it would fit. The slider is closed on the plexi to hold it in place.

 

[kodiakcamper]

The corners are tapered to fit the opening around the window.

 

[kodiakcamper]

View from the outside. Might need to add some screen to keep out bugs. With heavy rain, I plan to remove it and close the window.

 

[kodiakcamper]

The load protector says about 6amps. The portable a/c was the only piece of equipment operating at the time.

 

[mcfarmall]

View from the outside. Might need to add some screen to keep out bugs. With heavy rain, I plan to remove it and close the window.

Try a dryer vent hood on there. Menards out by me sells them in several sizes, 4, 5, 6, inch diameter. Those will keep the rain out.

 

[Brownie-JAY]

Try a dryer vent hood on there. Menards out by me sells them in several sizes, 4, 5, 6, inch diameter. Those will keep the rain out.

And the critters!

 

[RoyBraddy]

We have brought along our 8000BTU House window unit when we are staying for an extended time in our OFF-ROAD POPUP.

Being only the two of us leaves one of the tent beds as a day-time catch all area so an easy place to setup the window unit sitting on a board with the back sticking out the tent window with some well place duct tape haha...

The 8000 BTU Window runs just fine off our 2KW Honda Generator where our roof mounted 13,500 BTU unit does not.

We have done the same thing TENT CAMPING as well. Our TENT has two doors so the one door is a perfect spot to sit a WINDOW UNIT on wood pallet just outside the door and tape up with duck tape again.

Of course we still run into the problem at most public camp grounds here on the EAST side of the US that doesn't allow a lot of generator run time hours. Usually camping in the Natl Forest we can use the generator all day long up to 8PM at night without any problems.

Roy Ken

 

[Grumpy]

I know people use them at Dinsey's Ft. Wilderness for their tents as well as a friend who used one in a pop-up. They all seem to get satisfactory results especially at night.

 

[Threebutchers]

Amp draw sounds reasonable....my 5,000 BTU draws 3-4 amps. Nice job working out the window venting.

 

[Soulman]

We have brought along our 8000BTU House window unit when we are staying for an extended time in our OFF-ROAD POPUP.

Roy Ken

Here's a pic of our first camper....we called it "the Clampetts go camping".

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/album.php?albumid=498

Classy, huh? but it worked.....

 

[Lifer-FRF]

That's a great idea, thanks for sharing with all the detail. My 32TSBH only has the one AC and dealer said it couldn't be outfitted with a 2nd AC. We once camped in 100F weather. DW couldn't take it after one night. She packed up the next day and went back home with DD. home is only an hour away. DS stayed with me another night and then he too wanted to go home. Wish I had thought of your mod back then.

 

[clutch-FRF]

I have seen several tents with portable AC units sticking out and duct taped to an opening near the ground. You can see a lot of things like that in Az in Sept.

 

[Jcatone]

This one looks like a good fit for that spot. Danby from PCRichards

 

[Nunyadamn]

That's a great idea. I have two of those I use in my garage at home. I might just have to pack one into the trailer for when we don't have shore power and only have the generator.