TheSamba.com :: View topic - DIY

Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:06 pm

Terry Kay wrote: Two things here in this discusssion.

Second; Marine AC units come in three varieties.
fixed, water cooled evaporator's, plain old home window unit's that somebody jerry rigged into a hatch or saw cut hole in the cabin, or a drop in hatch unit that can only be used when the yacht is at it's mooring.
( If the boat had a gen set I suppose it could be used while under way--but the hatch units are unsecured, and won't stay put)

I'd like to see the marine unit your talking about---

well so much for that, your absolutely right, mine was a water cooled, I did have to open and close the water intake to started, hmm, completely forgot about that, you can tell its been a few years, my interest is at rest at the campsite, and I am not droping those 5k BTU's home unit on the window! :)

thanks for the reminder, back to the drawing board for me

Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:14 pm

Note that I didn't suggest using hydraulic hose for a/c line.

I said to take the hoses to a hydraulic repair shop and they'll re-hose your fittings for you.

Pretty obvious they would use a/c hose, since that's what you were bringing them and telling them it was for.

Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:28 pm

1621 wrote: carterzest wrote: Oh, and wash my windows-my new years resolution :D

LOL - Yet another resolution that may never be met! :lol:

Hey buddy, Here me know...believe me later. Finally made a new years revolution that I can keep :oops:

Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:46 pm

if you have a 30 minute commute in a crew cab, it dosn't sound too bad. alot cheaper than retro fitting any vanagon AC system into a non AC truck.

Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:50 pm

<<Also using hydraulic hose to replace high pressure A/C hose is asking for trouble. There is a BIG difference between the two and it is far far better to do the work right the first time by having the hoses made right with fresh material that will last.>>

Greg,

I didn't say that this was your idea--I was wondering who first suggested it as an option.--

at any rate--not a good idea at all, wherever it came from.

Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:54 pm

<< I am not droping those 5k BTU's home unit on the window!>>

The 5000 BTU window unit I've got doesn't drop on the window.
It hangs from the luggage rack and is suspended in the window hole.

I wouldn't want to drop any AC unit on the window either. :lol:

Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:22 pm

Terry Kay wrote: << I am not droping those 5k BTU's home unit on the window!>>

The 5000 BTU window unit I've got doesn't drop on the window.
It hangs from the luggage rack and is suspended in the window hole.

I wouldn't want to drop any AC unit on the window either. :lol:

:lol: thats the Puerto Rican in me! (my english) ? never seen an AC unit suspended from a luggage rack, sounds better, any pics? or links?

thanks

Dan

Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:51 pm

Hi PRflyer,

Go to Terry K's web site:

http://community-2.webtv.net/VanStuff/VanagonWestfalia/

and scroll down about halfway to see his in-window unit. Pretty nifty.
(It's obviously for a stationary vehicle.)

Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:34 pm

climberjohn wrote: Hi PRflyer,

Go to Terry K's web site:

http://community-2.webtv.net/VanStuff/VanagonWestfalia/

and scroll down about halfway to see his in-window unit. Pretty nifty.
(It's obviously for a stationary vehicle.)

thanks Climberjohn,

love IT!!! got to get me one, I hate it seing those resting on the door, they look terrible, this set up is definitely for me!

my next upgrade TK

Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:14 pm

Austin sorry I didn't think about it much until now.

I threw it in because I seen too much as an auto parts store owner (we made custom hoses all the time) where people wanted cheap solutions without thinking. They see hydraulic shop and think "hey I can get the hose there too" buying cheaper hydraulic hose instead of A/C hose - that's all.

Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:23 pm

i like the dcairco units has anyone used them? how do they work?

i found this site for portable a/c units. i was considering using the 2000 btu or the 7500 btu units they would work if you had electrical hookup at campsite or solar panels and battery and they could work on the road. has anyone tried these units?
http://www.sylvane.com/site/catalog-filter.php?cat...ce_max=400

i found these units on west marine site and they seem pricy but seem like they would work. has anyone used them?
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servle...artial/0/0

i found these units when i did a search for marine or boat a/c they seem like they would do the job for a van. but i dont know if they use the sea water for cooling or a compressor. anyone have first hand knowledge?
http://www.google.com/base/a/2268177/D12967712912532403560

Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:04 pm

The Marine units you forwarded are all water cooled, and require a lake or sea water to operate.
Tough to drop your Van in a lake or the intercoastal for water intake.

The self contained units are space sucker's--

The Vanagon has limited interior space as it is--where do you plan on parking these portable home units in your Van?

Tight fit--

Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:55 pm

just thought that it was a good idea to use a marine unit for a campsite where you might have h2o hookup. although the west marine units are expensive they would do the job, just like a swamp cooler. probably cheaper units on the market. since you have water pressure you wouldnt need a pump. this could be an inexpensive way to cool off

Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:45 pm

Ok--you've got the water intake covered---
Your going to run up the campgrounds water bill or run their well dry.
One of the two--the marine units use a bunch of water.

Now---where are you planning on going with the water that get's used to cool down the evaporator?

Dump it on the ground?

Good--bring your swimming suit or plan on skinney dippin'.

Splish Splash , your going to be taking a bath--

You'll have one hell of a pond when you wake up in the morning---The guy that own's the campground is going to love the new Lake you just built for him.

Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:02 pm

Audi uses a air to air heat pump on the new Audi concept electric car.
I bet their system is pretty efficient.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/audi-e-tron-an-electric-supercar-concept/

Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:17 pm

climberjohn wrote: Hi PRflyer,

Go to Terry K's web site:

http://community-2.webtv.net/VanStuff/VanagonWestfalia/

and scroll down about halfway to see his in-window unit. Pretty nifty.
(It's obviously for a stationary vehicle.)

I installed a 5k btu window unit in the slider over the stove (non westy window). It is powered when driving by a 200w honda gen set on the rear, wired into the van's system. Plug in when parked or gen while off the grid. I keep it in as far as possible when driving and push it out when parked to allow access to the sink\range. Kind of country, but a life saver for summer camping.

Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:17 pm

climberjohn wrote: Hi PRflyer,

Go to Terry K's web site:

http://community-2.webtv.net/VanStuff/VanagonWestfalia/

and scroll down about halfway to see his in-window unit. Pretty nifty.
(It's obviously for a stationary vehicle.)

I installed a 5k btu window unit in the slider over the stove (non westy window). It is powered when driving by a 200w honda gen set on the rear, wired into the van's system. Plug in when parked or gen while off the grid. I keep it in as far as possible when driving and push it out when parked to allow access to the sink\range. Kind of country, but a life saver for summer camping.

Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:37 am

Quote: If you want an add on unit, try this;

http://www.dcairco.com/DC4400.html

Is that what Jimmy Buffet had on top his AW?

http://www.theadventurelife.org/2009/04/ultimate-adventure-rig-the-four-wheel-drive-vw-camper-van/