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John Beleskey (Jbeleskey)
Registered Member
Username: Jbeleskey
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2005
Posted From: 69.197.105.54
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 8:00 am: | |
Looking for heat and A/C ideas for my MC9 I have removed all factory stuff and I'm open to suggestions as to what kind to Install. |
John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member
Username: John_mc9
Post Number: 27
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 66.217.108.50
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 8:36 am: | |
John -
Choosing what type of heating and air conditioning is weighted
more on how you plan to use your conversion, than what's good
for anyone else.
The typical commercially built motorhome has two roof-top air
conditioners (with heat strips), and two propane hot air heaters.
They occasionally include an engine coolant loop to the rear
(in our case..to the front) to provide heat via a hot air heater
(Most school buses provide heat in that manner).
When they design the commercial RVs, they assume it's going
to be used "part time", for vacations, etc. The systems are as
simple as possible, and can be repaired or replaced fairly easily.
For the most part, the conventional methods are the least expensive
to purchase and to maintain.
While the engine's running, they make as much use of it as they
can. Heat, hot water, 12 volt lighting, etc...
For "boon-docking", it's 12 vdc and propane. For Campground
hookups, it's 110v for appliances, and 12 vdc (through a 110 ac
to 12 vdc converter) for most lights. Either electric or propane
for hot water is also customary.
A genset provides the need for 110 vac, while boon-docking, or
over the road (the roof-top air conditioners are happy with that!).
So.... knowing what the majority of commercial motorhomes use,
it's up to you to decide to follow in their footsteps, or take off
in another more suitable-to-you, direction....
For additional engine driven air conditioning, you might want to
consider the Welch system. I'm fortunate, that mine came with
the bus....... for the amount of cooling it puts out, compared to
the cost, it's well worth every penny.
Hopefully, others here will help you with all the alternatives for
heating and cooling. It'll be up to you to decide cost vs comfort,
and how much of each you really need. |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member
Username: Jackconrad
Post Number: 462
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 207.30.189.41
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 8:49 am: | |
As John said, it depends on where and how you plan to use your coach and how deep your pockets are.
For AC, when parked you have 3 options: Roof AC units, a "basement air" that is a complete unit the forces the cooled air through ductwork, or a "split sytem" that has the condenser and compressor in the bay and copper lines going to the evaporator and blower fan that is inside the bus (usually in a closet). For on the road AC, you options are: Run your generator, power one of the above off an inverter or an engine driven "add-on" AC unit.
For heat your options are a diesel fired boiler system such as a Webasto, Propane furnace, or electric heaters. |
Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
Registered Member
Username: Jerry_liebler
Post Number: 223
Registered: 3-2005
Posted From: 71.31.3.88
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 10:12 am: | |
All the responses are valid but there are more options than Jack included. For example I'm using a conventional window AC unit through the rear cap. It is more efficient and quieter than a roof unit and cools the rear half of the bus very well. I built cabinetry above the engine hump that incorporates ducts so condensor air comes in from louvered openings on the sides of the cap and the hot condensor air exits rearward through another louver. Also 'portable' air conditioners may work but I'm not very happy with the cooling performance of the ones I have and will be switching to a ductless split for cooling the front. If you try the portables you'll need to 'duct' outside air into the condensor or performance will be even worse. There are also diesel fired forced air heaters. Diesel fired boiler systems have advantages of engine heating, pre-heating and providing 'domestic' hot water.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120 |
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