Air Conditioning

Riss4ever · 03-18-2016, 11:08 AM

HELP
I am about to buy a bus. But I need to know the cheapest and/or easiest way to do air conditioning and how much it will cost?!?!

EastCoastCB · 03-18-2016, 11:49 AM

Cheapest and easiest is probably a window unit in one of the rear windows.
Roof units kinda suck but can be handy.
For maximum cooling efficiency look into a mini split system.

Robin97396 · 03-18-2016, 11:51 AM

Hello, I'm sure you can find pertinent information here.

The cheap easy way it to install a 6k btu air conditioner from Goodwill in one of your window holes. The nice way is to use the newer two piece air conditioners that are so much more efficient and quieter.

I don't have air because Oregon only needs air for a couple weeks during the middle of the summer, making it kind of expensive to maintain. A heat pump would be more practical for me.

As far as cost, it all depends on what you expect to get out of this. It's going to cost probably twice as much as you think it will.

Josiahdr · 03-18-2016, 12:02 PM

Going to do a "built in" window unit in the rear bulkhead. As someone else on here already did.

If the unit dies I will be able to go to wally world and pick up a new one and toss it in. Or good old CL.

Robin97396 · 03-18-2016, 12:24 PM

I'd like to go the cheap route too, but I don't want an air conditioner hanging out the arse of the bus. I also don't like the top mounted RV air conditioners. Anything that sticks out beyond the body of the bus can be scraped off while out in the boonies.

Then again when it gets hot I'll probably be parked in the shade beside a high mountain lake. It's when you go to town to get groceries and fuel that you need air.

Josiahdr · 03-18-2016, 12:27 PM

Ya I don't plan on having it hang out. Will look for the pic of what I am going to try and accomplish.

Josiahdr · 03-18-2016, 12:34 PM

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/ch...air-10341.html

Going to something like that in the rear bulkhead.

Skoolydoo · 03-18-2016, 12:42 PM

Could always get a stand along portable, then just move where you want, we had one and they work pretty good..this is the way we will go in our bus..
Move to bedroom at night in living area/kitchen day time as needed

Tango · 03-18-2016, 12:55 PM

If you have a little room below, building a basement/central unit using a widow A/C works like gangbusters. That way you can use a larger unit plus duct it where you need it.

Stu & Filo. T · 03-18-2016, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skoolydoo

Could always get a stand along portable, then just move where you want, we had one and they work pretty good..this is the way we will go in our bus..
Move to bedroom at night in living area/kitchen day time as needed

I used one of these in my house for a couple of years, hated it they are very noisy & are constantly cycling making it very difficult to hear your surroundings if necessary.

Riss4ever · 03-18-2016, 01:15 PM

Thanks. What about powering a window unit?

Tango · 03-18-2016, 02:03 PM

Whether it is a window unit or a rooftop "RV" unit, it will have to run on 110v. That means either plugged into shore power, hooked direct to a generator...or batteries and an inverter. With a large enough alternator and the right electronics, some rigs can run a 110 appliances off the bus engine. EMT & Fire units do it all the time.

I'll leave any solar discussions to someone else.

Kipin · 03-19-2016, 02:55 PM

Could someone post a link to Lornas original build thread? I tried searching for it a while back and could not find it : (

gbstewart · 03-19-2016, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skoolydoo

Could always get a stand along portable, then just move where you want, we had one and they work pretty good..this is the way we will go in our bus..
Move to bedroom at night in living area/kitchen day time as needed

we have a stand along, but have it mounted and vented out the side, it cools the front ok, and if we put up our curtain we can cool the area for driver and passenger when we are on the road, just run the generator, we have window unit mounted in the rear bulk head works great.
gbstewart

gbstewart · 03-19-2016, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipin

Could someone post a link to Lornas original build thread? I tried searching for it a while back and could not find it : (

i'm pretty sure she closed her thread,
gbstewart

Bell · 05-31-2017, 07:39 PM

Would someone explain how to convert window unit to vent out the bus floor?... Hot in the Raleigh area!

Robin97396 · 05-31-2017, 08:10 PM

Recently several people hung their window AC under the bus and ducted the cool air up through the floor. The rear of the AC unit was facing outward even with a small grate that had been attached to the skirt specifically for ventilation.

They said it worked well. Sorry I don't remember the thread that information was on.

1olfart · 05-31-2017, 11:25 PM

Sojourner's build has the floor mount window a/c, in he floor. Pg 41 of the build.
Let us know how yours turns out.

M1031A1 · 06-01-2017, 09:30 AM

I'm about to do the exact same thing in three weeks. I'll post pics.

M

Robin97396 · 06-01-2017, 11:07 AM

Considering how cheaply you can buy window AC units at the end of the summer this makes a lot of sense. I find large AC units at goodwill each fall that appear to have only been used for one year.

That leads me to my next question. Who dumps a working ACs after only one year?

Even the skirt on this bus will easily hide an AC, and they're so easily replaceable. I'm trying to keep the outside of this bus smooth so no window AC, solar panels or other items that could get wiped out in the brush.

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