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01-18-2017, 10:47 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
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ISO HVAC Options
Hey guys! I'm trying to figure out the best HVAC options for my schoolie. It won't need to be very mobile, it will stay on my property and be powered like all the other buildings. It's a 35' bus with about 10 people staying in it when its said and done, no appliances/kitchen/bathroom anything like that, just sleep space. What are my best HVAC options? I'm thinking a combo window unit- any particular brands/models yall like? Or if there are other ways to do it that worked well I'd love those suggestions too. Thanks!
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01-18-2017, 11:34 AM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Welcome,
Details regarding climate and insulation would be very helpful.
If you are going to be using it in Yakima in August you probably won't be too concerned about your heater........
To properly size HVAC you need:
External temp
Target interior temp
Area of exterior surfaces (walls, floor, roof & glazing)
U or R value of exterior surfaces.
Parasitic loads (heat generated by 10 bodies)
From that you can estimate the Btu's required to meet your need.
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01-18-2017, 01:55 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pensacola and Crystal River, FL
Posts: 647
Year: 1998
Coachwork: AmTran International
Chassis: 3800
Engine: Navistar 7.6L
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and how drafty it is.
But with so many windows, you can just keep adding 5 or 8k window units until you like it.
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01-19-2017, 09:47 AM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
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***EDIT***
Hey- OG poster here- This is for a schoolie in central Va, so its usually around 30s-40s, minimum, in winter and 80s-90s max in summer (F)
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01-19-2017, 01:16 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Go for a mini split system.
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01-20-2017, 11:50 AM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: FL
Posts: 34
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04-20-2017, 06:44 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North Georgia right below Chattanooga TN
Posts: 26
Year: 1998
Chassis: Amtran RE T444E
Engine: 7.3
Rated Cap: 72
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mini split air conditioner
Has anyone done a mini split air conditioner on a bus? and if so how did it work out and if not what are the reasons for not doing it? I know how loud the roof top units can be and the mini split just seems like a cool alternative plus they are heat pumps so you also have your heating system too.
__________________
"If you can't take the heat...Don't poke the Dragon"
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04-20-2017, 06:49 PM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
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I did mini splits, work great.
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04-21-2017, 12:14 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North Georgia right below Chattanooga TN
Posts: 26
Year: 1998
Chassis: Amtran RE T444E
Engine: 7.3
Rated Cap: 72
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When you say "mini splits" does that mean you have more than one in your bus?
__________________
"If you can't take the heat...Don't poke the Dragon"
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04-21-2017, 01:02 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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A mini-split sytem is a small heat pump that can easily fit inside your bus. It can provide AC as well as heat when needed. Obviously you'd need a considerable bank of house batteries or a generator to run that if you're not connected to the grid.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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04-21-2017, 02:21 PM
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#11
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North Georgia right below Chattanooga TN
Posts: 26
Year: 1998
Chassis: Amtran RE T444E
Engine: 7.3
Rated Cap: 72
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I wasn't going for the off grid ac thing, it would be shore power or gen. I guess my biggest question is why don't more people go with the mini split as opposed to the standard rv roof mount ac, what are the negatives and positives of both?
__________________
"If you can't take the heat...Don't poke the Dragon"
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04-21-2017, 02:48 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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Well, the mini-split system is reportedly very energy efficient. You can send the chilled air to several zones rather than just one. This also functions as a heater until the outside temperatures fall near freezing.
The ceiling air conditioner is loud and not necessarily efficient. I think they're overpriced just because they are made for RVs.
I'm sure I haven't thought of everything. Here in Oregon we only need air conditioning for about two weeks out of a year, so most of us just go without AC. We whine for a couple weeks in the summer and then it's over.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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04-21-2017, 04:19 PM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North Georgia right below Chattanooga TN
Posts: 26
Year: 1998
Chassis: Amtran RE T444E
Engine: 7.3
Rated Cap: 72
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Thank you for your comments, to me the mini split just seems like the way to go and kill two birds with one stone ( cool and heat ). If I'm missing or overlooking something please feel free to correct me I know there's a vast wealth of knowledge on this site and I'm here to learn.
__________________
"If you can't take the heat...Don't poke the Dragon"
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04-21-2017, 04:24 PM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kansas
Posts: 492
Year: 2000
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: Your mom +1
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04-21-2017, 06:42 PM
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#15
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slaughridge85
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Cant read that without being a member.
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04-21-2017, 07:52 PM
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#16
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tallahassee Fl.
Posts: 33
Year: 1995
Chassis: Thomas
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For some reason the condenser pic is upside down
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04-21-2017, 07:56 PM
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#17
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tallahassee Fl.
Posts: 33
Year: 1995
Chassis: Thomas
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This is a 1 ton, 17 seer heat pump. At full blast it only runs 4.5 amps at 110v is 495 watts.
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04-21-2017, 10:19 PM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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Could the condenser be mounted horizontally?
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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04-22-2017, 08:04 AM
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#19
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
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jcrum,
Nice installation, just looking at your condenser it looks really close to the frame on the outlet side. Have you run it for extend time in high temps? Did you modify evaperater unit so that it would drain from both ends of the drip tray? Just curious.
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04-22-2017, 09:09 AM
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#20
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tallahassee Fl.
Posts: 33
Year: 1995
Chassis: Thomas
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The condenser unit is horizontal that pic is upside down.
I have ran it a good bit sometimes 8hrs or so. I cut out the side panel of the bus. Most mini split air handlers have drains on each side of the evap coil. I used both drain just to make sure the water drain because the bus might not always be level. I have the system in working order but I have not finish running the drain lines the way I want them.
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