GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Joined: 02/18/2002
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There has been some discussion here in this forum section this summer regarding portable air conditioning units. I have seen owners describe how they vent the units.
I saw a photo of one today in the Sunday newspaper ads and this question popped into my head:
Could a Class B owner (or any RV owner) run the portable unit and just drain the unit into the shower drain? Or do you need to drain these to an outside hole? And if so, why?
Just curious.
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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Here you go. Portable, self-powered, vented, drains on the ground. Also note the cool after-market tail light.
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ARcruiser
Benton, AR USA
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Joined: 12/19/2001
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I didn't think draining was the big issue... most I have seen collect the condensate in a pan or such.
The big hurdle, as I see it, it venting the unit. It needs to vent the hot air to the outside via one or two vent hoses... supposedly the two hose models are better.
Venting thru a window would work, but I like the idea of a dedicated exterior vent location.... a small grille on the exterior. I really liked the idea of venting low near the rear wheel well, since no visible exterior modifications were made.
This vent is for the exhaust air from the a/c, not water.
More about this installation Here.
* This post was
edited 07/06/07 04:43pm by ARcruiser *
2 Big Cruisers, The Little Man, and Bailey / ARcruiser's Class B's (the first 8)
Rig #8 Under Construction! / Here's the Project Thread - I'm actually working on it again!
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Thanks, Wayne! That makes sense to me (now).
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ejbleendreeble
Texas
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Joined: 06/22/2005
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You can indeed collect the condensate; many portable a/c units have a container for it, but if it fills up it may switch off the unit -- kinda inconvenient in the middle of the night. Here in Texas you can get quite a bit of condensate.
Our venting solution was the same as ARcruiser's -- a big hole under the van. Profiting from the story of the Irish farmer who had a big hole in the barn door for the cat, and when it had four kittens cut four little holes for them, we simply made a small hole in the vent hose at floor level and inserted the small condensate drain hose into it ....
GizmosMom, I see you keep asking a/c questions -- is that old fixed unit of yours playing up again?
Regards,
E.J. Bleendreeble
http://www.fergusthemagicbus.com
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skiff
SC
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Joined: 05/26/2006
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First- I do not like the single hose models. They extract air from wherever they are cooling, be it a room or rv, and blow it out the single hose after cooling the condensor. Therefore you are constantly sucking warm outside air in from every possible place to replace that air. You can never really "catch up" as you are always dragging that outside air in replace the cool dry air you just paid to get! The two hose models on the other hand draw outside air in one hose to cool the condensor and blow the resulting hot air out the other hose, much much more efficient, since you aren't constantly replacing the room air.
BTW the two hose one I have also blows most if not all the condensate water out the exit hose they say, although I haven't run it long term yet to see. They do have a drain and some small reservoir to collect the condensate it it can't get all blown out. I have a Soleus 12K BTU and specifically bought it because of the two hoses.
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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EJ,
No, right now our AC unit is working. We are leaving on Friday for Northern Michigan. We'll put it to the test in Oklahoma.
I'm just always interested in exploring options for if and when that Fedders stops working again!
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mtran2000
iowa
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Joined: 03/19/2006
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ARCRUISER, how do you seal the hole in the floor where AC vent is when you are driving?
I wouldn't think you would leave it like that all the time, would pick up debris.
Mark
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ARcruiser
Benton, AR USA
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Joined: 12/19/2001
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I Dunno! Ain't done it yet!
I gave it a little thought and decided I didn't think much stuff would go UP into the hole.... then UP the hose.... about all there should be to worry about is a little spashing and I'm not gonna do it over the tire.
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qjane
Indiana
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Joined: 05/31/2004
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Kinda/sorta off topic: Marilyn, I'm leaving for Michigan on Friday, too! My parents have a place near Glen Arbor (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore area). Not sure if I'm taking the SMB or riding with them in a car. Have a delightful time on your trip  Hope your A/C behaves.
ARCruiser, congrats on your new "project" van! That's one good-looking pop-top roof 
QJ
QJane
2002 Sportsmobile RB30
inside a Ford E350 2WD
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