Posted on 11/01/2016 1:14:31 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
I know there are any number of FReepers who are knowledgable regarding various technical fields, this question arises due to a possible opportunity to buy a "classic" RV for cheap, appears to only need the two roof unit air conditioners replaced, everything else runs well and appears to have been serviced up to very recently. It's a 78 GMC 26 footer, interior mostly original, newer carpet and upholstery, cockpit seats replaced with Honda Odyssey units some time ago in good condition, appliances newer and in good condition.
I've read that the mini-split heat pump can be an excellent update, even though it's to date unusual in the US. The inside blowers are ceiling mount cassettes for this Senville unit that has piqued my interest, three of them, triple zoned. Replacement BTUs are roughly equivalent of the two nonworking units currently in place. The external component of the mini split heat pump will have to go either on the rear bumper or inside one of several ventilated outside access panels, in behind the Dometic fridge looks promising.
Much lower operating cost as well as greatly enhanced compatibility with solar would be why I'm considering going against the grain and installing typical replacements for the existing two roof units. It would take a pretty large solar array to run A/C even with this, but it appears very doable for at least the hottest part of the day, with dehumidifiers and blowers in each of the three ceiling cassettes to help alleviate discomfort if/when the air isn't a good idea.
Battery bank is another issue, but there are numerous Li-Ion, etc. battery packs existing now for this application. They're a bit pricey, but with such an inexpensive RV to install it in/upon, maybe it makes sense?
This is posted to General/Chat, so please don't give me any crap about vanities, I've posted to the correct forum for this sort of inquiry. Hoping the vast knowledge of FReepers as a group can shed light on this particular one, as well as any others that might fit the bill, in addition to the wisdom or lack of it in even considering doing this.
The mini split unit in question is a ductless 3 zone with ceiling cassettes, please see the following: https://senville.com/air-conditioners/
Thanks.
Cassettes are a pain in the ass to install and fitting them to an RV sounds like a bigger pain. I installed a three zone ducted mini-split for a fellow a few years ago and he insisted on putting the outdoor unit in his small attached garage with his other outdoor mini-split. He opened the garage door and found lots of melted plastic his first summer.
Thanks for the info and advise. Mini splits are apparently common in RV's in Australia and Europe but have yet to catch on here for whatever reason. They're regarded as well-suited for solar by people who know, one of whom I'm not but I'm working on it. The size of the solar array for any sort of A/C is a challenge for RV application though, as I understand it thus far/
By the way, I was under the impression that this Senville unit that caught my eye was Japanese for some reason, it has at least one Toshiba component in it.
There are already existing holes and mounting points, from the two roof units as well as Fantastic Fans, and the headliner/ceiling could stand replacing. Not too hard to take out and replace, looks doable to me as a project.
A wel that has been unused for years that will need decontamination, pretty much bleaching it as I understand, then the county testing the water and approving. Well pump’s probably no good by now. Site once had electric but it’s not near the road and was taken down for some reason, storm damage maybe? I’d have to install a panel specifically to power the well pump regardless of anything else, it would honestly be cheaper to do that than pay to have it run out there again. And, I don’t own the property myself. Family does. Probably could buy it reasonably cheap if I actually end up doing this, like it and can make it work.
Mini splits are great but not exactly well suited for RVs. They mostly run on 240V but are not low amperage draw. The 18,000 btu unit in my shop usually draws about 8 amps of 240V... not likely something you are going to do with a few solar cells.
Packaging is also a problem. The condenser unit is not huge but it isn’t small either and the form factor is not well suited to the top of an RV. They like to be vertical and to have some clearance from the wall, like 10 or more inches.
For distributed zone HVAC in a home they are just about unbeatable with efficiency rivaling geothermal and cost a fraction. The inverter technology and zone temperature control are the key. A three phase unit would be even better.
Three phase unit? The one that prompted me to post this to general/chat on FR is a three zone unit, not the same thing I take it. Can you elaborate?
I haven't bought it, I'm kicking the notion around to see what can be done. It might make sense to buy it at this price anyhow, a new 7000 Honda generator would cost more than they're asking for it. Pretty old things, cool with the big Olds V8 and front wheel drive, too, always have liked them. Here's a restored '78 GMC Royale:
And the tail lights were straight out of the GM parts bin.
Enjoy your new acquisition!
Also, you need to make sure the top side of the cassette is weather proof or you will be forced to make some kind of housing for it.
Haven’t bought it yet. Still thinking it through. Would need an honest, thorough inspection. Very little on them can rust at all, which is why so many have survived, but the frame can rust and that’s a deal killer. New replacement frames are available but a lot of money. Drivetrain sounds good and even looks good, not detailed but still pretty neat and orderly under there, just dusty with a little road grime, no oil or rigged messes.
There are several different kinds of outer caps or covers available, the aero ones that are a sort of fairing seem best to me, I hear they work very well with the Fantastic Fan vents and the size is similar from what I can see. But, I’m no expert, just hard headed about trying to make something happen, digging in and trying to find out if there’s some big flaw in the reasoning that would make this unfeasible for me.
Also be sure to check out the rear airbags and the compressor system. Still nothing else like them on the road, and a new RV of a similar size will run you six figures, which leaves lots of room for repair work.
For generators, take a look at Northern Lights, Fisher Panda and Onan (Cummins). They all I think have units to mount in the side compartments.
If I get anywhere close to even a third of six figures it won’t make sense for me and it won’t pay out come time to sell. People love these things and there’s a ready market for well kept, updated and maintained ones. This one still has the OEM bogies with a single, GMC motorhome-only bag per side.
The aftermarket has come out with a “quadra-bag” system that has two airbags per side, meaning that you won’t be stranded if one fails, it can function on one well enough and long enough to get you home. Uses a widely common airbag, too, so parts aren’t as big of an issue. Gives it a true independent rears suspension, too. That’s going on this if I get it, but not immediately. That’s a good practical upgrade and a desirable one, but not necessary, especially at $1,800.00 per side.
BM for the cabin.
I guess I’m dense, you’re going to have to spell that out for me, lol.
Three phase electricity.
Thanks. That’s getting into somewhat unfamiliar territory for me, but I do believe some of them offer this if I recall my reading correctly. I’ll have to go back through the spec sheet PDF files that I downloaded to check.
Thanks! I’m familiar with Dometic, the fridge and microwave in this one are Dometic. Didn’t occur to me that they’d do mini-split heat pumps, I’ll have to check it out.
The OEM generator is an Onan. Big old thing, sort of loud, vibrates. Works very well though. I’m thinking stick with it until some major need for service crops up, then evaluate an upgrade to a newer, quieter, more efficient model.
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