Air conditioner noise comparison

AC is a luxury I don't have in my camper, really don't need it. the Not so Fantastic fan works fine for us, but then we don't live or camp in a hot area and most time during the day, we aren't in the unit anyway. If I want to stay inside I can do that at home.

Like I said earlier on, if I did (have ac) it would be a wall mount because of the replacement cost versus a roof unit. We don't even have ac in our home except for a window unit in the bedroom.

Take the time to get access to one of each and power them up. Decibels cannot tell you if the frequency distribution of the noise generated is pleasing to the ear. A noise source with lower energy(db) can be more noticeable or an irritant due to the nature of the sound.

OH, one big difference is to get a ceiling unit that has a wall mounted control/thermostat. that operates just like a S&B unit and you don't have that fan noise 24/7.
bumpy

Like I said, the difference in BTU's means nothing as I travel where it is not hot. I am only interested in the noise difference. The cost does not matter, the BTU's don't matter, only the decibels. I do not see decibel ratings commonly provided for air conditioners but thought maybe some of our industrious members might have measured the difference.

TomG2 wrote:
I have a choice between a wall mounted air conditioner and a non-ducted roof mounted unit on a small travel trailer that I am purchasing. Either will provide plenty of cooling as it will only be used in moderate temperatures.

How small is "small" and what is the BTU rating for both these units? :h The most common roof mount size is 13,500 BTU and although there are a few models rated @ 11,000 BTU and 9500 BTU if the wall mount you're being offered is only rated @ 5000 BTU it's hard to believe it will cool anywhere near as effectively as will a roof mount. No question about it though, a direct blow roof mount A/C is about as loud as standing next to a running jet engine. :E :M For this reason we use ours only when absolutely necessary, which in turn allows me to most often run my Progressive EMS with a much more convenient 15" delay rather than the much longer 136" delay which is designed to protect the A/C compressor against a short duration power loss.

...But the wall mount will be much, much cheaper to replace than the roof mount. I tend to look down the road at longevity versus initial cost.

the roof one won't take up valuable space in a small TT. when I was looking at Casitas, if you got a full size hang up closet if you got roof air, with side air the bottom of the closet was gone. neither will be quiet.
bumpy

"One man's music will be another man's noise"

If you wish silence, the only sure-fire method is using your own ears to compare.

But I have never found an RV to be quieter than a residential house. Not even the old Teton 5th wheelers, the extra insulation models blocked all the noise.

The further the fan is from the outlet the quieter it becomes. Same for the compressor. Special noise attenuating mounting pads can minimize compressor drumming.

Wall will be quieter because one, will be a residential room ac and two, a roof tends to amplify any noise the unit makes....and, if the wall mount ever poops out, it will be easier to replace and much cheaper too. Residential ac units are about 1/3rd the cost of a roof mount.