Forum Discussion

iwon415's avatar
iwon415
Explorer
Feb 12, 2014

loud AC

anybody ever found a solution or alternative to the loud and oversize AC's they put in truck campers?
  • Thanks for the replies and sugggestions. Anyone have a Coleman Mach 8? They advertise ultraquiet on low and are supposedly less drag as they are only 8 inches tall on the roof! http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/products/rooftop/mach8.php
  • Shadow Catcher wrote:
    One of the problems with a too large AC is that it will short cycle and not dehumidify well. We have a large teardrop trailer with about 400 cubic feet and I did not want to have an RV type AC because of height and it would really short cycle. I adapted a 5,000 BTU window shaker with an insulated plenum on the front that takes two 4" hoses and goes through two marine deck plates in the side of the trailer (after first making sure there was no frame in the way). The controls from the AC were removed and put in a project box which is attached with wires through the intake hose. I did run into a problem with the coils icing and installed a bilge blower in the hose with a PWM controller so I could vary fan speed.
    The advantages are that I can leave it home when we do not need it, because there is no mechanical connection it is virtually silent and to replace it is a simple matter of a hundred or so dollars (I picked up a replacement AC for $50 end of season).


    Do you have any pictures of this? Reddog1 and I have talked this over many times and it does seem like a great idea.

    Also, where do you put the A/C unit when it is operational.



    Jim
  • One of the problems with a too large AC is that it will short cycle and not dehumidify well. We have a large teardrop trailer with about 400 cubic feet and I did not want to have an RV type AC because of height and it would really short cycle. I adapted a 5,000 BTU window shaker with an insulated plenum on the front that takes two 4" hoses and goes through two marine deck plates in the side of the trailer (after first making sure there was no frame in the way). The controls from the AC were removed and put in a project box which is attached with wires through the intake hose. I did run into a problem with the coils icing and installed a bilge blower in the hose with a PWM controller so I could vary fan speed.
    The advantages are that I can leave it home when we do not need it, because there is no mechanical connection it is virtually silent and to replace it is a simple matter of a hundred or so dollars (I picked up a replacement AC for $50 end of season).
  • Super_Dave wrote:
    The fan on a regular AC unit is designed to push 15,000 btu of cooling. The Polar Cub unit is designed to push about 9,000 btu of cooling. That's a lot less air to move and a much smaller fan to do it. I think that will translate into quieter but always sound like a good rush of air considering it is mounted at head level.


    BTU`S and CFM`S are two diffrent things
    BTU`S is the ability to cool - heat
    CFM is air changes , cubic feet per minute
    Air movement is noisy the faster it is
    Old cub `s CFM used to be 200 on high and 2 speed ,low was fairly quiet
    Newer cub`s are now 300 CFM on high, and two speed
    Most 13000 btu AC`s are usally about 320 CFM on high
    When its hot you have to live with the noise or fry with non ducted AC
    Some AC`s are three speed
    Some high end TC`S have ducted AC- cuts the noise down alot
  • The fan on a regular AC unit is designed to push 15,000 btu of cooling. The Polar Cub unit is designed to push about 9,000 btu of cooling. That's a lot less air to move and a much smaller fan to do it. I think that will translate into quieter but always sound like a good rush of air considering it is mounted at head level.
  • I have a Polar Cub and it does a good job on the low setting. I wouldn't say it is noticeable quieter than others I have had but it does have a low fan setting and I can power it with my 2000I Honda.
  • I do use the lower setting as much as possible. Are the polar cubs really quieter?
  • Mine has two fan settings. Are you using the high setting?