Pros and Cons of Air Conn mounted up front over bed

[Wet_Coast]

Hi all, I was given an air conn unit over the weekend and am pondering whether to install it above the front bed area. I would love to hear anyone's' experience with a front mounted air conn.

I have an 18.5 foot 5th wheel. Most of the roof real estate is taken up by a 230 watt solar panel. Vents and plumbing stacks take the rest. I already have a Fantastic Fan set nicely in the rear vent and I do not feel like disturbing the seal now that it's buttoned up.

What are the conns; direct cold air blowing? noise?

I am thinking of only running in the day to drop the temp enough to get a comfortable sleep. We are in the Southwestern BC/North West area and do not worry to much about desert temps.

Pros, it's an available hole to stick the thing in to.. unit was free. Not worried about the wiring path, controls, etc.

thanks eh

[paulcardoza]

We only use our BR AC to cool the unit down before bedtime. For us, it's way too noisy to run while sleeping, especially in auto mode where the fan cycles on and off.

We find that even in the worst hot humid New England summer weather, the LR Ac will maintain temp at night, once the sun goes down.

[justafordguy]

I say do it but I would put it in the living area and put the fan in the bedroom.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Pros
It was free
No current A/C Unit
Can be run during day in area farthest away

Cons
No 120V AC wiring in ceiling
DO you have a 20A circuit breaker for it in AC Power Panel. Or space slot to install one
18.5' 5th wheel no current A/C.....so this free one may be too large

As OB indicates - "free" - doesn't necessarily equate to - "good".

What BTU is the AC?

Some posters who couldn't live without *two* camp or live in high heat and/or high humidity areas.

For where you live, you probably don't need it......unless *you* plan to travel to Tuscon, Texas, or Michigan in the summer......then it rates as a "must have".

I have two (on a 34' 5th) and could do without the second one over the b/r.
We avoid *hot* areas if we can, and never needed it in So. CA areas.
Yes - been to areas where we needed *one* - but have never used the 2nd A/C in the br. Would prefer a vent.
(could that be why you got the "freebie"?)

You should also consider the overall height (if your roof is higher where the A/C would be mounted.
At that location, my 5th is 13'6".

IMO - *If* I was going to add an A/C to a 5th that didn't have one, it would be over the living area, *not* the bed room - and "bite the bullet" and move the fantastic fan to the br.

Good luck with your choices/decisions!

~

[thirtydaZe]

our FW was wired for one so i had them put the second one in for me. we lived 12 nights out of it on vacation. will never be without a bedroom ac again.

i love that cold air blowing down on me when i'm sleeping.

[Nolan]

Depends on if your going to be in hot and humid temps. Also will need 50 amp to run both.

We started out with only one A/C, but then got a workamping job in Arizona and had to start on October 1st. Temps were up to 115 degrees. Even with the thermostat set at 80 degrees sometimes it ran all day long. Since we liked the jobs have been going back. Got the second A/C. Works great having two.

Is it noisy when it runs? Yes. But haven't lost any sleep with it on.

[Wet_Coast]

If you've never needed an AC before why haul the weight around?

well, answer: I like tinkering and puttering.

I did consider moving the Fantastic fan, but I just got it sealed up.

The AC would be a nice to have, not a need to have. It is an extra 100 lbs. And why haul it along when I can load up on things like cocktail mix! Just working it all through if I want to even go there.

[jeepman71]

If in the living room you can turn the tv up enough to cover/mask the ac noise, if in the bedroom you can snore loud enough to cover the ac noise. I would move the Fantastic Fan to the bedroom and install the ac in the living room.

Just my 2 cents.

[avvidclif1]

If you've never needed an AC before why haul the weight around?

In Texas multiple AC's are mandatory.

[Wet_Coast]

I have 20 amp breaker already in the panel. I was more interested in mounting and operational input from others.

I was a commercial electrician in a past life, so I wasn't worried about wiring as much as noise, etc.. It's easy enough to nicely route out and stain or paint a piece of 1X2 and hide any wiring if I can't fish a wall or ceiling.

Bigger issue is I found a manual last night; seems I need a bigger gennie if I want to use it off grid!

Thanks for the input all~

R

[Old-Biscuit]

Pros
It was free
No current A/C Unit
Can be run during day in area farthest away

Cons
No 120V AC wiring in ceiling
DO you have a 20A circuit breaker for it in AC Power Panel. Or space slot to install one
18.5' 5th wheel no current A/C.....so this free one may be too large

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[SrFoxmexico]

edbehnke wrote:
we have a large 5th wheel with 2 factory installed A/C units.

i would never only have one. we would run the bedroom one when watching tv in living room and the living room one when sleeping. and at times we'd use both.

never be with out 2 a/c

About the same for us, except we just leave ours on auto as they are pretty quiet.

[edbehnke]

we have a large 5th wheel with 2 factory installed A/C units.

i would never only have one. we would run the bedroom one when watching tv in living room and the living room one when sleeping. and at times we'd use both.

never be with out 2 a/c