Hab Air Con (1 Viewer)

[Figaro]

I currently have a dometic (model B1500) hab air con on the roof. I did a thermometer test at the weekend as I suspected it wasn't working.
The cooling effect was zilch. Although the heat setting worked.
Last year I made enquiries about getting it regassed and drew a blank. Nobody it seems would touch it because of the type of gas used. It's a 2003 model but can't remember the gas id number.
Anyway I emailed dometic yesterday to see what they advise and I await their reply, but if it can't be made to work I'd like to ditch it.
If I do ditch it will I be able to fit a roof light in the space it leaves ? Is it a straight forward job or will extra cutting be needed.
Anything else I should be aware of.
I don't feel inclined to buy a new unit given the cost.
TIA

 

[The Nomad]

Piece of cake to just remove it and fit a rooflight in it's place youself, or to get someone to do it for you.
It's a standard 400x400mm square hole.
Isolate the mains wiring first of course.

If you feel like giving Dometic yet more of your hardearned, this seems very good value at only a tad over a grand for a brand new (somewhat lower total cooling output than the old B1500.....but a helluva LOT more output than yours now!) unit:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dometic-Freshjet-1100-Rooftop-Air-Conditioner-with-Remote-Control-and-Diffuser/281797097554?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[Figaro]

You done it now, got me tempted. I had presumed £1500 +

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[pappajohn]

Sounds like its leaked its gas or lost pressure.
To change to the new type gas means fully evacuating what's left in there then changing EVERY rubber seal as the gas attacks the rubber.

 

[The Nomad]

You done it now, got me tempted. I had presumed £1500 +

Just do it. You know you want to.......... you've already got the wiring in place from your present dead unit........and it weighs a lot less than your unit.
Be aware that it's cooling only.
If you want the option of heat whilst on EHU, buy a cheapo fan electric heater for about 15 quid.

 

[TerryL]

Ours (B2100) does work though not as good as I think it should. I've been told only a Dometic dealer will touch them - my nearest is almost an hours drive away! Gonna leave it be, hardly ever use it.

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[Robert Clark]

If you replace the air con unit you need to be prepared for lifting a very heavy item on to the roof
About 49kg from memory

 

[Figaro]

If you replace the air con unit you need to be prepared for lifting a very heavy item on to the roof
About 49kg from memory

The plate says 30 kg, but yes still heavy, I`ll tell the Mrs she`ll need to take care when lifting down, I`ll want to sell it for spare or repair !

 

[Zains Pops]

The plate says 30 kg, but yes still heavy, I`ll tell the Mrs she`ll need to take care when lifting down, I`ll want to sell it for spare or repair !

Remember to tell her to take the weight through her limbs and not her back, the physio costs of her not lifting correctly could screw your new ac budget.
Remember that the old unit will still have some refrigerant so will need to be disposed of correctly, your local council should be ok, not your local gyppo.

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[CazPaul]

I took ours off and replaced with a nice heki, it is heavy, you need 2 people, one either side.

Loads of air con units leak water in when it chucks it down, they also require tightening up because of leaks every year, need to tightened to a specific torque setting.

Just a pain in the backside, I wouldn't have one given, I was that glad I had taken it off I gave the bleeding thing away.

We then went upmarket and sister in law brought us a nice free endless breeze when she visited from America

 

[Figaro]

Before I ditch the Dometic / Electrolux hab air con I thought I`d see if it can be re-gassed as Dometic have not replied to my enquiry.
The gas in my unit is R407c according to the plate.
So, does anyone know if this gas can be obtained anywhere ?

 

[Feltwell]

I *think* that gas is the same as some commercial refrigeration units use. It's not the same as your car - that's R134A. I doubt very much that you could, or should, obtain the gas yourself. A call to a commercial refrigeration specialist could be worthwhile.

Certainly for car re-gassing they can add a UV dye to the refrigerant. I had this done for my van when my cab aircon stopped working - I then bought a £3 UV torch from Ebay, shone it round inside the engine bay at night and the source of the leak glowed beautifully. Maybe if you can get it re-gassed you could get some dye added to your unit.

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[Sidney]

Firstly, if considering new, I would suggest the Truma unit over any Dometic model as it is far superior and when used with the mounting frame DOES NOT leak or need tightening up periodically.

Regarding regassing, legislation means you cannot buy refrigerant gas unless you are F-Gas registered and qualified (which I am). But your a/c unit does not have a valve through which you can "top up" the gas because like a domestic fridge freezer it is a sealed unit. An engineer can add a valve but the gas in a sealed unit should not have gone anywhere because it uses metal pipework and (unlike a car) does not have any seals/pipes that can leak.

Either there is a leak (unlikely) that will need repairing before adding a valve and regassing or the compressor is shot (probable) and needs to be replaced, after which a valve needs to be added so it can be charged with gas (hopefully after which it'll work okay). Bear in mind that the compressor is a horizontal unit and not common so you'd have to try and find one via china that is designed for R407c.
So your unit would appear to beyond economical repair a.k.a. scrap.

Sorry

 

[Sidney]

BTW Dyes are only used in cars so a mechanic can quickly find a leak. They are not used outside of the automotive industry.

 

[Sidney]

Ours (B2100) does work though not as good as I think it should. I've been told only a Dometic dealer will touch them - my nearest is almost an hours drive away! Gonna leave it be, hardly ever use it.

I doubt any dometic dealer would be able to do much apart from agreeing it's not working properly or suggesting that it's fine.

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[Badknee]

When I worked in the air and ground source heat pump industry we had three lads that used to do all our compressor work. As @Sidney says it's quite a specialist job.

 

[Figaro]

Thanks @Sidney for your informative and very useful post.
I'll consider it scrap and look for a heki
I don't think I can justify the cost of a new unit for the amount of use it would get and I'm very impressed with my endless breeze so I'll just use that

 

[Neckender]

Looks like a journey to McGuinesses @Figaro.

John.

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[Figaro]

Looks like a journey to McGuinesses @Figaro.

Unfortunately they are no longer in business I think family "issues" precipitated the company demise.
Pity as they had a weighbridge which was very convenient for me.
Had a walk along the canal recently and noticed the site has been cleared, and it is a big site. Awaiting developers to put up more houses I expect.