Portable air con

[Simon Meadwell]

Does anybody use one when in hot climates ie the ones you can buy say from b and q and are they any good . With our dog getting older we no longer want to leave him in kennels so planning on taking him with us so will need cooling down.

 

[mikebeaches]

Not sure about portable a/c, but a lot of folk use an 'Endless Breeze' powerful fan or similar. Runs on 12 volts and doesn't use too much current.

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Be interested to see other responses to your question.

Alternatively, perhaps sensible to avoid visiting the hottest spots in mid-summer with your elderly dog.

 

[Figaro]

I think the two problems are storing it when not in use and fitting the exhaust vent.
If you dangle it through a window there are a number of downsides, less security, less efficient, mozzies in the van, so 3 to start with.

 

[royw]

So living in France where its a bit warmer, a fan just moves warm air around and the only cooling you get is your sweat evaporating, as dogs dont sweat then its just circulated warm air. Aircon lowers the temp pure and simple, you loose humidity but generally that's less of an issue comparing current consumption then thats where its a game changer because its a factor of twenty at least a fan is but a few watts i have plenty here at 50watts but aircon is generally well over 1kw, with most vans that then entails ehu only.

 

[AJM2]

Couldn’t remember the name of mine and found these comments when looking for it. https://www.hortoncommon.co.uk/best-air-conditioner/
I have a Eurom, was going to have a fixed system but I don’t need it very often and obviously it would reduce payload. I opted for the Eurom for our French trips and it has worked very well in some very hot temperatures. Obviously won’t make it ice cold but it drops the temperature noticeably, certainly enough for sleep and to enjoy getting in the MH during a hot day. It is surprisingly quiet considering some have commented on the noise, never had a problem with it and I’ve asked local campers and neither have they. They also hold their value well so whenever the MH goes I can sell it separately.

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[phillipsheila]

i think i would get one of these
<Broken link removed>

 

[AJM2]

That's the one!

 

[Richard n Ann]

The portable ones aren't very good. Because they are exhausting hot air out the window, they are dragging warm ambient air into the room somewhere.

The Eurom one is a true split system

 

[The Wino]

I think one thing I would steer clear of are the evaporative coolers basically a way overpriced fan blowing over a wet rag .

 

[jezport]

I think one thing I would steer clear of are the evaporative coolers basically a way overpriced fan blowing over a wet rag .

The better quality ones like the transcool do work well, we use one and at 35degrees that we had at Malvern it was very effective. They are quieter than an aircon, use little power and dont dry your mouth and eyes out. They also wash the air removing pollen and dust as they end the air through a honeycombed wet filter.
We leave ours running low through the night even when wild camping.
Do not confuse them with JML types of units that are poor.

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[The Wino]

The better quality ones like the transcool do work well, we use one and at 35degrees that we had at Malvern it was very effective.

But how does the physics of it work?. It does cool the unit as the latent heat of evaporation is used to turn the water into water vapour but then as that condenses out it releases the same amount of heat so it should be a bit warmer in the room due to the energy of the fan. Even their website points out that they won't cool a room and neither will any evaporative cooler. Looks like a grossly overpriced 12 v fan over a wet rag to me!

 

[jezport]

But how does the physics of it work?. It does cool the unit as the latent heat of evaporation is used to turn the water into water vapour but then as that condenses out it releases the same amount of heat so it should be a bit warmer in the room due to the energy of the fan. Even their website points out that they won't cool a room and neither will any evaporative cooler. Looks like a grossly overpriced 12 v fan over a wet rag to me!

Ive used one for a year, it works, You have not and you keep mentioning a wet rag that doesn't exist.
Its a lot cheaper than a conventional air conditioner and what you consider overpriced others consider cheap.
You can read up on evaporative cooling effect if you wish.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Have to holiday in summer holidays as wife works in a school . Otherwise would go in june but not a option

 

[The Wino]

Ive used one for a year, it works, You have not and you keep mentioning a wet rag that doesn't exist.
Its a lot cheaper than a conventional air conditioner and what you consider overpriced others consider cheap.
You can read up on evaporative cooling effect if you wish.

The evaporative cooling effect is a scientific fact that's how sweating cools you. It's also a fact that unless the air that contains the evaporated water exits the motorhome when it condenses it releases all the cooling effect as heat. A two unit air conditioner works because the condensation unit is outside so doesn't warm the interior. I know you sell them on your website but do think you genuinely believe they work however you do have an interest in not wanting to do a"Rayner". Ok its not a wet rag it's some mat that wets from the water chamber so hardly high tech the only control seems to be a 3 position fan. Each to their own if anyone wants to try one but at the price it must be getting halfway at least to a proper portable mains aircon unit like someone else linked to which while limiting it's use to hookup only does make scientific sense. How about the much cheaper one you stock if its half as good as the transcool it might be worth a punt for anyone thinking of trying an evaporative cooler.

 

[jezport]

The evaporative cooling effect is a scientific fact that's how sweating cools you. It's also a fact that unless the air that contains the evaporated water exits the motorhome when it condenses it releases all the cooling effect as heat. A two unit air conditioner works because the condensation unit is outside so doesn't warm the interior. I know you sell them on your website but do think you genuinely believe they work however you do have an interest in not wanting to do a"Rayner". Ok its not a wet rag it's some mat that wets from the water chamber so hardly high tech the only control seems to be a 3 position fan. Each to their own if anyone wants to try one but at the price it must be getting halfway at least to a proper portable mains aircon unit like someone else linked to which while limiting it's use to hookup only does make scientific sense. How about the much cheaper one you stock if its half as good as the transcool it might be worth a punt for anyone thinking of trying an evaporative cooler.

As I said I happily use one myself, they are not designed to bring a room down in temperature but do make the vam pleasant even at 35degrees. I had full habitation aircon in my last van and rarely used it as we were rarely on hookup. We use our transcool more and it's better in some ways as you can position it exactly where you need it. Yes I sell them, but I only ever sell products that I'm happy to use myself.
FYI its fully variable fan speed not 3 speed like the copies, and it plows their through a specially designed textured filter not over a rag or mat.
The cheaper one I sell isn't as good but it does work ok, it is only mains operated though.

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[rolosroller]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=293764229543

Got mine from Germany.

 

[The Wino]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=293764229543

Got mine from Germany.

I think at the price for similar ones they look really good.

 

[TheMachMan]

The evaporative cooling effect is a scientific fact that's how sweating cools you. It's also a fact that unless the air that contains the evaporated water exits the motorhome when it condenses it releases all the cooling effect as heat. A two unit air conditioner works because the condensation unit is outside so doesn't warm the interior. I know you sell them on your website but do think you genuinely believe they work however you do have an interest in not wanting to do a"Rayner". Ok its not a wet rag it's some mat that wets from the water chamber so hardly high tech the only control seems to be a 3 position fan. Each to their own if anyone wants to try one but at the price it must be getting halfway at least to a proper portable mains aircon unit like someone else linked to which while limiting it's use to hookup only does make scientific sense. How about the much cheaper one you stock if its half as good as the transcool it might be worth a punt for anyone thinking of trying an evaporative cooler.

Evaporative coolers are normally total loss systems, relying on cooling the incoming air which in turn displaces the air in the room, so you need to ensure there is some exit ventilation. Air conditioning systems which use refrigerant recirculate the air in the room. Hence why you close the windows.

 

[The Wino]

Evaporative coolers are normally total loss systems, relying on cooling the incoming air which in turn displaces the air in the room, so you need to ensure there is some exit ventilation. Air conditioning systems which use refrigerant recirculate the air in the room. Hence why you close the windows.

That makes sense as I said if the water vapour condenses in the room theres no heat loss. I wonder if there's a legionella risk if they're not regularly disinfected.

 

[TheMachMan]

That makes sense as I said if the water vapour condenses in the room theres no heat loss. I wonder if there's a legionella risk if they're not regularly disinfected.

The water won’t condense out unless the room temperature is below the dew point which it won’t be. Legionella unlikely as the water used to dampen the filter media is not recirculated and would need to be at 34c to start growing. Legionella bacteria normally transmits in aerosol droplets, which you don’t get with these. However they should be cleaned and use fresh water. They are very effective normally get a 5 to 8c drop in air temperature & economic. Have installed these in factories in the UK And had one at home for a while.

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[Langtoftlad]

Was always a disappointment when checking into hotels when we learned the rooms were air cooled, not air conditioned.

Another name used to describe these 'evaporative coolers' is swamp cooler

 

[TheMachMan]

Was always a disappointment when checking into hotels when we learned the rooms were air cooled, not air conditioned.

Another name used to describe these 'evaporative coolers' is swamp cooler

Their origins go back a long way. It hot countries a wet cloth Would be hung in an open door way or window and the breeze would blow through.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Their origins go back a long way. It hot countries a wet cloth Would be hung in an open door way or window and the breeze would blow through.

...but motorhoming has moved on a bit

 

[68c]

So if you have a damp van you only need the van as every surface will provide evaporative cooling.

 

[tacr2man]

Evaporative coolers are common in Australia , especially in areas where doors are likely to be opened frequently as they are very cheap to run and due to the dry climate are pretty efficient . You do need to have a good exchange of air in the room , so as previous post mentions windows open , and opposite to a refrigeration type .

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[cmcardle75]

Portable air conditioners are a con. You can't efficiently air condition without two hoses, an inlet and an outlet. Otherwise, you are using expensively cooled air on the radiator and drawing in hot air from the outside. You might as well use a fan heater, despite the stream of cool air coming from the thing making people think they work. Some of them can be modified to use two hoses. These can work.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Thanks for the argument about evaporative coolers and thanks for the odd answer to the post which were very helpful

 

[rolosroller]

 

[TheMachMan]

Portable air conditioners are a con. You can't efficiently air condition without two hoses, an inlet and an outlet. Otherwise, you are using expensively cooled air on the radiator and drawing in hot air from the outside. You might as well use a fan heater, despite the stream of cool air coming from the thing making people think they work. Some of them can be modified to use two hoses. These can work.

Both types of Portable a/c units work well provided the room is reasonably air tight to stop the warm external air entering the room. Monobloc ones use the rejected exhaust air duct and the split type has 2 flexible pipes containing flow and return refrigerant.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Both types of Portable a/c units work well provided the room is reasonably air tight to stop the warm external air entering the room. Monobloc ones use the rejected exhaust air duct and the split type has 2 flexible pipes containing flow and return refrigerant.

How can you expel the hot air off the condenser from an air tight room? Ambient air must get in to replace it.

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