Help with portable AC.. need asap..thanks

workharder · Jun 13, 2011

<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-size: 11px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; "><div id="id_4df6bfd784f142583043701" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline; ">hey everyone.. well i kind of struck gold.. i just got a job as a ranch hand .. i take care of the horses one day a week and i can crash in my truck on their land.. my first night was last night and it was very peaceful... the only problem im having is my portable AC unit i bought.. it keep me and my pup cool while we were asleep.. but when i goto work and my dog stays in the car the AC unit does not do much.. i called the maker and they said its because there is a leak somewhere and hot air is getting in... my car does have a busted hatchback and it is exposed a bit.. but its a n7000 btu machine.. i would think a car would be an icebox... any ideas?</div></h6><div><div id="id_4df6bfd784f142583043701" class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline; "> </div></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; "></div>

4x4tour · Jun 14, 2011

7000 btu?  It should be an icebox.  Return it.  I have a cheap, yet efficient, Haier 5000 BTU one that I mount in the passenger window (along with a thin wood cutout covered in Reflectex to trim it in the window, and use a bar under the rear that clicks on the nerf step to support the weight.   I used the same one to cool my livingroom when my AC went down last year, so yours should cool fine.    If you have your hose even close to being airtight, I dont see why its not working, other than it being a POS...<IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" align=absMiddle border=0>     AJ

workharder · Jun 14, 2011

well i went to home depot today and talked with them since thats where i bought it.. they said the heat is too intense for it to work.. the new machines have a shut off switche if its too much for it to handle.. and its true.. the compressor is having a hard time turning on.. she said my next bet would be a more powerful.. but thats upping me now to like 500 bucks and a bigger machine that takes up more space.. what else can i do to keep him cool ? how can i keep the car for being so hot.. sometimes there is no shade so i have no choice.. and its been over 100 here in texas.

VanFan · Jun 14, 2011

Congratulations on the gig!  I looked long and hard at the unit I think you got at Home Depot and read the manual from cover to cover.  It's a nice little unit for size and configuration for use in a vehicle.  The thing is, a 7,000 BTU portable is not nearly as efficient as a 5,000 BTU window a/c--especially in a small space. One thing you might try to keep it from overloading and shutting off is "sneaking up" on it by setting the temperature fairly high, letting the unit catch up, then lowering it a little.  When it catches up again, lower it a bit more.  (Obviously you can't do that if you're not there, but I've seen this tip a few places.) Since I live in Texas too, I wish a portable would work better, believe me.  For shade, you can pitch a tarp over the car, which will help some.  Still...   My van interior easily reaches 140* on summer days.  It won't be long before night time temps only dip to 80* or so.  That's too hot for a dog! I'm sure you've looked into it, but is there somewhere on the premises your dog can stay in the shade with access to water and the occasional breeze? Best of luck.  September is just around the corner! Vickie

4x4tour · Jun 14, 2011

I can see the Home Depot's reasoning, since the ENTIRE unit is located inside the hot compartment, whereas, my window unit sits 90% OUTSIDE, and uses condensation on the bottom to re-sling the water on to the condensor, thereby making it able to function in hot weather. I Live in Redding, California, where it gets to 115 for months during the summer, and mine works great.  That's about as much as I can input on this subject...I believe BlkJk also uses one like mine on his. Good luck...

VanFan · Jun 14, 2011

4x4tour said:
I have a cheap, yet efficient, Haier 5000 BTU one that I mount in the passenger window (along with a thin wood cutout covered in Reflectex to trim it in the window, and use a bar under the rear that clicks on the nerf step to support the weight. AJ

Do you have pictures of this you'd be willing to share?  (Please forgive me if you've already posted some.  I can be a real air head sometimes.)  I had to Google "nerf step" to be sure what that is. Vickie

4x4tour · Jun 15, 2011

Not mine, but saw this online.  Gives you an idea.  Just lower the window, slide it partially in the window, cut a piece 2x4 and prop up the rear and you're set. Would take a minute or two to install. <H2><A href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3807050472_35916f17d3.jpg" target=_blank target=_blank>http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3807050472_35916f17d3.jpg</A></H2> I like the AC mounted in the door in the white one: <A href="http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/995909-diy-a-c-window-unit-in-rear-van-door.html" target=_blank target=_blank>http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/995909-diy-a-c-window-unit-in-rear-van-door.html</A>From that website:  "Will a 5000 btu cool the interior of an insulated van in the Florida heat ? depends on many variables but I promise it cools much better than not having A/C :a3: I placed thermometer outside in direct sunlight and one inside heated van ( color white / Elk factory conversion van only no extra insulation has been added ) which had been sealed up in sun till 1 pm. with no window covers other than windshield. It was well over 110 degree inside and outside reads 110 in direct sunlight. Turned window unit on and Inside van reads 84 degree after 90 min. approx. with 45% humidity inside and 85% outside. Park vehicle in shade ( shaded corner of house with oak trees reads 90 ) and that number quickly dropped to 74 degree. Once the sun went down and outside temp was upper 80's the inside temp fell to 63 in 90 min. with 35% humidity. Total cost was under $500. That includes Upholstry shop after cutting hole in panel and one off frame kit."Regarding your inside AC:   "The portable units are horribly misdesigned unless they've got 2 hoses as in-out instead of just one, like almost all do. Because the one-hose units rely on constantly sucking in a HUGE volume of warm, moist outside air into the room to replace the air it blew over the condenser and blew out the window. This defeats any cooling it normally does. Even the "proper" 2-hose designs, the airflow is greatly restricted over the window-unit design, leading to a very hot condenser and poor efficiency. Plus they take up a LOT of room in the van, and cost a fortune! Just put a $99 window unit in the rear driver's side window, and add one of the fresnel-lense wide-angle rearview stickons in the passenger side rear. You'll be able to see so much better through that lens, the view through the regular window is relatively useless." Now, GET-R-DONE, Vickie <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" align=absMiddle border=0>

VanFan · Jun 17, 2011

4x4tour said:
Not mine, but saw this online.  Gives you an idea.  Just lower the window, slide it partially in the window, cut a piece 2x4 and prop up the rear and you're set. Would take a minute or two to install.

Thanks for the reply! Vickie

user 423 · Jun 17, 2011

workharder · Jun 17, 2011

well i did some more testing and went to my customers house but this time parked in his garage.. my dog was in the back.. ran the portable unit and even though it did not cool the truck out completely .. at least the compressor was going and it was blowing cold air on my pup..but today i was out in the sun and no trees or garage.. seems like if i run the unit with a door open it the compressor seems to work .. but when i close the door it cannot turn on..i guess i will deal with it for now.. but its like 103 right now in texas...im more worried about my pup then myself.. like i said at night we are sleeping like babies... .. im gonna maybe see if i can get a window unit in.. but i have a 05 chevy trailblaizer ext.. i gutted the back seats and just laid down some ply wood

4x4tour · Jun 19, 2011

Dude, A new 5000 btu ac runs for like 50 bucks on Craigslist, in any city...  Use cardboard for excess trim, and a 2x2 to make sure it doesnt fall out.  Simple 2 minute setup.  Like I said, I used mine for the entire house when it was 115  (for a few days) last year and my ac cirtcuit board took a dump.  Ordered a new board, but it took 3 days to get here... That little AC ran all the time, flawlessly.  There IS HOWEVER a note to mention.   If, once its running, you shut it off, you can't re-start it for like 5 minutes or something (drawback of using less amps).  I wanted to test the theory, and disregard the waiting period, with no adverse effects...lol My little 1670 watt Coleman Powermate generator runs it without an issue.

blars · Jun 19, 2011

4x4tour said:
 There IS HOWEVER a note to mention.   If, once its running, you shut it off, you can't re-start it for like 5 minutes or something (drawback of using less amps).

This is true for pretty much all air conditioners.  The compressor will be starting against already built up presure and will have a higher surge current, and may stall and not start at all.  It also puts more wear on the compressor.  The 5 minutes is to allow the presure to equalize, exactly how long that takes depends on the air conditioner.

She · Aug 29, 2011

My little 1670 watt Coleman Powermate generator runs it without an issue.   4x4tour how long does it run on a fill up?

4x4tour · Aug 29, 2011

Hmmmmm, qood question.   I've never run it dry, so I'm not sure.

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