Air Conditioner Mod

[brainpause]

Back to camping....

Many of you know that I have a window unit setup to blow through one of the screen windows of our popup. Since our roof can't handle the weight of a roof AC unit, we have used this method, and it works rather well the way we have done it for 3 years now.

However, whenever we left to go sightseeing, we always had to close the window and turn off the air if there was any threat of rain. Living in Tennessee, it can somehow rain out of a blue sky, so we almost always closed the window.

Also, in the middle of the night, if it started raining, we always had to rise from slumber to turn off the AC and close the window.

Well, hopefully, we have fixed those problems. The dear wife made a piece to hang over the window, with a cutout for the AC's face. We hang it with clips, and it looks like it will work well. The outside is vinyl (I think), and the inside is a cloth of some sort. Here are some pictures. Sorry for the graininess of the pics. The coffee mug is only there so that it is easy to see the size of the whole piece and the cutout.

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A544%3Anu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A5954nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A5453nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A5959nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A5958nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A5454nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3A74363%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3258%3E375%3E%3B%3A3%3EWSNRCG%3D323346%3C%3B%3A5957nu0mrj

Larry

PS: If these pictures are too poor, let me know. Maybe I can get some better lighting in the camper.

[byrdr1]

DID you take pictures?
I saw a few dark spots.....
Look you got Holly working now.. Get a new camper BP...dont worry about a family,  camping is more important......Camp while you are young, a family can come later in life...
Hey I got a friend who is 49 this year and he and his wife just got a baby last month:eyecrazy: .So see you can wait,, enjoy life while you all are young..
randy
 
:p
Really it is hard to tell in a couple of shots.. BUT I see the concept of being able to keep air on..
randy

[dthurk]

I know I had seen a mod of this nature somewhere on the web where they actually cut the vinyl window and screening of the camper window and installled zippers in the cut area making a window in the window. You could use the air conditioner in any combination with the camper window open or closed. It was nifty. I never bookmarked the site, and haven't been able to find it since. I keep looking, but someone handy with canvas and sewing might be able to come up with some suggestions. Wavery, are you out there?
 
The pictures are a bit difficult to figure out in some cases, but it looks like your onto something that'll work for you.  Let us know how it does for you.

[brainpause]

I know I had seen a mod of this nature somewhere on the web where they actually cut the vinyl window and screening of the camper window and installled zippers in the cut area making a window in the window. You could use the air conditioner in any combination with the camper window open or closed. It was nifty. I never bookmarked the site, and haven't been able to find it since. I keep looking, but someone handy with canvas and sewing might be able to come up with some suggestions. Wavery, are you out there?
 
The pictures are a bit difficult to figure out in some cases, but it looks like your onto something that'll work for you.  Let us know how it does for you.

I have also seen that done. Just not willing to cut on canvas and screen.

Larry

[wavery]

I know I had seen a mod of this nature somewhere on the web where they actually cut the vinyl window and screening of the camper window and installled zippers in the cut area making a window in the window. You could use the air conditioner in any combination with the camper window open or closed. It was nifty. I never bookmarked the site, and haven't been able to find it since. I keep looking, but someone handy with canvas and sewing might be able to come up with some suggestions. Wavery, are you out there?
 
The pictures are a bit difficult to figure out in some cases, but it looks like your onto something that'll work for you.  Let us know how it does for you.

It's really quite simple to sew a zipper in the plastic window and screen, thus creating the "Window in a window". You just sew the zipper on the the surface before you cut the material. After both sides of the zipper is sewn in place, you open the zipper and cut the material, btween the two sides of the zipper. That way, you don't end up with nasty wrinkles and binding and the zipper will always line up correctly.
---------------side note----------
For anyone that is interested, you use the same technique to replace damaged plastic windows. You just place the new window right on top of the old one (with the window zipped up), using the 2 sided tape to hold it in place. Sew through both layers of windows, then simply cut the old one away, trim off the excess new plastic and you're done. This is best achieved with the canvas removed and laid on a flat surface. However, if you're careful, this job could also be done with the tent in place using a sewing awl.
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You can pick up the zippers in lengths up to 12' (I think), from most fabric stores.
http://secure.sailrite.com/items.asp?CartId={F271E199-D051-4FCA-9205-9EVEREST751B60A44CD}&Cc=YKK&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=
Also, get some 1/2", clear, double sided tape:
http://secure.sailrite.com/itemdesc.asp?CartId={F271E199-D051-4FCA-9205-9EVEREST751B60A44CD}&ic=1501&eq=&Tp=
That holds the zipper in place while you sew it on. I'm sure that you can find them other places online as well. Just make sure that you get the all plastic HD zippers. I used to get a lot of my supplies from this place:
http://www.sailrite.com/
(I know...I know.......more sailing stuff but that's all I know :p ) They also sell a very usefull "How-to book" with a lot of helpful suggestions and hints. In fact, that book is how I started my canvas business.

You wouldn't even need to remove the canvas. All you would need is a sewing awl and a little patience.
http://secure.sailrite.com/itemdesc.asp?CartId={F271E199-D051-4FCA-9205-9EVEREST751B60A44CD}&ic=20090&eq=&Tp=
http://cgi.ebay.com/SEWING-AWL-Kit-STITCH-LEATHER-CANVAS-TENT-TOOLs-THREAD_W0QQitemZ8252524859QQcategoryZ28133QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Everyone that owns a PU should own one of these. It takes a little practice to get it right but after awhile, you can't tell it from a machine stitch. BTW, always use a straight stitch when sewing canvas and especially plastic. Don't try to get fancy and use a zig-zag. It doesn't hold in place as well. You will need 2 people to use the awl. One person stands outside and passes the needle through the material, The other person stands on the inside and passes the "lock-stitch" between the needle and the thread. Be sure to use even, moderate pressure after each stitch.

You could kill 2 birds with one stone by sewing velcro (fuzzy side) on the outside of the window at the same time that you are sewing on the zipper (sewing through both at the same time). Then put vecro (hook side) around the face of the A/C unit. When you put the A/C up to the window, you get a good seal . If you really want to get sexy about it, you could sew basting tape around the edges to give it a real custom finished look. Just sew your outer edges first to have everything firmly in place. Make the cut in the material to open the window. Then run your inner stitch line incorporating the plastic, zipper, velcro and basting in the same stitch line. However, I think that you will find that the finish looks fine without it.

There's a couple of parts of this design that I really like. #1, you don't have to drag the A/C along if you're not camping in the heat. #2, the position of the A/C could actually be more effective in re-circulating the air in a PU than a roof mount. Roof mounts don't re-circulate very effectively in a PU. The cold air has a hard time finding it's way back up to the ceiling without getting mixed with incoming warm air that is replacing the cold air that leaks out of a myriad of places. If a person wanted to, they could even make a duct out of Sunbrella (canvas) and velcro it around the out-going air vent. Velcro the other end to the ceiling. The air pressure would keep the duct open. That would give you a real good circulation system, with the A/C intake being down low where it will pick up the already cooled air and cool it again and again (re-circulation). You will notice that homes with central air always put the A/C ducts close to (if not in) the ceiling and the air intake near the floor. Not sure that it would be worth all the trouble. Just pointing the outlet vents toward the ceiling is probably quite sufficient. However, that guy in Texas might get some benefit out of that :p .  

I think that Brainpause has the right idea. Looks like he gets good re-circulation of the cooled air at that level.

[wavery]

Here's a picture of a 110v A/C modification