Jobs_a_ good_ un
Well-Known Member
Anybody used any of these its a bit hot in the med in the marinas and as the electricity is included why not ????????????
portable air con units versus evaporative air coolers
- Thread starter Jobs_a_ good_ un
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bdsweeting
Well-Known Member
Re: portable air con units versus evaporative air coolers
Evaporative coolers work to a degree (if you'll pardon the pun!) and are free standing units.
An aircon unit will require either a discharge air hose from the unit to outside to get rid of the heat or have the condenser and fan unit connected to the cooling unit via flexible refrigerant hoses. Both of these will give far better performance than an evaporative cooler.
The evap cooler can also raise the humidity whereas the aircon unit can reduce humidity.
Remember though that for the best effect you do need to keep the boats doors and ports closed otherwise you will be trying to cool down the Med.
BTW I do not have any of this kit on board but am an aircon tech.
Evaporative coolers work to a degree (if you'll pardon the pun!) and are free standing units.
An aircon unit will require either a discharge air hose from the unit to outside to get rid of the heat or have the condenser and fan unit connected to the cooling unit via flexible refrigerant hoses. Both of these will give far better performance than an evaporative cooler.
The evap cooler can also raise the humidity whereas the aircon unit can reduce humidity.
Remember though that for the best effect you do need to keep the boats doors and ports closed otherwise you will be trying to cool down the Med.
BTW I do not have any of this kit on board but am an aircon tech.
DavidJ
Well-Known Member
Evaporator units cheap and useless. Last year I bought a portable air con unit for the boat when I was in Barcelona and I was well impressed. Of course I can't live without air con now and have installed the 'proper marine thing' this year.
Things to consider are size of your door (ours just about made it through) and you have to dangle the 100mm exhaust tube out of a window. The tube gets hot so site the unit so that there is not much of the tube giving off heat inside the boat. One problem we had was when it rained we had to close the window so no air con at the most humid of times. Also it meant that we had to get up in the night to close up.
Get the biggest unit you can (that will fit through the door) I will try to dig up the spec for ours and post later.
We had no problems with tripping fuses and you soon get used to the noise.
You will be amazed how much water you 'make'
best of luck
David
Things to consider are size of your door (ours just about made it through) and you have to dangle the 100mm exhaust tube out of a window. The tube gets hot so site the unit so that there is not much of the tube giving off heat inside the boat. One problem we had was when it rained we had to close the window so no air con at the most humid of times. Also it meant that we had to get up in the night to close up.
Get the biggest unit you can (that will fit through the door) I will try to dig up the spec for ours and post later.
We had no problems with tripping fuses and you soon get used to the noise.
You will be amazed how much water you 'make'
best of luck
David
DAKA
Well-Known Member
I fitted a B&Q portable air con unit to my old Corniche, worked very well
exhaust went out of a port hole and was no problem.
Air con unit is very much heavier than other coolers but work.
Water based(evaporative) coolers are going to make humid conditions which may make things worst ?
Current boat has 3 marine units and is whisper quiet, apart from sound of running water from outside all night that can force a 'comfort' trip to the head. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
exhaust went out of a port hole and was no problem.
Air con unit is very much heavier than other coolers but work.
Water based(evaporative) coolers are going to make humid conditions which may make things worst ?
Current boat has 3 marine units and is whisper quiet, apart from sound of running water from outside all night that can force a 'comfort' trip to the head. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
danielbroad
Well-Known Member
If you can, get one of the "portable split" ones that have the unit you put outside - they are much much more effective.
I got one of ebay for £300 recently.
I got one of ebay for £300 recently.
Trevethan
Well-Known Member
Re: portable air con units versus evaporative air coolers
Bought a proper air con last week -- bloke in Robert Dyas tried to sell me a cooler insitiing it was an air con anyway yelled at him after dragging it home and back and came away with proper concenser job.
Having spent last Monday night asleep on the deck (before aircon) I have to say its the best thing I bought for the boat after the electric blanket and the dickinson heater.
It cools the boat especially if let run all day -- takes a lot longer to get the heat of the boat if its been baking all day without the ac on and since I havne't worked out were it will go I haven't cut an outlet vents so hose goes thru door for teh time being, which others have said makes it less effective
The cons are -- noisy -- compressor noise and fan noises -- two sets of fans one to blow cool air to you and one really looud one to blow the hot exhaust air.
They are bloody huge and stupidly designed -- tall and wide and curved -- would prefer small and squat and square, but sonsidering experimenting by ripping cover off and adapting for water cooled system -- envisage whipping off radiator and replacing with heat exchanger (but will depend on whether coolant loop is refillable, ten can remove the noisey fan -- bit loathe to do this on brand new device though!
Got mine for £150 are row with Dyas person, normally 200 and well woth it.
All the best
Nick
Bought a proper air con last week -- bloke in Robert Dyas tried to sell me a cooler insitiing it was an air con anyway yelled at him after dragging it home and back and came away with proper concenser job.
Having spent last Monday night asleep on the deck (before aircon) I have to say its the best thing I bought for the boat after the electric blanket and the dickinson heater.
It cools the boat especially if let run all day -- takes a lot longer to get the heat of the boat if its been baking all day without the ac on and since I havne't worked out were it will go I haven't cut an outlet vents so hose goes thru door for teh time being, which others have said makes it less effective
The cons are -- noisy -- compressor noise and fan noises -- two sets of fans one to blow cool air to you and one really looud one to blow the hot exhaust air.
They are bloody huge and stupidly designed -- tall and wide and curved -- would prefer small and squat and square, but sonsidering experimenting by ripping cover off and adapting for water cooled system -- envisage whipping off radiator and replacing with heat exchanger (but will depend on whether coolant loop is refillable, ten can remove the noisey fan -- bit loathe to do this on brand new device though!
Got mine for £150 are row with Dyas person, normally 200 and well woth it.
All the best
Nick
jfm
Well-Known Member
I think you should consider biting bullet and get proper marine one
Fundamental problem with the ones discussed here is that the heat is jettisoned by chucking it into the atmoshpere. That is true whether you have the all-in-one or split compressor/evaporator type. In other words, the compressor side is air cooled. That takes loads of surface area, hence the washing-machine size of these things
If you get a marine job the compressor cooling is done by seawater, which takes up loads less space for the heat exchanger, hence the units are much smaller. And you can put the compressor unit out of the way, like in the engine room, so you only have the airhandler units in the cabins
Catch is the cost. To do your boat properly would be 7-13k euros, depending on btu and general speccing...... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Fundamental problem with the ones discussed here is that the heat is jettisoned by chucking it into the atmoshpere. That is true whether you have the all-in-one or split compressor/evaporator type. In other words, the compressor side is air cooled. That takes loads of surface area, hence the washing-machine size of these things
If you get a marine job the compressor cooling is done by seawater, which takes up loads less space for the heat exchanger, hence the units are much smaller. And you can put the compressor unit out of the way, like in the engine room, so you only have the airhandler units in the cabins
Catch is the cost. To do your boat properly would be 7-13k euros, depending on btu and general speccing...... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
DavidJ
Well-Known Member
To put the cost comparison in perspective. I've put a 9000 btu unit in the saloon which cools the saloon and guest cabin(easy installation). It cost me in total £1500 as a DIY job for the bits. I'll see how I get on but may have to put a second 5000 btu unit in the main bedroom (under the bed) if leaving the bedroom door open is not enough.
David
David
jfm
Well-Known Member
Ah that's cheaper than I thought. That's definitely the way to do it then? Also, need to pay for a lift out to fit the seacocks for the cooling water - I assume that's in additon to the 1500.
DavidJ
Well-Known Member
Yes you're right. My holes were drilled at the same time as my spring bottom scrub and antifoul so didn't really count as extra cost. Actually I didn't include the water pump which was an extra £200.
sarabande
Well-Known Member
What 'gases'does a properly built aircon release into the atmosphere ?
jrudge
Well-Known Member
None. They are all contained in the system unless it leaks.
Silvercloud
Well-Known Member
What unit did you use please David
markc
Well-Known Member
Holy thread resurrection Batman! 
pumpsmynads
Well-Known Member
LOL. Tony Bliar was prime minister when this thread started! ???
hartcjhart
Well-Known Member
perhaps the person did a search before posting a new message hence the time, a portable airccon unit is great noisy to get the area cool but then just turn it down evap units are a waste of time
Silvercloud
Well-Known Member
Yes my fault
Did not notice the time line Dohhhhhhhhhhh
Did not notice the time line Dohhhhhhhhhhh
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
Hi Tim - How is Andy doing ?
As said none, until an idiot touches it !
Although there is a valid argument a poorly efficient unit is responsible for a considerable release many many miles away at the power generation plant as far as their emissions are concerned directly proportional to the efficiency or necessity of the AC kit.
DavidJ
Well-Known Member
Well I’ve still got the same boat and the same air con unit and still in Spain. My unit is Climma compact 9 which was supplied by penguinfrigo
I went for the unit with electric heating (not reverse cycle) and I’ve had to replace the element but apart from that no problems at all.
I fitted a pump that would do two units but still not needed to fit a second one.
Silvercloud
Well-Known Member
Thank for the reply David
I love the Costa Brava and used to have a house in Begur.
Is you boat at Empuriabrava?
I love the Costa Brava and used to have a house in Begur.
Is you boat at Empuriabrava?
