Air Conditioning (Portable)
Hi all, I am after some advice from anyone who has portable air con please. We are venturing into Europe in August with the caravan. Our caravan doesn't allow for a fitted air con unit to be installed so we are looking at portable ones.
If you use one, what brand do you use and how good are they please?
Thank you in advance.
Comments
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Just check what power they need. If they draw5 amps and you are on a campsite with a 6 amp supply then with your fridge and fans and other stuff operating you will overload the supply and trip it.
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Don’t forget they can be very heavy and you may not have the payload availability to carry it in the caravan.
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When we were on a site in France last year there was a Twin axle caravan next door to us and it had a portable system we did not see them as were there for 1 night 1 piece they had stood on the draw bar and the rest inside the front of the caravan and thought it was a good idea so OH has just looked on Amazon.UK and found the same one so it is EUROM AC2401 air conditioner £379.00 450 watts around 2 amp and will not trip if you have 6amps and weighs 20.5kks and is especially for caravans/motorhomes amazon asin number is B07941373N hope this is helpful for you and enjoy your trip.
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Another option could be one of the many small domestic units. On a previous van my uncle cut a hole in the floor of the bottom of a unit to pass the trunk through. He lined it with plastic tubing and a screw on blanking cap. It must have been 100/110 waste pipe fittings.He was very happy with the result
Colin
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Thank you for this I will take a look. Amps is the main issue as we only have 8 on the pitch. Weight and space isn't a problem as we have hilux with a hard top as a new work vehicle so no more trying to fit the roof box like an impossible puzzle!!
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Dont worry to much the Spanish put a normal a/c condensing unit in the front locker pipe work thru the bulkhead etc into the van and off you go, dont think they know or care what nose weight is. I think most large Spanish sites proved 16amps so not a problem
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We have one from a German manufacturer, Medion, sold through Amazon, which we bought in the EU at close to half the UK alternative’s price. It’s way too heavy to carry in our caravan, so it’s transported in our car. Power consumption of around 6 amps hasn’t been a problem so far, although it might be when run concurrently with other appliances on some sites. The principle problem is it’s limited cooling capacity which is rated at 5000BTUs. With all blinds and windows closed, it’ll reduce the ambient temperature by about 6C. That’s far from ideal in 30+C temperatures, but it does help a bit. At €469 = £395, its limited benefits need to be weighed against inconvenience (size and weight) and price. The alternative of cooling down with your car air conditioning running isn’t ideal either. Would we buy another? Certainly not at UK prices, maybe at an EU cost. The tipping point for us is providing a safe temperature for our dog, who, regardless, takes care of himself instinctively by laying flat out on the ground under the caravan, when he’s hot.
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We use a Mestic 300 which I believe is cheaper than the Eurom and by all accounts just as effective. It is a split unit with the compressor outside and the flow and return to/from the fan coil unit pass under the caravan window as the pipes are flat. We used in Spain last year in September during the heatwave and it kept the van cool even in the afternoon when temps were really high (35 degrees). Others around us said it was not noisy. It was worth its weight in gold and we slept. Yes watching the electric consumption is important but once you get the hang of it it is easy. Put the fridge on gas was also a good plan due to the heat - it kept stuff frozen which it probably would not have done on electric. Hope this helps
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