air conditioning

go ahead and laugh. my 110qt igloo swamp cooler is just not cutting it. i know alot of you simians live in temps i slow cook meat at,,,, so, ac what works? i never had one but research says window over portable. a connex is 360 sqft so about that size. 70 outside means 85 inside. i melt at 75. most reliable/energy efficient? the options up here may not be the best. what do you use that you are happy with.

 

I want to buy a refer trailer and hack off the cooling unit off it and attach it to my house.

 

Been using mini splits...running off of solar.

 

Best deal? 2 ton mini-split unless you have a ton of insulation, then 1.5 ton will do you. Best energy efficiency and moisture removal of anything made. 99% of mini splits are heat pumps, so you would have a heat source as well down to about 15 degrees. Other types of units come on at 100% until they satisfy then shut off. Mini splits "ramp up" and "ramp down" throughout the cycle giving longer run times and removing more humidity, yet use less energy because they seldom run at 100% capacity.

You know how to spin a wrench, I can walk you through an install.

 

Same here , 2 mini splits , One 5 tonn thru wall in shop.
All solar driven

 

well i do know how to work on those,,, and they run on heating oil/diesel. interesting idea.

 

,,,,,,, i dont know what that is. il look it up.

new to me. what brand? make? elec 110?

 

Them mini-splits have come a long way,, that's my next system ,, probably try and put 1 in over the winter,,,

 

Using window units at the old place.

Gonna be installing mini splits at the new place. Supposedly they are a lot more efficient, and that place is 100% off grid so I have to be more careful about my usage.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVVJN1LF/?tag=survivalmonke-20

Just an example. Amazon has the best selection and prices. I install 8-10 a year for people, been putting a lot on cargo trailers and campers lately.

 

I have 4 mini-splits in my house (~1800 sqft) and they provide extra heat during the winter (wood stove normally will cook you) in the back rooms if needed and cool the place down at the end of the day during hot summer days. Mostly, I don't need them as house is well insulated, that's one thing the guy who built the place did right. It is going to be 94F today here in North Idaho and I might turn the air conditioning on around 5pm to cool the place off. Normally, if I just keep the windows close, the place stays cool enough. Yeah, the mini-splits work great and they are reliable.

 

thank you ,,,,, let me push this a little. i live in a bus with a 40' connex on each side. total foot print is 32x40.
1280sqft when done but ,,,, not done yet.
eventually il enclose the whole thing. probably a peat moss roof that will hold the snow load and gravel walls with buried cars and guard rail to keep the weight off the connex walls.
what would you order for this setup? ,,,, thats prob what ill get. looks like you are in the hvac industry.
i have honestly never heard of mini splits before and lowes/home depot does not carry them up here (alaska) that i am aware of so most reliable brands is helpful. sounds like the kitty's posterior.

 

I have a Mitsubishi, had it installed by a local HVAC outfit. Very happy with it for use at my BOL. It’s cheap to run, and is on 24x7x365. UP of Michigan gets pretty cold, and it’s done its job.

 

110 or 220v seems like 110 would be easier for off grid?

 

Depends on your off-grid system. I went 220 to help keep the system balanced between L1 & L2. If you only have a smaller 110 system, well "run with whatcha brung"

I've got 2 Senville Aura units...no problems so far.

 

I only know the units I have to cool my little 1000 sq ft homes. I'm still running an almost forty year old Carrier heat pump at the beach. It's like an old car. Needs a few parts now and then, but it's paid for.. The other house has a Trane XL14i. It'll freeze you. Want 68 when it's 98 outside. You got it. I love this thing. Sweet spot seems to be 71. Seldom runs and house is always comfortable. Electric bill has never been a surprise, summer or winter.

 

i am on shore power but want to setup a battery/genset backup. i was wrong home depot does have a couple mini splits in kenia,, but double the cost so i think il be better off ordering one and paying shipping. i looked at one on amazon but they dont ship to ak. alot of ebay/amazon just wont ship to here. shit we take american money and stuff. i bookmarked senvil thanks

 

Last 10-12 years then the board gives out or the condenser fails, if it leaks after 8 years its toast , don't waste money / time / gas/or argon looking the next is in a month .
BTDT.
Sloth

 

You're gonna want to buy them as you have the living space complete if you want to do 115v. 12000 btuh per ton, and up there you will need 3 ton minimum. Since your construction isn't ideal for insulation purposes, I would do 2 12000 (1 ton) in each conex and an 18000 (1.5 ton) in the bus . Using 3 will give you some padding if one should go out.

I would do 230v just for the better power efficiency. You can buy 230v inverters.

Earth berm around the connex and a peat roof is gonna introduce some wicked humidity in the summer in the bus section as it isn't sealed like a connex. You're also going to want a little fresh air introduced as well.

 

No shame in ditching the swamp cooler - once temps climb, they just can't keep up. For a 360 sqft space like a connex, a compact window unit is definitely more efficient than a portable one. Something like the Midea U Inverter Window AC is super quiet, energy-efficient (inverter tech), and works great off a solid generator or power bank. If you're off-grid, also check out ecoflow-powered cooling units - a bit pricey, but great for mobile setups.