Mike I agree with you that ANY AC unit mounted to the shell of a 13' Scamp would be "noisy" at any speed. No where to hide from it except outside. On low the unit I just received the other day has fairly quiet fan sound, and I had to put my ear up close to the compressor as wasn't sure it had kicked, though still would not want it in the cabin space - is why we'll locate it on the ground outside & duct it in..... Did consider a split system but this tiny Trailer couldn't handle a permanent mount + all were oversized for our needs. Am looking in to ducting tonight - would like a quick connect like our septic lines but would rather have 4" vs 3" for better air flow - if the flow gets choked, the evaporator ices up - just another risk when you start hacking & tweaking things.....
I measured the decibel output on low & high at 3' from the unit without the metal casing on - low is almost twice as quiet. Also found in testing a component vibrating on the circuit board in sympathetic resonance with the compressor that added almost 10 db to the sound.... I'll glue it down to shut it up.
A couple pics of the trimmed foam. Have decided to use 4" flexible pvc dust extraction hose (used in woodworking shops) to duct the unit to the trailer. Fairly flexible & smoother bore than some others available. I'll shroud the outside w/ insulation too.
BTW - if anyone wants to know what it takes to keep a Scamp 13 @ 65° when it's 0° outside..... - Jackie & I slept out in it last night in the driveway (we're near Cape Cod, & the whole northeast dropped over 40° in a few hrs) a small 5000 btu ceramic heater on hi pulled it off with no insulation on the windows + both sides cracked a bit - unless ice counts as insulation...... Stepped out around 10 & 11 &12 to check out the Blood Wolf Eclipse of the moon - pretty cool...
Christmas in January! The Amazon Santa came today with all the parts to duct the AC unit in to the Scamp ... Hard to tell from the pic, but the 4" hose has a nice smooth bore (corrugations are on the outside).,. Btw, a heads up to anyone in the Northeast - check out Gerry's Spring Fling this coming May - was a great time last year - don't miss it! Dave
Last piece of the puzzle came today - a couple yards of Camo 1000D polyester urethane coated fabric. I'll wrap/ insulate the duct hoses with that old marine rat fur in the pic, then stitch up a sleeve out of the poly to cover all....
Just got this text pic forecast from the camping Buddies we met at Lake Itaska State Park when we picked up our Scamp in Minnesota.... That's some Bone Chillin Cold goin on up there!!!
Finally got a break in the schedule to work on the AC unit - intailed a bit of head scratching, but here you go; The box to separate the cold & makeup air is done, insulated, & ready for paint, couple tweaks left to do, but will post when I get to them....
After cutting it to size was able to use the stock intake filter.... Now off to the table saw to cut the divider between the intake & exhaust... BTW - a reminder to anyone in the Northeast > Gerry's Spring Fling @ Mt Chocoura is coming up in a month - Reserve Now, don't miss out!!
Fabbed the divider between the intake & exhaust ports last night, hit it w/ a quick coat of epoxy, & fired it up tonight.... Exhaust temp was measured @ 45° with makeup air @ 73°..... Needs a few coats of paint, then on to making up the ducts to tie it to the Scamp. ...
I have some airbrush stencils I'll use to add branches, leaves, & maybe a pine cone or two to camo the unit a bit... - could of left it white, but that's no fun!