There's been a few discussions here about the Electrolux roof top air con unit but I've never heard mention of the Truma frost-air system. Has anybody any experience of this system, and how good are they?
frost-air
- Thread starter mcghee
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Hello Craig,
I did some comparison work between types of AC for caravans some years ago.
The overriding factor that became clear was that with the limited electrical supply available fully effective AC for the whole caravan in medium to large vans was not possible. Simply not enough power!
However, with careful setting up, you could achieve useful cooling in localised areas. With the overhead systems, it was more difficult because of the fixed nature of the appliance and the limited scope of vent positions. They are always fighting the natural exchange of air through the caravans fixed ventilation which must be left unobstructed.
The floor mounted types needed to have ducts, and so the positioning of the ducts could allow more control of the chilled air direction. But the fact that ducts had to be laid can be a problem to get them where they are needed, and the longer and more bends a duct has the less air flow you achieve.
All proper AC units produce noise, both inside and out. In my opinion the overhead units were more noisy that the under bed locker types. There have been several postings on this forum about neighbours AC noise.
The units designed for caravans seemed to carry a premium price, typically over
I did some comparison work between types of AC for caravans some years ago.
The overriding factor that became clear was that with the limited electrical supply available fully effective AC for the whole caravan in medium to large vans was not possible. Simply not enough power!
However, with careful setting up, you could achieve useful cooling in localised areas. With the overhead systems, it was more difficult because of the fixed nature of the appliance and the limited scope of vent positions. They are always fighting the natural exchange of air through the caravans fixed ventilation which must be left unobstructed.
The floor mounted types needed to have ducts, and so the positioning of the ducts could allow more control of the chilled air direction. But the fact that ducts had to be laid can be a problem to get them where they are needed, and the longer and more bends a duct has the less air flow you achieve.
All proper AC units produce noise, both inside and out. In my opinion the overhead units were more noisy that the under bed locker types. There have been several postings on this forum about neighbours AC noise.
The units designed for caravans seemed to carry a premium price, typically over
Modern caravans, built to EN1645, have considerably less fixed ventilation than older caravans. In still air our 15' Pageant maintains a 25 degree differential from 1kw of heating (-3 > 22), although the differential drops considerably in windy conditions.
In still summer conditions, air-conditioning should be able to maintain a similar differential in terms of degrees per kw.
Check out www.koolcamping.co.uk - their 0.42kw unit for
In still summer conditions, air-conditioning should be able to maintain a similar differential in terms of degrees per kw.
Check out www.koolcamping.co.uk - their 0.42kw unit for
Hello Rgoer
I have not had the pleasure of testing the appliance you refer to, but just looking at the technical specifications, suggests that it has very limited capacity. 420W is only about 1/6th of the maximum capacity of the Truma unit and it would definately struggle to keep a whole caravan cool.
In its description it mkaes reference to maintaining a temperatuer of 16oC in 11m3, but it does not state the exterior temperature.
I recall that someone previously refered to "inverter Technology" suggesting it will make a big difference to caravan AC.
This web site indicates that as the unit only uses 420W it could be run from a 12V system using an inverter. If you do the summs i.e Watts = Volts x Amps, then at 230 V it uses 1.9A (As stated) but if it were powered from an 12V battery the drain would be 40A. (a 110Ah battery would last less than 3 hours!) This is not a practical solution for UK caravans.
In its favour, is the split arrangment for the evpourator and condensor coils. This does simplyfy installation. but against it is teh loss of view and light when it is in use.
It is my suspicion that system would provide localised cooling, but will have limited value for whole caravan air conditioning.
I have not had the pleasure of testing the appliance you refer to, but just looking at the technical specifications, suggests that it has very limited capacity. 420W is only about 1/6th of the maximum capacity of the Truma unit and it would definately struggle to keep a whole caravan cool.
In its description it mkaes reference to maintaining a temperatuer of 16oC in 11m3, but it does not state the exterior temperature.
I recall that someone previously refered to "inverter Technology" suggesting it will make a big difference to caravan AC.
This web site indicates that as the unit only uses 420W it could be run from a 12V system using an inverter. If you do the summs i.e Watts = Volts x Amps, then at 230 V it uses 1.9A (As stated) but if it were powered from an 12V battery the drain would be 40A. (a 110Ah battery would last less than 3 hours!) This is not a practical solution for UK caravans.
In its favour, is the split arrangment for the evpourator and condensor coils. This does simplyfy installation. but against it is teh loss of view and light when it is in use.
It is my suspicion that system would provide localised cooling, but will have limited value for whole caravan air conditioning.
That looks good but the noise level would need to be assessed before risking being unpopular with fellow campers.
When can you do a test John????
When can you do a test John????
Hello John.
I no longer have access to the necesary facilities or finance to carry out scientific testing on the scale required.
However if PC are looking for a test engineer then⇨
I no longer have access to the necesary facilities or finance to carry out scientific testing on the scale required.
However if PC are looking for a test engineer then⇨
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