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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: red t ute on November 03, 2011, 05:36:42 PM

Title: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: red t ute on November 03, 2011, 05:36:42 PM
I was just checking out the Kimberley Campers site and they now sell A/C unit for there new campers.
Has anyone seen one in action could they make that make that much cooler with all that canvas or is it only at night type of a thing.
I think of buying a Kimberly soon but the extra for the A/C would really hurt my pocket. And I know its not real camping with an A/C on. But at night but when it 30+ and 90% humidity up their in north QLD it would make camping in summer so much easier getting a good nights sleep.
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: gronk on November 03, 2011, 06:08:18 PM
The gennie might be a bit noisy of a night though.  !!!
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: Blue Bravo on November 03, 2011, 06:43:29 PM
Buy a caravan it will probably work out cheaper >:D
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: BradandPeta on November 03, 2011, 06:58:16 PM
The gennie might be a bit noisy of a night though.  !!!

I think the gennie would be a nice soothing noise compared to some swaggers snoring :)
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: red t ute on November 03, 2011, 08:01:58 PM
They run on 12 volt so no genator until the next day or maybe you could get 200 watts worth of solar panals to keep the 6x42 Amp Lithium Batterys that are fitted.
Here the link I just think the price is at lease twice as much as it should be.
http://www.kimberleykampers.com/index.php?item=off-road-camper-trailer-air-conditioning-comfort-package-2012#/1/
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: gronk on November 03, 2011, 08:06:55 PM
....
I think the gennie would be a nice soothing noise compared to some swaggers snoring :)
>:D >:D >:D >:D.....no....not me.   ??????

Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: Roo on November 03, 2011, 08:29:17 PM
They run on 12 volt so no genator until the next day or maybe you could get 200 watts worth of solar panals to keep the 6x42 Amp Lithium Batterys that are fitted.
Here the link I just think the price is at lease twice as much as it should be.
http://www.kimberleykampers.com/index.php?item=off-road-camper-trailer-air-conditioning-comfort-package-2012#/1/


the Lithium Batteries are not very cheap.
http://www.camp4ever.com/article/new-kimberley-lithium-iron-phosphate-batteries-under-field-test

The article states they are $750 each.... so there is $4.5K of your comfort package. Lithium batteries have some pretty handy advantages....price is not one of them.
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: jnik on November 04, 2011, 12:14:23 AM
Often discussed on DIY electric vehicle conversion sites. Bit less than $10k though ...

12V A/C @$1,745: http://www.evworks.com.au/index.php?product=AIR-SIERRA00055 (http://www.evworks.com.au/index.php?product=AIR-SIERRA00055)

6x 40AH 12V LiFePO4 @$228ea: http://www.evworks.com.au/index.php?product=BAT-LP12V40AH (http://www.evworks.com.au/index.php?product=BAT-LP12V40AH)

That leaves you with $7,487 in the pocket ... but you are down 12AH, the charger upgrade, the tropical roof, and the underbed heater. Oh, and some key bits for the A/C system!

(sure, you'd also need a decent solar setup, but that's not part of KK's "comfort package")

Not sure of the capacity of the KK A/C unit, but the evworks unit is 14,000 BTU/hr which is ~ 4.1KW (mideaair.com.au says 2.6KW will cool an average bedroom, so I'd guess your battery capacity would be the limiting factor rather than the unit's capacity).
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: Captain on November 04, 2011, 09:29:56 AM
I have reverse cycle a/c in my AORC cross-over camper. In the 41 nights I have spend in my van this year, I have used it on 1 trip - though I guess the weather has a big influence on this. It has two issues, 1) its not the quietest thing around and 2) it needs 240V power.  I also have a 12v fan (Siroco) and this gets used FAR more. I see the KK is a 12V a/c but with around the same cooling capacity as my 240V unit. Thats going to need some battery power and I cannot see how it can run for more than an hour or so - just do the math on power consumption. 

I also have a diesel heater and that gets used regularly. Recently a friend ordered a camper the same as mine and I recommended he only get the diesel heater and Siroco fan and forget the a/c. Its "only" a $2,500 option and still not value for money, $10K is simply too much IMHO.

Cheers

Captain
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: gronk on November 04, 2011, 02:52:36 PM
Bloody hell........I think we should be encouraging more use of cement pills.......if it's hot, go to bed naked. !! ;D
Title: Re: Air Conditioning is an option in the 2012 Kimberley Campers
Post by: HEM19X on November 05, 2011, 06:09:38 AM
Bloody hell........I think we should be encouraging more use of cement pills.......if it's hot, go to bed naked. !! ;D

Now that is a scarey thought!!!!