Cheap AC Vent Separator

Tabaz

This keeps the hot exhaust air coming out of the rear of the AC unit from mixing with the intake air on the sides. Its held in place by the slits cut into the cardboard sides.  The only other addition was two pieces of foam insulation on the metal baffling side panels behind the bug screen.  Will do a "prettier" one now that the concept works.

Sharon_is_SAM

@Tabaz - that is a good way to recycle a cardboard six pack carton😊

jgram2

Or the box my favorite mop came in!

Bayliss

@Tabaz, nice concept.  I wonder if you could make the profile of the box smaller (i.e., extend out a shorter distance from the trailer) and add a curved deflector on each side to deflect the hot exhaust air toward the front and rear of the trailer?

Tabaz

Jgram2 - funny you should mention the O’Cedar mop box. My former housekeeper recommended it. While I shopped at Home Depot with it in my cart, THREE separate people commented on what a great mop it was. 

Tabaz

Bayless - I was surprised that air flowed away from the trailer from the two outer side (intake) vents. I attribute this to the fact I had the auxiliary AC computer fan turned on while the AC was running. I incorrectly assumed that fresh, cool air would be sucked in via the side vents. Will run another test this weekend without the auxiliary AC fan turned on.  Regardless, the air expelled from the box opening was very warm. Would not want it mixing with cool intake air.

Bayliss

@Tabaz, actually, after I wrote the above post, I began to wonder if the air flow enters through the sides and exits out the center.  I just looked at the Danby owner's manual and it shows the exterior air inlet on the side.  See attached.  This would be consistent with the hot air being blown out through the box opening.  Am I correct on that?  (I will be interested to see how your test turns out.)

P.S.  This discussion thread may be of interest to you.  @Sharon_is_SAM mentions that the air on the Danby enters on the sides and exits out the center.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/9569/danby-not-cooling-as-it-should

Tabaz

I have the Kenmore AC model.  Just ran a test in my carport in Phoenix AZ, w ambient temp of 100* at 8:30 pm.
Big difference in airflow from the campground yesterday.  Noticeable airflow INTO the trailer from the side intake vents vs. hot exhaust from the box interior.  Not sure why this is happening.  Only difference from yesterday is having the cabin door open with screen deployed.  Side intake temps (with aux AC fan running) = 112* intake temp vs. 143* output exhaust temp from inside the box. BTW, the AC did a nice job of keeping the interior cabin cool during the hottest part of the day.

Bayliss

Thanks for test info, @Tabaz.  Good to know.

Tabaz

The factory aux fan on top of the trailer "sucks in" air to cool the side vents on the AC.  This "cool" air enters the AC unit from the side vents, processed into cool cabin air and then exchanged into hot air that is expelled from the rear of the unit.  This very cheap and simple mod (while unsightly and repugnant to RV purest), seems to do a great job of keeping the opposing airflows separate.  I'd be happy to perform any additional tests recommended by the engineers on this forum because cardboard boxes are cheap and plentiful. 

Sharon_is_SAM

@Bayliss  - Here is the original discussion from PopTab and how he used plastic deflectors.  The Danby does exhaust the hot air out through the middle of the outside vent where TaBAZ has the O’Cedar box and takes in cool air on the sides.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3564/air-conditioning-unit-change-out-part-2-ac-cabinet-modification/p1

rfuss928

I have been using a deflector on our AC vent for a long time.  Especially in very hot conditions.  This is simply 1/4" plywood taped together to form a duct and it hangs by a simple hook through the grating.  Hot air out and down.  Cool air in the sides and top.  Folds flat for storage.
I definitely think it improves cooling in high heat and humidity.
 

Bayliss

@Sharon_is_SAM, thank you very much for adding the link to the discussion thread by @Pop-T@B.  I recall reading it in the past, but could not locate it.  Those clear deflectors that are depicted are exactly what I had in mind.

Dalehelman

rfuss928 said:

I have been using a deflector on our AC vent for a long time.  Especially in very hot conditions.  This is simply 1/4" plywood taped together to form a duct and it hangs by a simple hook through the grating.  Hot air out and down.  Cool air in the sides and top.  Folds flat for storage.
I definitely think it improves cooling in high heat and humidity.
 

Since hot air rises. I would consider directing the vent up and the heat away.  So that it isn’t drawn in the intakes.

DanWeitzel

Here is my solution to this issue.  Replaced baffling between the AC unit & the outside grill.  Added an auxiliary fan mount on the AC grill to help pull out the hot air.  Use a 5 gal pail (bottom removed) to extend the fan discharge away from the intakes.

Dalehelman

That works. You may get tired of people asking what’s that for.

Verna

Well, @DanWeitzel, you take the prize for the most innovative, least expensive, permanent but removable for travel, mod for the deflection of air for the Cool Cat👍  I love it!

rhyno

@DanWeitzel where did you run the power for the exhaust fan? Does it run only when the compressor and/or AC blower are running?