People this box he’s building is so unnecessary. Window units are cheap. Just cut into the top of the unit itself and sheet metal over the return with the 4” fitting he’s using. If you need to be able to use in a window just buy another one. Seriously $50 on marketplace. This is more than twice the work. Some sheet metal, self tappers, tin snips, a drill, caulk and 2(4”) coupler tap fittings are all you need. Then just hook your flex hoses directly to the unit. I can’t think of any reason to go to this length. I have never had a single problem just doing this to the unit itself!
The stock is a run cap, not a start. It puts one winding of the compressor out of phase so it knows which way to rotate. A hard start kit will make it start much faster, reducing the time that it will draw down your generator. Also, these units indoors have a fairly long off cycle that allows the refrigerant pressures to equalize making startup easy..in an outdoor environment like a tent, it will try to restart prematurely, draw locked amps and will fault a small generator.
What about reaching the control switch? Are you pulling the box on and off every time you use it? Seems like it’d be best to tape the box to the whole unit to prevent the unit from getting destroyed by dust while not in use.
One mud puddle bare foot day he will agree with you I was wandering if he was going to use his tongue to test that capacitor he will be gun shy of them one day also lol Don't ask how I know these things that's not part of this conversation
Right, I keep seeing videos with people running live wires through sharp as shit holes in metal or putting a small piece of tape as installation. nobody seems to use wire nuts when they cut unused wires. I find myself yelling at the screen "What the fuck are yo doing, is this a joke it's gota be a joke" but it's never a joke.
I watched the whole thing hoping to see how you connected it to the tent, and how you were able to actually operate the AC since the controls are now enclosed in the box. I assume you start it up and then slide the box over the AC. A design improvement might be to add a little access door to allow you to start it up and change temps. Nice idea though.
Maybe make a wired remote using a plastic electrical project box to move the switches and dials to inside the tent. Make a quick disconnect for the remote box for easy tear down.
A hard start capacitor kit is usually only used when a compressor is on its way out. Using one on a good working compressor will prematurely cause it to fail
Great idea and video! Does the ac ever cut out because it is somewhat restricted to the box and hoses? I wanna do this with my pop up bacuase I am worried the roof ac I have (was going to install) is too heavy for the roof and cable system.
Will this setting cause ac short cycling due to air flow restriction? I had similar setting to my portable AC. Ac shut off and on before desired temp reached. Lots moisture on control panel.
This is awesome. I’d love to have one made for my window unit. Right now I’m duct taping it in my window. The hose would be much better. I’m not good with modifying and making this kind of thing. Would you custom build one for me? Do you sell these? How much?
I think it would be better for a collapsible blower/intake box for easier stowage for better transportation. Perhaps make this out of a thick hard shell silver windshield sun shield using Velcro to allow easy collapsing.
I don’t think it would perform optimally if you did that. There’s a lot of condensation build up on the hoses from the hose. I think overall you need the box to be thick enough so the coils don’t freeze. Unless there is insulation thin enough that it doesn’t collapse not sure if it would work.
Wanted to give the the intake and ac exhausted plenty room so the thermostat wouldn’t trip. If it’s to shallow when the ac is blowing the cold air will trip the thermostat and shut off to soon. The intake needs plenty of space to cause its 3/4 of the unit itself. I used a fan to help pull the cool air in, and a fan to help push air in to the intake.
The fans are needed cause when the ac unit is in a regular setting like in a window there is no restriction. The intake can pull easy and the ac can blow freely, but when you put the box and venting on it it can’t flow nicely. When you open the unit up you can see that the squirrel fan inside is not that strong and remember the thermostat sits wright at the front so if cold air gets trapped in the box it will shut off prematurely. A fan to help pull air out and push air in helps to insure your getting proper flow in and out.
