Cool Cat AC Replacement Options for Quieter Cooling

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Original Member Title: Cool Cat AC Replacement
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The member with a new-to-them 15C210P found the Cool Cat AC too noisy and asked whether anyone had used a newer split-style window air conditioner with the compressor separated from the interior section. Another member had no split-unit experience but reported success replacing an older Roadtrek unit with a quiet LG 10,000 BTU dual-inverter window AC that could run from a Honda 2200 in ECO mode.

Members also discussed a documented Roadtrek 210P replacement using a household window unit...
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WB

wbdmadvt

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2012
Posts
574
15C210P

This is a new to us camper but we have been out in it several times but this last trip was first using the AC. I knew it was noisy but really it is too much. I have read through the posts here on replacing with a household unit and that will be my option to reduce fan noise.

My question is, has anyone used one of the newer split type window air conditioners where the compressor is remote from the interior portion?
 
No experience with a split type. my 02 Roadtrek 200 had the original Fedders 10K unit in it and an Onan generator. Very peaceful, lawnmower running underneath and vacuum running over head.

At the time the new dual inverter window AC's were coming out and someone had installed one in a Roadtrek. I installed a LG 10,000 btu dual inverter and am very happy with it. Very quiet even quieter in sleep mode and an energy sipper. It runs on a Honda 2200 in ECO mode. I have no experience with a Cool cat so cannot offer any advice but I believe I have read it can be replaced with a 12K unit??
 
I have bought a Rovsun 12000 BTU inverter ac unit that was recommended in another posting here. I took the cover off and it looks like I will have to square up the opening
 

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What I did, it's worked great since the install....

Roadtrek 210P AC Changeout

Hi friends, I'm not typically on this forum but I thought I'd share my replacement of the failed Dometic AC/Heat pump unit in our 2010 RT 210P (Chevy Express 3500 chassis)..... I'm aware that you can do a direct swap with another new Dometic unit, but I didn't want to do that. It wasn't a...
www.classbforum.com www.classbforum.com

I should clarify that there's no solar on our van, we don't boondock, typically use shore power on our stopovers. If we do stop for a while somewhere and decide we want ac, we use the onan. So we're a bit antiquated by today's standards. I do plan to make some upgrades at some point.
 
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Hi
I have saved and printed your install posting. Gave me inspiration!
We have no solar use shore power or genset
 
Good job and great documentation, wish I could do as well. The Artic King is not a dual inverter unit, I do not believe the dual inverters were available in 2020. I installed mine in 2022 and believe I was the 2nd or 3rd person to put a dual inverter in a Roadtrek.
 
I just reread Tx-Trek. Of interest was the vent holes in the top of the cover so the top vents of the AC unit can flow air.

The Coolcat is just a chassis and not a box, so would it not also be possible to just cut off the cover to get more venting out similarly?

Of course there would also be other options to vent that area, such as adding a shallow hotrod aftermarket hood scoop to the cover that extended to the rear of the van by the the other vents. I had thought about that in the past when AC units with full boxes have been installed in various Roadtreks and Pleasure-ways.

How many window AC units use top vents? I would think they would let a of water through the unit.
 
Hi Booster, I installed those top vents to correlate with location of top air inlet grille on the ac unit itself. I assumed the factory had a reason for the grille locations, so IMO better to follow those locations.
Any water thru the top just drains down into the pan and out the back, never has been an issue.
Of greater importance was to insure the dividers were in place and sealed to avoid shortcycling of intake and exhaust air.
In my case, after looking at the CoolCat unit, I decided not to mess with rehab of the cabinet, etc. More straightforward to start fresh, especially that now, if the unit fails, it's fairly easy to pick up a new unit somewhere and swap it out, even if traveling.
 
TX-Trek said:
What I did, it's worked great since the install....

Roadtrek 210P AC Changeout

Hi friends, I'm not typically on this forum but I thought I'd share my replacement of the failed Dometic AC/Heat pump unit in our 2010 RT 210P (Chevy Express 3500 chassis)..... I'm aware that you can do a direct swap with another new Dometic unit, but I didn't want to do that. It wasn't a...
www.classbforum.com www.classbforum.com

I should clarify that there's no solar on our van, we don't boondock, typically use shore power on our stopovers. If we do stop for a while somewhere and decide we want ac, we use the onan. So we're a bit antiquated by today's standards. I do plan to make some upgrades at some point.
Click to expand...
 
How did you cut the left side straight? Does that piece come out or did you cut in place?
 

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I cut it in place using a multifunction tool. I lay tape to get a straight edge and allowed about 1/8 more in the opening for the aluminum edge trim.
Please note that warning I included - the reciprocating blade of the tool can overheat the wood panels and cause a fire. I had a spray water bottle that I used to control the heat.

I also included info on what I did to abandon the dometic thermostat in place and add a simple 2-wire mercury style thermostat strictly for the furnace. So when the dometic unit is removed, leave the wiring plug for it in place until you verify the 2 wires going from that plug to the furnace. In my van they were 2 green wires if I remember right. My post has the info on tying into those 2 wires for the new/relocated thermostat. That setup has also worked without any problems at all.
 
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Thank you.
Another question: I don’t have access to any overhead lifting, so how did you get the cool cat down? Is it heavy?
 
It's fairly heavy and bulky. I had another person help, we sort of staged it to the top of a small stepladder, then took it down to the ground. The bulkiness was about as much of an issue as the weight.
The replacement unit wasn't featherweight but it was lighter than the dometic.
It was much safer to have the strength and control of a second person.
 
That looks like that will be my approach. The Rovsun 12000 btu inverter one I bought is around 68 lbs
 
If I have to remove/replace the AC I will just go to Home Depot and rent on of these. No reason the handle the AC with two people on ladders if you don't have to.

Hand crank lift
 
True but the nearest Home Depot that has this is 2 hrs away and they don’t take reservations for it. You have to go in person
Guess I will go with the ladder ramp
 
wbdmadvt said:
True but the nearest Home Depot that has this is 2 hrs away and they don’t take reservations for it. You have to go in person
Guess I will go with the ladder ramp
Click to expand...
Any other rental tool place? They all have them around here in the Minneapolis area.
 
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