Replaced the air con with a fan vent.

[T1 Terry]

The Dometic noise maker had failed to cool so I decided to try a different approach. A friend of ours fitted a similar unit to the roof of their bus, he raved about it so I thought, why not give it a look see.
I checked out the prices of the Fantastic vent with remote available within Aust, the best price I could find http://peninsularvs.com.au/store/EXHAUS ... ml?added=1 was over $700 posted, so I sat down and had a cool drink to recover, the friend confirmed their's was around $780 but a different brand and smaller vent size.
This unit fits in a hole 14" x 14", the same size hole as the dometic roof top air con.
I looked on evilbay and found a US supplier, with the exchange rate and paypals bit, AU$298 delivered http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/380532648039 ... 1423.l2649 It took just on a week between ordering and delivery.
Over to the mates place so he could do all the heavy stuff, out with the air con unit, clean up around the hole to remove the old silicon glue, a good bead of Sikaflex 11FC, on with the gasket, line up where to drill the hole to thread the wiring through, remove the 240vac cable, more 11FC and drop it in the hole. A small drill to make holes through the metal roof into the timber frame already there from the air con install…. and the dramas began. The holes are nearly under the lip of the vent lid, what was needed was a drill extension or very long drill bit, didn’t have either of them so drilling at an angle while perched on the roof was the next option. Three drill bits and 2 holes with snapped off drill bit in them later, the screwing down bit started. Sikaflex is evil stuff, hands, clothes and every tool on the roof now have an even coating of Sikaflex, an hrs cleaning up with turps and a rag and the wiring is ready to be connected, fairly straight forward 2 wire hook up keeping in mind the crazy US idea of black being the positive cable and we are ready for a test run. The lid opens automatically, the fan alters speed on manual control and varies with temp on auto control, just like it was supposed to, just leaves fitting the inside trim, lucky tomorrows another day as the beer o’clock siren sounded. Within 20 mins it started to sprinkle rain, back to shut the vent to see it automatically closing, gotta love that
A hot night, tried the fan on “out”, not bad, tried it on “in” at the lowest speed, a near silent gentle breeze over the body, magic. Very happy with the whole deal at this point.
Today, decided to fit the inside trim, measured up, started to cut to size wit the angle grinder, apparently my fingers were not clear of the blade on the inside even though I thought they were, tomorrow or the next day are also another day, you will have to wait till then for photos

[Dot]

We have the same thing in the bus Terry, not as flash though.. They were the original vents so we kept them. They do a good job..x

[Geoff Clifton]

I don't think 'measure once, cut twice' meant mark the job and cut finger and job together 'Ang on, it was measure twice, cut once ... the job not the finger. Bugger, beer time

[T1 Terry]

Lucky it was only a nick on top of the little finger, didn't make it through to the nail, it burnt it's way in and it's sort of crispy now, didn't bleed at all, the burning must have sealed it.
Happy New Year young Geoffrey and Margaret, hope it a good one now you have your life back.

[norman]

Had two of those rain sensor vents in our Fuso. Bloody brilliant one sucking and one blowing....The vents that is ...

[Jon and Kay]

Terry, I've been going to do that same job for 5 years and the dashed air con just won't give up, but it's close. Does this model suit a 5 and 1/2 inch roof?

[T1 Terry]

It comes wth a 110mm insert that fits from the inside up to the vent, the vent drops in and 50mm deep, maybe a bit more. It was the inside insert I was cutting down to size when I cut into the finger tip

[Jon and Kay]

Great Terry. If you hear a noise in the back yard that sounds like somebody removing your roof vent, just ignore it Happy New Year

[shonky]

HI, all

TI Terry. Must say they're a great concept - have to set up a folder under Capital Expenses, or else call it SWMBO's birthday present.

BTW - just received an SMS from The Alzheimers Society - HAPPY 1984 TO EVERYONE!!

See you on the back roads,
shonky et al.

[T1 Terry]

Great Terry. If you hear a noise in the back yard that sounds like somebody removing your roof vent, just ignore it Happy New Year

No good to you Jon, the insert is cut short on 2 sides and third side was bits of finger tip in it
Thought I'd do something safer today after last night and all, cutting up old fence paling to make a raised garden bed for Margaret one the table saw... what could go wrong there ... could severely effect my one finger typing