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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
Built in AC
As this forum has a huge knowledge base, I'd be very grateful to pick the brains of people in the know regarding domestic built in AC.

I'm currently in the process of building my own apartment in the roof space of our barn (leaving the workshop below with direct access for landrover tinkering of course!)

The place will be very well insulated but I'm still worried about the heat in the summer - being a very large black roof it's going to absorb a lot of heat in the sun.

For this reason I am considering (have my heart set on) AC for the 2 bedrooms. I don't feel the need to lock myself into an air-conditioned building in the summer but on a hot, muggy night it will be a god send to sleep in a cool and comfortable bedroom.

I've seen online you can get a simple split compressor/condenser unit with 2, wall mounted evaporator/fan units for well under £1000. This seems very reasonable but I imagine won't be the best built, most reliable unit in the world.

Can anyone recommend a good unit that will be reliable and well built? Or perhaps brands/companies to avoid?

Thanks in advance Thumbs Up 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
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Post #883270 4th Feb 2021 11:24pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Environmentally, I strongly disagree with aircon in domestic properties. If well insulated it shouldn't get too hot. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #883290 5th Feb 2021 7:06am
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3641

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
Have you considered SPVs (solar powered vents) they are basically automatic working when you need them, cheap and environmentally friendly, some of the better ones include a battery so will work overnight DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #883291 5th Feb 2021 7:14am
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
I have considered the environmental impact of AC, including the risk of leaking gasses and obviously the heat being released into the environment when the AC is running.

The system I have been looking at is A++ rated 4.2KW at full chat (split across both rooms) so power consumption and heat dissipation for a single room would be less than a fan heater.

The system isn't going to be cooling the entire building, infact it will only be primarily used in one bedroom.
Efficiency wise it will be better than a portable unit too. On the long summer nights when I'm working until gone 11 and up again at 6 to be back at work it would make long term cumulative fatigue over the summer season much less of a problem as I won't be laying in bed too hot for hours.

As for the fact its a domestic property, its going to have a far, far lower impact on the environment than a commercial office block with massive AC towers on the roof..... 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
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Post #883293 5th Feb 2021 7:29am
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
LR90XS2011 wrote:
Have you considered SPVs (solar powered vents) they are basically automatic working when you need them, cheap and environmentally friendly, some of the better ones include a battery so will work overnight


I have looked into the various different options, including mechanical ventilation. The build will be getting a PV solar storage solution with 22kwh battery storage.

The problem with roof ventilation in the bedroom will be noise, not necessarily in the summer but in winter when we regularly get 80 mph winds and above coming in straight from the sea.

Even in my parents house with a 3M+ run from the standard bathroom extractor fan to the outside wall of the house you can hear the wind howling through the fan through most of the house if it's blowing much over 50mph which in the winter is very often. 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #883296 5th Feb 2021 7:35am
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5843

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Could you duct the vents into the workshop below? 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #883305 5th Feb 2021 8:26am
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Huttopia



Member Since: 23 Feb 2016
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1972

United Kingdom 
I’ve sent you a pm. 👍
Post #883306 5th Feb 2021 8:27am
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
excossack wrote:
Could you duct the vents into the workshop below?


Probably not because of fire regulations etc. 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #883312 5th Feb 2021 9:05am
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5843

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Yea good point. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #883314 5th Feb 2021 9:13am
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
Sorry, seems I woke up grumpy this morning. Aircon is just a pet hate of mine and I agree commercial spaces are so much worse. I used to work next to company called Eco Cooling who use old school evaporative cooling as a natural, cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional air conditioning in large scale warehousing. I wonder if you can find an old evaporative cooler from a combine and fashion it into use? I have fond childhood memories of evaporative cooling in an old combine, everytime you went over a bump you'd get a shower of water, very cooling!

Sounds a great project! I've always fancied living above a garage space. Often said my perfect house would be a Dutch barn conversion.

Would love to see some photos Thumbs Up James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #883317 5th Feb 2021 9:26am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
Evaporative cooling - Legionella's friend Shocked Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #883323 5th Feb 2021 9:48am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17373

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
JOW240725 wrote:
... I've always fancied living above a garage space. ...


I suggested to Grafty that he should consider fitting a fireman's pole to allow quicker access from the living accommodation to the projects area! Rolling with laughter
Post #883338 5th Feb 2021 11:05am
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
This has indeed beed discussed. We (my other half) haven't come to a decision yet Laughing 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #883356 5th Feb 2021 12:24pm
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AJC



Member Since: 30 Nov 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 1361

United Kingdom 
When i built my workshop, it was my intentions to build an 'apartment' on the mezzanine, before i got round to doing it i had stripped 2 cars for restoration and filled the mezzanine with car parts.

The mezzanine is still full of car parts now some 15 years later, i keep finding parts i never knew i had.
Post #883383 5th Feb 2021 2:31pm
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4785

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
The barn I'm converting was never intended to be lived in, so luckily the floor and therefore stuff has never accumulated too badly. When all is said and don't it'll be approximately 100 square metres of living accommodation with 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and an open plan kitchen/lounge. Downstairs will be the entrance which will be a boot room come utility.

The whole place will be underfloor heated with a zone per room, each individually thermostatically controlled. 14 triple glazed velux windows are going in, 8 in the lounge and kitchen, 3 in the master bedroom, 2 in the bathroom and 1 in the spare room so there should be plenty of light, with views towards Lundy and the south coast of Wales.

At the moment there isn't much to show as the floor isn't in yet (starting on the 10th of February. I'll update with pictures as I have them. 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #883391 5th Feb 2021 3:12pm
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