Questions about Danhard AC

[Fremebe]

In the process of gutting my 2015 sportsmobile back to metal and wire. I need to understand the Danhard components and how to best remove/work around them. Also would like opinions on keep/replace during rebuild.Here are my specific questions.

1. I want to understand the two parts that are on the inside of the van. The one on the floor I assume contains the blower and the motor. Is this true? I also thought there was a part that removed heat from the van. Is it also contianed in this unit.

2. One of the things I hated about my design was that all there vents were next to each other. I would be freezing on the back couch while the rest of the van was hot. I assume I can simply replace with longer hose and reverts the air flow accordingly.

3. I understand the “hosed-blower?” unit has tubes exiting the van. I believe they may be drainage tubes. I am replacing the floor and need to understand if I can simply suspend the unit and slide a new floor under it or is removal so complicated best to just add a cut out. I want to remove as much floor as possible.

4. What is the grey box—a relay switch box I assume? I need to disconnect the box from the back panel to remove. Can I simply remove the screws—keep it intake and then screw back on to the new wall or is it a lot more complicated.

5. As you can see I have to remove the switch and the thermostat. Best option remove wires but afraid of messing anything up. Other option cut around (not best for reinstall). Is this easy to disconnect/ reconnect?

6. Lastly the unit other than a thermostat has not failed me and has had limited use. Seems senseless to replace since working fine. But have had a lot of frustration with the inability to have this unit serviced or getting any info on it. Since sold to fleets not been able to find AC people who are willing to even discuss it. Danhard the company real hard to get call backs or speak to anyone in technical service. Respectfully I do not think they are set up to assist consumers, which makes this product challenging to own.

It is 9.5 years old but working fine. Thoughts about just keeping it in my new build.

Any info is GREATLY appreciated. I am WAY over my head in gutting this van but did n0t have a choice. So I am simply working through the challenge and addressing each issue as I come upon it.

 

[gahamby]

https://www.transairmfg.com/index.cfm

I found a local shop on this site. Click on the service centers tab. Shops that have a Transair franchise tend to have people that understand these types of AC systems.
There's tons of stuff on the forum but it's scattered across different pages. I searched everything but the classifieds. Best of luck. GH

http://www.danhard.com/
Just for reference.

 

[Fremebe]

Many thanks—-I am trying to understand the various parts. Am I correct that the evaporator unit is the one with all the air duct hoses coming out of it and is inside the van AND the blower unit is attached to it?

In other words—in the picture above I believe I am looking at the evaporator—the blower attached—and then the air duct hoses connected to the blower.

 

[Scalf77]

Here is a manual passed on by a SMB owner with the Danhard AC.

I expect that you would need a qualified tech disconnect and save the freon. After you put it back they will have to fill it back up. I believe the info they need is in the manual.

 

[Fremebe]

I was able to suspend the unit above the floor without disconnecting to remove the floor. So hopefully I have not done any damage. I have the van fully gutted except for the systems—basically wire and metal once again. What surprises I learned about a sportsmobile build as I took it apart!

 

[gahamby]

I know it's not always easy to snap pics when you're in the process of working. The more pics the merrier, however.

 

[vlamgat]

I have had the same experience with Danhard but with respect understand their predicament. They acquired the Starcool business and thereby for a time the SMB business but we're not and never had plans to deal with retail users and have never sold to retail customers. That's why they largely ignore communication like yours as they rely on their dealers and vehicle build shops to ask specific technical questions surrounding specific part numbers. They do not sell systems relying on these shops to construct a system design around the specs of their catalog. But if you need to purchase a replacement part, they will be happy to oblige just don't ask them how to use it or how it works because that depends on variables you probably don't have.
Increasingly this is the way that boats and RVs are built as the electronic interfaces permeate everywhere.

 

[bobthecow]

1. I want to understand the two parts that are on the inside of the van. The one on the floor I assume contains the blower and the motor. Is this true? I also thought there was a part that removed heat from the van. Is it also contianed in this unit.

The blower unit has the evaporator in it. It's a radiator looking thing inside that extracts the heat from the van.

2. One of the things I hated about my design was that all there vents were next to each other. I would be freezing on the back couch while the rest of the van was hot. I assume I can simply replace with longer hose and reverts the air flow accordingly.

Yep. You can redirect those hoses anywhere …*or even put a tee and redirect multiple places! Espar makes some cute little butterfly valves that work with 60 or 90mm ducting, and have a cable for remotely controlling them:

https://www.heatso.com/espar-eberspacher-regulating-flap-valve-y-branch-60mm/

3. I understand the “hosed-blower?” unit has tubes exiting the van. I believe they may be drainage tubes. I am replacing the floor and need to understand if I can simply suspend the unit and slide a new floor under it or is removal so complicated best to just add a cut out. I want to remove as much floor as possible.

On mine, they literally just poked through the floor. You can lift the whole thing up. You want to make sure they'll stick all the way through whatever flooring you put in, but they're just there for condensation to drip out of.

4. What is the grey box—a relay switch box I assume? I need to disconnect the box from the back panel to remove. Can I simply remove the screws—keep it intake and then screw back on to the new wall or is it a lot more complicated.

It's not any more complicated. It's a bunch of relays that control things based on thermostat, fan blower, and whether the van's on (depending on your exact configuration) but you should be able to unplug everything and plug it back in wherever the wires reach to (or even extend them).

5. As you can see I have to remove the switch and the thermostat. Best option remove wires but afraid of messing anything up. Other option cut around (not best for reinstall). Is this easy to disconnect/ reconnect?

Easy to disconnect / reconnect, just mark your wires!

6. Lastly the unit other than a thermostat has not failed me and has had limited use. Seems senseless to replace since working fine. But have had a lot of frustration with the inability to have this unit serviced or getting any info on it. Since sold to fleets not been able to find AC people who are willing to even discuss it. Danhard the company real hard to get call backs or speak to anyone in technical service. Respectfully I do not think they are set up to assist consumers, which makes this product challenging to own.

It is 9.5 years old but working fine. Thoughts about just keeping it in my new build.

I kept mine, and figured out how to fix it myself, but haven't yet decided whether that was the right call

 

[Olivarria11]

Do you still have A/C unit assembly-- I am looking for one will buy it or take from you???

 

[Fremebe]

Finish the gutting of the van. Decided to go ahead and keep the system and see if it will work with the new design.

 

[Olivarria11]

Sounds good.. If you can send me some overall picks of a/c unit would be greatly appreciated. My van last owner gutted the rear a/c unit and I do not have much information on what brand or ??? You post helped me with information...

 

[Olivarria11]

Finish the gutting of the van. Decided to go ahead and keep the system and see if it will work with the new design.

Let me know if you want to sell it?