Point Five Ambo Build

[flightcancled]

Medtec made mine with a chimney sort of thing which cycles air through to prevent this from happening. The problem seems to be packing the unit into a tight space.

 

[patoz]

Mine doesn't have any kind of 'chimney', but if you look closely on the right side of pic #1 & #3 of post #134, you will see part of a piece of 3" white vent hose sticking out. That went from one of those chrome vents on the outside to a round register mounted next to the A/C vents. The only thing I can figure this was used for, is to allow fresh air to enter the patient compartment when the exhaust fan was operating in the left rear top compartment. This would draw air across the patient and out the back.



The box the A/C evaporator and blower is mounted in is basically sealed, with the intake on the side just above the walk-thru door, and the discharge through the two groups of adjustable vents. That means the only way all of those diesel exhaust particles could have gotten in there is to pull them out of the inside air. Also of note, the intake vents do not have any kind of filter or system to stop anything from going through the blower or into the A/C mounting box.

The blower discharge was not actually connected to the vents in any way either. It was just sitting behind the vents, so any dust or particles would be forced into the box, as well as recirculated back into the patient compartment. Since the patient compartment gets cleaned and wiped down after every run, no visible build up ever occurred, however there is some now. The A/C compartment is not accessible to the crew, so it never got cleaned.

A replaceable intake filter like your home A/C unit has would have solved the problem. That design is piss-poor if you ask me, and the fact remains the patient compartment was not sealed properly to prevent exhaust from entering it.

The undercarriage is covered in the same oily black exhaust residue. And that boys and girls, is one reason why I'll never own a diesel.

 

[patoz]

Global Warming my azz!

For those who think is doesn't get cold in Florida, this is tonight starting at Midnight. Our low at 6 am is 20* with a windchill of 8*.




I just might have to break out my winter clothes...

 

[flightcancled]

Here it's 0, feels like -17 and dumping snow. If I can work I think you'll survive lol!

I have to move my rig inside to finish cutting off the rear bumper. The cutoff wheels have started exploding.

 

[patoz]

I wish I had an 'inside' to move into. I did look at four acres of property about a week ago, that had a house and a 4,000 sq. ft. metal building with 18' high roll up doors on it. It had previously been used for metal fabricating, and was only $390,000.00.

I didn't like the color of the house, so I passed on it. Yeah, right!

 

[flightcancled]

Burn the house. That's a steal for property in NY

 

[patoz]

I was kidding about the house, it's actually brick but would need to be completely remodeled inside, and the roof replaced. The property is located about a mile from me and this area has really gone down hill, so I'm trying to move to a better location. Maintenance and upkeep would be impossible for one person, especially for someone with back problems like me.

I was trying to quote from memory what I saw on the sign but was way off, it's bigger than I thought. It looks pretty good on this flyer.

http://www.guntherproperties.com/img/6707 Lillian Hwy flyer.pdf

 

[rlrenz]

Here it's 0, feels like -17 and dumping snow. If I can work I think you'll survive lol!

I have to move my rig inside to finish cutting off the rear bumper. The cutoff wheels have started exploding.

Here in MN, we'd be happy if it got UP to 0... Most of the schools were closed yesterday when the wind chill was between -30 / -40. My buggy is sitting close to the garage plugged into a maintenance battery charger - I almost got enough out of the garage last fall to get it inside, but winter happened a bit earlier than I thought it would.

 

[patoz]

Just a quick update:

My build is on temporary hold while I get another vehicle ready and sell it. Hopefully, it won't be long.

 

[tgreening]

During your conversion process did you end up keeping or scrapping the stock heating/cooling system back there? If scrapped did you happen to hang on to the factory thermostat thingy back in the box? Mine still works but the knob busted off the silly thing. I really wanted to find a newer more blingy digital type version, but dont think anything I've seen in the home-depot type box stores will do the trick.

 

[rlrenz]

A digital ambulance thermostat will run about a grand new (Hoseline model 3000). They sometimes show up on EBAY - do a search for "Hoseline" or "Proair" - they are the two biggest makers of emergency vehicle thermostats out there. The Hoseline 3000 will automatically switch between heating and cooling to attain the set temperature, and will control compressors, water pumps, and the blowers - it has a fairly small (about 2 1/2 x 4") control station, and a control box that measures about 8x8x2". If your present thermostat is white and has a turn-knob with Fahrenheit and Centigrade temperatures on the case, it is probably a Hoseline combined heating/cooling thermostat. They can be bought new from Select Tech (www.selecttechambulances.com) for about $65. Ambulanceparts.com has an electric valve for about $50 that will let you rig up a very simple thermostatically controlled valve on a heater for simple temperature control.

 

[flightcancled]

I'm surprised you want to keep it. I keep thinking one day when I am down to nit-picking I will remove the thermostat and simply use the switch.

 

[patoz]

Tom, I removed the Heat and AC units, but not sure what I'm going to do with them yet. I may use one of them just as a 3 speed blower to circulate air or something. The thermostat is still installed, but I won't be using it for anything as far as I know. The front and knob were missing when I bought it, but it's yours if what's left will help.

 

[rlrenz]

A digital ambulance thermostat will run about a grand new (Hoseline model 3000). They sometimes show up on EBAY - do a search for "Hoseline" or "Proair" - they are the two biggest makers of emergency vehicle thermostats out there. The Hoseline 3000 will automatically switch between heating and cooling to attain the set temperature, and will control compressors, water pumps, and the blowers - it has a fairly small (about 2 1/2 x 4") control station, and a control box that measures about 8x8x2". There's one listed on EBAY right now for $299, but it doesn't include the control box. If your present thermostat is white and has a turn-knob with Fahrenheit and Centigrade temperatures on the case, it is probably a Hoseline combined heating/cooling thermostat. They can be bought new from Select Tech (www.selecttechambulances.com) for about $65. Ambulanceparts.com has an electric valve for about $50 that will let you rig up a very simple thermostatically controlled valve on a heater for simple temperature control.

 

[tgreening]

Holy Screamin Eagle ****! Did you say a thousand dollars, for a stinking thermostat? I'm not in love with the idea that much! hehe.

Pat: Mine works fine and it's all there, except for the knob, so it appears I'm further ahead than you in that regard. But I appreciate the offer. I'm sure if I really look I can probably scrounge up a compatible knob from someplace. I was just being lazy.