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Topic: Fabulous Skylight replaces Swamp Cooler in Ciao Baby! (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic
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Fabulous Skylight replaces Swamp Cooler in Ciao Baby!
Yahoo Message Number: 111780
What a stunning transformation! My Nedchanic removed the old, inoperative swamp cooler and put in a manual vent as a skylight!
 Now, rather than a dark hallway, we have a light-flooded walkway.  It is amazing.  If you have an older rig, this is a quick, inexpensive, HUGE improvement.

I uploaded 4 pics here:
 http://tinyurl.com/yyg96ew  and just click "previous" to see the rest.

Here's how he did it.

Supply List:

Camping World Vt. Line Vent-WH:  Part #8131000 in white for $38.88
 Camping World Vent Universal Kit- Gray – Part #8491000 for $5.55  (This had the putty tape and screws for mounting)
 Eternabond- 2" white tape for roof sealing around new vent (I bought this online previously)
 1/4" metal cap to close off water line valve (under wardrobe in the Mid-Bath) – Home Depot WD-40

Here's how we did it: I chauffeured a kid somewhere, then returned to find the Nedchanic had removed the old swamp filter.  Very easy for me.

He reports that he:

To remove Swamp Cooler: Pulled a fuse to disconnect power to it Disconnected water and capped the valve Removed 4 big corner bolts that were unscrewed and yanked through the plastic because they were corroded and rusted together Capped wires Removed swamp cooler by pulling some of it down inside, and

On roof: the rest removed from the top of the roof Cleaned goop off roof with putty knife and WD-40, and cleaned up with Windex
 Placed new top sealant putty tape on roof around opening and roof section Installed roof portion of vent on top with about 8 screws- drilled holes into roof for screws Covered vent edges on roof with Eternabond

Inside: Trimmed garnish with Dremmel tool (cutter) so it would fit flush against the roof inside and fit inside the vent.  Our ceiling was about ½" too thin.  So we cut off at least that amount and then pushed it up in there, so when the screws went into the ceiling from the inside, everything fit tightly together.

Ta Daaa! We can turn the handle to open the vent if we like and let the sun in.  Gorgeous!

It is like a light is on inside! So bright- even brighter (by far) than the Fantastic Fan in the back.  I think that is because:

1.   the FF has a smoke color lid rather than white and
2.   there is a Max-Fan cover over the FF

We also bought a "lights out" retractable cover for the vent, but have not yet installed it.  Do I want something that is not flush with the ceiling, even if it hangs down just a little?   The point was to get some height in that hallway too.

I may just use Velcro and a piece of reflectix instead.
 If you do want a "Lights Out", it is CW Part #19495000 for $11.10.  We do like it on our FF.
 We installed a simple, manual-opening vent instead of a Fantastic fan as we have a FF nearby.  Also, a vent is like a skylight with the added bonus of being able to open it.  It meets our goals in that area.
 Well, I hope all this helps someone.  I do appreciate the help we got prior to installing it.
 Enjoy the pics (and ignore the mess of storage in the back of Ciao- I did finally get all that cleaned out.  For the most part.  :) )

Tessa in TX '92 MB- Ciao Baby!