Another Air Conditioner alternative

[Keith_J]

I am the new owner of a M1031 Shop Equipment, Contact Maintenance truck and being in Central Texas, AC is a great idea. Hacking and chopping plus the expense was something I would rather avoid so I have been thinking...

This truck already has power lead to the SECM box, a 4 AWG 24 volt lead which will power a 2.5 kW inverter. This will easily power a 14,000 BTU portable air conditioner which only needs a 4" vent outlet (for hot air, heat rejection). This can be out the quarter vent window.

14,000 BTU is small, considering the heat load of the cab (most cab truck AC systems are 20-30k BTU/hour) but it beats roasting. And it is multiple use, I can see using if for camping etc.

Yes, I already have the inverter since it fits my generation mix (MEP-002A plus the SECM's 12 kW PTO powered unit). And connecting the inverter to the truck is easy with the existing wiring.

I have looked at the Whynter ARC-14S as the best unit. It has condensate evaporation, meaning no issues with condensate tank. The short run to exhaust should help with efficiency as these units are rated with minimal hose lengths.

 

[Cleptomaniac]

Let us know how it works.

 

[Ken_86gt]

While it may "work", those air conditioners will need to draw air from somewhere for it to send the waste heated air down that 4" hose. It will draw it right out of your cab, which means it will be pulling in hot replacement air through every leak, crack, and vent. It may not result any much if any net cooling.

 

[Keith_J]

Twin hose unit. Meaning a supply and discharge are both needed. Also, it evaporates the condensate on the condenser coil, resulting in slightly higher efficiency by using evaporative cooling on the hot side.

 

[biggestc69]

Keep us posted. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[M1031CMT]

It can be done.

 

[Warthog]

 

[cpf240]

Just ask the Mayor of New York...

EXCLUSIVE: Mayor Bloomberg's aides install room air conditioner on one of his SUV's side windows in the City Hall parking lot - NYPOST.com

 

[olly hondro]

Twin ho's.....clearly the way to go.

 

[Brett09]

I like this idea.

 

[rhinob]

Looking forward to the debrief upon completion!

 

[Keith_J]

The inverter is on back order. I timed this purchase poorly, given the rash of power outages in the East.

I have looked at several portable AC units and how to plumb them into the truck with minimal modifications. Thinking of using the footwell vent for air supply, then making a manifold to exhaust the hot air out the right side quarter window. The unit will set on the seat, between driver and passenger.

One advantage of the M1031 SECM is very little solar gain through the back window so the 14k BTU/hour should be more effective. On a M1009, not so much.

 

[K9Vic]

Just ask the Mayor of New York...

EXCLUSIVE: Mayor Bloomberg's aides install room air conditioner on one of his SUV's side windows in the City Hall parking lot - NYPOST.com

That is not a unique idea, they got that from medical helicopters in the south that use home A/C units to keep the cabin cool. In the summer you cannot keep a helo running to maintain a cool cabin, so they hook up these A/C units to keep them cool to not delay take off time.

But anyways, for a M1031 I have seen roof top A/C units on the cabin roof before. However the vents are cut into the roof and stick down and you can whack them as they are in the way.

 

[jbthompson1127]

I was thinking about doing this myself.. did you ever look into a/c units for the sleeper cabins in 18 wheelers?

 

[o1951]

Sounds very efficient.Take chemical energy, convert it to mechanical energy (engine), convert mechanical energy to electrical energy with conductor losses(alternator), convert electrical energy to mechanical (compressor & blower)
Total of losses should be about 95%

 

[Skinny]

Besides just doing a typical AC compressor install on the 6.2, I think there is only one better alternative. Use a small gas engine to power a compressor and small alternator. Make the system completely self sufficient. You can run it when the truck isn't on. The power for the blower and condensor fan come from the alternator. Hang the entire system in the right side saddle tank area or in one of the small compartments.

As far as the home A/C units installed in the Helo, don't tell the FAA!!!

 

[quickfarms]

That is not a unique idea, they got that from medical helicopters in the south that use home A/C units to keep the cabin cool. In the summer you cannot keep a helo running to maintain a cool cabin, so they hook up these A/C units to keep them cool to not delay take off

Is the ac unit mounted in the helo or on a cart ducted into the helo. I would love to see the FAA paper work on mounting it in the helo, and photos. A simple tire change to a non standard tire requires some FAA paperwork. I doubt weather a home air conditioner would survive long in a helo.

 

[FORD RECOVERY EXPERT]

Is the ac unit mounted in the helo or on a cart ducted into the helo. I would love to see the FAA paper work on mounting it in the helo, and photos. A simple tire change to a non standard tire requires some FAA paperwork. I doubt weather a home air conditioner would survive long in a helo.

This.

 

[135gmc]

Here's another option - they market these things as tent air conditioners. The unit sits "outside", with two 4" hoses coming into the tent. It looks like they might even be fairly weather tight:

ClimateRight - CR-2550 Mini

 

[135gmc]

If they want to AC a helicopter from a hose connected unit, they might be using a standard MIL environmental control package -- the one that has two 14" outlet hoses. They could either find one surplus, or since it is for aviation, they might have purchased one new. The units sit on the ground, with the hoses going to the shelter