AC Option?

[Third From Texas]

Interesting bit of kit. A buddy recommended I look into this (he has one on their boat). In the past, I had thought about looking into the 12v AC used on Prius, etc but this is plug-n-play almost and has FAR more BTU. The price is comparable to what some of the less-rip surplus sellers are asking for the complete kits (which they picked up for a couple hundred back in the "day").

My buddy's boat is freezing inside in the summer, so I know it can do it's thing, but I want to look into any downside/cons.

Pros:

Multiple BTU output sizes
12v and 24v options
New w/warranty
More modern design and components
Very simple install
Very compact (10"x10" box)
No compressor mounting bracket costs or hassles
No pullies or belts to fuss with
Fewer tidbits needed like suction tubes, parking brake valve, etc
Both cab and habitat applications

Cons (so far):

Needs hoses
36 or 45 amp draw (depending on unit)

stores.12voltairconditioning.com/ves-24l-24-volt-dc-3-piece-mini-split-system-10k-freon-lines-are-not-included/

 

[Ronmar]

Interesting bit of kit. A buddy recommended I look into this (he has one on their boat). In the past, I had thought about looking into the 12v AC used on Prius, etc but this is plug-n-play almost and has FAR more BTU. The price is comparable to what some of the less-rip surplus sellers are asking for the complete kits (which they picked up for a couple hundred back in the "day").

My buddy's boat is freezing inside in the summer, so I know it can do it's thing, but I want to look into any downside/cons.

Pros:

New w/warranty
More modern design and components
Very simple install
Very compact (10"x10" box)
Both cab and habitat applications

stores.12voltairconditioning.com/ves-24l-24-volt-dc-3-piece-mini-split-system-10k-freon-lines-are-not-included/

“Power consumption 45 nominal amps @24 Volt DC”

That is pretty much all your available 24V alternator output, and at 10,000 BTU output would be running 100% of the time to try and keep up with the heat load...

You could do something like this, with greater output, without risking your alternator...

You are being redirected...

 

[Third From Texas]

Found a video showing one (sorta) installed.

Heh

 

[Third From Texas]

“Power consumption 45 nominal amps @24 Volt DC”

That is pretty much all your available 24V alternator output, and at 10,000 BTU output would be running 100% of the time to try and keep up with the heat load...

You could do something like this, with greater output, without risking your alternator...

You are being redirected...

True for most with the OEM alt. My A1R has a 260v alt, though. I think I could pull it off for the cab AC.

Thanks to that link !

 

[Ronmar]

True for most with the OEM alt. My A1R has a 260v alt, though. I think I could pull it off for the cab AC.

Thanks to that link !

Yep, that is the alt EVERY LMTV should have 45A is not a problem for that alt...

if you have the generation capacity to support it, for less cost and easier install, you could use a Dometic commercial unit(15,000 BTU) on the roof and add an inverter to power it. This would have the added benefit of making AC power available on the truck. This would remove the plumbing requirements, and if you put the inverter near the batteries, the need to string long heavy DC cable to the compressor on the DC powered unit. This unit probably pulls 1600W or about 65A @ 24V. You would probably need a 3KW inverter to feed it properly...

Dometic Brisk II Commercial Grade 15,000 BTU Rooftop Air Conditioner

www.suremarineservice.com

 

[simp5782]

They have fluid powered units that have their own compressor run off transmission fluid pressure. These are done by visionaire in Dallas.

Booyco makes a 30,000btu unit that pop up on surplus often. This is just the evaporator unit and blower 3 speed setting but needs it's own thermostat control.

You can make it so its 6 speed. 3 speeds on 12v and 3 speeds on 24v. My 915 cab was 58 degrees with it being 109 outside in California. You can ask @fuzzytoaster how nice it is. It's got a coil bigger than what's on my house.

The engine brackets from the MTVR kits go over to the C7 and 3126 easy enough

 

[Third From Texas]

if you have the generation capacity to support it...

Diesel gen (10hp Dewey Battery Charging Auxiliary Power Unit with a 6kW gen head swap) will do it. I just don't want to have to run the gen while driving (I'm already lucky to get 7mpg). Haven't totally ruled out rooftop for the cab, but I sort of have other plans for up there.

 

[simp5782]

Diesel gen (10hp Dewey Battery Charging Auxiliary Power Unit with a 6kW gen head swap) will do it. I just don't want to have to run the gen while driving (I'm already lucky to get 7mpg). Haven't totally ruled out rooftop for the cab, but I sort of have other plans for up there.

Hydraulic powered Generator/welder. 6kw 36amp per 110 outlet. 50amp 220 plug. They go up go 20kw units

 

[coachgeo]

“Power consumption 45 nominal amps @24 Volt DC”

That is pretty much all your available 24V alternator output, and at 10,000 BTU output would be running 100% of the time to try and keep up with the heat load...

You could do something like this, with greater output, without risking your alternator...

You are being redirected...

supplement with Solar. hottest days is bound to have lot of possible solar. So once house batteries charged.... aim all solar to the truck batts to relieve stress on the alt.

 

[Ronmar]

Diesel gen (10hp Dewey Battery Charging Auxiliary Power Unit with a 6kW gen head swap) will do it. I just don't want to have to run the gen while driving (I'm already lucky to get 7mpg). Haven't totally ruled out rooftop for the cab, but I sort of have other plans for up there.

Well you wouldn’t need the gen, the DC load for the dometic would be around 65A @24v, which your larger alt could support...

 

[Third From Texas]

They have fluid powered units that have their own compressor run off transmission fluid pressure. These are done by visionaire in Dallas.

Booyco makes a 30,000btu unit that pop up on surplus often. This is just the evaporator unit and blower 3 speed setting but needs it's own thermostat control.

You can make it so its 6 speed. 3 speeds on 12v and 3 speeds on 24v. My 915 cab was 58 degrees with it being 109 outside in California. You can ask @fuzzytoaster how nice it is. It's got a coil bigger than what's on my house.

The engine brackets from the MTVR kits go over to the C7 and 3126 easy enough

That Visionaire sounds sort of like the system Seal Filner (the "Able" channel on YouTube) ran hooked up to his hydraulic system. He grenaded his power steering pump when he was testing the compressor. I think his was from a crane or forklift. It's an interesting alternative, though.

 

[Third From Texas]

Well you wouldn’t need the gen, the DC load for the dometic would be around 65A @24v, which your larger alt could support...

Ah, I follow now.

 

[simp5782]

That Visionaire sounds sort of like the system Seal Filner (the "Able" channel on YouTube) ran hooked up to his hydraulic system. He grenaded his power steering pump when he was testing the compressor. I think his was from a crane or forklift. It's an interesting alternative, though.

This runs off transmission fluid much like the PTO units do to spin it. Same things are used on ambulances.

 

[Third From Texas]

Appreciate all the discussion.

 

[coachgeo]

one thing to consider after insulate, insulate, insulate..... is to not be so concerned with cooling the cab space...... but the occupants. A cooled poncho via a small 24v liquid chiller or even a fish tank chiller and inverter could do it likely. Chill vest, shirt or suit.... heck even a chilled hat.... much of the human "radiator" is in the head... cool the head and the cooled blood circulates

I got some supplies for adding this... but it is way down the list. Heck finding a new mechanic is taking a year.. (Might found one finally... will see)

 

[Third From Texas]

Well you wouldn’t need the gen, the DC load for the dometic would be around 65A @24v, which your larger alt could support...

So that total is $1312 for the 13500 BTU Dometic (add $70 for the 15000 BTU, but I suspect 13500 would be more than ample for the cab).

AC amazon.com/gp/product/B00VZ547UI/
Gasket amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDUTNQ/
Controls amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJQ86UO/
Inverter amazon.com/gp/product/B07JQKQQTP/

That's pretty reasonable, but again it's draw is a bit much for the older OEM alternators. Viable for my rig, though. I'll have to run the dimensions to see if I can incorporate that into my rooftop plan.

Edit: forgot to include Inverter link
Edit 2: Price was incorrect (invert was in cart twice)

 

[Ronmar]

So that total is $1750 for the 13500 BTU Dometic (add $70 for the 15000 BTU, but I suspect 13500 would be more than ample for the cab).

AC amazon.com/gp/product/B00VZ547UI/
Gasket amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDUTNQ/
Controls amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJQ86UO/

That's pretty reasonable, but again it's draw is a bit much for the older OEM alternators. Viable for my rig, though. I'll have to run the dimensions to see if I can incorporate that into my rooftop plan.

You will also need an inverter large enough to deal with it’s startup load, but that shouldn’t be too bad. There was a guy on here a while back selling a rig with an older dometic on the roof powered by inverter.

 

[coachgeo]

You will also need an inverter large enough to deal with it’s startup load, but that shouldn’t be too bad. There was a guy on here a while back selling a rig with an older dometic on the roof powered by inverter.

was just reading where an rv-er added a soft start to his RV AC and it changed the heavy amp draw start from 40 amp to 17amp. Usually it is the start of the compressor that is huge... after that amps drop back a lot. Half as much ???

 

[Third From Texas]

was just reading where an rv-er added a soft start to his RV AC and it changed the heavy amp draw start from 40 amp to 17amp. Usually it is the start of the compressor that is huge... after that amps drop back a lot. Half as much ???

Already have on on my hab AC, but yes that will be added for the cab if I go this route.

 

[Third From Texas]

You will also need an inverter large enough to deal with it’s startup load, but that shouldn’t be too bad. There was a guy on here a while back selling a rig with an older dometic on the roof powered by inverter.

LOL, I forgot the link. It's factored into the price I posted. And it was in my cart twice, so the first price I posted was way over.

/fixed