A/C compressor driven by electric motor?

[TexAndy]

Why not?

One of the big problems with installing air conditioning in a deuce (and CUCVs) seems to be figuring out a way to mount the compressor to run it off the engine.

So why not just mount the compressor pretty much anywhere you want and couple it to a continuous duty electric motor? You can get 3, 4, or even 5 HP cont. duty motors out of trashed treadmills for practically nothing, these days.

If you wanted to get really fancy, you could even use a motor that's PWM controllable so you can adjust compressor speed. Uh... probably pointless if you're trying to cool off a deuce cab.

One question... how much power does it take to run a typical A/C compressor? I guess that will determine how cost effective or practical this idea is.

 

[JOAT 0311]

I am interested too!

 

[unclemikey]

I don't see why it would not work if done right. Electric motors turn most ever kind of compressor, why not A/C ? This could turn into an interresting thread. Good

 

[rwbrown72]

I'm interested too..... hot inside the tin can!

 

[bgekky3]

How are you going to power the electric motor? The stock alt won't cut it. You would have to put a big alt on the engine to keep the batteries charged to feed the compressor motor.

 

[RANDYDIRT]

You would need more than 146 amps to run a 12000 BTU AC on 24 volts.

 

[jesusgatos]

Reddot makes a hydraulic AC compressor, but why not go engine-driven? An electric compressor would draw a LOT of power, so the engine would need to be running anyway, and if the engine has to generate the electrical power to run the electric compressor, that doesn't sound like a very efficient system.

 

[Brad M]

DENSO Automotive OEM Products



There are others out there also.

 

[EXITNOONE]

300 amp alternator with regulator direct to electric motor turning the compressor would solve the electrical draw problem and leave plenty of power for the rest of the deuce systems...

there are even higher powered alternator/generator combos that you can weld with by attaching the ground and stick directly to the unit.
there is plenty of power available with the right alternator.

 

[Josh]

If your going to go that route. Why not just get yank the compressor out of a window shaker. Just need to get power inverter. Small foot print and could mount many places.

 

[jwaller]

thats how the AC in my lear jet works. it has an old ford truck compressor driven by a belted electric motor. be aware though it pulls a lot of amps. when I switch the ac on the startup amps spike to about 500a and come down to about 200 continuous.

 

[zout]

may not be up the same issue - but check out the thread I have running with the ac retrofit kit I am installing in Dinger65's M109A3 Shop Van - I have the ac compressor mounted with a litle bit of fabrication work - just waiting on the replacement ac condensor and lines at this time.

Only reason was he mentioned Deuce - and these are Deuce and 1/2's.

 

[EXITNOONE]

ZOUT- post link please

TEXANDY- if you can fabricate the system, it sounds feasible.


300 amp alternator to inverter to window ac in back of cab is my preference at the moment.
the ac system is self contained and the only draw off the engine system is through the alternator.
no extra belts or mounts for compressor in the engine compartment to worry about, or hose routings, vents, etc...
possible negatives- ac sticking out the back of your cab about 15", loss of some bench space in cab.
painted to match the truck though, it doesn't seem so bad on the exterior as the scale of an A2 or A3 is large enough to proportion the rear cab ac bulk

 

[zout]

Exit - - My new ride M109A3 under members rides in the forum.

There are nearly 811 other photo's for your viewing nightmare in there as well that are not ac related - just check out the last several pages of the thread and if you are a glutton for punishment - check out the entire thing - will take you a couple hours.

 

[TexAndy]

ok, the only way it looks like it would be practical is if you were in the market for a new alternator already.

 

[zout]

post some pics of your rig on that side - would like to see them and ponder over them - it has not been an easy task figuring this ac retrofit kit out - but eventually I will get there and Dinger65 will have to wear a wool jacket in the Ga summer here to keet warm - I asked how big he liked his snowflakes in the cab

 

[phil2968]

Here's a link to a great place to get AC parts or a whole system. I wanted to build a hidden AC system for the box on my 109, using an electric driven compressor,but decided to go with a RV air instead. Will look to them for cab air in the future. They have a evaporator thats 32,200 BTU! If that won't cool a deuce cab I don't know what would!
Aftermarket Air Conditioning For Automobiles and AC parts
UD-560 Overhead Roof Mount Evaporator Unit - Roof & Floor Mount Evaporator Units

 

[TexAndy]

How do you match A/C parts?

I assume with a 32,000 BTU rated evaporator, you need a certain sized condenser to take full advantage of it, right?

 

[phil2968]

I was goining to use their condenser with fan a shroud and their 7 piston compressor. A call to them would answer a lot of tech questions. They build all of the evaporators in Tampa and match them to the proper condeser and compressor.

 

[m-35tom]

why complicate things? there is plenty of room for a compressor.