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RE: 12 Volt DC Air Conditioner - suppliers
Thanks for the replies.
One source suggests ~94% efficiency for inverters. It is only 6% loss, but when you are running on batteries, efficiency is very important.
I plan on first class insulation for the van. Also, I'm using a 140" WB sprinter so it has about 150 cubic feet less volume than the pre 2007 long tall Sprinter.
My current long tall Sprinter has 11K BTU Air Conditioning. Also, it has OK insulation, but not as good as I plan for the new van. Cooling with my current setup is fine.
The DC Airco, by specs, will provide adequate cooling at a much lower drain on my battery bank than using an inverter w/ a conventional alternating current RV air conditioner.
The 2 burning questions are:
1. Can I actually buy one?
2. How much will it cost?
Still no contact from Sun Power Technologies (distributor) or DC Airco (Netherlands based manufacturer).
I've started looking at 12 volt compressor suppliers. The do it yourself approach is less attractive for several reasons:
1. System integration will require significant research and learning. DIY electric car hobbist sites talk about this, but they don't seem very rigourous or knowledgeable.
2. You can buy 134a refrigerant w/out a license, but you aren't allowed to release it. This means I would need to involve a technician with recovery equipment.
3. Costs still appear quite high.
4. It is not clear that this approach would be as efficient as the DC Airco.
On the plus side, designing my own system provides more flexibility in placing the equipment.
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bbennick
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04/08/10 09:18pm |
Tech Issues
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12 Volt DC Air Conditioner - suppliers
I'm getting ready to convert a small Sprinter Van to an RV.
This time, I'm skipping the generator.
I'm very interested in a 12 volt DC compressor air conditioner and the DC Airco unitlooks very good.
The idea is not to lose power in an inverter. Also, this particular unit is designed to be very efficient.
DV Airco has not responded to my email looking for US distributors.
Sun Power Technologies is a US distributor, but aren't answering their phone or email.
You can buy them from the UK, but shipping, warranty support and the $6K price give me pause.
Has anyone used one of these units or a similar one? Better yet, does anyone know where to buy one in the US?
I'm trying to avoid contacting an Over the Road truck service center, but maybe some of these are RV friendly?
I'm also interested in any experience you may have with 12 volt DC air conditioners.
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bbennick
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04/07/10 08:23pm |
Tech Issues
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