Date:         Tue, 18 Apr 2000 21:59:51 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Barfield <barfield@GTE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Barfield <barfield@GTE.NET>
Subject:      Re: A/C compressor Power usage
Comments: To: ehall@TOGETHER.NET, Ezra Hall <ehall@TOGETHER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <38fcba5a.953.0@together.net>
Content-Type: text/plain

Ezra,

I live in Florida and just bought an '84 westy. I was thinking along these very
lines just today. I'm not any kind of A/C guy, but I remember in the old days
that the A/C condenser(?) (the radiator like thing) needed air flowing over it
so it wouldn't freeze up. I'm sure some sort of fan could be rigged up...Let me
know if you have any luck. I'd like to use the westy in Florida durring the
summer.


On Wed, 31 Dec 1969, Ezra Hall wrote:
> Folks,
>  We are planning a 3 week x-country camping trip this summer. Although we will
> not be camping with access to power most of the time, it would be nice to have
> the option of A/C at night if it is really hot out.
>
>   Not wanting to lug around a household A/C unit or install an oversize R/V
> unit, I thought, why not use the existing refrigerant loop?
>
>   - Add second clutch to Compressor with belt to A/C motor
>     (or some other means to power the compressor off
>      another source)
>   - Add control electronics
>     - Interior Air temp sense
>     - Evaporator fan control (interior fan)
>     - Temp sense of Condensor and Fan speed control to
>       reduce noise emissions
>     - Control of A/C motor
>     - Safety sense (Low press. sensor,etc..)
>     - battery charger to maintain charge with all the
>       12V fans running
>     - etc..
>
> Questions:
>     - How much power does the A/C compressor use?
>     - What is the most efficient speed (RPM) for
>       compressor operation?
>
> Just an idea.... Opinions?
> Thanks,
>  Ezra
> '88 Westy
> '86 944