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Date:         Mon, 9 Jul 2007 21:33:59 -0400
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Subject:      Re: An AC idea for driving and camping
Comments: To: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.LNX.4.64.0707082234061.26104@birdbird.example.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:04 AM 7/9/2007, Matt Roberds wrote:

>Cheaper yet: in a few weeks, all of the big-box stores will start to >discount the heck out of their remaining window air conditioners. Some >of them offer refurbished air conditioners cheap, as well. Get one and >fangle some dryer vent hose from the warm-air inlet and cold-air outlet >to a piece of cardboard taped in one of the door windows that is rolled >down a little. Park outside your place with as much glass facing south >as you can, pop the top, fire up the window A/C, and see what happens. >If the A/C can't produce the needed temperature drop while sitting >outside the van, it'll never do it inside the van. :)

Good idea, especially since I have a few of those sitting in my basement.

>If you want to get more scientific, I did work out how many Btu it would >take to heat up (or cool down) the back of a Bus: > >http://www.type2.com/archive/vintagebus/043445.html >http://www.type2.com/archive/vintagebus/063342.html

I'll check those out.

>If I wanted to do this, I'd get the inverter as close as humanly possible >to the second alternator, and run long wires for the the 120 V AC >instead of the 12 V DC. Two 14-gauge wires would be enough to carry >10 A at 120 V; you'd need a couple of 6 gauge or better battery cables >to carry 100 A at 12 V.

I thought of that. maybe the aux batt and inverter in the area behind the driver's side tail light.

>Another option, not as cheap: replace the second 12 V DC alternator and >inverter with a 120 V AC alternator. This does avoid one conversion >step between the engine and the air conditioner, saving some energy. >If you wanted to be able to charge the aux battery with this, you could >add a regular 120 V battery charger - put the conversion step in the >lower-power side of the system instead of the high-power side. > >Matt Roberds

wouldn't the 120V AC alternator have to run at a prescribed rpm to get 60Hz?

And others have put up some good/creative ideas about taking apart and building into the vanagon, a regular home AC unit. I want it only when I need it, for a couple summer trips a year.

Edward

Edward


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