Date:         Wed, 17 Jun 1998 20:54:52 -0500
Reply-To:     "Mark B. Magee" <condor2@FLASH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Mark B. Magee" <condor2@FLASH.NET>
Organization: Condor Efficiency
Subject:      Re: Idea for A/C and camping
Comments: To: KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Comments: cc: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> OK spending a week in a westie in several different climates got me to

> thinking about some practical climate control.  I know about the
propex
> heaters so I think that the heating problem is solved but what about
the
> cooling (we mostly camp out in summer anyways right?)  So here is my
idea.
> Use the van's exsisting A/C setup to cool the camper while it is
sitting
on
> the campsite.  Here is how it would work, mount a 5 hp electric motor
to
the
> left of the A/C compressor in the engine compartment and install a
small
drive
> belt between the motor and the compressor using the other pulley that
is
> already there (you were wondering why it had two pulleys weren't you?)

> Mount an easily adjustable idler pulley between the crank pulley and
the
A/C
> unit and put a longer belt here.  Now when you stop for the night you
could
> just adjust the idler pulley down until the belt was slack enough to
push
out
> of the way, then turn on the electric motor and the compressor would
be
> turning.  Now all you have to work out is a 110v to 12v convertor to
run
the
> van's electrical system (so you can run the clutch on the compressor,
the
> condensor fan, the A/C blower motors, etc.) and you are done.  I know
this
> seems like a bit of trouble but it wouldn't be expensive and once you
did
it
> you wouldn't have to fry in the summer at night or haul around a heavy

window
> A/C unit, installing it and taking it down every night.
> This is just an idea.  Let me know what you folks think.
Ken et. Al.,
I have pondered such a rig for my 91 Westy. Could you prototype the
design for the bracket for the auxilliary AC or DC motor -and- aux.
idler required, new belt sizes etc? If so you might could kit the whole
deal out to Listees. I for one am interested but unable to put the time
into such a project and will just probably have to go the window unit
route otherwise.
><>     ><>     ><>     ><>     ><>     ><>     ><>     ><>     ><>
Shalom
Mark B. Magee
87GL
91 Westy
96 Suzuki 4WD Sport
Kemah TX USA
John 14:6