Electric Aircon/heat Pump

[Martin Stockwell]

I see a lot of talk about the aux heating and the aircon in the caravelle and cali's, but the engine needs to run for the aircon, or your eating up you diesel (all be it not very much).

Has anyone looked into installing a compact marine aircon unit in a van instead, simular to the below link.

Should get several hours on a decent leisure battery...

6000 Btu, 110V, Self Contained Marine Air Conditioner System. Best marine air conditioner for small boats and cuddy cabins

 

[drew_greenday]

I doubt you'll get very long off your leisure battery from that thing, firstly its 230v so will need an inverter. Straight away you're hammering the battery.

Whats the theory behind needing a rear aircon unit? For when on a campsite?

 

[Martin Stockwell]

I have a LWB, and the heating and aircon struggles to get to the back. And yes, camping as well and since it's both heat and aircon in a single unit it's neat and tidy and I'm sure could be matted to some factory ducting to side and or roof vents. Proper dual zone aircon then.

Not sure if the 110v version would be better with an inverter, or I'm sure with some clever parts replacement convert it to 12v.

 

[drew_greenday]

If its just the aircon aspect you want when driving, then use an inverter as when you're driving the battery is being charged up, then you can use it as much as you like. Wouldn't be too hard to connect it to some OEM ducting.

Changing it from 110v to 12v involves changing it from AC to DC so you'd need an inverter. Looking on the sterling power site, they're not cheap, plus the inverter would then only be usable for 110v appliances, power tools etc.

 

[Martin Stockwell]

yeh, makes sense. im just surprised it hasn't been looked into a little bit more as surly it would make for a better alternative to having either diesel powered heater or only having aircon if the engine is running.

looking a little bit more with different search terms in google I then came across this...

Micro DC Air Conditioner - RIGID HVAC - Cooling Specialist. Condensing Units | Miniature Compressors | Refrigeration Parts

its just finding something compact enough to maybe fit in the same location as the oem heater would be between the wheel arch and the rear quarter, if you don't have electric hook up guess you'd be wanting 5-8hours of run time out of a 90amp hr leisure battery.