Running a 120v a/c unit off starter battery
Hi, new to the forum. I have converted an 86 Chev G30 mini school bus into a camper, and i have mounted a Danby 5.1 "window shaker" air conditioning unit into a plenum, which creates the equivalent of...
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First you do not want to load an alternator more than half it's rating if you can avoid it, less if possible, so you need a BIG, HEAVY alternator since it is going to be what powers that A/C.
Now a SMALL window shaker can run on 1000 watts.. I know cause I've done it, but it's going to be very very tight.. And the generator I was using was rated 1,000 CONTINUOUS duty, it delivered more than that for brief periods.
Alas. kit also grew legs
A 2,000 watt inverter might be better.
Now, Xantrex does not recommend most engine batteries for an inverter that big, You will need roughly 200 amp hours per kilowatt if using deep cycle batteries, you can likely get by with less (like half) if using starting batteries as they can meet the inverter's initial surge better.
But you need like 300-400 amps of alternator
Each 1000 watts, at 12 volts, is roughly 100 amps (You lose some power converting so using 10 volts instead of 12 works out,,, Fairly well).
You may need to upgrade wire from Alternator to battery and of course mount the inverter as close to the battery as possible but NOT in the same air space.
Now a SMALL window shaker can run on 1000 watts.. I know cause I've done it, but it's going to be very very tight.. And the generator I was using was rated 1,000 CONTINUOUS duty, it delivered more than that for brief periods.
Alas. kit also grew legs
A 2,000 watt inverter might be better.
Now, Xantrex does not recommend most engine batteries for an inverter that big, You will need roughly 200 amp hours per kilowatt if using deep cycle batteries, you can likely get by with less (like half) if using starting batteries as they can meet the inverter's initial surge better.
But you need like 300-400 amps of alternator
Each 1000 watts, at 12 volts, is roughly 100 amps (You lose some power converting so using 10 volts instead of 12 works out,,, Fairly well).
You may need to upgrade wire from Alternator to battery and of course mount the inverter as close to the battery as possible but NOT in the same air space.
