Mini Split Air Conditioner / Heat pump

MrWizard -,thinking of one” in main cabin. Back window may be a good idea. Possibly place one in bedroom on roof. Removing old roof mounted air conditioner would permit three more 235 W panels (2100 W total then) which should allow Solar power only.
Reef and Elaine

pnichols wrote:
I guess that not all motorhome main engines should be idled very long for special-situation battery charging. We do this kind of battery bank charging an hour here and there, but it is a fairly modern V10 engine spinning only a medium size 130 amp alternator. I've read that it consumes about 0.7 gallons of gas per hour when used this way.

We have V10 powered work trucks in our fleet that idle for sometimes extended periods of time, usually to run PTO-driven equipment.

According to the engine computer, with nothing running, it is burning about 4 litres (a little over 1 gallon) per hour doing so.

As the load increases the auto throttle kicks in and the burn rate starts to climb.

MrWizard,

Yes the tubing can be extended on a mini split--but you have to buy precharged (with cooling medium) tubes. They do not come cheap.

My next home is a condo where I installed 3 mini split indoor with one compressor outdoor--and is a heat pump.

i have NOT seen one on a 5vr
there are some videos on youtube, in small trailers etc..

mini splits are basically a (1) room A/C
the distant between the inside and outside sections are dictated by the lenght of the tubing in the system kit
you can make it closer, but don't think you can extend that distance
what area are you wanting to cool ? the master bedroom should be doable
the main living area (rear ?) will require the unit be mounted in the rear of the 5vr

We are looking into mini-split for air conditioning on fifth wheel. Does anyone have photos of one of these systems on a fifth wheel. Our current standard air conditioner sticks up to far to replace two more 235 W solar panels (shading issue). Discussions in amps gets confusing when different folks are discussing 12 V, 47 V, 120 V, and 240 V systems. Watts would be a far more facile unit of power

Reed and Elaine

Just as a reminder, from reading deep into the Earthroamer site one can learn that their design principles include not having propane on board or a generator on board. (Their cooking and coach heating are via diesel fuel from their main engine fuel tank.)

Since their design principles include that their vehicles be capable of camping for weeks just about anywhere, anytime, in any combination of sun availabilities, temperatures, and humidities ... their vehicles must of course include air conditioning being available anywhere, anytime. This air conditioning must be useable for as long as necessary, even with days and days of being in the shade, under clouded skies, or even all night.

They do this air conditioning of course via massive battery banks and as much solar as they can fit ... but they also do this regardless of how much sun is available day-in and day-out. When camping anywhere, anytime, without sacrificing comfort - the battery bank will have to be kept charged whatever way available without use of propane or an onboard generator. Hence they make use of all of their vehicles' capabilities, which includes when and if necessary ... idling of the main engine equipped with dual alternators to keep the battery bank charged during the times with little or no input from the solar panels. During these special times, they are not concerned with a large engine being idled to spin a couple of alternators. They are concerned with getting the comfort job done anywhere, anytime, all the time.

I guess that not all motorhome main engines should be idled very long for special-situation battery charging. We do this kind of battery bank charging an hour here and there, but it is a fairly modern V10 engine spinning only a medium size 130 amp alternator. I've read that it consumes about 0.7 gallons of gas per hour when used this way.

For staying in one spot, i agree
But it's called Earth roamer for a reason
And charging while moving, is not going to significantly make a difference compared to the added fuel use of a dedicated generator

Using it as a generator while staying in one spot for several weeks, yeah big difference

valhalla360 wrote:

I would argue putting big alternators on the giant propulsion engine is effectively equivalent to a horribly inefficient generator. You can do that with just about any pickup out there but if you are going to do it with any regularity, it makes far more sense to get a dedicated generator and be done with it.

Agree -- if only running the truck engine to charge batteries.
If charging is only done while driving might still be inefficient, but it's a relatively small amount of energy compared to moving the truck / camper.

pnichols wrote:
As a lot of you probably know, Earthroamer campers are designed to use battery powered air conditioning (as they have no generators on board).

However:

1. Their interior coach volumes are considerably less than that of a lot of Class A/B/C motorhomes.

2. Their windows, floors, walls, and ceilings are extremely well insulated.

3. Their air conditioners can only be run 8-12 hours before their large battery banks need to be charged - via a lot of sun time and/or idling of their dual-alternator diesel main engines.

So non-generator, partially solar based air conditioning is possible ... but it takes a lot of things to be set up just right ... including a main engine that can be idled for long time periods of no sun ... and maybe a hefty bank account.

There is possibly one best way to have sustainable self-contained, anywhere/anytime sun or no sun, quiet, and non-engine-idling RV air conditioning: Install onboard a large battery bank in conjunction with a built-in high amp hour recovery rate propane fuel cell system.

I prefer to air condition an RV with a generator - believing that it's (or should be) easier and less expensive for RV manufacturers, or us owners, to come up with a quiet diesel or gas generator way to handle it.

I would argue putting big alternators on the giant propulsion engine is effectively equivalent to a horribly inefficient generator. You can do that with just about any pickup out there but if you are going to do it with any regularity, it makes far more sense to get a dedicated generator and be done with it.

They are $4200.00 and 8000 btu's

cewillis wrote:
Here's another possibility -- Arctic Breeze . No price.
Small inside