Does anyone have electric dash AC?

Groover,

When you're doing your planning, most of the engine driven dash AC units I've worked on (cars mostly) have about 15,000 BTU of cooling capacity. So if you replace an engine drive AC with a 8,000 BTU unit, I think you'll be disappointed in the performance. In other words, make sure that your replacement unit has at least as much cooling capacity as the unit you're trying to replace. But I think, at best, that's ALL you'll be able to do, is to replace the cooling capacity of your engine driven unit. I think you'll STILL need your roof ACs to supplement in hot weather.

I don't know the size of your rig, but if you have a properly functioning dash AC and 2 properly functioning roof ACs, your rig should be able to be kept comfortable. If not, I think you have a thermal insulation problem OR your ACs aren't really operating up to specs.

I would put the money into a good cleaning and checkup on your existing ACs and run the dash & roof ACs as needed. $2700 buys a lot of gas/diesel. :)

Good Luck,

~Rick

MrWizard wrote:
Most of us use the roof top while driving because the dash a/C is not enough

I think if I need more cooling than what the current roof top units supply
I would be looking at more insulation in the Windows, more awnings, larger roof top units, and maybe adding a portable a/c unit inside
But I would not have thought about trying to replace the engine driven compressor with a electric type compressor
Don't know if your idea is feasible or not

Most of the time I find the dash AC to be adequate while traveling but that is not the issue. The issue is that my wife objects to loud noises and strong drafts and the roof unit makes both. Using the ductwork helps somewhat but it seems to be inadequate and the unit does not cool well unless I at least partially open the vent on the unit itself and that blows directly on the table. The dash unit is much quieter, has more adequate ducting and is far enough away from the living areas that I believe that it would bother her less. To the point of your line of thinking I should probably check the ductwork to be sure that it does not have blockage.

I looked at the cruisencomfortusa web site and it looks to me like the entire unit is $2700, expensive but all I need is the compressor. I have sent them a message asking for the price of just it.

I would love to install a mini-split heat pump but haven't found a place to stuff the compressor and outside coil package. I have a friend that put one is his 5th wheel and claims that it way outperforms his roof units with less power and noise, plus no startup surge. I wonder if the outside parts would operate if layed on their back and placed on the roof.

Edit at 7:30pm
Remarkably I have already heard back from cruisencomfortusa and they told me that they don't sell the compressor by itself and don't like the idea of using it with anyone else's parts so I guess that option is out.

Chris Bryant wrote:
Check out the systems at http://www.cruisencomfortusa.com/- they have 134a 12 volt compressors.

At $4000 plus installation, you can run your Roof units for years for that cost. Doug

Any of the portable 120 volt air conditioning units will work off of the typical inverter of 1500 watts or more.
We have a portable AC/heat pump unit that draws less than 10 amps and that we use to augment the roof top AC/heat pumps when it is extra cold or very hot.

Most of us use the roof top while driving because the dash a/C is not enough

I think if I need more cooling than what the current roof top units supply
I would be looking at more insulation in the Windows, more awnings, larger roof top units, and maybe adding a portable a/c unit inside
But I would not have thought about trying to replace the engine driven compressor with a electric type compressor
Don't know if your idea is feasible or not

Electric vehicles use a 3-phase inverter to drive the dash air conditioner.
Not sure that really helps as they also draw power from a 400 volt battery.

Check out the systems at http://www.cruisencomfortusa.com/- they have 134a 12 volt compressors.