Why aren't there any 12 volt airconditioners out there? (I am not talking about "cool currents" or any of the products that use ice etc) I don't need a 16000 BTU unit or anything, but a machine that could be used to cool a stateroom on those breezeless, unsleepable, hot nights at anchor. It seems like if they can create a 12 volt refridgerator/freezer that uses 5 amps, they could bump it up 20 amps and have a nice little 5000 BTU unit that could cool a single room without the noise or expense of having a genset.
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Brian C.
More info on btu/watts
The Airco webiste had this to say "Normally the COSP (coefficient of system performance) of a regular air-conditioning unit = 2. For example: with 1000 Watt electricity one can produce 2000 Watt cooling duty (6800 BTU/h). The Sunny Airco uses less than 500 Watt to create the same cooling duty!" They claim their COSP is "4" so I guess that is good ;-) I found a couple of rooftop models installed on some RV's. these units were offered as an option for about $2000.00 British pounds. I have no idea what the marine unit would go for or what a whosale price would be... I think there is a definite market for this if the price is right...
The Airco webiste had this to say "Normally the COSP (coefficient of system performance) of a regular air-conditioning unit = 2. For example: with 1000 Watt electricity one can produce 2000 Watt cooling duty (6800 BTU/h). The Sunny Airco uses less than 500 Watt to create the same cooling duty!" They claim their COSP is "4" so I guess that is good ;-) I found a couple of rooftop models installed on some RV's. these units were offered as an option for about $2000.00 British pounds. I have no idea what the marine unit would go for or what a whosale price would be... I think there is a definite market for this if the price is right...
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Duane Maher
They are DC AC units. See Victron Energy at:
http://www.victronenergy.com/Products/ProductsENG.htm Theye have an interesting DC story too tell.
http://www.victronenergy.com/Products/ProductsENG.htm Theye have an interesting DC story too tell.
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Pete
Duane/Victron Energy
Duane, I went to there web site and it does not list any U.S. distrubitors(it said will have by 3rd quater of 2001?)Do you know of any here in the U.S.? thanks
Duane, I went to there web site and it does not list any U.S. distrubitors(it said will have by 3rd quater of 2001?)Do you know of any here in the U.S.? thanks
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Tom
Hmm,Am I missing something here even the smallest
AC unit from Airco is the Sunny Airco 1300 with about 4420 BTU/h.....(not as big as most that would be spec'ed into a mid size boat typically between 12-16k BTU's). And this unit is drawing 25 AMPS !!! (300 watts at 12Volts - the next model up uses 37 AMPS )....Most boat batterys will be dead *very* quickly !! I guess you could run your engine but you better have a heavy duty alternator and who wants to run their deisel engine that long ? !!! Just as a comparison the Cool Currents unit (I have no idea how well it works) only use less than 2 amps and is supposed to acheive between 3600
AC unit from Airco is the Sunny Airco 1300 with about 4420 BTU/h.....(not as big as most that would be spec'ed into a mid size boat typically between 12-16k BTU's). And this unit is drawing 25 AMPS !!! (300 watts at 12Volts - the next model up uses 37 AMPS )....Most boat batterys will be dead *very* quickly !! I guess you could run your engine but you better have a heavy duty alternator and who wants to run their deisel engine that long ? !!! Just as a comparison the Cool Currents unit (I have no idea how well it works) only use less than 2 amps and is supposed to acheive between 3600
On board AC
Some larger boats (46 ft) have air conditioning powered by a separate on-board generator, but you gotta have room and fuel for it. There's a system on the market that pumps cool seawater from 10 to 15 feet below the surface through an on-board heat exchanger with a fan blowing air through it. The current draw was reported to be about 2A, which works for boats with more modest electrical systems. I suspect you could probably build one yourself with a heater core and fan from a small car, a thermal switch, an electrical bilge pumpand 30 to 40 feet of rubber heater hose (having the intake and discharge at about the same depth significantly reduces the electricity needed to run the water pump. Most times, a 10 degree drop in cabin temperature is enough to make things comfortable. Peter H23 "Raven"
Some larger boats (46 ft) have air conditioning powered by a separate on-board generator, but you gotta have room and fuel for it. There's a system on the market that pumps cool seawater from 10 to 15 feet below the surface through an on-board heat exchanger with a fan blowing air through it. The current draw was reported to be about 2A, which works for boats with more modest electrical systems. I suspect you could probably build one yourself with a heater core and fan from a small car, a thermal switch, an electrical bilge pumpand 30 to 40 feet of rubber heater hose (having the intake and discharge at about the same depth significantly reduces the electricity needed to run the water pump. Most times, a 10 degree drop in cabin temperature is enough to make things comfortable. Peter H23 "Raven"
Windscoop
Brian: I do not know if you are sleeping in the V-berth or not. A Wind Scoop for the hatch can help direct fresh air (if there is a breeze). You can mount a Hella Fan in any of the sleeping quarters. The aft berths may require two because of the lack of air circulation. These fans are fairly low on power consumption too. This is NOT your answer but it does help.
Brian: I do not know if you are sleeping in the V-berth or not. A Wind Scoop for the hatch can help direct fresh air (if there is a breeze). You can mount a Hella Fan in any of the sleeping quarters. The aft berths may require two because of the lack of air circulation. These fans are fairly low on power consumption too. This is NOT your answer but it does help.
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