Portable 12v or 110v AC unit

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by Carl

pm me if ideas/thoughts. I'm less concerned with cost than it working good, being small, and reliable.
I find it amazing that there are no companies making a small camping unit?

I agree, it's a million dollar idea if someone could do it, but air conditioners have to make warm air and condensation to make cold air. It's just science. That's why you've got to have some part of the thing sticking outside to cool the inside.

[twogone]

@Carl... pm sent

@everybody... I'll be posting on this particular issue after some upcoming kill-the-air-conditioner R & D.

[Gnarvan]

There's an air conditioner in that picture? For some reason my eyes can't seem to move past the custom awning.

[twogone]

oops, yeah, I don't know how to crop photographs on the gizmo

[witoke]

The problem is that A/C uses a LOT of electricity, making 12 volt units impractical. Evaporative DC coolers are available if you live in a dry climate and they do work.

http://www.spheralsolar.com/products/So ... ooler.html

You might try looking for Marine A/C units. They are designed to be a efficient as possible both in terms of volume and power usage. You might find something that would work but it will still need 110 or 220 volts. They can be bought, like fridges, as kits, allowing you to mount the different components were they fit best.

[ANZAC]

Originally Posted by witoke

You might try looking for Marine A/C units. They are designed to be a efficient as possible both in terms of volume and power usage. You might find something that would work but it will still need 110 or 220 volts. They can be bought, like fridges, as kits, allowing you to mount the different components were they fit best.

The form factor, power requirements and flexibility of marine units is there, the problem is they all seem to require a supply of raw water for the heat exchanger. If you see one that doesn't let us know!!

[rob_gendreau]

And there are combo evaporative/ice coolers that work by evaporation, or by the use of ice, or icey water. Work sort of well, if you're prepared to stop in 7-11s and hit the ice machine with a super super big gulp, hold the soda. Or use ice from your fridge. 12 volt. Try swampy.net. Relatively inexpensive.

Or just run the van's A/C....

[witoke]

Anzac,

thanks for pointing that out. I have seen Marine AC in stores and catalogs but I did not know they used an open sea water circulator as a cooling medium. I will poke around a bit a see if I can find any that do not. But in the meantime, it raises some questions: regular AC does not use a separate cooling circuit, nor do marine fridges. Why does the Marine AC need it and for van use, could that be replaced with a radiator and fan?

[ANZAC]

Originally Posted by witoke

Anzac,

thanks for pointing that out. I have seen Marine AC in stores and catalogs but I did not know they used an open sea water circulator as a cooling medium. I will poke around a bit a see if I can find any that do not. But in the meantime, it raises some questions: regular AC does not use a separate cooling circuit, nor do marine fridges. Why does the Marine AC need it and for van use, could that be replaced with a radiator and fan?

I don't know if I would call it a medium, but it runs through the heat exchanger which is presumably on the condenser. My boat has one, works the same way. I suspect that they do this because they can (the water is there, and it is cool) and it means they don't have to locate the condenser somewhere outboard in the airflow.

On the other hand, the compressor and evap from a marine system would work just fine, they have duct outlets just like the Starcool, etc. The marine systems are generally not split and are self contained though.

[Carl]

seems this may be a great opportunity if someone can develop a small, reasonable weight, air conditioner that is portable for RV/vehicle use. I know that I would buy one!