Portable AC in a van. Will it work?
Answer:
compute for maximum current drain at 12 volts.
I=P/E
I=950/12=79.1666 amps
so its just like starting always your van draining your battery,
try it and record how many minutes before you discharge your battery or your compressor motor breaks down, help charge your battery and keep on the engine running.
When I went on vacation in Vegas I saw a family with a minivan that had a house window unit in one of the back windows. I know that this doesn't help you, but it was so funny. It seemed to work out well, the family was really nice (they sat next to us at a restaurant). Gotta love living in a state with no mandatory vehicle inspections!
You are talking about a 3/4 ton air conditioner. As already mentioned, your battery drain is going to be considerable. While not starting current level, your reserve capacity will last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and then you are completely in the dark. You need to remember that Starting capacity of a battery is only good for about 5 seconds. Reserve capacity is the capability of the battery to operate loads without the alternator running for a certain length of time. For the sake of discussion, a battery with 160 amp hours will supply 16 amps for 10 hours, or 160 amps for 1 hour. You'll need to set the engine to run at a speed high enough to allow the alternator to supply at least 85 to 90 amps to run that inverter. The higher current is because power in must equal power out, plus about 10 to 15 % more for losses in the inverter for the conversion from DC to AC. You can not get 7.9 amps out to run the AC unit by supplying 7.9 amps in from the batteries, it doesn't work that way. The battery puts in 79, more like 85 to 90 amps in, and you get your 7.9 amps out. This is due to the 10 to 1 step up conversion that the inverter is making.
Another answer to your issue is to simply use an outlet if this rig is for camping. If it is for common use on the road, first go get a battery with as high a reserve capacity as you can find, and be prepared to spend a lot of money on gas.
You engine should already have the mounting bosses (atachment points) cast into the engine block. Why not just spend the $$ to have regular auto A/C installed? You would be better off in the long run.
For what it is worth, the young lady with her comment about inspection laws for cars and added on A/C units, if the end design is for camping, vehicle inspection laws would not apply since the A/C unit is for camping purposes. Provision in the inspection laws are made for such as that.
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