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dwdufour Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: Texoma
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 12:57 pm Post subject: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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Plain as the subject
Has anyone put one of these in their van?
https://stores.12voltairconditioning.com/ves-12l-1...-included/
Seems like a great option for traveling with my dogs when it's hot.
By my math, I should realistically expect about 8 hours of run time on my 500ah set up. That's not bad!
It's expensive, but would make my van much more functional.
Any thoughts? |
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kourt Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013 Posts: 1947 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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Howdy,
What is your use case? Do you expect to run this from a battery while parked, or run it while driving? What type of 500AH setup do you have? LiIon or some type of SLA battery?
kourt |
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dwdufour Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: Texoma
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:17 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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I'm going to run it driving and parked. Subaru swap.
My batteries are AGM.
But has anyone done it? |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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How many BTUs is it rated for? I didn’t see any specs on the page you linked. _________________ ☮️ |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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the link states
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Specifications:
Cooling Capacity 8k BTU
Power consumption 45 nominal amps @12 Volt DC |
_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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danfromsyr wrote: |
the link states
Quote: |
Specifications:
Cooling Capacity 8k BTU
Power consumption 45 nominal amps @12 Volt DC |
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Technically I see only 8k now that you point it out. Didn’t realize that was the BTU rate. Anyhow, should do a nice job. This comes up every year and it looks like the batteries and units have improved enough for a package finally. _________________ ☮️ |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22668 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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To get 8000 BTU of cooling will take about 2500 Watts of electrical power, not the 600 watts advertised.
The price is crazy _________________ .ssS! |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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We have seen how low the electrical consumption can be for compressor fridges with the advanced technology now used in 12V compressors. In my rig, when running, the TF65 fridge draws 2.1 amps. (Some have improved the insulation and reduced even this low draw.) But recall that these units are well-insulated and only need to fight the ambient temps inside a Vanagon.
The Vanagon itself, exposed to sun, ambient air, heat from the radiator air heating the floor of the vehicle and the heat ingress from the engine compartment, literally functions like an oven. The BTU demands to cool thios oven are incredible. If the Vanagon were as well-insulated as a fridge, then a 12V battery-powered AC system might be viable. As things stand, it remains a bridge too far, in my opinion. It's worth recalling that the electrical draws from operating the condenser and evaporator fans are, by themselves, quite high.
The Teslas don't have the I.C.E. heat to deal with. They only need to address ambient air temps plus sun heat loads. Plus, they have a huge battery. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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zoti Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 2061 Location: Plano, TX USA
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dwdufour Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2015 Posts: 65 Location: Texoma
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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I've upgraded the insulation quite a bit, limo tint on all the windows, etc. Seems like these are popular in Sprinter conversions as well.
Howesight wrote: |
We have seen how low the electrical consumption can be for compressor fridges with the advanced technology now used in 12V compressors. In my rig, when running, the TF65 fridge draws 2.1 amps. (Some have improved the insulation and reduced even this low draw.) But recall that these units are well-insulated and only need to fight the ambient temps inside a Vanagon.
The Vanagon itself, exposed to sun, ambient air, heat from the radiator air heating the floor of the vehicle and the heat ingress from the engine compartment, literally functions like an oven. The BTU demands to cool thios oven are incredible. If the Vanagon were as well-insulated as a fridge, then a 12V battery-powered AC system might be viable. As things stand, it remains a bridge too far, in my opinion. It's worth recalling that the electrical draws from operating the condenser and evaporator fans are, by themselves, quite high.
The Teslas don't have the I.C.E. heat to deal with. They only need to address ambient air temps plus sun heat loads. Plus, they have a huge battery. |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7757 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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Website strikes me as pretty sketch... Just me?
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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JudoJeff Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2013 Posts: 1179 Location: Near Springfield, MA
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 4:10 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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Don’t waste your money. Even IF it puts out 8,000 btu, that’s too low. Automotive A/C is closer to 20,000 btu, and we’ve all waited for a car parked in the sun to cool down.
You’d need a wall of batteries, and even then would barely know it’s operating.
Samba really should have a thread: Things that don’t work, save your money.... _________________ ________________________________________
1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
1987 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig & Rebuilt, sold
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout) |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 4:28 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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We ran our 5000 btu unit all weekend long at a July race in Savanna. Ambient was near 100 and high humidity. With pop top insulation and curtains closed, it kept the van comfortable all weekend. The dog was resting inside during track sessions. I was actually surprised it did as well as it did. Of course that’s plugged in.
Where I get anxious is trying to keep our dog cool when not around. To be honest, I don’t trust anything mechanical. So we go old school, shade, windows down and water. If that’s not enough, the el doggo comes with us or we don’t go. Traveling with a dog has challenges, but worth it to us.
Summer is near. I can always tell when the AC topics comes up again. _________________ ☮️ |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7757 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:22 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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IMHO, always overestimate the value of shade...
FWIW: https://smile.amazon.com/Pro-Select-Solar-Canopy-P...mp;sr=8-34
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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I just go camping.
A lot of people try to make a Vanagon into a small class A camper.
A/C, blenders, coffee makers, porta-potties, showers and other civilized accessories aren't a part of that for me. _________________ '90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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Corwyn wrote: |
I just go camping.
A lot of people try to make a Vanagon into a small class A camper.
A/C, blenders, coffee makers, porta-potties, showers and other civilized accessories aren't a part of that for me. |
Corwyn, I invite you to come camping in Florida this summer. Are you familiar with No-See-Ums? They crawl right through regular tent screens. They are miserable compared to biting flies and mosquitoes. It's not the heat and humidity, its the bugs. _________________ ☮️ |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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. . . thats why I don't camp in Florida _________________ '90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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dabaron Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2561 Location: Philly, mang
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 8:58 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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MarkWard wrote: |
camping in Florida this summer. |
found your problem. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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dabaron wrote: |
MarkWard wrote: |
camping in Florida this summer. |
found your problem. |
_________________ '90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Cruise n Comfort 12v AC system in Vanagon |
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Corwyn wrote: |
. . . thats why I don't camp in Florida |
At least I don't have meth heads attempting to steal our van while we sleep. You probably don't like heat either. _________________ ☮️ |
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