Ac while on the road

[Moremph]

Thinking about selling my toter and trailer and building a new garage unit. One thing that has always aggravated me is that i have to run the genset going down the road to run the ac in the box. (dog has to be comfortable) Is there a ac system that could run off a dual compressor setup. As in run off the truck AC compressor while traveling down the road and switching over to a generator powered compressor when the main engine is shut down. Everything else functions fine without the genset running. Any ways to solve my issue without having two completely separate systems? Thanks Travis

[superbird03]

Auxiliary units t let me a tri PAC brand or rig master. It's essentially a generator and seperate motor though. That's what the over the road guys use when �� by or to suppliment there dash ac

[samcrimm]

I feel your pain on running the gen going down the road. I always thought another engine driven system for the house would work. I was on another forum and they were talking the same, these guys do solar and batteries, Off Grid Solar Powered RV Air Conditioning - Is it Possible? - Gone With The Wynns
And then this fancy system that works off the truck batteries, you have to change them out to deep cycle, neat set up, but I bet it not cheap either, Arctic Breeze Truck AC: 12V/DC air conditioning keeps cabs cool without wasting fuel

Sam

[Moremph]

I haven't really messed with a rooftop unit but have dealt with alot of automotive style units? Do they run on the same basic principal, a motor driven compressor, expansion valve and a condenser and evaporator?

If so i dont see why you couldn't run a separate engine driven compressor and some sort of divert er or bypass valves inline to choose which compressor you are running off of?

Travis

[asitool]

I picked up a couple of aux AC units that run off of the engine and 24v. I'll take $500 for the extra one. the NSN is 4120-01-526-9158. You can search with the NSN for info, and if you want pics you can look at e bay (not me) item 361830425114

[bushpilot]

we HAD an old English sheepdog (Maggie) and we ran the generator and roof top air A LOT (I mean were in Texas too).

I could never really (precisely) determine the fuel consumption of the gen....that is to say....It was negligible (even when dry camping)....I could go trackside "camping" for 3 days running the generator, mostly at night, to run AC & recover batteries and the gallonage consumption was minimal.

Pushers (MCI/Prevost/Featherlight) have HUGE battery banks (6-8) and multiple inverters/chargers...AND they run multiple alternators.

OTR Bus's have separate (engine/belt driven) AC compressors - its part of why their mpg is in the dumper (some report a 30hp consumption just to run all the accessories).

I say RUN it, its what its there for (I try not to look at the hour meter anymore)...and the MPG impact from running the 10kw Gen is minimal (I could save more fuel if I uses a lighter foot).

Count the Alternators on this pusher coach....

[petrel]

I've always wondered about those "bus style" systems too. It would be nice to have the HVAC run off of the main engine for certain trips, but I would not want the added equipment.

[bushpilot]

I've see some pushers that had a completely separate system that sat on the side of the motor...on a separate frame....they used a pulley system that turned the belts (attached to the motor) from a left to right to a front to rear direction...

those pushers ran a whole set of additional accessories with that belt system...ill see if i can find a pic of that craziness

[bushpilot]

https://www.facebook.com/dan.keeton....0665212441633/

https://www.facebook.com/dan.keeton....0679895773498/

[samcrimm]

Links did not work Don, Try again

[bushpilot]

sorry Sam - its probably cause its a closed group - Prevost Owners Group on FB, I've requested / recommended you as a member

[samcrimm]

ok, thanks Hotter than a 3 ball tom cat here, hows Texas?

[bushpilot]

here you can see, on the LEFT side of the motor - the belt/shaft that turns the side mounted radiator (clutch) fan at the 11-23+ second mark

at around 35 seconds you can see the HUGE (multi-cylinder) over the road air conditioning compressor (damn thing looks like another small engine).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHSNcxxZLn4

[bushpilot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EKPZ15hCpA

[bushpilot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRWRT9sICfA

[38Chevy454]

A simple solution might be to just add an additional add-on A/C evaporator unit, connected to your current compressor and condenser. Just tee the lines. Look at Vintage Air as examples, they are generally designed to put A/C into an older vehicle, but it could be set up to blow into your RV box area. Might not have the full cooling capacity of your roof mount running off the generator, but it would certainly help a bunch. You would not need the extra compressor or condenser, your current truck system probably has enough capacity to handle the second evap. Or might upgrade to a larger capacity compressor if you want. Swapping to larger condenser may be difficult.

Any specialty hose shop can splice your lines and make the new lines to go back to the second evap unit. Many larger vans and SUV's have second evap units in the back area to help cooling the rear vs just the front dash. You are doing essentially the same thing in my example.

[samcrimm]

I can see putting the evap unit just above the cap over bunk. Short run and have to blow back thru the cabin. So just set it up like a car with rear ac.... that a great idea thanks!
Sam

[solo318]

Most of these trucks had sleepers. and therefore came with rear a/c. You need the sleeper unit from your type of OTR truck, Looks like a 9600 international? You may have to run longer lines but the sleeper unit has it's own blower unit and evap all in one box, and it's designed to be run off the existing engine a/c compressor.
you could put it in a lower cabinet or something.

[bushpilot]

ok ill play along...some more....

whats the "BTU" rating of a dash or sleeper air conditioning unit...
then consider that most coaches NEED a 15k BTU unit for the house.

I doubt a espar, sleeper or dash type air is gonna be enough to keep even a small toters house cool in the summer.

[samcrimm]

Don I searched and came up with this:
Dash
20,000 Btu/hr (minimum)
Outside (fresh) air, Panel Vents
90 degF Ambient
in a big truck is what it said.