Dash Air Conditioning conversion kit

[buswarrior]

Ok refrigeration experts!

Here's the idea, I can't remember this being discussed at length:

In so many of our coaches, the stock OEM dashboard air conditioning evaporator is just sitting there asking, no, begging, to be mated up with a right-sized compressor and condenser in order to solve the "cooked driver" syndrome.

Also, a dash air that functions while camping would go a long way to help knock down the heat incursion at the front of the coach.

So, how about a few words of advice and a shopping list of parts to accomplish this electrically?

How big or how small electrical load would be possible? Could we apply some of the new inverter technology and some controls to allow it to work by itself with variable power availability?

Our call centre is waiting for your call!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[blue_goose]

Where are all the answers.  Lots of us could use help here, don't delay the answers.
Jack

[Lin]

Not an expert, but I have an opinion.  Automotive dash air is so good because it has a higher capacity than our electrical units.  To equal what an engine driven compressor can do, you will need to have the same horsepower driving it.  For example, my limited research would suggest that running a 24,000 BTU AC would take almost 4k watts with extra needed for start up.  I may be easier and cheaper to get a self contained unit like a rooftop or window unit and duct it to make it work.

[ArtGill]

I have a friend that had this company activate his dash air on his coach.  I have no experience but I'm planning to do mine, so any feed back would be appreciated.    www.welchindustries.com/ 

Art

[Oonrahnjay]

I have a friend that had this company activate his dash air on his coach.  I have no experience but I'm planning to do mine, so any feed back would be appreciated.    www.welchindustries.com/  

    I had some discussions with Mr. Welch on this one.  He suggests two evaporators, back to back; one driven by an electrical compressor (for parked operation) and the other driven by an engine-powered compressor for on the road.  I see the usefulness of this, but it's a big expense.  I am working on a number of tasks that I'll need to have completed first, but I'm going to be following up on this.

[Hard Headed Ken]

I'm just finishing connecting the Sanden compressor that was already mounted on the truck engine to the original bus dash evaporator. I bought a line and fitting kit from http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ac/sanden-compressor-backs-heads-19.php I ordered extra lengths of hoses it was about $200. I used the original bus plumbing which was already connected to the front evaporator and I blocked off the main evaporator. I used the original truck condenser and mounted it on the side were the original bus condenser mounted. It took about another $100 dollars of fittings, a few hours of machining and TIG welding to fab the special adapters. I'm finishing the shroud for the condenser fans today. I used two 14' aftermarket radiator fans. Just roughed in, I'm seeing about a 18 degree drop across the evap.

when I had my 04, I spent a lot of time trying to figure a way to use an electric motor to run the compressor for dash AC when parked. I couldn't make it, make sense.
No more efficient AC system than roof airs, Cruise airs etc. You always need more AC while traveling than when parked. I think it's because of the "reversed wind chill effect".

Ken

[luvrbus]

Hydraulic driven self contained AC units have been on the market for years now with other manufactures like Visonaire coming in to play besides Red Dot they are coming down in price now you can buy just the hydraulic driven compressor.

Ben has had a Red Dot hydraulic drivers area unit in his Eagle for several years now