Air conditioning

Canal Navvy

Canal Navvy

Well-known member
they do a 12v kit to power it, motorhomes use it.

An automotive type alternator isn't going to like running at such high amps continuously, keeping it cool would not be easy.
To stand a chance of working it would take a much larger marine type alternator with inbuilt heat sensors along with upsized pulleys and drive belts.
You'd probably have to provide more cool air in the engine bay and a larger battery too.
 
Grahams

Grahams

Don't complain - suggest what's better
An automotive type alternator isn't going to like running at such high amps continuously, keeping it cool would not be easy.
To stand a chance of working it would take a much larger marine type alternator with inbuilt heat sensors along with upsized pulleys and drive belts.
You'd probably have to provide more cool air in the engine bay and a larger battery too.
Not looking good then. I thought it would be easy just to wire in a 12v unit and away you go.
 
K

Keif

Well-known member
Specs from the their Ac/DC converter.
Screenshot_20200723-130339.png
 
craig

craig

Well-known member
Every summer I think about fitting air conditioning to my mini digger. I really need to operate with the cab closed because of contaminated dust. I have a couple of 12v fans which help, but it is still too hot for a lot of the year. Has anyone retro fitted it to theirs?
I don’t really want a roof mounted unit for fear of knocking it off. I saw this wall mounted truck unit
https://www.kudauk.ltd.uk/product/1...nditioner-perfect-for-vans-campers-motorhomes
Any advice?
Thanks
I was going to say about truck ones, but can see you have already found them.
They are designed to run at night when the truck is parked up, so power consumption is going to be minimal, otherwise the truck wont start in the morning. Running it while the engine is running, I can`t see any problems with the alternator.
Some of them, but not the one you`ve linked, need a water supply from an external tank, so would need extra space to fit, could be a problem on a digger.
The only real problems I can see is, on a wall mounted on is having to replace the window glass with a solid panel for mounting the external and internal units, not a big problem doing it, but loss of visibility? Is there room between the seat and window to mount the internal unit? and enough room to adjust the air flow, so its not blowing directly on to your neck/head, could get a bit tiresome after a couple to hours with a stiff neck that night.
I`ve dealt with Kuda before, and where quite helpful when I rung them up with some questions.
 
K

Keif

Well-known member

Just found this. Says it runs off 24v OR "up to" five hours on its own rechargable battery, the "up to" part is worrisome.
 
Richard Hunton

Richard Hunton

Well-known member
Just a thought, is it not possible to find a machine for breaking and Rob the air con components off it, obviously it will require modifications etc, but at least your starting with something that was ment to be run on a similar system to yours ie, excavator engine, 12 or 24v.
 
Grahams

Grahams

Don't complain - suggest what's better

Just found this. Says it runs off 24v OR "up to" five hours on its own rechargable battery, the "up to" part is worrisome.
That looks very interesting. I'll look further into this.
 
Grahams

Grahams

Don't complain - suggest what's better
Just a thought, is it not possible to find a machine for breaking and Rob the air con components off it, obviously it will require modifications etc, but at least your starting with something that was ment to be run on a similar system to yours ie, excavator engine, 12 or 24v.
I understand where you are coming from, and on my bigger machine I probably would go down this route, but on the little one it is just a rats nest of pipes and cables under the cab it would be very difficult to traditionally mount the separate components. That and you don't see many 12v machines with aircon.
 
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