Best portable air conditioner for the truck?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Dino soar, Mar 12, 2022.

  1. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    I’ve got a 10k btu that my 2000 watt harbor freight unit runs fine, easier to put a hose out the window then a whole unit, and I don’t want to kill the look of the truck with a roof top
     
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  3. bumper Jack

    bumper Jack Heavy Load Member

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    What unit? I’ve got a 5k btu window unit. It does fine, but it’s a pia to hang out the window. And looks kinda janky. I too don’t want a roof mount on top of the truck. Mainly I don’t want to cut a hole in the roof.
     
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  4. loudtom

    loudtom Road Train Member

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    One problem I see in the Q/A is that it's not inverter driven. They are saying it doesn't cycle off and on, but if it runs a continuous 8.8A @115V, then it's a considerable power draw. It seems like a good option when there is a lack of space to install a mini split. When I plugged my mini split into the inverter on the truck, the voltage dropped to 13.6-13.7. When I use a 700w Instant Pot by itself, it goes to 13.2-13.4, and the microwave drops it to 12.8. It is really hard to beat the efficiency on the mini splits, especially when powered by a gas generator. From a noise perspective, it is hard to even notice that it's there, and it's nice being able to cook and use the AC simultaneously without worrying about putting too much load on the generator.

    Pioneer® 9,000 BTU 21.5 SEER 115V Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump System Full Set

    That's the unit I'm running. They say you have to hardwire the unit to a breaker, but I've put a male plug on the end of the wires and have never had an electrical issue running it this way for years. You could also opt to cut the female end of an extension cord and crimp connectors on that end instead for extra length.
     
  5. bumper Jack

    bumper Jack Heavy Load Member

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    I would wire it the same. My truck is set up for shore power. So I just plug the extension cord from the genset up on the outside and everything else uses the built in 110 outlets in the truck. I don’t need the heat pump side as I have a fuel fired bunk heater. I just want the cleanest look.

    you may be right on the mini split. The rv unit would be an upgrade from my window unit. It runs continuously too, but it only cost 150 bucks.
     
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  6. staceydude

    staceydude Road Train Member

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    Mini split would be cool, the stand up units (I have two different brands, I’ve used in a dog kennel area off house power) are just not as efficient as a window unit. I’ve got a stand up 63” sleeper and in Texas summer a stand up unit still hot especially if you stand up. A small cheap 5k window unit is much better and draws less power so the gas tank last longer. Cons are it looks dumb hanging out the window. But I can run that, and my hot water kettle or air fryer off the Honda generator all at same time and it works well.

    With a mini split I could hide the outside part behind the headache rack easily.
     
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  7. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I want to get a jump on it this year.

    I'm going to take a little time off in April and I'd like to get it done then and be done with it.

    There were days it was so hot last year that I did have to idle and I don't want to do any idling at all this year.
     
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  8. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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  9. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    I don’t recall I got it off of Amazon
     
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  10. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    Thank you for posting the exact unit that you have. They have quite a few models and it's kind of confusing what exactly the difference is and what I needed to get.

    If that unit kept you cool in Florida I would imagine it would do the same here in Pennsylvania. It does tend to get hot at times but it's that humidity... and it's even worse in Florida so I'm sure that unit will work for what I need. I generally stay pretty close to Pennsylvania.

    They do offer a 12000 BTU unit that does not seem to be much more money. Would you think that it would be worthwhile to get the unit that's a little larger?

    My understanding of air conditioning is that you're not supposed to get a unit that is too large for the area because then it Cycles too much.

    But I figured I'd ask you anyway.
     
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  11. Elroythekid

    Elroythekid Road Train Member

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    The guy that did it had a low profile unit and painted it the same color as his truck, it looked great and I guess you can hang meat inside on a hot day.
     
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