12 Volt DC Mini Split AC

Batteries are weakest link in this chain. AC require about 1000 watt to run. In hot AZ or CA it will run almost non stop. Let's assume 80% cycle will be enough to keep you cool.
1000 watt x 10 hours x 80% = 8000 watt energy.
8000 watt / 13 volts = 615 ampere x hours
The advertised battery capacity is only 400 ah. Keep in mind this is advertised capacity! The real capacity could as low as 300 -350 AH what will shorten working time to 3 -5 hours only.
No, you can't recharge batteries in 20 minutes. Alternator need to be replaced with high output model what is $1200 - $1500 plus.

 

A Driver told me he had 1 installed, uses a generator, lessthan 2 grand

 

The recovery time is poor on that unit. Try a 9000 BTU splity with a generator. 5000 watts gets you something that recovers quickly and runs quietly.

 

Lithium Iron Phosphate .... or any kind of lithium battery for that matter ... do not like being charged in low temperatures. And any charge or discharge at extreme temperatures will cause them to prematurely fail.

If you can handle the extra weight, and have the space. Set up a bank of long lasting deep cycle batteries. Golf cart 6 volt wired to be 12v is best bang for buck. Get a pure sine wave inverter appropriately sized for your needs 3000 plus watt. And a mini split heat pump system from home depot 10k btu cooling or better. Use a small gas generator to supplement power when in super hot environments for long periods of time.

 

Good info here.





My buddy used to build all the metal work for a high dollar marine A/C unit that ran off 12 volts


All it was is a high efficiency compressor with a inverter. That was 10 years ago.


Now a days These mini splits are very efficient for power usage and inexpensive. They have been using them in Europe for 30 years.

If and when I do my truck I am doing a mini split with a large inverter just for the a/c and another for the rest of my 110 needs.

Than Add 10 regular but quality deep cycle group 27 or possibly 6 volt golf cart batteries ran in a series Whichever is the most efficiency for the weight and $

They Weigh about the same as an Apu . 10 batteries with cables is a $1000 and will last at least 2-3 years if maintained properly .

An Apu is going to burn $4 -6 in fuel a night plus oil changes, maintenance and eventual replacement. And cost you 5-$10 thousand out of the gate.

A good Honda gas generator 3000 with a cabinet is pricey if you go that route along with the hassles of fetching gas.


I just know from running generator on boats all the time the oil changes come soon when their constantly running.

I have the flat roof and the space that I could secure 3 -100 watt solar panels with a controller for another $500

This would be strictly to keep the batteries up while they power up the fridge and roof vent fan while I am away from the truck for a few days on my time off.

A Honda 2000 in the side box for emergencies and that I can take with my while out on boat or camping in the van.

My company Western Star I lived in for 15 months was awesome with a big fridge and freezer

But I almost got to the point where I dreaded t
A few days off during the summer because I had to unpack the fridge and freezer. Also the truck didn’t have built in shore power so would have to hook up a battery charger to keep frig running.

Frig could drag down the batteries in 24 hours in heat of the summer heat

I ran everything in that truck off a cheap 3500 watt $160 Cobra inverter and the 3 batteries it had.

During the day running I had the frig/freezer running off its own inverter.
Than off the Cobra a countertop ice maker and a 300 watt amplifier and subwoofer with 2 speakers made for a surround system. It’s cheap sound for $70.

Still had enough amperage to run the coffee maker or the convection oven if I left the motor running.

At night throw the TV into the equation and a few lights along with crock pot or hot plate.

I would leave the motor running while I was cooking though

Never burned up a Alternator in 15 months.

Never had enough power to run the Webasco all night long though and not wake up to not being able to start the motor

Stupid setup. Had enough room in the battery box for 8-Ds but company was running 27s.

Run the 8ds with a isolator for the staring battery and it would have been fine running the Webasco all night

Battery isolators and power off switch’s should be on every truck along with shore power hook ups with chargers.

 

70 amps per hour. So 700 amp hrs worth of batteries for a 10 hr break. I wonder about surge. I’d much rather have a battery bank, instead of an apu. I’ve done some research on batteries and amp hrs. trying to figure out such a system. It’s too complicated for Me. I’ve looked at forklift batteries, the cost also has to be considered. Freightliner has a system 20 yrs ago,don’t know much about it. Saw one once in a Truck line mine. Driver said it worked good. Looked about like a refrigerator. There also a company called night time system, (maybe) in St Clair Shores Mi. I think they’re out of Bussiness. Let Us know, if you get a good system figured out. Not sure a 2000 watt Honda will run more than 8000 btu. A smaller one to charge batteries may be all that’s needed. Let Us know. Wish I knew more.

 

Bergstrom is the manufacturer for most, if not all, OEM 12 volt electric AC systems for big trucks. Know they are Freightliner and Kenworths supplier. They are insane on pricing to general public