MINI SPLIT SYSTEM INSTALL

Your calculations is little bit off.
Split system compressor doesn't run constantly. It sensing difference between room temperature and temperature set. After about two hours temperature inside truck stabilized and compressor will come on for very short time, few times per hour for about 10 seconds.
On my 12,000 btu power consumption with compressor on is 850 watts, with compressor off 64 watts.

 

I understand how these splits are the bees knees in terms of overall investment and operating costs. Do y'all run northern states during the colder months? I'm just as uncomfortable when it's freezing cold as when it's hot and muggy. When do you make the decision to bite the bullet and invest in an APU?

 

Well there 'ya go. I had no idea the split systems heated as well.

 

They don't. A Webasto or Espar diesel heater is a separate thing, has nothing to do with a mini split. However, A Webasto or Espar IS a part of some APU's, Tripac for instance, but you can just buy the heater separate. Lots of trucks have just the diesel heaters.

 

Some do. Compressor flow reversed to have heat in evaporator and cold in condenser outside.But nothing can beat Webasto or Espar

 

What make and model do you have and how warm can you get your truck with subfreezing ambient air temps?

 

I started out with that Ryobi 2300 and very quickly found out it wasn't enough. I switched to a Predator 3500 and found that one was just right... 11-15 hours on 2.5 gallons.

My only issue with the Predators was that once the original one I bought had 4000 hours on it, I bought a new one just to insure reliability. That one blew up at 200 hours... and the next... and the next... and the next. After going through the hassle of exchanging them, I put the original one back on the truck and ran it another 4000 hours.

When the front display panel quit working, I replaced it with a Honda EG2800i (assembled in South Carolina, not China). It's been on the truck for a week now and so far so good. It has enough power and will run about 10 hours on a somewhat smaller tank of gas (2.1 gallons I think). The overall cost per day is a little lower than the Predator I think.

The other bonus to the Honda is easier maintenance because it's an open frame. It's also about 30 lbs. lighter.