That's some funny stuff Van Zant.
HELP NEEDED the redneck ac unit
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Senior User
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HELP NEEDED the redneck ac unit
i have a ac unit that will fit just right in my back window on my old 86 f250. i dont know if anyone has ever tried this or not, but i figure it would be cheaper then buying the whole ac system for my truck. the power info on the ac is 115v 60hz 1ph. cooling 5000 btu. eer 8.0. use 15amp time delay fuse or circuit breaker. my question is what power converter would i need to buy to run this ac unit in my truck.
thank you
thank you
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
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From: Lorain County, Ohio
It won't work.
The power inverter cannot draw enough current from the vehicle charging system for even a small 5000 BTU unit.
Window units aren't designed for the forces encountered in a vehicle. The hermetically sealed compressor will quickly pull off of it's mountings inside the "can" and be destroyed.
Most vehicle AC systems are in the 15-20,000 BTU range. The small window unit cannot dissipate enough heat to cool even a truck cab with it in motion on a hot sunny day.
The power inverter cannot draw enough current from the vehicle charging system for even a small 5000 BTU unit.
Window units aren't designed for the forces encountered in a vehicle. The hermetically sealed compressor will quickly pull off of it's mountings inside the "can" and be destroyed.
Most vehicle AC systems are in the 15-20,000 BTU range. The small window unit cannot dissipate enough heat to cool even a truck cab with it in motion on a hot sunny day.
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damn. i was just thinking. i was like small space in the truck so this ac i got laying around should be able to cool it. i guess im back to lookinf for another donor truck. when i first bought the truck a few years ago i riped everthing out that dealed with the ac unit. i cut the tubs going into the box also and when i replaced my dash i removed all wires from the old diesel that used to be in there, so all ac wires r gone to.
thank you for the tip
thank you for the tip
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Joined: May 2006
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Throw a generator in your bed like this guy: 
This guy must have figured a way out as well:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292809,00.html
This guy must have figured a way out as well:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292809,00.html
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Joined: Nov 2003
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You might try putting a dc motor on that air conditioner. Although the tax on your electrical might severely decrease your fuel economy.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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clunker had me giggling when I started to read this....then Van zant damn, ROLTFLMAO that made my day, thanks.
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I don't know...I'd give it a shot...
Most 5K BTU AC's I have seen pull about 5-6 amps @120 V, so you would need an inverter that could feed (6x120)=720 watts. You might be able to find one that is 1,000 watts running and 2,000 surge...that would get you in the ballpark.
This one would do it:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93761
Or for just $10 more, get nearly double the power;
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95596
You'd need to run some fairly heavy cables to the battery. 720watts/12volts = 60amps. This is also only going to work with a good alternator.
That is a good point about the vibration. Although most compressors I have seen are shock and spring mounted to reduce vibration already. If you aren't running fire roads at 90 mph you'd probably be OK. I know there is at least one video on the internet of a guy with a unit strapped to the top of his car blowing down through the sunroof.
Good Luck!
Most 5K BTU AC's I have seen pull about 5-6 amps @120 V, so you would need an inverter that could feed (6x120)=720 watts. You might be able to find one that is 1,000 watts running and 2,000 surge...that would get you in the ballpark.
This one would do it:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93761
Or for just $10 more, get nearly double the power;
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95596
You'd need to run some fairly heavy cables to the battery. 720watts/12volts = 60amps. This is also only going to work with a good alternator.
That is a good point about the vibration. Although most compressors I have seen are shock and spring mounted to reduce vibration already. If you aren't running fire roads at 90 mph you'd probably be OK. I know there is at least one video on the internet of a guy with a unit strapped to the top of his car blowing down through the sunroof.
Good Luck!
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
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if your doing city driving or less than 40-50 MPH an dfew bumps , it might be o.k. wont get a lot of cooling, but if its in the roof and blows straight down on your head, you dont need to cool the entire cab... could be?
Fleet Mechanic
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From: Lorain County, Ohio
Originally Posted by hhott71
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i dont know i been driving this truck for years with no ac, just know i got hot here for a week or two and i was out side cutting the grass last week and remembered i have an old ac i dont use no more. so i grabeed the tape measure and measured things up and it would fit just right in my back window. i thought it would be nice but i dont feel like messing with it now. hopefully one day i can come across a junk ford for parts. just hard to find a junk yard here in west union ohio.