12 volt ac?

[drifter]

Anybody know anything about these guys? If the specs are accurate, interesting...

http://www.cruisencomfortusa.com/brochure.php

[drifter]

I just watched this. Says you can set it on low and draw just 18 amps....  Wonder if that would cool anything...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/gWc4yLbcRp0&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/gWc4yLbcRp0&rel=0</a>

[AlexisandChad]

I would be real curious myself.  18 amps for an a/c?     The install looked pretty easy. Even for me. 

[Oldntired]

OK better look at the specs and see if it is worthwhile.  18 amps is on low for a 4000 btu unit.  It is 35 amps for the 4000 btu output.  the larger unit draws 50 amps for 6000 btu.  Lets see now, 50 amps for ten or twelve hours for a nights sleep?  Better have some real good batteries for that.  Or you have to run something to keep the batteries up.  Maybe it would be cheaper to run a generator and just run the 110 volt unit.

All that being said, my 280 has a 12,000 btu unit and once warm it takes a couple of hours to bring the temps down to comfortable.  So what would half that do for the boat?  I doubt that the unit would cool any live in cabin with any comfort.  See in reality it takes a certain amount of watts to run a unit big enough to cool a specified area.  This can be done with 110 volts, 220 volts or 12 volts, but the same amount of energy is used regardless.  The only way around this is either a propane unit or a solar unit.  Propane is possible and solar is also possible except that the sun is necessary and not available at night.

If you seriously think that 2000 or maybe 3000 btu on a good day will cool your boat at 18 amps, dream on.

[drifter]

Don't disagree. I just thought it was interesting. It has a three stage approach. For the 6000 at high it's 50 amps, med it's 35 amps,and low is 18. I know it wouldn't cool my boat but wondering if once it got cold with generator before bed, if something like this would work to keep it cold? My wife hates the gen... Also, my brother has a small cuddy, might be an option for him.  Figure it's a long shot but maybe would get lucky if someone has seen it in action.

[Oldntired]

Just for a follow up, I live off grid in a trailer.  I have a 5200 BTU window built in and three inches of foam insulation all around.  I have a $4000 Solar One battery that has 1900 amp hours of storage.  I run my living quarters off that.  The AC pulls right at 50 amps  when running but I only run it while the gen is running.  The batteries will not take that much draw and I doubt that you have anything like that battery in your boat.

I searched internet for weeks to find the unit I have that draws exactly 502 watts while running.  It is a great unit but I would not dare to operate it without outside power.  My plans that got held up were to have 2000 watts of solar power which would run it in the hot part of the day.

I just thought that I would add  this because most well experienced people do not realize the shortcomings of battery power.  A microwave for a few minutes is acceptable, 6 amps at 12 volts for TV and DVD works well but high sustained draw on the batteries is a no no.  I get about five days use of the normal stuff before dropping to 11.9 volts about 50% and require a recharge.  This is  with normal stuff, lights, microwave, TV, stereo, of course George Foreman, charging phones a couple of Radio Shack fans running, etc.

[drifter]

Just for a follow up, I live off grid in a trailer.  I have a 5200 BTU window built in and three inches of foam insulation all around.  I have a $4000 Solar One battery that has 1900 amp hours of storage.  I run my living quarters off that.  The AC pulls right at 50 amps  when running but I only run it while the gen is running.  The batteries will not take that much draw and I doubt that you have anything like that battery in your boat.

Thx! The more I read the more I understand batteries limits....   Ps: off of grid, where?  That's awesome! my dad is talking about it but he talks about a lot of things...