Airconditioners

Hi Axle
Series vehicles had one answer, and I am sure that Defenders still have them, those two movable things just below the windscreen and the slidey things (or in your case the windey things) in the doors.They were designed to increase air flow thru the cab in the days before A/c

Seriously, I have yet to find a 4wd that doesn't suffer from lack of grunt under heavy going with the A/c working overtime.

I expect I will hear from all the 'yota & 'ssan fans claiming that it doesn't happen to them but ????

One option that may work is to replace the engine driven cooling fan with a couple of large temp controlled electric ones and use the horsepower thus saved to counteract the A/c compressor load.

Any other suggestions out there???

G'day Axle,
I was only lamenting a similar thing earlier today regarding the Air Cond system, but so much from the angle you're coming from (although you do raise a valid point). Rather, my thoughts were along the lines of how much more efficient the cooling system of my Patrol would be if it wasn't for the flamin great air-cond condenser that gets first bite of the fresh air that hits the front of the truck!. I was wondering if a whole air cond system could be electrically operated & roof-rack mounted (like the ones you see on top of motor homes etc). I guess it wouldn't be practical, but geez it'd be nice to see what effect the free-flowing air + the ommision of the air cond compressor + the ommision of the mechanical water pump (replace with an electric unit) + the ommision of the viscous fan (replace with a couple of BIG thermo fans)...would have on the vehicle. You'd have to have a massive alternator to supply power to a bank of batteries to keep all these electric motors running; so probably wouldn't be any better off!!!! Oh well, at least I'm thinking outside the square!!

At times when you find you need every liitle bit of power simply turn the air con off, it's usually only for a very short period....works for me and a very simple, cheap and effective solution.

Yeah mate

A 5KVA diesel gennie and 100lt fuel tank set up in your trailer will do the trick.

I once saw a bloke up in the Kimberley with a Troopy, a large domestic freezer slung on the rear bar and a small genset on the roof rack running full time to keep the fish cold.

My aircon is responsible for 150 revs when running which in the overall scheme of things is buggerall.

Alot of the long hual trucks now have evap air cons big water bottel just behind the cab air con on the roof .
They can have it on at night when there getting some sleep with out the motor running

A little research would go a long way here. Most new vehicles now have air con compressors that only pump as much as required by the conditions and are internally regulated so when low pumping is required they can go to as little as 5% load or in hotter temps go to 100% capacity. Removing the compressor off the motor requires something else to drive it adding weight complexity and using more of your minimal power. Rooftop condensor evap units will remove the condensor from in front of the radiator but increase wind resistance. Just leave as is and switch off on the uphills and passing. Sometimes is the only way to pass in my hzj79 work vehicle due to its huge power not!!!

as fisho says above...it takes energy to drive the compressor......

we will just have to wait till they invent an absorption airconditioning system for cars.....it can use the waste heat (free energy) from the engine. No other energy source required

They can do it...but still too costly at the moment. The piping system on an absorption system is heavy and bulky.

How about portable air conditioning for small areas eg a bedroom or living area in a house on fraser islandor a tent or camper van,Why cant an air cond unit from a vehicle be mounted in say a box and run by a 2 stroke motor such as the one used to power christie generators ????
Just a thought after haveing spent a VERY HOT week in a rented house at orchid beach with no fans and no air cond.