Replacing A/C compressor with a fridge compressor

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 13, 2008 at 23:44
ThreadID: 55525 Views:4514 Replies:4 FollowUps:5
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Hi All,

Forgive this raving lunatic idea, but, what is possibly stopping one from doing the above? Could one use a bar fridge compressor and an inverter, or a low voltage compressor?

Any thoughts?

regards to all

gb
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Reply By: Member - John - Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 06:17

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 06:17
Why?
John and Jan

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Reply By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:09

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:09
On what, where, when, how, and why.

I can just see bits of metal and components flying every where when it disintergrates from over revving.

.

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Reply By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:35

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:35
yes its possible..but

you need to select the right size compressor for the refrigeration duty.

12dc-240ac inverter then increases and adds to the inefficiencies

domestic type fridge compressors are internally sprung to reduce noise. subjecting it to the rigours of what a 12dc compressor is expected to take may knock it off its springs making it very noisey at minimum or even breaking a internal refrigerant pipe making the compressor useless.

You could get the sealed unit cut open and have the compressor rigidly mounted internally but the whole exercise compressor cutting and rewelding costs heaps...more than a new 12vdc



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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:44

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:44
ooops read that wrong i thought you were talking about replacing a 12vdc compressor with a 240 ac compressor for a car fridge....

so, to answer your question its is possible in theory but economical and practical ...no!

you'll need a big ineverter...car airconditioning ie 4wd can require up to 5kWr (2hp) and more of compressor capacity....then you'll need a big alternator to push out enough 12dc amps to drive the humungous inverter...and where would you fit a 2hp 240v compressor..they aint small. (belt driven ones are cos they can spin them faster to make the little pistons do lots of work)
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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:56

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:56
oops read that wrong..i read that as though you were talking about replacing a car fridge comp with a 240v comp..duh

so to get it right this time...yes in theory but not with a fridge compressor it'll be too small...you could do it with a aircon compressor ...but it is but practical ? NO!

car aircondioning ie a large car can require up to 5kWr of compressor capacity....thats for the sake of the argument approx 2hp.
that will require a huge inverter to get it started...and youll need a hughmungous alternator to give it the grunt it (the inverter) will need to convert to 240vac.......you'll need to provide the 240v compressor with around 10amps 240v just to keep it running
to start it..you'll want around 60amps or more startup current...30 if you put on a soft start.

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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:59

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 07:59
what happened here?..the first reply wasnt there so i thought it didnt go thru so i answered again...oh well
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 08:02

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 08:02
He probably has an inkling as to your message.lol.

Ian
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Follow Up By: Bros 1 - Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 12:56

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 12:56
No. 1,
This is a bit like "Blue Hills". waiting patiently for the next installment.
LOL.
Cheers,
Bros.
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Reply By: bosco - Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 20:01

Friday, Mar 14, 2008 at 20:01
Hi and thanks for the replies...Well, let's start with why I would want to do this?:

Removing undue torque from the crank therefore reducing fuel consumption, not to mention that my car (Terrano WD21) overheats like hell when the aircon is turned on. And yes, I had the radiator checked and flushed, etc. etc. Eventually I had to remove the thermostat to achieve better cooling.

Now, someone was mentioning flying bits'n'pieces from over-revving??? How can a fridge compressor over-rev is beyond me...I don't see the fridge taking off when I stock it full of groceries...hahahahaha..

I was just checking to see if there was a more efficient way of doing things and save juice. I use my car for work purposes and I am getting slightly sick of filling it every 3rd day if I use the aircon.

I live in WA and it has been a tad warm lately...

If it is too much muckin' about and not really more efficient, then, there is no point.

The cooling is a problem with these imports, got in touch with PWR and they told me that they don't have one off the shelves, but given the dimensions they could build a 3/4 core Alluminium one($980). Also looked at an electrical Water pump...

Any thoughts?

thanks again to all
gb
AnswerID: 292712

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