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Sanden AC compressor mount to 7.4 EFI?

o2batsea

o2batsea

Outstanding Contributor
I'm looking at air conditioning for the cabin area and it seems that the AC voltage driven units are too bulky for my application. Besides, running a whole 'nuther electric system and inverter just for AC seems like too much in the cost/benefit analysis. Plan A is to mount the compressor on the engine and run the plumbing forward with the condenser mounted up top with 12V fans rather than water cooled. Like a car. Plan B is to do the same but with a separate DC motor to drive the compressor. Somehow in my history I have accumulated two Sanden serp belt drive compressors that are new in the box. I would like to adapt these for the boat. I'm leaning towards the DC powered compressor as it can run ( for a while anyway) with the engine shut off. Thoughts?
 
So, the compressor is similar to a belt-driven version that's used in a car? How would this work when the engine has been shut off?
 
I think Plan A is better than Plan B, between those two...I'd be inclined to worry about the evaporator and the condenser and the ducting plan being appropriate (and available) to make sure you can even use the compressors you have. Plan A usually doesn't last long as "no engine running = no A/C" gets old real fast (of the two attempts I know of)...

the motor for Plan B is gonna be an energy hog and is gonna need a helluva battery bank to run any significant period of time. Maybe one of the newer inverter driven motors improve on the efficiency and provides adequate starting torque....don't know as I haven't dabbled with them.

if you don't plan on having to use it frequently, the best setup I've seen is the self contained (hatch mount) A/C units feed by a modest honda gas generator...

When I added A/C (fish Hatteras for a week in the summer), we opted for the 'built in' system and just tied it into the AC Panel on a spare breaker. Running the duct and the control was easy. We cut in the thru-hulls during the winter layup. Only 'drawback' was you needed shore power to operate...we never felt the need for it out on the ocean.
 
Neither will IMO, and need more info

Air to Air is not efficient and this is why most boats use water to air. Only boats which use air to air are large house boats which have the room to install and large condenser

Don't know what size boat you have but maybe think of a self contained unit and bring a small gas powered Gen and place on swim deck when needed
 
Don’t add to the Honda generator crowd. Can’t tell you how many times I wished that some neighboring boat that would constantly run one of those things all night in what was at one point a peaceful spot would drag anchor and disappear never to be seen again
 
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