Electric A/C anyone?, Comments, dialog, experience? Options

[slowrodent]

OK..I've read a bunch of semi-recent articles online regarding electric air conditioning kits in cars. One was a 911 that is employing a rather pricey euro-kit and the owner seemed pleased... Most articles focus on the large current draw and the overall (in)efficiency of the kits on the whole. Yet, I can't help but feel that the 914 (tiny car) is a perfect application for such a kit - particularly if your engine can push a larger alternator. (Mine is a v6 and would have no problem doing so).. Allows you to frunk-mount the compressor and simplify the overall install (yes, big gauge wires are required, but in my case at least.. no interior exists so no worries)

Plus relatively cheap kits are waaay-abundant.

So thoughts, insights, experience? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[76-914]

Keith @914Toy did it and loved it before he sold his car. IIRC, he posted some info in this install. @Steve is/did this also. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[VaccaRabite]

As long as your alternator can push the power, its a great option.

A stock alternator won't do it, and there is not a commercially available alternator that will push enough power for a T4 based 914. There are custom rewound units that will push enough power.
I'm not up enough on /6 stuff to know about their alternators.
Certainly any V8/Subaru/etc conversion will be able to have an alternator that could push enough power.

Zach

[ClayPerrine]

Mine is in process. I have the compressor kit, and the evaporator is almost finished. It got postponed for the flat fan installation.

To accommodate the power requirements of the compressor, I am putting a 300 Amp GM paperclip alternator on the engine. Hopefully it won't pull too much current.

[Chris914n6]

On a car the size of a 914 the compressor won't be running 100% of the time.

[mepstein]

As long as your alternator can push the power, its a great option.

A stock alternator won't do it, and there is not a commercially available alternator that will push enough power for a T4 based 914. There are custom rewound units that will push enough power.
I'm not up enough on /6 stuff to know about their alternators.
Certainly any V8/Subaru/etc conversion will be able to have an alternator that could push enough power.

Zach

If you can use a FAT style 911 fan and shroud on your T4, use can use a wosp high output alternator. I just bought two of them for customers cars ( and one for my own). They are about $1350 now.

[mepstein]

On a car the size of a 914 the compressor won't be running 100% of the time.

We installed some of the first classic retrofit electric a/c kits back in 2016. The pics of the orange car on the site are ones I sent him almost 10 years ago. Don’t bother trying it without a wosp high output alternator. Regardless of cabin size, using a stock 3.2 alternator is inadequate- BTDT

[Shivers]

Has anyone here had success swapping to a GM or other alternator and figured out a way to cool it. It gets pretty hot in that spot especially in the desert. Running the compressor the resistance on the alternator is going to add to the engine load creating more heat. The A/C kits have come down in price, it would be nice to add this for mid summer.

[ClayPerrine]

On Elwood (the original six) I have considered upgrading the alternator, and adding a small 12v RV rooftop AC unit to a spare targa top. Drop the wiring down to the battery, and you get cold air in the car without cutting up the front trunk.

Yea, it would look a bit silly, but it could be easily removed and replaced with the stock, unaltered top.

And it Texas, AC is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

But I have to get this idea by the co-owner of the car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

[Shivers]

On Elwood (the original six) I have considered upgrading the alternator, and adding a small 12v RV rooftop AC unit to a spare targa top. Drop the wiring down to the battery, and you get cold air in the car without cutting up the front trunk.

Yea, it would look a bit silly, but it could be easily removed and replaced with the stock, unaltered top.

And it Texas, AC is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

But I have to get this idea by the co-owner of the car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

You know, that is not a bad idea. Find an old junk top. I still need to figure out how to power it.

[Superhawk996]

Problem solved

[Montreal914]

@Steve (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[mate914]

Problem solved

That's pet mode. I like it. I also like Clay's rooftop ac idea.
Matt

[Montreal914]

Regardless of cabin size, using a stock 3.2 alternator is inadequate- BTDT

@mepstein I thought I had read the 3.2 has a larger alternator, yet still not enough?

[ClayPerrine]

Regardless of cabin size, using a stock 3.2 alternator is inadequate- BTDT

@mepstein I thought I had read the 3.2 has a larger alternator, yet still not enough?

Nope. You need at least 100 amps just for the AC unit. IIRC the 3.2 alternator is like 90 amp. So you need a 190 amp alternator. I know there is a 175 amp alternator available for it, but you would need to put a smaller pulley on the alternator or a bigger crank pulley so it turns faster. That will probably make it work OK. And it will have an additional effect of speeding up the fan. Which is better in hot climates.

The alternator for a 3.6 is 180 amp. If you could use it with the 3.2, it would be ideal. but I don't think it will fit the fan shroud.

[Shivers]

@Superhawk996

That’s funny Phil (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

12V 4400 BTU/h Rooftop Air Conditioner average draw 300 watts 12 volt would equal 25 amps. One of those Westy alternators has 70 amps, that might just do it.

[Jack Standz]

Has anyone here had success swapping to a GM or other alternator and figured out a way to cool it. It gets pretty hot in that spot especially in the desert. Running the compressor the resistance on the alternator is going to add to the engine load creating more heat. The A/C kits have come down in price, it would be nice to add this for mid summer.

Don't know if you would call it a success, nor how completely relevant it is to stuffing a high output GM alternator in a 914 to run AC. But, something like 40 years ago out of desperation, we did put a GM single wire alternator in our Westfalia VW camper. IIRC the GM alternator was about $30 all in and the Bosch Type IV alternator was close to $100.

Don't recommend it.

[Spoke]

I'm not up enough on /6 stuff to know about their alternators.

I have the 175A alternator on my 930 from the Classic Retrofit eAC system. After installing the alternator I noticed voltages below 12V at low idle. After some investigation it turns out the engine needs to be above 1k rpm for the alternator to produce adequate voltage.

[Shivers]

Has anyone here had success swapping to a GM or other alternator and figured out a way to cool it. It gets pretty hot in that spot especially in the desert. Running the compressor the resistance on the alternator is going to add to the engine load creating more heat. The A/C kits have come down in price, it would be nice to add this for mid summer.

Don't know if you would call it a success, nor how completely relevant it is to stuffing a high output GM alternator in a 914 to run AC. But, something like 40 years ago out of desperation, we did put a GM single wire alternator in our Westfalia VW camper. IIRC the GM alternator was about $30 all in and the Bosch Type IV alternator was close to $100.

Don't recommend it.

My engine is coming out anyway. If I can figure out a way to cool it, that could be worth the work. Bet I can go to a boneyard and find something cheap for mock up

[Steve]

I would use a standard modern compressor on a water cooled conversion. DC compressors are not efficient, but are awesome for air cooled six conversions. I am using the Benling DM18A7 compressor and a Southern Air under dash evaporator. The evaporator almost doubled in price. Wonder if it’s the tariffs. https://www.southernrods.com/cooling-and-he...LY%5D%5B%5D=YES
The benling has three speed settings. Low = 40 amps, medium is 60 amps and high is 90 amps. I run mine at the medium setting. 60 amps plus the evaporator fans plus the condenser fans is around 100 amps. For the condenser I am running a aftermarket 911 condenser in front of the oil cooler. Google electric AC. Amazon has some pretty cheap kits, but I have no experience with them.