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)

[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

[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.