portable a/c units

[Cptkid570]

Hey everyone,

I?m contemplating different cooling ideas for my 26 foot older sea ray sundancer (1985). I?m trying to do it with the most minimal $$ as possible and came across the portable air conditioners that they have out these days: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5402975

This product looked interesting because:
1. It can sit inside of the boat as it doesn?t drip water and the exhaust hose can just be put up to a window.
2. It?s cheaper than the cruisair carry on marine a/c units and doesn?t hang into a hatch.
3. My other option was to get a house window a/c unit and make a cover on it so that it pipes the air into the hatch (once again, this one wouldn?t require me to pipe the air in through the hatch).

At $300, it?s only like $200 more than a cheap window unit.. and is way less than a cruisair carry on.

It?s 7000 btu and I looked at the power ratings in comparison to a window unit a/c at 5250 btu

Portable a/c 7000btu:
Voltage ? 115V
Amps Cooling ? 8 (doesn?t say what the start up amps are)
Watts Cooling - 900

General Electric 5250btu window unit:
Voltage ?
Amps cooling ? 115v
Amps cooling ? 4.6
Watts cooling ? 490

Are these figures very close? What size generator would be required to run the portable a/c? I believe the 5250 btu could be run with a Honda EU2000i?

From what I?ve read, the portable a/c units don?t cool as efficiently as the portable units, but I feel that you are going to lose efficiency on a window unit by piping it in through a hatch, so I?d probably feel that the 5000 btu window unit and 7000 portable unit would cool about the same..

Just looking for alternatives (inexpensive alternatives) to mounting an a/c unit in the hatch.

Let me know your opinions....

 

[jeffnick]

Re: portable a/c units

We run an R2D2 unit in the van with a Honda EU2000i.

And you are correct - if they have a single exhaust hose these units are not true air conditioners, they're spot coolers. There are 2 hose units available which are true air conditioners.

There's another option if you're a little handy; runs on a Honda EU1000i.
http://www.geocities.com/jeff_nicholas/AirConditioning/Air1.html

or a rooftop unit w/ 2000i?

 

[JCF350]

Re: portable a/c units

I use a small window unit for weekend trips. Set the hatch lid edge on the unit and use a sleeping bag to cover the gaps. More room in the cabin and no duct work to fool with. The EU2000i Honda will run it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: portable a/c units

remember, these generators are not coast guard approved.

 

[JCF350]

Re: portable a/c units

Do they have rule prohibiting one? Don't know personally, just don't remember hearing or reading of one.

As far as exhaust gases goes I place the genset in the path of the A/C condenser output on the bow. Dang sure ain't gonna run it overnight.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: portable a/c units

Jeffnick - you are able to run an 8000 btu window unit with a Honda EU1000i? I would think that you'd need the EU2000i to run a window a/c unit...

I stopped by home depot and looked at the "portable" a/c units. They are much larger than I thought and would probably take up too much room on the boat... so, I'm back to the idea of using a window a/c unit.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: portable a/c units

Jeffnick - you are able to run an 8000 btu window unit with a Honda EU1000i? I would think that you'd need the EU2000i to run a window a/c unit...

Yes, the 1000i would start and run a WalMart 8000BTU air conditioner, but the generator had to be OFF eco-throttle and the air conditioner fan had to be running on high before the compressor was switched into the circuit.

On the other hand, the 9000BTU R2D2 unit totally requires a 2000i and occasionally the generator will even fault out while trying to get it started.

We've upgraded to a 6,000 BTU which we run regularly (all night on the boat) with the Honda EU1000i and never a problem of any kind even on eco-throttle.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: portable a/c units

I already have the a/c unit. I think it's 5250 btu's. I may be stopping by the Honda genterator dealer some time soon and compare the EU1000 and EU2000 -- all I'd really need it for is to run the a/c. I'm sure they'd test each on my a/c. I have a 2200 watt generator that I could use for stuff at home (too loud for the boat - and too heavy to really carry around).

Which do you think would use less gass -- an EU1000 working hard to run the a/c or an EU2000 not working hard to run the a/c?

EU1000 says - "Eco-Throttle - Runs up to 8.3 Hr on 0.6 gal. of Fuel"
EU2000 says - "Eco-Throttle - Runs up to 15 Hr on 1 gal. of Fuel"

So the fuel economy seems comparable...

 

[jeffnick]

Re: portable a/c units

Which do you think would use less gass -- an EU1000 working hard to run the a/c or an EU2000 not working hard to run the a/c?

You're kidding, right?

If one or the other was 10% more efficient you might save 25 cents a day. If the 2000 was more efficient, with the additional initial cost (and more for oil changes) how long would it take to come out ahead?

I've got a 1000, 2000 and 3000 all Honda EU-i's.
This is how I look at them.
The 3000 is fixed - it takes 2 people to move it. It stays on the camper.
The 2000 is primarily to run the A/C in the van. I can move the 2000 around horizontally, but getting it on/off the boat requires a little planning.
The 1000 is a dream to handle...up and down off the boat, in and out of the cuddy, up and down off the transom -- a downright pleasure to jockey around, never requiring any consideration or forethought.

On the other hand, if you're a young muscleman, you could probably throw the 2000 around.