Today I will be testing a inverter mini split compressor on a cruise air built in evaporator, if this works then anyone with older cruise airs will have a alternative for the future. The only hiccup might be the interface between the compressor and the cruise air control panel.
We are doing a conversion on our 40 xl, it has 3 cruise air units which we will be replacing with a single LG 24k btu 3 zone heat pump compressor using 12k btu LG Art evaporator in the rear and a 12k btu LG Art Mirror evaporator in the front using two zones to start with. In our Newell we have the art up front and the mirror in the back plus a duct unit over the refrigerator. We normally only run the 12k art and the 12k duct unit for the whole coach.
This seems to be more complicated than I thought, the communication between the mini split evaporator sends a pulse width modulated signal to the compressor, so the evaporator is the brain of the two pieces. I don't think this is going to be possible.
(06-20-2024, 09:14 AM)Jack Houpe Wrote: This seems to be more complicated than I thought, the communication between the mini split evaporator sends a pulse width modulated signal to the compressor, so the evaporator is the brain of the two pieces. I don't think this is going to be possible.
I was thinking about that as well, as the brains tend to be in the inside units.
One of the things I would like to try doing is using a inverter AC compressor for my 120 volt air compressor ( should be soft start and as quite as a jun air) I already have a portable unit with a broken evaporator fan, I am going to try to use the board to drive the compressor, or find a different way to drive the compressor
Do they make them John? Your correct NO starting current actually is starts at almost nothing then ramps up, I can tell you its 3 phase DC voltage might be back in the same boat I was trying to conquer.
I don't know if they make them, i have not started yet. I have a sight glass for oil, have to cut top off compressor, silver solder fitting for oil level, going to try to bypass limits and safety's on original board and use it, if it doesn't work I will try to find another way, so far i have only invested $10
I installed over a dozen mini splits for family and friends over the years now on my third conversion for a RV, space and placement is always a challenge so I started searching for a horizontally mounted compressor unit which would make my life much more easier for the 40 xl conversion and came across this video. I have been told you could never mount a vertical compressor horizonal 7 years now this thing has been mounted where is spare tire goes. I have no plans on doing something like this guy did but wish I had the gonads to try it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b384gFY4uR8
I decided to pull a rabbit out of my hat and hook up the evaporator from the galley cruiseair unit and hook up the blower to 110, the LG mini split has 3 ports A B C and they get a signal from the inside evaporator to throttle the gas valves in the outside compressor to meet the demands from the inside unit. I was thinking yesterday if I jumpered A mini split head to B maybe it would open the valve to send gas to the cruiseair unit so I did and it works! What this means in a nutshell is you can use old evaporators on new systems. Now all I have to do is find a way to use the old thermostat to control the fan (very loud fan) and put a relay between A and B so I have control over the B cruiseair unit. I have overcharged the system so the temps are a little higher than they should be I'll take some gas out to get it in the low 40s upper 30s.
I decided to pull a rabbit out of my hat and hook up the evaporator from the galley cruiseair unit and hook up the blower to 110, the LG mini split has 3 ports A B C and they get a signal from the inside evaporator to throttle the gas valves in the outside compressor to meet the demands from the inside unit. I was thinking yesterday if I jumpered A mini split head to B maybe it would open the valve to send gas to the cruiseair unit so I did and it works! What this means in a nutshell is you can use old evaporators on new systems. Now all I have to do is find a way to use the old thermostat to control the fan (very loud fan) and put a relay between A and B so I have control over the B cruiseair unit. I have overcharged the system so the temps are a little higher than they should be I'll take some gas out to get it in the low 40s upper 30s.
Jack,
That is breaking news. The mini splits use 410a gas......what Freon did the old Cruise airs use? If it's a different gas are the coils and expansion valves compatible with the 410a?
Steve & Doris Denton
45' Newell #525, Bath & Half....sold
37' Country Coach, Tribute....Cat C9, 400 hp
2014 Honda CRV Toad
Summerfield, FL
