----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: insane AC idea

> At 11:23 AM 8/3/2001, Joe Reed wrote:
> > > We're using a second, deep-cycle 72-amp hour battery (dedicated to the
> > > a/c -- we're not using the Vanagon car battery) which at 100 amps
provides
> >a
> > > cycle of 7.2 hours of continuous draw before requiring charging.
> >
> >
> >Not *completely stupid*, just got happy with the "0" key -- that's a
> >*10-amp* load, of course, for a 7.2 hour cycle...not 100-amp load!!
>
> Danger, Will Robinson -- your six amps at the A/C is going to translate to
> at least 60 at the battery.
>
> d
>
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"

Again, I'm just the guy with the fire extinguisher and a camera...all of
these points above are well made, as are the others I've received so far,
and I am compiling them to supply to the brains of the outfit (once he
sobers up).

One reason for putting the idea out here is that I knew I could count on
invaluable advice/info from you great folks. Of course we're not sure it
will work and it has only run successfully for all of about 10 hours -- in 2
hour increments @ 94 degrees F. That's a good temperature load, but not much
in the way of long-term readiness testing.

If nothing else, it supplies ample excuse for a bunch of us to escape the
house on the weekends (well, their houses...I get to stay home but since I
live alone, that's cool) and putz around with this crazy project. If it
works, great -- if not, I have a window unit I can plug in while I'm camped
near power.

Thanks to all so far -- keep those critical notions coming...afraid the only
thing I'm capable of offering in return is computer advice or chord
progression analysis of Bach fugues. Pmail me for either anytime!