Or...You could get a free standing, 4000btu, Toyotomi AC unit, Lots less
hassel. Hardly takes up any room. Just a thought. Works for me...
Bob Bellanca

KENWILFY@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> OK spending a week in a westie in several different climates got me to
> thinking about some practical climate control.  I know about the propex
> heaters so I think that the heating problem is solved but what about the
> cooling (we mostly camp out in summer anyways right?)  So here is my idea.
> Use the van's exsisting A/C setup to cool the camper while it is sitting on
> the campsite.  Here is how it would work, mount a 5 hp electric motor to the
> left of the A/C compressor in the engine compartment and install a small drive
> belt between the motor and the compressor using the other pulley that is
> already there (you were wondering why it had two pulleys weren't you?)
> Mount an easily adjustable idler pulley between the crank pulley and the A/C
> unit and put a longer belt here.  Now when you stop for the night you could
> just adjust the idler pulley down until the belt was slack enough to push out
> of the way, then turn on the electric motor and the compressor would be
> turning.  Now all you have to work out is a 110v to 12v convertor to run the
> van's electrical system (so you can run the clutch on the compressor, the
> condensor fan, the A/C blower motors, etc.) and you are done.  I know this
> seems like a bit of trouble but it wouldn't be expensive and once you did it
> you wouldn't have to fry in the summer at night or haul around a heavy window
> A/C unit, installing it and taking it down every night.
> This is just an idea.  Let me know what you folks think.
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16