You might be hard pressed to find someone who can relate that they have done this. Perhaps someone has and they will reply but my guess is that John's reply will be the norm. The real disadvantage to adding A/C is the weight it will add and the resulting decrease in usable load carrying capacity. Most people are going to be reluctant to do so because of these issues. I myself live in a climate where those hot summer days would be much more tolerable in an air conditioned cockpit too and anyone who knows me personally can attest to how hot natured I am. However, the reality is that for this design it isn't very practical. I did chose the slider over the tip up because of the heat. I felt the ability to taxi with the canopy open in the slider configuration would help with some of the heat issues while on the ground.AdamF said:Thanks for the reply, but not really what I was looking to find out. Weight is a consideration, but not the main concern for me right now.
I really just want to see who has done it before and get some information from them.
AdamF said:Hello!
So without getting mixed up in the "Air conditioning is not needed in a plane" debate, has anyone installed an A/C system in a -7? Or any other Van's 2 seater?
Who's unit did they use, cost, etc.
Thanks,
Adam
Doug Reeves (yes, that Doug Reeves) test flew one manufacturer's cooler system and posted results on a thread here last summer. I have been searching for that thread but cannot find it. Maybe Doug will chime in with his thoughts on his experience with it.JonathanCook said:There was a vendor at Sun-n-Fun that was selling some type of air cooling system that was based on a cooler filled with Ice and a fan. I only walked past the vendor. I did not stop to see exacly what they were offering. I could not find them on the sun-n-fun.org site. Mybe some one else knows the company that does this. I guess this is a suitcase/cooler a/c.
JonathanCook said:There was a vendor at Sun-n-Fun that was selling some type of air cooling system that was based on a cooler filled with Ice and a fan. I only walked past the vendor. I did not stop to see exacly what they were offering. I could not find them on the sun-n-fun.org site. Mybe some one else knows the company that does this. I guess this is a suitcase/cooler a/c.
RVbySDI said:Doug Reeves (yes, that Doug Reeves) test flew one manufacturer's cooler system and posted results on a thread here last summer. I have been searching for that thread but cannot find it. Maybe Doug will chime in with his thoughts on his experience with it.
Meanwhile, I did find this on the internet:
http://www.roshgo.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=rc01/CTGY/00408
They are basically selling a lid with a fan in it that you can place on your cooler.
terrykohler said:It would be interesting to see how this unit compares to the Koolerair unit referenced earlier. While Arcticair is much more expensive, the question with both of these units is how efficient and for how long. Perhaps one of our southern RV test pilot/engineers could talk both vendors into some loaners for a comparison, with results to be published on the forum.
Terry
xavierm said:http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/60ad/
Freeze a .5l bottle of water, throw it in here, turn it on. Uses D batteries.
When the water melts, drink it.
I would consider filling it with dry ice as it keeps temperature lower for longer, easily available and cheap. However depending of the material this (or any) cooler is made of may harm the plastic parts of the cooler due low temperature.xavierm said:
terrykohler said:Pirkka:
As the dry ice sublimates and cools the cabin, the already reduced oxygen that you're breathing at altitude is being replaced by carbon dioxide. It would make for interesting reading in an accident report.
Terry
Neat system. Is there some sort of quick disconnect on the hoses in case you need to do a ground evacuation due to fire, etc?DeltaRomeo said:
Drafty houses are not going to keep you from dieing of carbon monoxide poisoning if you have a heater, hot water heater, cooking appliance malfunction. I most definitely would not be willing to rely on drafts to keep me alive while flying in an enclosed cockpit at an altitude where my oxygen levels are already depleted in the first place. Sounds like a horribly novel way to commit suicide.Jekyll said:Well, on first look, makes sense but... Howwver, how many threads have we had about drafty RV cockpits? There might be 1 or 2 RVs out there where CO2 might be able to supplant O but, only when stationary
This adds to the A/C issue. It's hard enough to heat these things. Cooling will be even more difficult with the greenhouse effect. Will need a humoungous compresssor and fan.
Jekyll
terrykohler said:Jekyll:
Hope you're not suggesting that anyone fly with a toxic gas generator operating inside their aircraft. I wouldn't rely on a drafty cockpit to keep me safe if it was CO2 coming from the baggage bay or CO coming from the heater valve. Just my $.02.
Terry
It really isn't the capacity of the engine to drive it or the space it will be required to cool. It will always come down to how much does the system weigh? Because whatever it does weigh, that amount will be taken away from what the airplane can carry. This is the true problem.rlo1 said:Why not a small simple compressor system that is on millions of compact cars. It could be smaller than the RV-10 system. Heck, I had a GEO metro 10 years ago that had 80hp 3 cylinder and was very comfortable in the worst heat. The compartment was bigger than a "7" compartment. It is not rocket science. There just is not a market for it. I would buy one though.
-Ron
Build9A said:I actually bought the Koolerair unit and tried it in the plane and taxied around with it and flew the pattern. (North Florida in the 90s last summer). I didn't eactly follow the instructions. I used blue plastic freeze bags instead of ice. It didn't impress me. Soon after the first try we moved and I just unpacked it in my new hanger last week. I plan to try it with ice the next time. So I don't have a totally fair review,...yet. My plane is currently apart while I am completing my second annual inspection. If anyone is interested, I will provide an update when I get back in the air. jack
My first post and many more to come as I prepare to buld or buy a RV7A.
Flight Line in Bend Oregon makes a 10,000 BTU "portable" air conditioner for aircraft. It weights 41 pounds which is alot, but consider that it can be taken out during the cooler months and anytime you need to recover the useful load. The company owner tells me it is installed on several RV10s, and that there is no reason it could not be used in an RV6, RV7 or RV9 with placement in the baggage compartment.
Costs around $6,000 which includes the "transition" or venting kit to the bottom of the fuselage for the air exchange.
And it requires a dedicated alternator on the engine generating 60 amps, such as one from RDD for $550. I suppose there would be a draw on the engine power when being used, but I don't have the details on that.
Nice to find a company that is actually trying to solve the air conditioning challenge with newer technolgoy and lower cost than traditional units.
For those who really need to be cooled and are not blown away by the cost of approximately $6,500. (Keith installations on certified aircraft such as the Cessna 182 typically cost around $20,000 and weight 70-80 pounds)
Stay cool.
THERE IS A GUY IN LA. THAT HAS ONE THAT GOES IN THE BAGGAGE BIN. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 32lb. ELEC. DRIVEN. I WILL TRY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM AND POST.