<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Ryan,<div><br></div><div>I have actually built an A/C system and power-pack for a trucker. It consisted of a highly efficient mini-split which draws under 400 watts. I installed a quality (Invertek) 1500 watt sine wave inverter and 16 kWh AGM battery bank and made a low loss connection to the alternator so it will ramp up the current. </div><div><br></div><div>When driving, the alternator charges the battery. When stopped, he has up to 8 hours of very quiet cooling. Putting PV on the roof, as you guessed, is useless unless you want to float the batteries when not in use. You will never make enough power to run the AC. When you compare this system to APU's, you save thousands. </div><div><br></div><div>A few drawbacks to consider: </div><div>1.) The added weight to the cab is about 900 lbs. I mounted the battery bank and inverter under the bed. </div><div>2.) Loss of storage space.</div><div>3.) Main engine must run for 8 hours to fully charge the battery for the next use.</div><div><br></div><div>Add a 50 amp charger and you can plug in to run A/C and keep the battery topped off.</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck.</div><div><br></div><div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Sans'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Sans'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Sans'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div><div>Kindest Regards,</div><div><br></div><div>Larry Crutcher</div><div>Starlight Solar</div><div>(928) 941-1660</div><div>Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation</div><div><br></div><div>Mailing Address (NO SHIPPING):</div><div>11881 S Fortuna Rd.</div><div>#210</div><div>Yuma, AZ 85367</div><div><br></div></div><div>Shipping and retail store (NO MAIL):</div><div>2998 Shari Ave </div><div>Yuma, AZ 85365</div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span> </div><br><div><div>On Apr 6, 2009, at 4:21 PM, <<a href="mailto:ryan@solar4maine.com">ryan@solar4maine.com</a>> <<a href="mailto:ryan@solar4maine.com">ryan@solar4maine.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Sans'; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div bgcolor="#ffffff"><div><font face="Arial" size="2">Wrenches i had an interesting request today. I have a nieghbor who is an over the road truck driver and he wants air conditioning while he sleeps. The specifics i won't bore you with. but he has seen a "Molded panel" that fits on the roof that takes the place of the airfoil on the cab.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div><div><font face="Arial" size="2">Has any one seen anything like this? He really wants a pv panel on the roof. He currently has a remote start generator onboard and we will install a bank of deep cycle batteries and an inverter but i question the Solar panel on the roof of the Tractor.</font></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Home Power magazine<br><br>List Address:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Options & settings:<br><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List-Archive:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List rules & etiquette:<br><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br><br>Check out participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br></div></span></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>