Peltier Chip A/C systems

[ABatt2006]

Evening gents. I saw this system on ebay and just wanted to run it by you guys to see if anyone on here has had any experience with these type of A/C systems. The price seems too good to be true, which is obviously my main point of concern. Is this a proven technology? How difficult would one of these systems be to install.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250856634614?item=250856634614&viewitem=&vxp=mtr#ht_534wt_905

 

[NYBo]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

I have a cooler that uses Peltier cooling/heating. Works great and very efficient, but it only has to heat or cool a cubic foot or two.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

I hate to say this, but there is probably a good reason they are being closed out. Look at the current draw - 16 amps on low and 35 on high. These thing work fine for hot/cold beverage coolers and computer cooling. Not very good for air conditioning.

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

GA, that was another major concern, kinda seems like that would be way too big of a draw on the batteries

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

I noticed they had no BTUs stated, which is the normal measurement of cooling capacity. It looks good on paper, but real world needs kill it. And add air flow of several hundred CFM, it can't keep up.

Edit - I read too fast sometimes. There are BTU ratings, but the current draw is still pretty high.

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

1,500 up to 5,000 BTU depending on the model... my cabin isn't that big, but im sure it leaks like a sieve, so I'm not even sure which model would be right even if I decided to go the route.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

Boat cabins are usually very poorly insulated, compared to a house, so even a small one will require a lot of cooling.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

I've used peltiers to heat/cool some fairly large areas, up to the size of a small boat cabin. yes, they work, but they have two big issues... They kick out a lot of heat, that isn't an issue in a boat with a constant water supply, but they also suck up A LOT of power. A 35 amp peltier isn't even that big...

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

Lets compare Apples to Apples.

You do not run a compressor AC off the batteries. (For very Long!)
So expect to run these off the gen or shore power also.
A 50 amp 12v rectifier (Charger) can be had for a few hundred, if not already part of the generator.

3.413 BTUs are delivered by 1 watt in an hour in the theoretical world. = 3.4 BTU/Wh

A solid state AC = 1500 BTU, 35 amp @ 12v = 420 watts
1500 BTU / 420w = 3.6 BTU/Wh = 106% Efficiency.

A compressor AC = 5000 BTU / 950w = 5.2 BTU/Wh = 152% Efficiency.
152% / 106% = Compressor still wins by 43%

Don't go getting any ideas about perpetual motion and over 100% efficiency.
An AC system does not Make cold. It Moves heat.
AC systems Move more heat than they use (in Energy).
That is why heat pumps are more efficient that just a plain resistive heat strip.

Comparable = MarineAir model MSB9C2.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

One of the smallest window shaker AC units you can purchase is 5000 BTU. My boat isnt very big, and I have a combined 28,000 BTU.

1500 BTU? Even at $89, its a waste of money.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Peltier Chip A/C systems

I have a 7000 btu unit in my boat (a bit longer and a foot wider than yours). It's 'good enough' for temps approaching 90 deg, with the high humidity we see on Long Island. I need to start the unit fairly early in the day and be careful about keeping the cabin hatch closed as much as possible.

Abatt2006, if you're talkiing about your 26' Bayliner, in Texas, I think I'd be looking for about 10,000 btu output. But don't go by me, the major manufacturers have formulas on their websites for calculating the capacity you need.

My .02