Did you end up with a 220 volt unit? IF so, what step up transformer thing are you using?This pushes you into repurposing a residential mini split. Mine uses 350-400 watts for 9k btu cooling, and a little more for 10k btu heating.
Did you end up with a 220 volt unit? IF so, what step up transformer thing are you using?
On a side, I think in the future more and more RV's and boats will see 48 volt systems for the electrical side as lithium becomes more mainstream and it allows the use of higher current electrical appliances, there is already pure 48 volt mini splits on the market for "off grid" use.
Ya, I am still trying to figure out and decide if it would be better to go with dual inverters one dedicated 230 volt for a standard high efficiency mini split or the pure 48 volt version. I know there are also losses going from DC to AC. I was planning on skipping 12 volts all together and going with 48 volts for the DC side with step down converters for the minimal 12 or 24 volt appliances.As an aside, I think the 48V DC units may end up being a great option. Some of them are quite efficient. Most 12-48V DC-DC convertors still only operate at 90% efficiency though.
Ya, I am still trying to figure out and decide if it would be better to go with dual inverters one dedicated 230 volt for a standard high efficiency mini split or the pure 48 volt version. I know there are also losses going from DC to AC. I was planning on skipping 12 volts all together and going with 48 volts for the DC side with step down converters for the minimal 12 or 24 volt appliances.
Here is the 48 volt unit
http://www.hotspotenergy.com/DC-air-conditioner/
I have done extensive research on Hot Spot Energy and their 48v mini-split, and suffice to say, I am convinced it is one of the best built units in the world. The quality of it actually seems to be better than you'd find with a residential mini-split like Mitsubishi or Fujitsu. The company was founded by some really brilliant engineers and they go to great lengths to make everything perfect. In particular, their 48v unit operates entirely off 48v - everything! All the fans, valves and solenoids inside are 48v. They seem obsessed with squeezing out every last drop of efficiency. I am definitely excited about the prospects of using this in my build.
I've been looking at it pretty closely as well, and am considering moving my daikin over into our new workshop build, and purchasing this for the camper. I'm still torn on the power supply though, and havent finished researching the relative efficiencies of a 12-48v DC to DC converter, vs a 12-230 DC to AC inverter.
What are you using?
I was tempted to switch to a 48V native system, as I have very little that requires 12v, but that makes the AC inverter more complicated and requires all of my batteries to be always operational (I have 4 12V, 200AH, lithiums). I've got too much in my batteries to switch to 24V batteries, but that would be easier, 2 in parallel and 2 in series.
My intention is to go with a 48v native system, lithium ion batteries. If you look in the "12v / Solar" forum down below on the forums mainpage, there's a post there I made about LG RESU Lithium ion batteries. These battery packs are naturally 48v. So they jive perfectly with this air conditioner, it's a match made in heaven. But that being said, if I wasn't going with lithium then I would just get (4) 12v batteries or (2) 24v batteries, probably Lifeline AGM, and run them at 48v.
Ill then have a 48v inverter (like Magnum MS4448) that will power most of the stuff, like the induction stove, microwave, hot water tank, etc. I will then use a 48v to 12v converter to power some things in the vehicle like lights, pumps and maybe a fridge. This way I can turn off the inverter at night.
The only thing I haven't found a really good way to do yet is to charge the batteries using my truck's 12v alternator, which is kind of a problem. I am sure there's a reasonable solution out there though.