Air Conditioning (portable)

[zack]

Having moved our boat to a sunnier climate(the south of France) and thinking that this was Cool!! it was not! In fact it was not cool - it was hot - very hot and sticky and sleeping on the boat became in torrable. Air conditioning had to be a must but the price wasn't.
Running a innovative electronics company I put together ideas of a portable (small) air conditioning unit that could be placed in a cabin or saloon and stored when underway, something perhaps on wheels of the 'plug & go' and operating on 220 -240 voltage.
I now have prototype running on test and am very excited as it full fills all my needs measuring only 35cm *35cn *55cm, weighing just 70 kilos it will easily fit into a 30 foot boat. They said it couldn't be done! I'm looking at it now! It will reduce the temperature of a area 20sq ft in a matter of minutes (rather like a car air conditioning unit) and incorporates a deumidifier and a heater for the winter months.
I think this could be a winner and I am seriously considering putting this into production targeting boat owners in the wamer climates of the UK and the Mediterranean. It is very affordable and I have seen no competition.
Do you think there is a market? I would be interested in potential stockists big or small. Your commits please!


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[tcm]

Yes, I think there might be. Most portable units try and exhaust air (so need a window open) - is this a recirculating thing?

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[Guest]

It sounds like the system I have on board my boat. I have the Cruisair system drawing in sea water cooling or heating depending which cycle you require. The size of the units are similar to the size you mention.,1 unit in the lazarette for heating /cooling the saloon and one forward under bed for heating /cooling the cabins.all thermostatically controlled.We have a seperate shore power system for the system as each one can draw upto 9 amps. Your portable system sounds great but the unit does seem to be a bit on the weighty side for portability.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

How can anything weighing 70kg be called portable? Just for your interest, the maximum weight that a man is allowed to lift under current Health & Safety Regs is 25Kg!!!
As for competition, I'm looking at it now. I have a portable Toshiba a/c unit in my office. What about the hot exhaust air? How are you going to deal with that?

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[ccscott49]

Are you sure about the weight? It seems very heavy, for a unit of that size, your talking 15" x 15" x 20" I guess. It would be perfect for me, but where does the heat removed go? Most have a hose whicvh pumps it out of a window, as hot air and are a lot bigger, but not heavier. I would be interested in a couple!! If they are lighter and cheap!

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[mainshiptom]

How does your service ?

I need my system checked over ?

Thanks


Tom

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[sailbadthesinner]

don't the recirculating things have a water tray underneath that needs emptying every couple of hours or they stop being effective


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[zack]

Yes, you all spotted the mistake! My wife (her that must be obeyed at all times) says she is not an all-in wrestler, ( I don't know what she does on a Friday night!) and has carried this unit down the jetty to the boat, I carry the beer," Priorities and that" The unit weighs approx 35k and not 70k but then i'm still in shillings and pence.
Sorry about that, so thats one benefit gone, you can't use it as a anchor!
The air conditioner will use air that is naturaly aspirerated to the boat's interior and can be vented through a local port hole. There is no need for a water drip tray and the unit can be left on indefinitly.
What would be a good price! It will be priced to sell. I am interested in all comments.

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[zack]

Heavy Air Con

Yes, you all spotted the mistake! My wife (her that must be obeyed at all times) says she is not an all-in wrestler, ( I don't know what she does on a Friday night!) and has carried this unit down the jetty to the boat, I carry the beer," Priorities and that" The unit weighs approx 35k and not 70k but then i'm still in shillings and pence.
Sorry about that, so thats one benefit gone, you can't use it as a anchor!
The air conditioner will use air that is naturaly aspirerated to the boat's interior and can be vented through a local port hole. There is no need for a water drip tray and the unit can be left on indefinitly.
What would be a good price! It will be priced to sell. I am interested in all comments.

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[ccscott49]

Re: Heavy Air Con

At that size and weight, I would be interested in two, at the right price of course! I have opening ports, to put a hot air vent out of, so Thats also no problem, the lack of water sloshing about, is also very welcome! What is the consumption in watts?


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[hlb]

Re: Heavy Air Con

There are great piles of them in B&Q for £100 and odd squid. Or are these no good. Just asking cos I dont think we will be needing one this year some how!!

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Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Heavy Air Con

Are they small? We're talking 15" x 15" x 20" which is very small, most of the "portable" ones I've seen, are half a washing machine and as high!

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[tripleace]

Re: Heavy Air Con

I have two B&Q dehumidifiers and one also is an air con unit.

excellent.



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[ccscott49]

Re: Heavy Air Con

How big is the aircon and how big a cabin would it cool? Or is it a dehumidifier, which doubles as an aircon? I guess you would have to empty the water out, or it would be all over the floor in a seaway?

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[JEG]

Sounds very interesting; please post further details if you take the matter farther.
West list a 5200 btu model for $1000

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[PhilF]

I'll have one, my humidifyer is bigger than that

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[jfm]

btu rating, and tekky Q for Zack

5200 btu/hr isn't enough. We have 28000 on a 42 foot boat in SofF, and that's about what you need.

Zack, do you know the power of your unit? It's not enough to say "it will be ok on a 30foot boat or suchlike" becos people have different ideas about "OK". you need the btu/hour rating.

Also Zack, what principle does yours work on? Is it a compressor and evaporator with circulating coolant fluid? With cabin air used for cooling the compressor side, and then ejected out of the window? If it is, that's why you need to be clear about the btu rating. It's easy to make these very small, just by reducing the size of the two heat exchangers on the comressor and evaporator side. Buit that reduces btu/hr. So what you need to show is that you have reduced size without reducing surface area of the two heat exchagers.

If on the other hand you have invented a whole new principle of aircon, then above not relevant, and well done!

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