Sleeper A/C hacks. With no idle becoming real.

Seems to be fewer and fewer sellers/installers of diesel apu units anymore. I called RedDot and they told me to call Texas, which I did only to find they are no longer selling or installing diesel powered units.

I have a Smartair system from Paccar built by Bergstrom. Even nearly new it sucks. I read the manual, and yes, it says it is only designed to maintain an already cool cabin. It even says in the manual to idle the truck until it is cool, then switch to the Smartair. I will give props to Bergstrom for their customer service, as they actually answered the phone and had a knowledgeable tech on the other end. But still, the system is very lacking.

Naturally I've seen hundreds of videos on youtube of drivers installing their own version of a "hack" ac unit.

In my situation, I already have a gasoline fired 3500 watt inverter generator on board. I "can" run a house portable ac unit with it in eco, or quiet mode, but I do not have the room in the cab, and certainly no desire to leave the window open with a cardboard hot hose panel in it.

So I ask, what if,.......I were to isolate the prime mover engine sleeper ac unit from the engine, and install a 110vac motor with a compressor, and a sized right condenser outside with a fan on it? This way I use the already nicely installed and ducted factory evaporator, just install my own compressor with a 110vac motor and condenser with a fan. Then run it on my gas generator. ? Anyone done this? Can it work?

 

The smart air has a refrigerator style compressor, just 12 volt. I'm wondering if I can find the capacity of it and install a 110vac in the smart air system. But then the rest of that system is still 12vdc, which, could still work as the compressor takes so much power.

 

I have watched several videos of drivers installing mini splits. I also see that are 12vdc units out there. I'm just hoping to use some of what's already on the truck and not bore too many new holes etc.

 

Looking online, I found this kit from aliexpress. Shows dual compressors in a mobile application.

 

. What about installing a "soft start" chip, even on a 220? Is'nt it usually the start up spike that causes the issues?
I did see a couple companies offering higher voltage motorized compressors.