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Rencool MD18-2 12 V Electric Compressor

$2,143.90

Australian dollar ($) - AUD
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Prices are shown in AUD. Australian GST is included where applicable.

Build powerful electric air conditioning into a 12 V vehicle or machine with the compact Rencool MD18-2 scroll compressor. Variable-speed control, soft start and 18 cm³/rev displacement give workshops and DIY builders flexible cooling without an engine-driven belt.

Supply
12 V DC
Displacement
18 cm³/rev
THIS PRODUCT ISCompressor only

Build it into a matched refrigerant circuit or use it to replace a compatible compressor.

See what else you need ↓
SKU: MD18A6 Category: Brand:

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

Is this the right part for your system?

This section separates the product from the rest of the system so you can see what you are buying and what still has to be matched.

THIS PRODUCT IS

Electric refrigerant compressor

BEST FOR

12 V custom vehicle and compact split systems where up to 1.89 kW reference cooling at 4,000 rpm suits the calculated duty.

Included with this listing

  • Rencool MD18-2 12 V compressor with integrated controller
  • Compressor-side electrical leads/connectors as supplied

Still required for a working system

  • 12 V condenser such as RNC-105 where capacity suits
  • 12 V evaporator such as EV2208 where capacity suits
  • Receiver drier and correctly selected expansion valve
  • HP/LP pressure safety switch
  • MD-series control harness or equivalent reviewed control circuit
  • Compressor bracket, hoses/fittings, main fuse and correctly sized cable

Common options

  • Compressor mounting bracket
  • Matched hose and fitting package
  • Model-specific control harness
  • Application-specific condenser and evaporator upgrades

What may be retained

  • Existing condenser, evaporator, cabin controls and refrigerant lines may be retained only after capacity, condition, refrigerant, oil and connection compatibility are verified.
Technical decision points
Product / modelRencool MD18-2 12 V Electric Compressor
Ordering SKUMD18A6
Product roleElectric refrigerant compressor
Purchase pathAvailable for online checkout when destination freight is returned.
Supply12 V DC; documented operating range 10–16 V
Displacement18 cc/rev
Speed range1,500–4,500 rpm (technical table)
Reference cooling1.38 kW at 3,000 rpm; 1.89 kW at 4,000 rpm
Rated current96 A at the documented upper test point
Refrigerant / oil chargeR134a / 100 cc oil charge in the reference data
EnvelopeApprox. 210 × 152 × 135 mm from supplied drawing
Compatibility checklist before ordering
  • System voltage and continuous current
  • Required cooling duty at the intended ambient
  • Refrigerant, oil and metering device
  • Suction/discharge connections
  • Control signal and pressure-protection logic

Ordering and delivery

Compressor orders are reviewed against voltage and application details. Lead time is confirmed with the order or quotation. Freight is based on the packed consignment; large or configured products receive a confirmed pack plan before dispatch.

Request a technical quote

SYSTEM BUILDER

What else do I need?

Choose the route that matches your project. The compressor can replace a compatible unit, power a custom split system, or form part of a complete package.

1

Connect to existing A/C

Use the existing condenser, evaporator and controls only after confirming capacity, R134a compatibility, oil management, pressure protection and electrical load.

2

Build a new split system

Add the matched heat exchangers, protection, controls, hoses and mounting hardware shown below.

3

Choose a complete kit

If you do not want to engineer every component, start with a packaged system sized for the cabin and duty cycle.

For a new MD-series split system

Required for a new buildRecommendedApplication dependent

Final system design: A qualified automotive A/C technician must confirm refrigerant charge, TX valve, hose routing, oil balance, pressure settings and electrical cable/fuse sizing.

CHOOSE THE INSTALLATION ROUTE

Adding A/C or retaining the factory circuit?

Use the new-system guide when the vehicle has no A/C. Use the existing-circuit guide when retaining compatible factory heat exchangers and controls.

Product details

Bring full electric air conditioning to a 12 V vehicle or machine with the Rencool MD18-2. This compact 18 cm³/rev electric scroll compressor gives workshops, builders and fleet operators cooling without an engine-driven belt, making it ideal for tight engine bays, EV conversions and equipment that needs air conditioning while stationary.

Why the MD18-2 works

  • Purpose-built for 12 V DC: a 10–16 V operating window suits correctly designed automotive and auxiliary electrical systems.
  • Compact electric drive: place the compressor independently of the engine and route the refrigerant circuit around the vehicle.
  • Variable output: a 1,500–4,500 rpm operating range lets the system balance cooling demand, electrical load and noise.
  • Integrated control: brushless motor, internal digital controller and soft start reduce external component count.
  • Built for demanding environments: published IP68 protection and smart protection functions support vehicle and equipment use.

Popular applications

  • Classic cars, hot rods, restomods and engine-swap projects
  • Electric vehicles, hybrid conversions and prototype vehicles
  • Campervans, motorhomes, caravans and compact marine cabins
  • Utilities, forklifts, agricultural machines and service vehicles
  • Mining, civil and off-highway equipment cabins
  • Mobile workspaces, specialist enclosures and auxiliary cooling systems

MD18-2 technical specifications

Rencool model MD18-2
Compressor type Electric scroll compressor
Motor Brushless DC
Controller Internal digital controller with soft start
Rated supply 12 V DC
Operating voltage range 10–16 V DC
Displacement 18 cm³/rev
Operating speed range 1,500–4,500 rpm
Refrigerant R134a
Factory oil charge 100 cc POE 68; verify the supplied compressor label before adding or replacing oil
Published enclosure protection IP68
Net compressor weight Approx. 5.5 kg
Published body dimensions Approx. 192 × 135 × 153 mm
Overall installation envelope Allow approx. 210 × 152 × 135 mm; confirm mounting and hose clearance against the current drawing

Cooling performance

Rencool MD18-2 R134a compressor performance
Speed Cooling capacity Input power COP
3,000 rpm 1.38 kW / 4.7 kBtu/h 0.74 kW 1.80
4,000 rpm 2.15 kW / 7.3 kBtu/h 1.15 kW 1.85

Published compressor data with R134a at 0.196 MPa suction pressure, 1.47 MPa discharge pressure, 10 °C superheat and 5 °C subcooling. Values marked in source material as model-reference data should be validated in the completed system.

Electrical planning data

Operating point Published current guide Design use
2,000 rpm Approx. 30 A at 12 V Lower-load operation for smaller heat loads
4,000 rpm Approx. 55 A at 12 V Higher cooling demand
Complete system Compressor current plus condenser fan, evaporator blower and controls Size alternator, battery, protection and cabling for the combined continuous load

Current changes with head pressure, ambient temperature, compressor speed and cabin heat load. Confirm the final electrical design under worst-case operating conditions.

Controls, protection and interfaces

Speed control Multi-speed control through the supplied compressor harness; follow the current Rencool wiring diagram for conductor selection
Control reference Internally generated low-voltage control circuit; do not apply external voltage to the speed-select wiring
Protection functions Soft start, low/high-voltage protection and internal smart protection logic
Published internal thermal protection Approx. 120 °C winding-temperature shutdown with automatic reset around 95–100 °C when the command remains active
Supplied connector set Control connector kit and two-pole main-power connector; plug shell may vary with production harness
Refrigerant connections Automotive MIOR pad-fitting interface

System requirements

Mount the compressor upright with the controller uppermost, keep it away from continuous ambient temperatures above 70 °C and maintain cool suction-gas return through the compressor. Run dedicated positive and negative power cables back to the battery; use 2 B&S copper cable as the published starting point and calculate the final conductor size from current, cable length and allowable voltage drop.

Typical running suction pressure 20–35 psi, application dependent
Typical running discharge pressure 130–220 psi; do not design the system to operate above 220 psi
System components required Matched condenser, evaporator, expansion device, receiver-drier, pressure protection, thermostat/control and correctly sized refrigerant lines
Mounting orientation Upright only, controller uppermost

MD18 model comparison

Model Supply Voltage range Speed range Maximum published cooling point
MD18-2 12 V DC 10–16 V 1,500–4,500 rpm 2.15 kW at 4,000 rpm
MD18-4 24 V DC 20–31 V 1,500–6,000 rpm 2.90 kW at 6,000 rpm

Technical selection: Use the exact compressor model, supply voltage and controller interface. Capacity values apply only at their stated test conditions; size the condenser, evaporator, wiring and protection as one system.

Ready to build your 12 V system?

Select the quantity above and add the Rencool MD18-2 to your basket. Use the tables to confirm voltage, speed, capacity and electrical demand, then size the heat exchangers and controls for the cabin volume, ambient temperature and operating duty.

Delivery

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Manuals & drawings

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Photography credits

Aircraft: Jelle Vandebeeck, CC BY 2.0. Workboat: Photo: Gordon Leggett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Caravan: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0. Command post: U.S. Army, public domain. These photographs are resized for display and may be cropped to fit the page; the credited photographs retain their original licences. General application photography does not confirm a particular vehicle installation or endorsement.