12V/24V Electric Air Conditioning Kit – With Heating & Cooling

12V / 24V Universal Electric Air-Conditioning & Heating System

Heating + Cooling — full electric A/C with an engine-fed heater core.

This universal 12V / 24V air-conditioning and heating kit provides reliable year-round climate control without needing a belt-driven compressor. It's ideal for classic cars, hot rods, 4x4s, vans, utes, machinery and custom builds where engine bay space is limited or the traditional A/C layout simply won't work.

Cooling is handled by a brushless inverter electric compressor, while heating is supplied through a built-in heater core that uses your engine's hot coolant — this is liquid heating drawn from the engine, not an electric heating element. This gives you proper factory-style warmth in winter without adding heavy electrical load.

Select 12V or 24V at checkout.

We work closely with our suppliers and do our own testing on every batch, and we've made several real upgrades to this kit based on that testing:

• Heavy-Duty Power Cables — upgraded main power cables for increased reliability
• Receiver Dryer Included — added directly to the condenser setup
• Extra Hose Fittings — extra straight and 90° fittings for each hose, making the fit-out easier
• Digital Control Panel & Wireless Remote — upgraded from a basic switch, suited to the compressor's variable-speed operation
• Dual Evaporator Fronts — comes with both the under-dash mount front and the behind-dash fascia front

We keep a fully running demo unit at our Gold Coast location, so if you want to see and hear one working before you buy, you're welcome to come have a look.

Where This Kit Works Best

• Classic cars, hot rods, restomods
• 4x4s, utes and touring rigs
• Vans, minibuses, small trucks
• Machinery, tractors, forklifts, skid-steers, excavators
• Industrial and mine-site vehicles
• Engine-swapped vehicles and tight engine bays
• Any vehicle with an available engine coolant circuit

Not suitable for caravans/trailers — they have no engine coolant source, so there's nothing to run the heater side from. For those, see our Cooling Only kit instead.

How the System Works

Cooling Function

The cooling system uses a 20cc brushless inverter compressor running entirely from 12V or 24V. No belts, no pulleys, no RPM requirements — just consistent electric cooling.

Heating Function

A built-in heater core inside the evaporator connects to the vehicle's coolant lines. Once the engine reaches operating temperature, you get strong, stable heat just like a factory HVAC system — the heat itself comes from the engine's hot coolant, not from electricity.

Cooling Capacity Note

Because the heater core and cooling coil share the same evaporator housing, the cooling coil is smaller than our cooling-only kit. Cooling performance is still very good, but if maximum cooling is the priority, the cooling-only unit outperforms this one in hot climates and larger cabins.

Airflow

The evaporator blower outputs up to 440 m³/h, providing excellent airflow in classics, 4x4s, vans and smaller cabins.

Flexible Mounting (Compressor + Condenser)

This system gives you far more mounting freedom than traditional A/C setups. The compressor does not need to be in the engine bay — it can be mounted under the bonnet, inside a front guard, under the vehicle, behind the grille, inside a boot (vented), in a rear quarter cavity, or inside the cabin (boxed and vented).

The condenser can go under the front valance, behind the grille, under the vehicle, or in any guarded/vented compartment, mounted vertically or horizontally. For best performance, mount the compressor and condenser as close together as practical — shorter refrigerant lines mean faster cooling and better efficiency. If the condenser is mounted in an enclosed area, the hot air must be ducted out.

Power Usage (Realistic Guide)

Peak current draw under heavy cooling is approximately 45A on 12V systems and 22.5A on 24V systems. Once the cabin cools and the compressor slows down, power consumption drops significantly. Heating uses engine coolant, so electrical demand stays minimal.

Alternator & Electrical Requirements

For 12V kits, a 100A alternator or larger is recommended. For 24V systems, current draw is halved, so requirements are lighter. If you're running big fans, stereos, pumps or ECUs, allow additional alternator capacity.

Compressor Details

This kit uses a modern 20cc brushless inverter compressor — far more advanced than old rotary-style 12V compressors:

• Brushless inverter design — continuously adjusts output to match cooling demand
• Variable-speed control — operates around 1500 / 3000 / 4500 RPM depending on cabin temperature
• Soft-start technology — eliminates voltage spikes during startup
• Low-voltage protection — automatically shuts down to protect your battery
• Quiet & low-vibration — minimal moving parts, lower noise, longer lifespan
• Supplied pre-oiled from the factory, with a universal mounting kit included

Condenser Details

Works in any orientation, requires airflow for best performance, and includes a built-in filter — no separate dryer required.

Evaporator Options

1. Under-Dash Evaporator

Simple installation under the dashboard, with built-in vents that blow directly into the cabin — heating and cooling from one compact unit.

2. Hide-Away / In-Dash Evaporator

Replaces the old heater box or under-dash unit, using the vehicle's existing vents via ducting for a clean, factory-style appearance. Heater plumbing is straightforward — simply tee into the engine's coolant hoses and route them to the evaporator's heater core.

Pre-Wired From Factory

The system comes pre-wired so you can set it up on the bench and see how everything works before fitting it to the vehicle. Basic connections: battery positive, battery negative, purple trigger wire, three fan control wires, and the digital controller plug.

Hoses & Fittings

Three refrigerant hoses, each 3 metres long — each a different diameter so you can't mix them up. All A/C fittings are supplied. Once cut to length, hoses must be professionally crimped. The heater circuit uses standard coolant hose tied into the engine's heater lines.

Warranty

1-Year warranty on the complete unit, 3-Year warranty on the inverter compressor. These systems are built for real-world automotive and machinery use.

Shipping & Pickup

$79 flat-rate shipping Australia-wide via TNT Express (metro & regional areas serviced by our standard carriers — rural/remote customers please contact us first, see notice above). Pickup available from Pimpama, Gold Coast (by appointment).

Summary

This kit gives you genuine electric cooling and engine-fed heating in vehicles that were never designed for modern climate control. It's perfect for classics, 4x4s, vans, machinery and custom builds needing comfort and flexibility without relying on belt-driven components.

Tuck's Performance is proudly Australian owned and operated. Some products are sourced through our supplier partners and dispatched directly to you — please allow additional handling time as noted in our Shipping Policy.