absorption a/c

I am interested in absorption air conditioning theory and practice. I have read a standard, technician intro textbook on it, but that is a long way from real, hands on experience. I also wonder where one can find household units. When building our house in East Texas 6 years ago, I found a supplier in northern Oklahoma who installed the units, but would not come to Texas because he could not insure his ability, or mine, to maintain the unit. I wonder if there is expertise out there in the engineering web "ether" that is knowledgeable enough to advise on the purchase, installation, construction of a system, commercial or homebrew.