12v Aircon

[Gavin and Bigi]

Can somebody recommend a 12v Aircon for a 6m campervan. A rooftop one I guess.

 

[Guigsy]

Most aircon units on vans aren't 12v. The power requirements are pretty high, so they run on mains voltage. Traditionally they've only been usable while parked up and connected to a hookup. With a lot of lithium batteries and a lot of solar panels and an inverter, you can run aircon off-grid, but it isn't easy.

There are some direct 12v aircon units, but the power requirements are still high.

Most people get by fairly well with something like a Maxxair. They work surprisingly well until it gets really hot.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you want to run aircon from 12v you will need a big Lithium battery bank.
What battery power do you have?

 

[Simon says...]

Check out this…https://totalcool.co.uk/shop/activi...rtable-air-coolers/totalcool-3000-white-grey/
Designed and made in the UK…very effective and just a little bit cheaper than having air con fitted!

 

[Guigsy]

Check out this…https://totalcool.co.uk/shop/activi...rtable-air-coolers/totalcool-3000-white-grey/
Designed and made in the UK…very effective and just a little bit cheaper than having air con fitted!

It's a swamp cooler. They're ok when it's dry. But when it's humid, they are no more effective than a normal fan.

 

[SMB]

My current van came fitted with a Viesa Holiday 3 evaporative cooler, it works on 12v and draws water from the main water tank. Not sure if I would have bought one if it hadn't already been fitted but I do use it, mainly just as a fan. I'll try the evaporative feature properly next month when it heats up here in Spain! There's a newer version now, here's a link: https://viesaholiday.com/en/

 

[two]

The evaporative ones are better than nothing but may not be at all easy to install because they need to be connected a water reservoir. You can get portable versions, though.
It may be better to fit an extractor van in a roof vent. Good for removing cooking smells/vapour too. Heat rises, to helping to rid the hotter air from the roof draws up cooler air from below. Don't expect miracles, though.

 

[Guigsy]

Reflective screens on the windscreen, blinds across that face the sun, with a Maxxair sucking the hot air out can be very effective.

We were on a site for several days where it was in the low 30s during the day. The van stayed fairly comfortable. And it was fine overnight. Far quieter than an aircon compressor.

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[EuroTrotters]

We run a Truma ducted unit on the move, 240v

Only have 105 ah lithium (soon to be 2 x 105)

But

Victron 50amp B2B
Victron 50amp solar controller
Victron multiplus inverter

Eurena 430w solar

 

[Bobby-gg]

Brother in law bought a van with a lovely dometic aircon unit and a 2kw inverter fitted, thought he was the bee's knee's until they parked up for lunch switched on the aircon using the single 100ah lead acid and flattened it within an hour

 

[fat haggis]

I got one of these from Aldi a few days ago. With a punt if it works if not it’s going back. Works on 12 volt usb

https://www.aldi.co.uk/led-portable-air-cooler/p/834397783641000

 

[Roger S]

I got one of these from Aldi a few days ago. With a punt if it works if not it’s going back. Works on 12 volt usb

https://www.aldi.co.uk/led-portable-air-cooler/p/834397783641000

we bought one of them of Ebay, it is quite good if not a bit noisy. I did drop one of the tanks when frozen and broke it though !

 

[Jev88]

Check out this…https://totalcool.co.uk/shop/activi...rtable-air-coolers/totalcool-3000-white-grey/
Designed and made in the UK…very effective and just a little bit cheaper than having air con fitted!

They are good at introducing lots of moisture and damp air

 

[Raul]

Can somebody recommend a 12v Aircon for a 6m campervan. A rooftop one I guess.

I haven’t seen or heard of a roof top 12v version, but, there is a 12v model underslung, some in the USA have it. I think it originates from Asian market. There is a guy on Yutube documented a installation kit. Comes pre charged with gas.

Like this one

 

[Guigsy]

I haven’t seen or heard of a roof top 12v version, but, there is a 12v model underslung, some in the USA have it. I think it originates from Asian market. There is a guy on Yutube documented a installation kit. Comes pre charged with gas.

Like this one

It's 12volts, but it's still over 1000watts. Which means a lot of battery.

 

[Tombola]

Kingingit fitted this one and said they'd do a review after a few weeks....review didn't happen, says a lot.
42 amp on startup for an hour's cooling then said to be 16amp per hour maintain.

Pardon our interruption...

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[Raul]

It's 12volts, but it's still over 1000watts. Which means a lot of battery.

DC compressors are the most efficient, once the cooling target is reached, they can throttle down the speed and reduce the power next to nothing. The above example will happily run on 350w but can boost to 1000w. Same as inverter AC.

 

[Guigsy]

DC compressors are the most efficient, once the cooling target is reached, they can throttle down the speed and reduce the power next to nothing. The above example will happily run on 350w but can boost to 1000w. Same as inverter AC.

They are marginally more efficient. But don't most compressors convert internally anyway?

There's no getting away from the fact that it requires a lot of energy and power to run air conditioning.

 

[EuroTrotters]

We run a Truma ducted unit on the move, 240v

Only have 105 ah lithium (soon to be 2 x 105)

But

Victron 50amp B2B
Victron 50amp solar controller
Victron multiplus inverter

Eurena 430w solar

First motorhome we have had without cab A/C

I did consider one of those Asian retro fit kits, like this one....

341.76ï¿¡ |BEU 450L 100 12V Universal Truck Car Auto Small Under Dash AC Evaporator Unit| | - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

But as We already had A Truma Ducted I installed, I thought it was best to make use of that.

 

[Roger S]

They are good at introducing lots of moisture and damp air

That is a good point

 

[Richard n Ann]

don't most compressors convert internally anyway?

No they are usually ac motors with 2 windings, with start and run capacitors across the start winding to increase torque.

 

[Simon says...]

They are good at introducing lots of moisture and damp air

Good point, hadn’t really thought about that, though if it is very hot and the space has some ventilation I don’t think it will cause any damp problems.

 

[EuroTrotters]

This is with our engine off and a bit of solar. The A/C is on, freezer cycled off.

With engine running, we get around another 35amps

 

[meanders]

Silver screen at the front, side screens on the sunny side works most of the time. Over 35 degrees, white towels draped over the sunny side windows ,(tuck them in the top hinge then close the window) and sprayed every hour with water works incredibly well. We took cats down to Spain when it was 38 and the van stayed beautifully cool.

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[Guigsy]

This is with our engine off and a bit of solar. The A/C is on, freezer cycled off.

With engine running, we get around another 35amps

View attachment 902028View attachment 902029

So roughly 500 watts? Which is a pretty hefty load of you're sustaining it for a few hours off grid. But as you've paired it with a good solar setup, it becomes manageable. You'd probably still only be able to use it for the peak of the day and maybe a burst before bed though, as the battery needs to recover, no?

 

[EuroTrotters]

So roughly 500 watts? Which is a pretty hefty load of you're sustaining it for a few hours off grid. But as you've paired it with a good solar setup, it becomes manageable. You'd probably still only be able to use it for the peak of the day and maybe a burst before bed though, as the battery needs to recover, no?

But it’s about using it on the move for us

 

[ph1l]

I bought a zero breeze a while back - about £1200, works on its own battery for about 4 hours and keeps the van cool, can plug it into 240 on hookup, or charge on 12v to push it to around 8 hours on a 100ah leisure battery. Works really well. Also got a 240 trumma in the roof because it was an option from the dealer we thought wed use, but were rarely on hookup to use it.

Looks like they've come down a bit in price and theres a 2 battery option. Id highly recommend it, stock limited in the UK but I found mine on Amazon

ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 AC

ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 Battery Portable Air Conditioner, Just press the button and enjoy the cool air anywhere. Get yours at the ZERO BREEZE Online Store now!

www.zerobreeze.com

 

[Richard n Ann]

I bought a zero breeze a while back - about £1200, works on its own battery for about 4 hours and keeps the van cool, can plug it into 240 on hookup, or charge on 12v to push it to around 8 hours on a 100ah leisure battery. Works really well. Also got a 240 trumma in the roof because it was an option from the dealer we thought wed use, but were rarely on hookup to use it.

Looks like they've come down a bit in price and theres a 2 battery option. Id highly recommend it, stock limited in the UK but I found mine on Amazon

ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 AC

ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 Battery Portable Air Conditioner, Just press the button and enjoy the cool air anywhere. Get yours at the ZERO BREEZE Online Store now!

www.zerobreeze.com

Where does the warm air off the condenser go? Does the unit sit in the window or something? Or is there an outdoor bit?

 

[Guigsy]

I bought a zero breeze a while back - about £1200, works on its own battery for about 4 hours and keeps the van cool, can plug it into 240 on hookup, or charge on 12v to push it to around 8 hours on a 100ah leisure battery. Works really well. Also got a 240 trumma in the roof because it was an option from the dealer we thought wed use, but were rarely on hookup to use it.

Looks like they've come down a bit in price and theres a 2 battery option. Id highly recommend it, stock limited in the UK but I found mine on Amazon

ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 AC

ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 Battery Portable Air Conditioner, Just press the button and enjoy the cool air anywhere. Get yours at the ZERO BREEZE Online Store now!

www.zerobreeze.com

I always think the pictures of these are really misleading. You have to have the exhaust duct fitted and pointing outside. They are a nice convenient size, but they aren't magic. It's a compressor AC unit, and roughly as efficient as any other. They still go through roughly the same energy to achieve the same effect. I think I would consider one over a roof mount though.

 

[herald_400rl]

They are good at introducing lots of moisture and damp air

I was going to ask that... surely you're just making the air moist which is the devil to a MH...