AC or not AC ?

2184 Views 59 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Vicx5491, 3 h ago

Catlalib

Discussion Starter · 14 d ago

Still at the beginning of our built. We installed the Maxxair fan, 2 windows, subfloor, thinsulate and sound deadening.
Next step will be electricity and ceiling. But I'm wondering if we should install AC or not, especialy now since the ceiling is not put on. I remember that nights in CA, CO, AZ or even UT were bearable in tents.
During the day, we will hike. Now, I remember that going back to the fresh air of our hotel room when we were not camping was very appreciated. We will use the van during our vacations so most of the time during the summer and fall / spring.
So what is you advice? Will a 12v fan be enought?
And if we decide to install a roof AC, if it's the best solution, which one ? And will I need to buy another 100ah battery? We only have two right now for 2 Iphones, 1 laptop, 12v fridge, 1 maxxair fan, 6 puck lights and possibly an electric toaster. Solar not installed this year. Our sources are the alternator and shore power.

Thank you in advance!

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scuba steve

· #21 · 13 d ago

GaryBIS said:
Hi,
Do you have any more detail on the 12 volt ali express AC?

Sounds interesting.

GAry

Seller I bought from isn't there anymore but if you search there's probably 50 different places selling a rooftop AC that looks very similar you can usually find the mounting specs etc in the listing

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Reactions: 1

ebyjeeby

· #22 · 13 d ago

Catlalib said:
After reading many answers, I'm leaning toward A/C. Decision not final, still a lot of hesitations because of the price, work, electrical installation but:
-We will travel during the summer most of the time.
-We want to go everywhere so that includes regions with humidity or very high temperatures. There will be destinations where we won't need A/C, we know that. But when we will need it, there is the solution to go to an hotel from time to time just to help with the heat. Then, what's the point to buid a camper? Still, it's a solution.
-We want to visit the NP and SP during the summer (5/6 weeks road trips)
-We hike, but I like to take pictures and go to the dunes, deserts. Mountains too. Well, it's a mixt.

I asked the question not because of me: my instinct and tent camping and road trips with our car taught me that we would be better with one than not. It's just that my husband is more reluctant because he is the one who drills into the van. He is more money conscious than I am too, lol. But my opinion is why waiting when we can install it now, when we are not finished with the electrical installation neither the ceiling?

This forum gave me the idea of buying the Engel fridge, the Motion Windows windows and we don't regret it. It was in the more expensive side, but it was quality and easy to install (windows I mean, the fridge not yet.)

So if we go this way: which one ? I see the Dometic RTX 2000 12v air conditioner. It will be around $3000 total for 6,800 BTU. They impose the choice of their hardware and wire kit. I saw some on Amazon: RecPro RV Air Conditioner Low Profile 13.5K Non-Ducted | Heating or Cooling Option, for half the price but without the installation kit, so total could reach $2000?

Just let me know which one you choose and where to find tips for the installation, if we go this route once again. (I'll let you know)

Thanks to this wonderful group of travelers who is helping me a lot.

The Mabru A/C at vanliveoutfitters.com is reported to use less power with more cooling than the Dometic units.

el Jefe

· #23 · 13 d ago

ebyjeeby said:
The Mabru A/C at vanliveoutfitters.com is reported to use less power with more cooling than the Dometic units.

Mabru for marine use is built with stainless steel. They have a fairly long history for cruisers. Somewhere, I have one of my systems with a BMV712 installed when the client was thinking of replacing on a refit. Gonna look and see if data-logging is still active. Water cooled so may not be relevant to the van crowd.

Reactions: 1

Catlalib

Discussion Starter · #24 · 13 d ago

Update: will order today the RecPro low profile 13.5K BTU - non ducted heating or cooling option.

baitbegger44##

· #25 · 13 d ago

What will be primary heating source?
Specs call for it to be secondary heat scource, electric heater?

Catlalib

Discussion Starter · #26 · 13 d ago

Didn't decide yet what will be the primary source for heating. I know people have furnace. We won't travel during winter. We wanted to have the option of heating open in case we use the van when it starts to get cooler. But if we have to add a primary heat source, it will propably be electric.

Reactions: 2

Bromaster5

· #27 · 12 d ago

flashpunk said:
After thinking I could do without AC, last year was brutal in the summer in a few places (my van is black).

I picked up the new EcoFlow Wave 2 AC - it's actually going to arrive today, was released earlier this week. Might be a good option if you dont want something permanent. I can't vouch for it as I haven't used it, but im hoping it does the job for me.

This will be interesting as it offers 5000 btu of cooling and 6000 btu of heating and has a run time upto 7 hours I believe..

Another fact that is useful, the wave2 accepts 400 watts solar, 13 amps max, 60 volts max..

My Bouge 180 watt panel puts out over 200 watts in perfect conditions (which is great) but exceeded the 10 amp max when doing so (unfortunate) on my Ecoflow Delta Mini so I had to lean the panel at a less than optimum angle to achieve happiness but still were full-chooch at 190 watts. Not a problem for the Wave2.

Hopefully 5000 btu cooling can offer enough comfort in the van, it probably can when directed at the occupants and a curtain or two closed.

RV8R

· #28 · 12 d ago

Catlalib said:
Didn't decide yet what will be the primary source for heating. I know people have furnace. We won't travel during winter. We wanted to have the option of heating open in case we use the van when it starts to get cooler. But if we have to add a primary heat source, it will propably be electric.

Hey @Catlalib

“All Things Heat” & AC is a big deal to run off “battery energy”.

@GaryBIS & I use propane. A 20lb propane tank holds the same amount of energy as 116 - 100Ahr lithium batteries.

Building Camper Vans

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baitbegger44##

· #29 · 12 d ago (Edited)

while pmc is smaller volume than 159, in dead of summer I usually run wally world 5000 btu on low cool @ 6 of 10 scale. It's flow is directed straight above me about 1 1/2 feet. Power from shorepower.

Reactions: 1

Catlalib

Discussion Starter · #30 · 12 d ago

I'll keep in mind the propane tank.

Reactions: 1

Motor7

· #31 · 12 d ago

Catlalib said:
Update: will order today the RecPro low profile 13.5K BTU - non ducted heating or cooling option.

You don't need a 13.5.....the 9.2 is plenty and a lower profile:

Polar Cub

Catlalib

Discussion Starter · #32 · 12 d ago

You don't need a 13.5.....the 9.2 is plenty and a lower profile:

Yes, we looked at it but in the end we wanted one with the heating option and the 9.5K was cooling only. And we choose the RecPro not the Coleman.

RV8R

· #33 · 12 d ago

Catlalib said:
You don't need a 13.5.....the 9.2 is plenty and a lower profile:

Yes, we looked at it but in the end we wanted one with the heating option and the 9.5K was cooling only. And we choose the RecPro not the Coleman.

Hi @Catlalib

Sometimes I miss some changes or have a hard time keeping up with Members Design/Builds.

Are you now thinking of building an electrical system to run a contemplated AC “RecPro” from house battery stored energy?

IIRC, you started out considering a “Jackery” ?

www.promasterforum.com

Electricity

I need some advice regarding our needs in electricity. We will use our van for vacation only in October, April and summer time, plus some weekends. It will be a 3 seasons camper van. We will need to charge one labtop, 2 phones, 4 led lights, a 12 v fridge 50ml , a toaster, and the airmaxx fan...

www.promasterforum.com

www.promasterforum.com

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Bromaster5

· #34 · 12 d ago

RV8R said:
Hi @Catlalib

Sometimes I miss some changes or have a hard time keeping up with Members Design/Builds.

Are you now thinking of building an electrical system to run a contemplated AC “RecPro” from house battery stored energy?

IIRC, you started out considering a “Jackery” ?

Electricity

I need some advice regarding our needs in electricity. We will use our van for vacation only in October, April and summer time, plus some weekends. It will be a 3 seasons camper van. We will need to charge one labtop, 2 phones, 4 led lights, a 12 v fridge 50ml , a toaster, and the airmaxx fan...

www.promasterforum.com

View attachment 96500

My thoughts, yes rv8r, sometimes you do fall off track with the many builds you advise, but you still have a very good track record.😁

I see this build being completed in a round a bout manner where the end result could have been achieved quickly from the begin and what was originally said or stated matters none and was thrown in the trash, we just didn't get the memo.

Reactions: 1

RV8R

· #35 · 11 d ago

Bromaster5 said:
My thoughts, yes rv8r, sometimes you do fall off track with the many builds you advise, but you still have a very good track record.😁

I see this build being completed in a round a bout manner where the end result could have been achieved quickly from the begin and what was originally said or stated matters none and was thrown in the trash, we just didn't get the memo.

A Day Late & A Dollar Short ( & No Memo ) 😜 ,,, Story of My Life @Bromaster5 😁

Reactions: 1

Catlalib

Discussion Starter · #36 · 11 d ago (Edited)

You're right @RV8R , we are going to build an electrical system but won't feed the RecPro AC with our batteries. We intend to have two cables (splitter?) from shore power, one going to the inverter, one going directly to the AC. Depending on where we will be, we will go to campgrounds to have access to shore power when it will be too hot. Boondocking will only happen when in the mountains or the north, and it's not a necessity anyway. So the AC will work from shore power. Something like this?

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dog_house

· #37 · 11 d ago (Edited)

Catlalib said:
You're right @RV8R , we are going to build an electrical system but won't feed the RecPro AC with our batteries. We intend to have two cables (splitter?) from shore power, one going to the inverter, one going directly to the AC. Depending on where we will be, we will go to campgrounds to have access to shore power when it will be too hot. Boondocking will only happen when in the mountains or the north, and it's not a necessity anyway. So the AC will work from shore power. Something like this?

View attachment 96535

Those plugs get hot at 15 amps. They are really only rated for 12a continuous.

Since you spent the money on the MultiPlus I would use it as intended and run the shore power through it using power assist to limit the current from shore power to 15 amps.

Reactions: 5

RV8R

· #38 · 10 d ago (Edited)

Catlalib said:
You're right @RV8R , we are going to build an electrical system but won't feed the RecPro AC with our batteries. We intend to have two cables (splitter?) from shore power, one going to the inverter, one going directly to the AC. Depending on where we will be, we will go to campgrounds to have access to shore power when it will be too hot. Boondocking will only happen when in the mountains or the north, and it's not a necessity anyway. So the AC will work from shore power. Something like this?

View attachment 96535

Thanks for the update 👍;

It does not surprise me how these DIY Van Design/Builds morph from a simple “Jackery” to a full blown complicated build. In 2018 ( with decades career commercial construction experience ), but with zero Van Design/Build experience I blindly followed the internet before doing my research & went from 100% electrical van to a minimum 12vdc energy usage & propane. I floundered around & even purchased a Wallas Dual Cooktop / Heater ( Cole’s notes on that thing is once I purchased it I got to read the manual & it could take up to 11 minutes for the start up of this diesel appliance ). It was not for us & our propane propex fires up & is running in seconds. There are pros & cons in everything. We do not have AC & we deal with the heat in difference way, some of which is same as @MsNomer with the “Lapse Rate” of altitude & others is the moderation of ocean shorelines. Does not always guarantee comfort in a van.

I agree with @dog_house above ( & his post was my exact thought after I read yours & before I read his ). Get a Victron MultiPlus which has a fast transfer switch built in, an inverter, & decent charger for when you are on shore power.

Or in the very least, buy a better “Shore Power” receiver & one that will take 30amps;

There is a different path as well; A Converter 120vac to 12vdc if you do not need/want an inverter 12vdc to 120vac.

That is the path I finally took. So when @ a campsite ( or with my Honda generator 😉 while boondocking ) I can have 120vac. So with that setup it is a “Power Center”; 120vac panel / 12vdc panel / 12vdc converter / charger

8300 Series – Parallax Power Supply

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Progressive Dynamics Converters

Footnote on “Marinco Shore Power” receptacles - If you are going to live in the Yukon or similar place that gets very cold ,,, do yourself a favor & go with the pure stainless steel type for a few extra bucks ( buy it once ).

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Catlalib

Discussion Starter · #39 · 10 d ago

dog_house said:
Those plugs get hot at 15 amps. They are really only rated for 12a continuous.

Since you spent the money on the MultiPlus I would use it as intended and run the shore power through it using power assist to limit the current from shore power to 15 amps.

I'm worried cause my Multiplus is the 2000VA not the big 3000. so I'm worried it won't be enough now.

el Jefe

· #40 · 10 d ago

Catlalib said:
I'm worried cause my Multiplus is the 2000VA not the big 3000. so I'm worried it won't be enough now.

Honda EU1000i. Let the power assist on the Multi make up the difference.

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