Has anybody fitted an air-conditioning unit to their van/motorhome?

[Duetto 1999]

And, if you have, was it one of the Chinese models or a more expensive piece of kit? What type of aircon? Was it worth the money/hassle etc?
Obviously, I am considering aircon for my own van and would be appreciative of any suggestions that may avoid my making an expensive mistake (a thing I seem to be rather good at!).
Thanks in advance.

 

[ProDave]

We have a Dometic unit fitted in the roof. It was fitted by the manufacturer as an option specified by the original purchaser.

Over last winter it was leaking, so in the spring we had the unit removed re sealed and re fitted by a local dealer. That was paid for by the manufacturer as the camper unit was still within warranty.

We tried it out once. It only operated from mains. It is damned noisy but it does work. The noise and restriction of needing to be on a mains hookup measn we would have to be very hot and uncomfortable to consider using it. I would not pay for one to be fitted if just touring in the UK.

 

[n brown]

anyone know if an aircon unit could be removed from a car and used in a camper ?

 

[Duetto 1999]

It only operated from mains. It is damned noisy but it does work. The noise and restriction of needing to be on a mains hookup

Thanks @ProDave for the info - I am considering a 12v model (from China) and additional batteries probably - Good point about noise though.
My researches online keep pointing me to the US where this seems to be a "normal" addition to RVs and the choice is large. Here, not so much.

@n brown - As I understand it, the motor required to drive the automotive a/c compressor would be way too heavy duty for a motorhome power system and, anyway, if that were possible, would it not be best to use the in-built a/c in the vehicle if it has one? Just a thought.

 

[colinm]

A proper AC unit sucks power, you will need a lot of batteries to make it worthwhile.

 

[mistericeman]

Most none electric vehicle AC is driven from the engine...
So not much use in a parked motorhome.

 

[r4dent]

if that were possible, would it not be best to use the in-built a/c in the vehicle if it has one? Just a thought.

I don't think that is practical.

A typical car a/c uses 3-5 kw. and, without the engine running, would flatten the starter battery in under 15 mins.

 

[merl]

Heating takes loads of power and cooling takes even more, impossible to get a proper effective cooling unit working from 12v batteries, don't get sucked into believing a cheap Chinese 12v unit will work, it won't.

 

[maingate]

You could always fill a mesh cage with wet straw and position a Fan behind it. It does have a cooling effect (as long as you keep adding cold water to the straw).

I'll get me coat.

 

[merl]

You could always fill a mesh cage with wet straw and position a Fan behind it. It does have a cooling effect (as long as you keep adding cold water to the straw).

I'll get me coat.

I did wonder how those cheap ones worked .
You could use an ice lolly instead of wet straw, Zooms work well because they are streamlined rocket shape, Fab and Feast not so good and make a right mess when they melt.

 

[mistericeman]

The Mitsibushi electric split inverter systems we install (that's internal inverter to drive the DC Variable speed compressor not external inverter)

Consume a relatively small amount of power...

A 3.5kw (cooling power NOT input power)

Will usually only pull 3.5/5 amps (and often less than that when the room has cooled down)
so around the same as a 12v compressor fridge....

However it will be running for longer as it's dealing with a larger area than a fridge....

BUT on a sunny day in the heat a decent solar/battery set up should cope.
And does, in the bosses race truck when he's away in the summer period

Sadly portable inverter units are few and far between at the moment and fitting a, split to a motorhome would likely be tricky.

 

[MikeSafer]

Appreciate the honest input from everyone here.

 

[r4dent]

The Mitsibushi electric split inverter systems we install (that's internal inverter to drive the DC Variable speed compressor not external inverter)

Consume a relatively small amount of power...

Will usually only pull 3.5/5 amps (and often less than that when the room has cooled down)
so around the same as a 12v compressor fridge....

If I am understanding you, this unit pulls 3.5 to 5 amps running on 230v ac
To run it on an inverter would pull >70 amp from the 12v battery.

 

[mistericeman]

If I am understanding you, this unit pulls 3.5 to 5 amps running on 230v ac
To run it on an inverter would pull >70 amp from the 12v battery.

My 240v fridge only pulls the same 2.5 to 5 amps.... From my inverter

Granted the ac unit would run for longer... But on a sunny day
A decent solar panel would keep up with that through the heat of the day?

 

[r4dent]

My 240v fridge only pulls the same 2.5 to 5 amps.... From my inverter

Granted the ac unit would run for longer... But on a sunny day
A decent solar panel would keep up with that through the heat of the day?

OP is asking about A/C to cool 30,000 litres and not a fridge to cool 100 litres.
A cigarette lighter uses a lot less petrol than a Range Rover

How much current and at what voltage does the A/C unit pull?.

 

[mistericeman]

OP is asking about A/C to cool 30,000 litres and not a fridge to cool 100 litres.
A cigarette lighter uses a lot less petrol than a Range Rover

How much current and at what voltage does the A/C unit pull?.

240v Between 4 amps and 5.... On cooling

Though once room is down to temp around 3 amps or so

 

[r4dent]

240v Between 4 amps and 5.... On cooling

Though once room is down to temp around 3 amps or so

3 amps at 230v will draw 60+ amps from a 12v battery using an inverter.

A typical leisure battery (120ah) will only give about 60 ah before it is flat.
So running the A/C from a 12v battery is not practical.
Which is what I said.

 

[trevskoda]

A few ice cold bottles in front of a simple usb fan works.

 

[merl]

240v Between 4 amps and 5.... On cooling

Though once room is down to temp around 3 amps or so

So that's 1kw-1.25 KW, a proper 100Ah lithium would be flat in an hour or so.
Battery power is 1/20 of the voltage of the mains so you'll need to draw 20 times the current to achieve the same wattage.

 

[merl]

A few ice cold bottles in front of a simple usb fan works.

Or a Zoom