Check This Out: 12-Volt Air Conditioner

[EsotericSnowman]

It's like a small mini-split AC but it's made for vehicles built without AC and it's 12-volts!

VES SERIES — Cruise N Comfort 12 Volt Marine Air Conditioners

[Phoebe3]

Oh boy, I can't begin to tell you how much I wish my AC on ANY voltage, was quieter.

[avanti]

Yep. There are three or four alternatives available. Here are a few more:

Dometic Truck AC Units




Stationary air conditioners for trucks - SW ARCTIC PLUS




Arctic Breeze Truck AC Helps Truckers Keep Their Cool & Increase Bottom Line




I have been thinking seriously of installing a 12VDC under-body A/C system for the sake of quiet operation. Kind of back burner right now, but I may well get back to it. I really like the Arctic_plus units with dual Danfoss compressors.

[jon]

I have that system installed on my van. I have the 8K BTU system and haven't tested it yet in hot weather but it seems like it will work ok.
A few points I want to mention are:

The outside condenser fan runs on high regardless of the fan or temp settings. It sounds like a automotive radiator fan running....it's rather noisy. Chris sent me some resistors to make it run at a lower speed but I haven't had the chance to install yet.

The inside evaporator unit blows air straight forward so I need to find some kind of air diffuser of some type.

If I were to do it again I would get a fairly efficient rooftop AC and run off my inverter.

Jon

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by avanti

I have been thinking seriously of installing a 12VDC under-body A/C system for the sake of quiet operation. Kind of back burner right now, but I may well get back to it. I really like the Arctic_plus units with dual Danfoss compressors.

I don't know if it compares directly to the units you cite, but at Pomona there was a Roadtrek CS with a Pro-Air under-body A/C system. There was less AC noise in the coach interior, but the noise generated by the Pro-Air was damn near as noisy as an Onan generator and definitely would win no friends in the immediate vicinity of its operation.

ARV had some experience with these under body units and their conclusion was that filter contamination would quickly offset the efficiency benefits promoted.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

I don't know if it compares directly to the units you cite, but at Pomona there was a Roadtrek CS with a Pro-Air under-body A/C system. There was less AC noise in the coach interior, but the noise generated by the Pro-Air was damn near as noisy as an Onan generator and definitely would win no friends in the immediate vicinity of its operation.

I am hoping that the dual-danfoss compressors would be quieter. I also would make sure to implement temperature-controlled PCM fans. This makes a huge noise difference under many conditions. In any event, if I could make the interior quiet enough to sleep in, I would declare success.

ARV had some experience with these under body units and their conclusion was that filter contamination would quickly offset the efficiency benefits promoted.

Yes, I am aware. But, that was a pretty naïve installation. First of all, I am pretty sure that they mounted the fans perpendicular to the direction of travel. I intend mine to be parallel, which I think will help a lot. Secondly, if necessary, I will encase the condenser in a weatherproof enclosure with servo-operated vents that would open under operation.

I suspect that ARV's customer demanded use of the A/C while under way. I have never found the need for this, so I have more flexibility.

[Davydd]

Mike Wendland's "experimental" Roadtrek CS, circa winter 2014-2015, was a split system so they could get over 600w solar on the roof. Campskunk had the other one. They are the only two I know of. Last year Wendland traded it in and bought a stock Roadtrek CS with air conditioner on the roof. I don't recall them going into production with a split system. They never told you much about it.

I don't know if ARV built any split system 12V air conditioners for any customers other than Solar Womp. I believe they tested one in a prototype. Their decision was from that and not from customers demanding air conditioning while under way. The Solar Womp is a one off split system design brought to ARV by the customer and I don't think it was for under way driving because it would have not been needed. It was for surviving Burning Man for a week with lots of solar on the roof with a well insulated van with fewer windows.

So two companies have tested it that I know of but not implemented it. Just in case, my preliminary design for "Mies" can accommodate a split system. I'm also just contemplating no air conditioning at all if a conventional roof top system. I rarely use air conditioning anyway.

[dougbaty]

Interesting 12v AC systems, but all are all split and all permanent. Since most of the year I don't need AC, it seems a waste to carry a useless 80 pounds sticking up from my roof. I would prefer to replace roof AC with a Fantastic Fan and use a portable AC unit in season.

Unfortunately, all the self-contained portable AC units I have studied don't like motion. They are designed to be sitting in a house. Apparently, motion foams their oil reservoir. They are also 120V, which is OK with a large capacity inverter, though I have wondered what happens if the roof AC is on and I use the microwave. (Haven't purchased an RV yet).

So my questions are do those inexpensive 120V portable units work in a van? [They require a exit holes for hot air and accumulated water]. Also are there any 12v self-contained portable compressor units available that can match roof AC performance?

DougB

[jon]

Originally Posted by dougbaty

Interesting 12v AC systems, but all are all split and all permanent. Since most of the year I don't need AC, it seems a waste to carry a useless 80 pounds sticking up from my roof. I would prefer to replace roof AC with a Fantastic Fan and use a portable AC unit in season.

Unfortunately, all the self-contained portable AC units I have studied don't like motion. They are designed to be sitting in a house. Apparently, motion foams their oil reservoir. They are also 120V, which is OK with a large capacity inverter, though I have wondered what happens if the roof AC is on and I use the microwave. (Haven't purchased an RV yet).

So my questions are do those inexpensive 120V portable units work in a van? [They require a exit holes for hot air and accumulated water]. Also are there any 12v self-contained portable compressor units available that can match roof AC performance?

DougB

U-Go!

[avanti]

Originally Posted by dougbaty

II have wondered what happens if the roof AC is on and I use the microwave.

It is not uncommon for upfitters to include a priority transfer switch that cuts out the A/C when the Microwave is on. Our old Airstream Interstate had one. It was trouble-prone.

[Phoebe3]

Originally Posted by jon

U-Go!

Thanks for the link! Not quite usable in the US since it switches from 12V to 220V, but would be great for keeping a pet cool while one was in the store and doesn't require one to have either an inverter or leave the engine running.

3250 Btu/hr
12V 37 ah

It's about 1/3 the Btu of my current permanently-mounted AC, but I've never needed the full AC my unit provides and it requires earplugs at any level of cooling...

[jon]

Originally Posted by Phoebe3

It's about 1/3 the Btu of my current permanently-mounted AC, but I've never needed the full AC my unit provides and it requires earplugs at any level of cooling...

My 12 volt air conditioner outside condenser fan runs on high always and is very noisy too. Like I said in my post the owner of my 12 volt air conditioner Co. sent me a couple of resistor blocks that I had mounted on the frame and when I run my fan wiring through I can slow the fan speed to whatever speed is desired, but I haven't had a chance to do that part yet.

You could do the same to your system if the fan is where the excessive noise is coming from.

[Phoebe3]

Originally Posted by jon

My 12 volt air conditioner outside condenser fan runs on high always and is very noisy too. Like I said in my post the owner of my 12 volt air conditioner Co. sent me a couple of resistor blocks that I had mounted on the frame and when I run my fan wiring through I can slow the fan speed to whatever speed is desired, but I haven't had a chance to do that part yet.

You could do the same to your system if the fan is where the excessive noise is coming from.

I don't think I typed my sentence very well. I meant that my current 120V AC is far too noisy...

I don't know what the sound level of the 12V U-Go! is.

[mlts22]

Danhard was a part of the Sportsmobile build I was planning. They are not cheap, but the advantage would be it being less obvious. Another downside is that overhead A/Cs may have issues, but they are replaceable. The separated systems may have issues finding spare parts should something break.

I do like a 12 volt system as an option, especially if one uses the engine as their main power generation.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Phoebe3

I don't think I typed my sentence very well. I meant that my current 120V AC is far too noisy...

I don't know what the sound level of the 12V U-Go! is.

There is a new Coleman Mach 10 NDQ that has had several good reviews. James at the Fit RV did a review and sound test here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caBQ87EBPrY

[ArtDeco]

Good thread. I have an ERA 170 with the 110v rooftop air and can hardly use it because with the generator running under the bed and the A/C running over the bed, it's a noise sandwich. Not even with earplugs could I sleep through that racket.

[Rlum]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

Good thread. I have an ERA 170 with the 110v rooftop air and can hardly use it because with the generator running under the bed and the A/C running over the bed, it's a noise sandwich. Not even with earplugs could I sleep through that racket.

Look at the Houghton Belaire 3401. It is 110volt system. Made in China but sold by Rec Pro(actually only 3400). Really quiet. 3401 is ac mode only and 3400 has heat pump in addition. Rec Pro only has the 3400 and sells for around $1400.

Very quiet system. I changed out my Dometic Penguin II for this Houghton Belaire. Expensive but worth it for the noise reduction.

[ArtDeco]

Originally Posted by Rlum

Look at the Houghton Belaire 3401. It is 110volt system. Made in China but sold by Rec Pro(actually only 3400). Really quiet. 3401 is ac mode only and 3400 has heat pump in addition. Rec Pro only has the 3400 and sells for around $1400.

Very quiet system. I changed out my Dometic Penguin II for this Houghton Belaire. Expensive but worth it for the noise reduction.

Thanks for the lead. I am currently heading down the rabbit hole of 12v mini split a/c units such as are used in truck sleeper cabs and boats.

For anyone unfamiliar with thefitrv , James did a video on a/c on his class B+ . The comments go into 12v, thick wires, etc.
https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how...off-batteries/

[Rlum]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

Thanks for the lead. I am currently heading down the rabbit hole of 12v mini split a/c units such as are used in truck sleeper cabs and boats.

For anyone unfamiliar with thefitrv , James did a video on a/c on his class B+ . The comments go into 12v, thick wires, etc.
https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how...off-batteries/

Take a look at the reviews for Pro Air on Coachmen vans. I have heard these 12 volt units are not that energy efficient because of the size of compressor motors. For small areas like the truck cabs, they work fine. I do not know for larger spaces? Also you will need a large battery bank to run 12 volt air conditioner?

[Davydd]

Advanced RV has been installing Houghton AC for a few years. They once were installing them on other RVs but with their backlog of vans for their own customers I think they abandoned that. It is their standard and is super quiet. There’s is 12v and they claim 20% more efficient than other RV air conditioners. I have one now but haven’t needed it yet but have tested it. I’m not one to travel where you need AC and never used my GWVan air conditioner until I got caught in 100 degree weather in Kansas in September and found it didn’t work. Now I think I have to fire it up periodically whether I need it or not.