I have spent a LOT of time researching using a small window AC unit converted to work in a camper van without cutting a giant hole in a wall. There's a fellow on Youtube[1] that did this successfully, and he's the only known example of it that I've seen, and he was only able to because was he a professional HVAC technician and had several unique tools you'd never own if you weren't an HVAC tech.
which is a perfect product, except that it costs $4000 and still uses 20% more power than some of the smallest window units. It's ridiculous that the major difference between this $4000 unit and a $150 window AC is that the $4k version has a rubber hose connecting the compressor to the condenser coils instead of the typical thin copper pipe. I am sure there are other differences - it uses better components that are more suited to a moving vehicle with shocks and vibrations, has a strong compressor to deal with the longer hose length, and is already adapted to run off of 12V. But a $3850 price difference is ridiculous.
As the fellow on Youtube has shown (it's been in his camper van for years without a problem) there's really no reason the components from a $150 window unit won't work.
Whenever I finally do a camper van build I'm going to find an HVAC tech who can help me with a couple steps (mostly removing and then re-adding refrigerant) and convert the copper pipes to PTFE lined stainless braided hoses attached to SAE fittings. It may not work, and I've heard finding an HVAC tech to work on weird projects is very difficult, but I want to give it a try.
A lot of camper vans do this - it just looks awful, destroys any stealth value, has to be moved in and out of the opening any time you start driving, and takes up a ton of internal room when not deployed.
Wow, talk about having an axe to grind. That story simultaneously complains about it as a waste of money and says that he's rich so he can/should afford something sleeker.
This might be a stupid question: couldn't you just modify the AC unit already in your van to run off whatever power source you wanted to run your window unit off of?
Not stupid. The problem with most full sized vans is the ac compressor is run off a belt. Not totally insane would be add a second compressor and a three way valve. I've never heard of someone doing that. It's more common to use a RV rooftop AC unit.
Some newer passengers cars and maybe some vans use electric motors to drive the compressor. And EV's tend do that as well. In the EV case no mods are probably needed. Electric vans though are just becoming a thing and have low range and high price tag.
Yes but the issue is power consumption. The idea is to run the AC off solar and batteries which is why the rooftop option doesn't work either - they use a buttload of energy. The AC systems in vehicles consume a ton of power to operate which is typically why they're belt driven by the engine directly. The all electric version in a Tesla uses around 3000 watts if I remember correctly, while a window unit use about 450.
> The all electric version in a Tesla uses around 3000 watts if I remember correctly, while a window unit use about 450.
Surely the 3000W unit will use 3000W when running full tilt and will cool significantly more and faster than a 450W window unit, and would achieve the same cooling as the 450W unit by only running about 15% of the time? (or at 15% power if it's an inverter AC).
I know someone with a Home Depot residential style mini-split mounted on the back of their cargo trailer RV conversion. Probably too much for a van, but no huge hole in the wall.
These unfortunately have absolutely awful reviews everywhere. It's impressive it's lasted as long as it had for him. I believe the manufacturer stopped making these because they suck so bad. They also aren't designed to be serviced and would still require a lot of hacking in the same way a window unit would be
Essentially what I'm aiming for is this: https://www.cruisencomfortusa.com/hd-series
which is a perfect product, except that it costs $4000 and still uses 20% more power than some of the smallest window units. It's ridiculous that the major difference between this $4000 unit and a $150 window AC is that the $4k version has a rubber hose connecting the compressor to the condenser coils instead of the typical thin copper pipe. I am sure there are other differences - it uses better components that are more suited to a moving vehicle with shocks and vibrations, has a strong compressor to deal with the longer hose length, and is already adapted to run off of 12V. But a $3850 price difference is ridiculous.
As the fellow on Youtube has shown (it's been in his camper van for years without a problem) there's really no reason the components from a $150 window unit won't work.
Whenever I finally do a camper van build I'm going to find an HVAC tech who can help me with a couple steps (mostly removing and then re-adding refrigerant) and convert the copper pipes to PTFE lined stainless braided hoses attached to SAE fittings. It may not work, and I've heard finding an HVAC tech to work on weird projects is very difficult, but I want to give it a try.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXgHIrFqm9o