AntiGroundhogDay
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 203
- Reaction score
- 0
Retiring at the end of 2019 to vanlife and getting down to (van planning) business. Vehicle of choice is an insulated 159in RAM Promaster 2500 High Roof and I will be rocking ~900-1000w of solar on top, 4-600Ah of lithium batteries, and genuine air conditioning. Oh the price of comfort. I will be drawing a sealed off, insulated curtain (as sealed off as I can get it with velcro or snaps, open to other ideas) behind the front seats to minimize solar gain and drawing another curtain to seal off the bedroom from the kitchen area. In order to minimize electrical loads, I will be cooling the raised bed at the back of the van only. I found these calculations helpful, if anyone thinks there is a better way to calculate, please let me know:
Here are some examples of folks running A/C off solar/batteries:
Now on to the A/C.... being an East Coast guy, I assume I'll spend some time in urban/suburban areas as well as out West. Stealth is very important to me (as much as you can be with a bunch of solar up top. Might use the H2 Vantech racks to conceal it a bit: https://vantech.us/RAM-ProMaster_c156.htm) so hanging a Window A/C unit out the back window, or even baffling it internally w/ a large grate on the outside didn't appeal to me. But the inefficiency of a portable unit, nor the cost and trouble of concealing a ductless mini split did not work for me either. Enter the DIY mini split from a cheap window unit:
I would follow this guy's general lead in installing this in his Sprint, but the evaporator/compressor/fan/controls portion of the unit would be mounted like this: https://www.midwayrv.com/console/photos/inventory/large/0421e349074d0b5.jpg
The other fan and condenser would be installed here on the promaster:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reh51Kai...gJDqf5Slga-buTwCKgB/s1600/20150927_184006.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hoT0-lB7gM/VkGHXvyZl_I/AAAAAAAAKt8/34lih-QGZio9e3dQ0Jgqe3j_UkoJg-0twCKgB/s640/20150927_184020.jpg
(re: the pictures, this guy wanted to install an AGM battery in this spot under his Promaster, but I see no reason why the fan and condenser can go here, towards the rear of the van, but forward of the rear axle.)
Benefits would be:
- Reduced sound for stealth. All you will hear is the sound of the fan blowing over the condenser, and that will be concealed way under the van. The sounds of the compressor kicking on/off will be contained inside the van.
- Reduced visibility for stealth. You will not see any evidence of an A/C mounted or running unless you crawled under the van. But I will admit, condensation drain line will drip water on the ground unless I terminate it in a container inside the van (at the slight loss of efficiency, not dripping it over the condenser) and empty it every once in awhile.
- Cost (maybe?). Window A/C units are cheap and readily available, but the video shows some soldering and then charging the system. I can solder, but I do not have the tools or knowledge to charge and test the system. What would that cost in labor if I were needing to replace the A/C unit after a few years? Licensed HVAC guys make good $. Would need to extend the copper refrigerant lines from the back of the van up near the roof, all the way down to underneath the van.
- More efficient than a portable unit and thus less electrical load.
So.... why isn't this more popular? Seems like a slam dunk to me, I'm probably missing something here. Maybe folks like to go off road a bit and worry about the condenser being damaged? Maybe it would be tucked up far enough not to worry? Maybe install some chicken wire over the fins to protect from the occasional rocking kicking up? Has anyone tried? Thanks!
Here are some examples of folks running A/C off solar/batteries:
Now on to the A/C.... being an East Coast guy, I assume I'll spend some time in urban/suburban areas as well as out West. Stealth is very important to me (as much as you can be with a bunch of solar up top. Might use the H2 Vantech racks to conceal it a bit: https://vantech.us/RAM-ProMaster_c156.htm) so hanging a Window A/C unit out the back window, or even baffling it internally w/ a large grate on the outside didn't appeal to me. But the inefficiency of a portable unit, nor the cost and trouble of concealing a ductless mini split did not work for me either. Enter the DIY mini split from a cheap window unit:
I would follow this guy's general lead in installing this in his Sprint, but the evaporator/compressor/fan/controls portion of the unit would be mounted like this: https://www.midwayrv.com/console/photos/inventory/large/0421e349074d0b5.jpg
The other fan and condenser would be installed here on the promaster:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reh51Kai...gJDqf5Slga-buTwCKgB/s1600/20150927_184006.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hoT0-lB7gM/VkGHXvyZl_I/AAAAAAAAKt8/34lih-QGZio9e3dQ0Jgqe3j_UkoJg-0twCKgB/s640/20150927_184020.jpg
(re: the pictures, this guy wanted to install an AGM battery in this spot under his Promaster, but I see no reason why the fan and condenser can go here, towards the rear of the van, but forward of the rear axle.)
Benefits would be:
- Reduced sound for stealth. All you will hear is the sound of the fan blowing over the condenser, and that will be concealed way under the van. The sounds of the compressor kicking on/off will be contained inside the van.
- Reduced visibility for stealth. You will not see any evidence of an A/C mounted or running unless you crawled under the van. But I will admit, condensation drain line will drip water on the ground unless I terminate it in a container inside the van (at the slight loss of efficiency, not dripping it over the condenser) and empty it every once in awhile.
- Cost (maybe?). Window A/C units are cheap and readily available, but the video shows some soldering and then charging the system. I can solder, but I do not have the tools or knowledge to charge and test the system. What would that cost in labor if I were needing to replace the A/C unit after a few years? Licensed HVAC guys make good $. Would need to extend the copper refrigerant lines from the back of the van up near the roof, all the way down to underneath the van.
- More efficient than a portable unit and thus less electrical load.
So.... why isn't this more popular? Seems like a slam dunk to me, I'm probably missing something here. Maybe folks like to go off road a bit and worry about the condenser being damaged? Maybe it would be tucked up far enough not to worry? Maybe install some chicken wire over the fins to protect from the occasional rocking kicking up? Has anyone tried? Thanks!