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Old 03-06-2019, 12:26 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by arctictraveller View Post
I think a large enough bank of battery's to run an a/c for even a few hours will take more space than you gain removing the AC unit, not to mention the high cost of all the parts.
Oh definitely. And then some. Right now, I'm figuring about $6-7000 for about 600 AHr of LiFePO4 batteries. But those will also power everything else in the van as well. Not cheap, but surprisingly about the same cost as an under-chassis diesel generator similar to the model often fitted under Sprinters. Those aren't small either.


By the time I get to this point in the build, I'm hoping a 12V roof A/C unit will become easier to source. I've started seeing them in new commercial builds, but not in aftermarket channels yet. These are designed to be used with larger 12V battery banks without an inverter.

FWIW, I'm going the DIY route less because I'm looking to save money but more because I can't find a currently available RV that does what I want.

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Old 03-06-2019, 02:58 PM   #12
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Wait... @IanF - just saw you are in Croydon? I'm near NE Philly. If you want to connect sometime let me know. Right now I have both a Sportsmobile and PW Traverse (yes, I know...) if you want to get some ideas.


@Stillvanin is located in Bucks County (Trevose, I think), too, but I haven't seen him post here for a while.
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Old 03-06-2019, 03:04 PM   #13
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@BrianW - cool - thanks! Hopefully come Spring I'll be able to get a few current projects sorted out so I can start working on the van.
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Old 03-06-2019, 07:43 PM   #14
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I am looking at a few vans for DIY builds. Some of these vans in considering have rear AC. Is the rear AC worth keeping? I live in Orlando, FL and it can get hot here. Any suggestions welcomed.
You live in Orlando and you're asking this? Have you ever been outside your home there in Orlando? KEEP IT!!!!!!
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Old 03-10-2019, 04:03 PM   #15
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We had an A/C unit mounted in the rear door of our van. Since we almost always camp in the mountains and rarely anywhere with hookups the A/C was pretty useless. Also dust from dirt roads filtered in around the unit. So… we removed it and have had no regrets.
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Old 03-10-2019, 05:07 PM   #16
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While surfing YouTube last night, I stumbled across a video about a portable A/C unit called a Zero Breeze. Available in two versions, with and without a battery pack. It only draws 150w, so in theory it should easily run off a nominal solar set-up and a good RV style battery. It's not huge at 1100 BTUs, but it should adequately keep a sleeping area cool, which is usually what is desired. Plus, it acts as a dehumidifier, which is another key issue when trying to be comfortable in humid areas.

Reviews are somewhat mixed, but it might still be worth it.
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