Portable A/C units for van

[dogsandcats]

Hi, Anyone know if there are any portable A/C's that work well in a van? Appreciate hearing any info or recommendations. My concerns are how big they are and what sort of venting is possible depending on window style. I’m thinking a modified window connection would be necessary. Wondering if anyone has seen or used a ‘chillwell’ a/c. Thanks

 

[daveb-SMB]

Really depends on what you want. Some people like water coolers but there is no way I'd want one. I need something that kills the humidity as well as lower the temps. A few here have tried small 110AC window units while running a 2000w generator. Others have tried to use those roll around portables. I had looked into those for a cargo trailer project I just built but you have to exhaust the hot air. Roof type RV models require a bit more than what a 2000w generator can handle. In my research I've found a few true compressor driven portables that can run off a battery pack. One is called an Eco Wave Portable but I don't know about how or if it requires venting the hot air and/or water if it accumulates it. Some are designed for tents such as the eenour qn750 portable and another is Zero Breeze. Not sure how well they would work in a van. Good luck on your quest.

 

[dogsandcats]

portable ac's

Thanks for your info.

 

[Orv-SMB]

If you get a portable A/C, try to find one with a two-hose setup -- a separate air intake and exhaust for the condenser. Single-hose portables take air to cool the condenser from inside the van and exhaust it outside, which means you're constantly pulling in outside air.


I'm putting together a cheap bucket-style portable evaporative water cooler (aka "swamp cooler") to try out on my next trip, but I frequently camp in desert areas with humidity in the low teens or even single digits. I don't have a generator and camp in places without electrical hookups, so this is pretty much the only form of cooling with a low enough power draw to be practical for me; the one I'm building will draw around 20 watts, which is reasonable to support with batteries. However, evaporative coolers have some important constraints; they're one-pass (you don't recirculate the air, you need to keep pulling in fresh from outside), they require quite a bit of water, and they only work when the humidity is very low.

 

[dogsandcats]

If you get a portable A/C, try to find one with a two-hose setup -- a separate air intake and exhaust for the condenser. Single-hose portables take air to cool the condenser from inside the van and exhaust it outside, which means you're constantly pulling in outside air.


I'm putting together a cheap bucket-style portable evaporative water cooler (aka "swamp cooler") to try out on my next trip, but I frequently camp in desert areas with humidity in the low teens or even single digits. I don't have a generator and camp in places without electrical hookups, so this is pretty much the only form of cooling with a low enough power draw to be practical for me; the one I'm building will draw around 20 watts, which is reasonable to support with batteries. However, evaporative coolers have some important constraints; they're one-pass (you don't recirculate the air, you need to keep pulling in fresh from outside), they require quite a bit of water, and they only work when the humidity is very low.

Good info thanks

 

[dogsandcats]

Really depends on what you want. Some people like water coolers but there is no way I'd want one. I need something that kills the humidity as well as lower the temps. A few here have tried small 110AC window units while running a 2000w generator. Others have tried to use those roll around portables. I had looked into those for a cargo trailer project I just built but you have to exhaust the hot air. Roof type RV models require a bit more than what a 2000w generator can handle. In my research I've found a few true compressor driven portables that can run off a battery pack. One is called an Eco Wave Portable but I don't know about how or if it requires venting the hot air and/or water if it accumulates it. Some are designed for tents such as the eenour qn750 portable and another is Zero Breeze. Not sure how well they would work in a van. Good luck on your quest.

Thanks, checked out your recommendations. Wondering how to vent with various window configurations because the seal has to be complete.

 

[hogasm]

Thanks, checked out your recommendations. Wondering how to vent with various window configurations because the seal has to be complete.[/QUOTE

I made my filler with 1 1/2” pink foam board
3/4” plywood deck on door with an adjustable paint pole for the leg to the ground
Black van and it will freeze you out

 

[86Scotty]

There is a new player in this market. It's called a Fresair and is supposedly a 'better' swamp cooler type roof air. Check it out, no affiliation btw:

https://fresair.com/

 

[AbsoluteFreedom]

There is a new player in this market. It's called a Fresair and is supposedly a 'better' swamp cooler type roof air. Check it out, no affiliation btw:

https://fresair.com/

I actually have a Fresair and was going to install it but I came across the Cruise and Comfort AC.
I initially chose the Fresair since it was only 5 inches high and it could fit under my roof rack but the Cruise and Comfort will actually go inside the van and not on top which I really like, but pricey $4500.
The Fresair was about $1500.
I’m planning to post the Fresair for sale for $1200 just in case anyone here is interested, message me.

 

[dogsandcats]

Thanks for the update.

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Here's one of the newer ice chest (swamp cooler) ones.

https://www.icybreeze.com/


Herb

 

[dogsandcats]

Thanks I’ll look at it.

 

[CarlParr]

We have a Zero Breeze 2. Runs off its own batteries (we have 2), the house batteries, generator or shore power. It is a real air conditioner, although only 2,300 btu, so it will not freeze you out sitting in the desert sun, but it does fine for cooling down the van for sleeping. It will run all night on its own batteries. We went this route for its portability to move over into the trailer's RTT when travelling with the grandkids. Basically, I added a shelf that it sits on and run the hoses (for some reason it has 2 exhaust hoses) through a foam tile with the 2 cutouts. The hightop window is only open enough to exhaust the air. We are still considering the Dometic 12v air conditioning unit, but I am a little hesitant as I am already at 9 and a half feet tall.

 

[gcvt-SMB]

I'm doing a cross country trip right now and bought the cheapest portable unit Lowes had - $300. It's working perfectly, fits right between the two front seats, and uses the outlet right behind the driver's seat (thanks SM. I cut a little plywood piece, put a little foam around the edges, and stick it in the driver window. It's obviously a single-hoser...I don't think the smaller ones come with two hoses. This one is 5000BTU rated for 150 square feet.

 

[dogsandcats]

Thanks for the pics and telling how you did the venting.

 

[dogsandcats]

Thanks. Great to get details on how these things perform.

 

[Twoxentrix]

We have a Zero Breeze 2. Runs off its own batteries (we have 2), the house batteries, generator or shore power. It is a real air conditioner, although only 2,300 btu, so it will not freeze you out sitting in the desert sun, but it does fine for cooling down the van for sleeping.

Very interesting Carl, I looked at the Zero Breeze about two years ago. Not something I would use often, but compact enough to warrant room in the van just for the few occasions it would come in handy.
You are the only one I know with actual practical experience so I'd like to impose with two questions:
1. Is it annoying loud as I've read from some user comments?
2. With your application, what would you determine it's effectiveness to be - will it bring down the ambient temp in the Van 10 degrees?, 15 degrees?
Thanks!

 

[CarlParr]

1. It is very quiet. No annoying cycling like the StarCools.
2. I would say 10 degrees during the day. 15 degrees at night. Although, and they will admit it, it will not cool down a metal box sitting in the direct sun. But it still will cool you off blowing directly on you. It has been great for sleeping and does remove the moisture as well.

Let me know if you want to see it in action.

 

[marret]

1. It is very quiet. No annoying cycling like the StarCools.
2. I would say 10 degrees during the day. 15 degrees at night. Although, and they will admit it, it will not cool down a metal box sitting in the direct sun. But it still will cool you off blowing directly on you. It has been great for sleeping and does remove the moisture as well.

Let me know if you want to see it in action.

Thanks Carl. My Danhard works fine, but I would like an option for sleeping that doesn't require a generator or shore power. Cooling the bed area/person only is ok.

How is charging the batteries? Have to use AC or is there a DC option? If using an inverter, any issues charging while driving?

I thought I read Zero Breeze is 24 volts so it wouldn't work on house batteries without a converter..

Thanks, Chris

 

[CarlParr]

Hey Chris,
That is why it works for us, cooling the bed area at nighttime. Not usually in the vehicle during the day unless we are driving anyway.
When "off grid" we charge it using AC through the inverter/solar/house batteries. Charging it while driving seems to work fine. I bought their adapter so you can run the unit and charge the batteries at the same time, although there is no need to run it while driving, it is useful when on shore power.
It is 24 volts, but the AC adapter takes care of converting it. I did see some "hard wire" options that convert your 12v to 24v, but, for us, it is not necessary at this time.
Overall, we are satisfied with its ability to keep the van cool enough to sleep comfortably off grid overnight. In our van, it is mounted out of the way, requiring minimal setup, so we keep it with us for those trips when the temperature could get uncomfortable.