I will still choose midea u shape window ac over anything else. Because it is sold at Costco, Sam's and everywhere. If it quits working, get warranty replacement or buy a new one at $300 in no time.
Thanks for sharing, I am not quite at the point of getting panels. I still have plenty of time, a lot of info to process!! Def jazzed about it though!! 😀
Hrmmm... iterating on your design in the interest of stealth. I would cut the same hole in the rear door, but just put some fine mesh grating or a vent of some sort there and paint it white to match the van. Then I would build a sealed box (vented to the outside through that hole/grating I just made) just inside of that hole I just cut to house the condenser portion of the U-shaped A/C, then run the lines and fan/controls portion of the A/C through the sealed box into the conditioned living space. This would preserve more stealth, but keep the condenser portion separate from the fan and controls. Thanks for the idea!
I like having the space in the van especially knowing that having the condenser outside it will work better and after a few years I believe people don't think anybody's in the van just because they see the air conditioner on the back. My van very much looks for work and I have some ideas to make it more stealth
@@NoLimitVanLife yes, my solution takes up more interior space and efficiency for the stealth. My other idea is to use that Ivation unit with the flexible hose you referenced and if the hose is long enough, mount a hitch mounted cargo box and put the condenser in there, then run the lines to the fan inside the living space. This would preserve stealth as well and minimize holes in the van.
@@antigroundhogday since the air conditioner, only works good below 85° unless you have enough power to run at 24 seven and closing the condenser should be fine. The only time I would wish the condenser was outside is above 85° because of the heat buildup of running the air conditioner 24 hours a day. That new air conditioner I found in this video you could put the condenser under the van but unfortunately you would have to have a big enough hole which is annoying since all that needs to go through is a couple tubes and some wires. The thing about the mydia U-shaped air conditioner is, it’s so quiet.
@@DavetheUberSlave yeah, I guess you need a big hole because you can't cut the lines and just feed them through. I worry about getting clearance and protecting the condenser from rocks under the van, but certainly a stealth solution. If one could run the tubes from the Ivation just out the rear doors to a hitch mounted box for the condenser WITHOUT CRIMPING THE LINES then we wouldn't need to cut a huge hole in the van, just the hitch box to provide airflow to the condenser. Agreed?
I prefer the Midea that you installed over the Ivation that you are thinking about. I had something similar to the Ivation (called the Eurom AC2401) which slowly leaks refrigerant and so I had to recharge every 2 years. The weak point of the design is the flexible pipes joining the outdoor and indoor units. Because of the nature of flexible pipes, the pipe joints eventually leak refrigerant unlike the rigid welded copper pipes of a u-shaped Midea air conditioner.
The mydia air conditioner is the best air conditioner I’ve ever owned and because it’s so quiet I can’t imagine getting any other air conditioner. Also, it being an inverter AC it uses significantly less power than other air conditioners.
all I know about the inverter AC is it’s a new type of AC and that’s why it sips power at times but it definitely runs on AC current and you’ll need to buy an inverter to run it off of batteries
@@markrodrigue6913 it seems like every month there’s more new air conditioner, designs that for you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars. My opinion any air conditioner that doesn’t have the condenser outside it’s a waste of time.
Hello, I agree with you. This U-shaped AC is hands down the most efficient and cost-effective option available. Instead of cutting a whole in the door, I think removing the rear window and installing it there would be a better option. What do you think? if you sell the van just remove and replace the window. Perhaps some fabrication and bracing needed? I think a guy on you tube installs window AC units that way. A slide up window replacement would be perfect! I have not seen one though. :( Maybe go with a 48Volt off grid system. 48V wall mount battery and all-in-one inverter. 4000 watts of solar if possible. DC to DC perhaps not possible. Shore power may be tricky with the neutral ground bonding issue. One day we will have the perfect set up, but I agree with the U-shape AC. Installation is the challenge though.
I'm pleased with our Midea after 5 months. Anyone discover a way or alternative to power the supposedly direct current Media with direct current from solar panels rather than converting input from direct current to alternating current so that the Media can convert the alternating current back to direct current? Love to stick air conditioners in multiple windows and power with off-grid solar.
Hi, were you able to take it apart to put it thru your van? I’m in a shuttle bus. I’m also looking at all the different AC’s. In Seattle I don’t need one except maybe 3 weeks out of the year but when I’m in Texas visiting my daughter I need BIG AC. I was checking out the GE Profile ClearView Inverter Window Air Conditioner 10,300 BTU. It fits over your window like that small rv one. I want the largest I can get using the lowest amount of watts. How much does yours pull. I know you said it only went down to 70% using it overnight. I’ll be going back to your older vids. Glad to have found you! 😊
Being an inverter AC sometimes it only takes a couple hundred watts, but it can go as high as 700 W and I have a video showing me taking it apart and putting it through the hole
Hi. Great idea. Can you provide the dimensions of the hole needed to pass the unit through the door? Was this the smallest dimension possible, and did passing the unit require any disassembly -at 0:15 it looks like you have all the plastic covering and trim removed from the interior side of the unit to pass it through? Thanks!
Yes, there are 3 foot wide wind turbines that way about 20 pounds and claimed to be 400 W but all I see people getting out of them is less than 50 W which is nice if the wind is consistent but maybe not worth the trouble
I'm considering an outside cover for our Midea for seasons when not used. I'm wondering if the tan waterproof material covers available on Amazon would be good or if the cover trapping moister might be problematic? Also there is a quarter sized hole in the bottom which may be to let water out - not sure - wonder if I need to cover this with a bug screen - hate to have a wasp hive get created. Or would the screen mesh cover be better. The placement is mostly protected from rain anyway. What do you use or thoughts on the need?
People put spare tires which way three times more on the door so I’m not worried about that. Also I don’t open and close the door because I’m concerned with the shock on the parts in the air conditioner of shutting the door.
Is there a way to plug our solar batteries into the Midea without first converting our direct current to alternating current with an inverter and then feed it to the Midea internal inverter to convert back from alternating 110 current to direct current. Or am I not understanding how to use our solar with the Midea. I do have a window unit and it works great with grid 110, just wish there was a model to more efficiently use solar charged batteries when available.
I guess what you described is not possible. You’ll need to buy an inverter, but it may be a better option than buying an expensive DC air conditioner because even after converting from DC to AC to run the air conditioner the midea is so efficient it may be efficient as an expensive DC air conditioner. an efficient 1000 W pure sign wave inverter will run the air conditioner and isn’t expensive
@@NoLimitVanLifeThanks for the reply. I'm speculating. Does the Midea really run off DC current (called an inverter air conditioner) and only accept AC current as input? I might be misunderstanding what an inverter air conditioner means. So far, we've been happy with our 12,000 BTU Media that we are using to limp along until the central air in our home gets fixed. I'm just wondering if in some cases, especially if hook up solar panels, might save a few bucks. I have a meter on our Media and on econo and low fan - it seems to do whatever it feels is required -- has quite a range of electric input from 2.5 watts to 260 watts so far with many levels between (all readings on economy and low fan). In fairness, it has not been very hot and today is the first 80 + day. We have an open space home with several rooms closed off and the window unit has so far kept our main area at 72 (by morning) to 74 to 75 by evening with the unit set at 74. Starting last Wednesday afternoon to Monday running continually has cost $1.77 ( at 14 cents / KWH) and is currently using 147 Watts with outside temp at 3:31 PM at 81 degrees and inside temp in the open space living / dining / kitchen at 73.4 degrees. My adjoining room office with the door open is noticeably warmer - but the computers are in there. Our home is well insulated with solar screens on the windows that mostly also have roof eave overhangs. We have solar shades hanging in front of our attached garage doors. Thanks for the video and reply.
@@NoLimitVanLife Following up after thinking for two months. For us and perhaps others a window unit that can run off of 12 volt solar would make a lot of sense. Thinking of multiple window units, not to do the heaving lifting cooling out home, but to make a contribution to saving money on our electric bill. I have inverters on each of our RVs powered by solar. While Tm glad we have them, the fan is noisy under load and not sure made for continuous use
@@NoLimitVanLife inverter maybe only option available, but for solar, hope you and others will post when direct to solar and 12 volt from batteries charged by solar available. Seems like lots of money to be saved - one family member's electric bill, mostly for cooling is 300 to 400 per month.
Hey Dave! I’ve been looking at this A/C for my tiny house since it’s only 8x20. I can get obsessed over solar energy too, it should be mandatory that all of So-Cal runs on solar these days, otherwise, it’s criminal not too! 😂
I have an idea I'd like to run by you. Instead of carrying all that extra weight and taking up space with a bunch of solar panels, why not just set up your battery bank so that you can charge off of Tesla superchargers? In most cases you could charge within an hour and you can even use that charger to run your devices while you're waiting to get charged.
Another thing I would like to run by you. I would think it would be a better idea. Take a window air conditioner and mount it through the floor face up. The van would be much more stealthy and the AC would still work and drain without being seen from the outside.
$579.99 for a 200w solar panel!!! Yeah, if money is no option, then why live in a van? All the people who can't afford homes are getting run off now because of the number of rich, carefree people taking over the limited parking resources. More people, more trash, more problems. Most Walmarts won't even allow overnight parking now, and even rest areas are putting up no overnight parking signs. I just watched a guys home/vehicle towed because he parked it overnight in a public parking lot. He can't afford to get it back so now he's just another disabled person sleeping on the street. Please be mindful that being homeless isn't a fad or choice for everyone and recognize that you are limiting resources for actual poor, disabled and homeless and do your part to help... especially since you have so much money to just throw at whatever you want. Maybe use that money to organize some law changes so there's enough accessible parking for all you fancy rich trendy vanlifers and the rest who can't afford basic necessities like food and housing. Maybe make some budget friendly videos for the people living in thier car that are in danger of dying from the heat and need ac. Your setup is not helpful to anyone but the rich people that are driving out all the poor people living in their vehicles.
Wait, why are you doing all this? Just to stay cool inside of your van in LA? Go outside then. And nights are cold, I would be running a heater at night there. And if at night you still need an AC, sleep in a tent or go north. I am totally puzzled here. While I am trying to solve a problem how to stay actually warm on the West Coast, you are trying to do the opposite. I think it is much easier to stay cool by moving outside all together. I wish I would be hot all the time, I would be sleeping in a tent. You are making zero sense, it is like Sisyphus, you lock yourself up inside of metal box that naturally gets hot and then using all the solar panels that you can use to run an AC. I cannot explain your behavior other than you have nothing better to do, honestly. .
I will still choose midea u shape window ac over anything else. Because it is sold at Costco, Sam's and everywhere. If it quits working, get warranty replacement or buy a new one at $300 in no time.
Good to know Costco has it it really is the best air conditioner I’ve ever had
Sadly no window ac available in Europe, so I bought this one.
This man is so crazy
How about testing it in the humid areas with 115 degree heat index.
😎🌴
Yes, I’m excited to do that but I’m going to need more solar panels
I think a mini split mounted under the van is the best option. I have 1200 watts though lol
Thanks for sharing, I am not quite at the point of getting panels. I still have plenty of time, a lot of info to process!! Def jazzed about it though!! 😀
Shocking how durable and light these new cigs panels are
I enjoyed the video. Sun-energy harvesting is so addictive 😂
Greatings from Belgium !
It really is addicting and crazy that I’ve been living life just like I did when I lived in a house but without an electric bill
Hrmmm... iterating on your design in the interest of stealth. I would cut the same hole in the rear door, but just put some fine mesh grating or a vent of some sort there and paint it white to match the van. Then I would build a sealed box (vented to the outside through that hole/grating I just made) just inside of that hole I just cut to house the condenser portion of the U-shaped A/C, then run the lines and fan/controls portion of the A/C through the sealed box into the conditioned living space. This would preserve more stealth, but keep the condenser portion separate from the fan and controls. Thanks for the idea!
I like having the space in the van especially knowing that having the condenser outside it will work better and after a few years I believe people don't think anybody's in the van just because they see the air conditioner on the back. My van very much looks for work and I have some ideas to make it more stealth
@@NoLimitVanLife yes, my solution takes up more interior space and efficiency for the stealth. My other idea is to use that Ivation unit with the flexible hose you referenced and if the hose is long enough, mount a hitch mounted cargo box and put the condenser in there, then run the lines to the fan inside the living space. This would preserve stealth as well and minimize holes in the van.
@@antigroundhogday since the air conditioner, only works good below 85° unless you have enough power to run at 24 seven and closing the condenser should be fine. The only time I would wish the condenser was outside is above 85° because of the heat buildup of running the air conditioner 24 hours a day. That new air conditioner I found in this video you could put the condenser under the van but unfortunately you would have to have a big enough hole which is annoying since all that needs to go through is a couple tubes and some wires. The thing about the mydia U-shaped air conditioner is, it’s so quiet.
@@DavetheUberSlave yeah, I guess you need a big hole because you can't cut the lines and just feed them through. I worry about getting clearance and protecting the condenser from rocks under the van, but certainly a stealth solution. If one could run the tubes from the Ivation just out the rear doors to a hitch mounted box for the condenser WITHOUT CRIMPING THE LINES then we wouldn't need to cut a huge hole in the van, just the hitch box to provide airflow to the condenser. Agreed?
I prefer the Midea that you installed over the Ivation that you are thinking about. I had something similar to the Ivation (called the Eurom AC2401) which slowly leaks refrigerant and so I had to recharge every 2 years. The weak point of the design is the flexible pipes joining the outdoor and indoor units. Because of the nature of flexible pipes, the pipe joints eventually leak refrigerant unlike the rigid welded copper pipes of a u-shaped Midea air conditioner.
The mydia air conditioner is the best air conditioner I’ve ever owned and because it’s so quiet I can’t imagine getting any other air conditioner. Also, it being an inverter AC it uses significantly less power than other air conditioners.
all I know about the inverter AC is it’s a new type of AC and that’s why it sips power at times but it definitely runs on AC current and you’ll need to buy an inverter to run it off of batteries
Interesting - anyone know why the term inverter is used? The unit definitely is not fixed a each settings, the power used is constantly changing.
I watched your video about this a/c. Liked it, i went back to watch other videos.
Do you need a certain inverter type, or certain battery combination to run this & to handle the initial surge?
Ambulance the max wattage of the AC is 700 W and it doesn’t surge on start up so I think 1000 W inverter will be fine. Pure sine wave to be safe.
Thank God for this video!!!!
Thank you so much it's great to know that it helped. I'm trying to get it out to as many people as possible
@NoLimitVanLife yes... I' had the ecoflow wave 2.. but I couldn't keep up with the demand of the heat inside a van...so I'm looking at this now
@@markrodrigue6913 it seems like every month there’s more new air conditioner, designs that for you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars. My opinion any air conditioner that doesn’t have the condenser outside it’s a waste of time.
@NoLimitVanLife I'm seeing that.. yes your right about that too!!!
I think I would cover the skylight with thin pieces of insulation glued impressed together to hold shape.
That’s what I did
Hello, I agree with you. This U-shaped AC is hands down the most efficient and cost-effective option available. Instead of cutting a whole in the door, I think removing the rear window and installing it there would be a better option. What do you think? if you sell the van just remove and replace the window. Perhaps some fabrication and bracing needed? I think a guy on you tube installs window AC units that way. A slide up window replacement would be perfect! I have not seen one though. :(
Maybe go with a 48Volt off grid system. 48V wall mount battery and all-in-one inverter. 4000 watts of solar if possible. DC to DC perhaps not possible. Shore power may be tricky with the neutral ground bonding issue. One day we will have the perfect set up, but I agree with the U-shape AC. Installation is the challenge though.
48V DC mini splits exist, and they're likely more efficient (a few claim 19EER) than the aircon in this video.
I am INTERESTED in learning more about "stick on solar panels" . Do you have videos about ? thank you
Very cool 😎
Thank you
How is this AC unit doing today?
Dave how much more do u have to do before the van is completely done.
At this point, I would like more solar and a second battery bank, but other than that, I just need to stay in that front part of the ceiling
Nice the van is looking great.
@@reapercrew618 thank you
I'm pleased with our Midea after 5 months. Anyone discover a way or alternative to power the supposedly direct current Media with direct current from solar panels rather than converting input from direct current to alternating current so that the Media can convert the alternating current back to direct current?
Love to stick air conditioners in multiple windows and power with off-grid solar.
I’m sorry I asked too early. I see you were using 350 to 500 watts on start up. Love your ceiling!
Thank you so much. The ceiling seems to open up the space.
Ya think this setup would work with a 800 Watt desktop PC setup?
Hi, were you able to take it apart to put it thru your van? I’m in a shuttle bus. I’m also looking at all the different AC’s. In Seattle I don’t need one except maybe 3 weeks out of the year but when I’m in Texas visiting my daughter I need BIG AC. I was checking out the GE Profile ClearView Inverter Window Air Conditioner 10,300 BTU. It fits over your window like that small rv one. I want the largest I can get using the lowest amount of watts. How much does yours pull. I know you said it only went down to 70% using it overnight. I’ll be going back to your older vids. Glad to have found you! 😊
Being an inverter AC sometimes it only takes a couple hundred watts, but it can go as high as 700 W and I have a video showing me taking it apart and putting it through the hole
Hi. Great idea. Can you provide the dimensions of the hole needed to pass the unit through the door? Was this the smallest dimension possible, and did passing the unit require any disassembly -at 0:15 it looks like you have all the plastic covering and trim removed from the interior side of the unit to pass it through? Thanks!
Oh man, I forgot I think it’s 19 x 10
Seems like fun for awhile but how can you build a comfortable life like this long term? What about wife and kids? So weird people live like this now.
Have you considered wind energy to supplement solar?
Yes, there are 3 foot wide wind turbines that way about 20 pounds and claimed to be 400 W but all I see people getting out of them is less than 50 W which is nice if the wind is consistent but maybe not worth the trouble
I'm considering an outside cover for our Midea for seasons when not used. I'm wondering if the tan waterproof material covers available on Amazon would be good or if the cover trapping moister might be problematic? Also there is a quarter sized hole in the bottom which may be to let water out - not sure - wonder if I need to cover this with a bug screen - hate to have a wasp hive get created. Or would the screen mesh cover be better. The placement is mostly protected from rain anyway.
What do you use or thoughts on the need?
Did you see my more recent video about making the tank tube air conditioner cover? I love that thing.
Thanks for sharing. So above 90°F it doesn't cool down the whole cabin?
What happens when the outside temperature is above 90° is you need a ton of solar in order to keep up with the power demands like 3000 W?
Hi!
How is the door coping with the extra weight?
People put spare tires which way three times more on the door so I’m not worried about that. Also I don’t open and close the door because I’m concerned with the shock on the parts in the air conditioner of shutting the door.
Is there a way to plug our solar batteries into the Midea without first converting our direct current to alternating current with an inverter and then feed it to the Midea internal inverter to convert back from alternating 110 current to direct current. Or am I not understanding how to use our solar with the Midea. I do have a window unit and it works great with grid 110, just wish there was a model to more efficiently use solar charged batteries when available.
I guess what you described is not possible. You’ll need to buy an inverter, but it may be a better option than buying an expensive DC air conditioner because even after converting from DC to AC to run the air conditioner the midea is so efficient it may be efficient as an expensive DC air conditioner.
an efficient 1000 W pure sign wave inverter will run the air conditioner and isn’t expensive
@@NoLimitVanLifeThanks for the reply. I'm speculating. Does the Midea really run off DC current (called an inverter air conditioner) and only accept AC current as input? I might be misunderstanding what an inverter air conditioner means. So far, we've been happy with our 12,000 BTU Media that we are using to limp along until the central air in our home gets fixed. I'm just wondering if in some cases, especially if hook up solar panels, might save a few bucks.
I have a meter on our Media and on econo and low fan - it seems to do whatever it feels is required -- has quite a range of electric input from 2.5 watts to 260 watts so far with many levels between (all readings on economy and low fan). In fairness, it has not been very hot and today is the first 80 + day. We have an open space home with several rooms closed off and the window unit has so far kept our main area at 72 (by morning) to 74 to 75 by evening with the unit set at 74. Starting last Wednesday afternoon to Monday running continually has cost $1.77 ( at 14 cents / KWH) and is currently using 147 Watts with outside temp at 3:31 PM at 81 degrees and inside temp in the open space living / dining / kitchen at 73.4 degrees. My adjoining room office with the door open is noticeably warmer - but the computers are in there. Our home is well insulated with solar screens on the windows that mostly also have roof eave overhangs. We have solar shades hanging in front of our attached garage doors.
Thanks for the video and reply.
@@NoLimitVanLife Following up after thinking for two months. For us and perhaps others a window unit that can run off of 12 volt solar would make a lot of sense. Thinking of multiple window units, not to do the heaving lifting cooling out home, but to make a contribution to saving money on our electric bill.
I have inverters on each of our RVs powered by solar. While Tm glad we have them, the fan is noisy under load and not sure made for continuous use
@@NoLimitVanLife inverter maybe only option available, but for solar, hope you and others will post when direct to solar and 12 volt from batteries charged by solar available. Seems like lots of money to be saved - one family member's electric bill, mostly for cooling is 300 to 400 per month.
Hey Dave! I’ve been looking at this A/C for my tiny house since it’s only 8x20. I can get obsessed over solar energy too, it should be mandatory that all of So-Cal runs on solar these days, otherwise, it’s criminal not too! 😂
1500 watts of solar input.. so much will shut your portable power unit down.
I have an idea I'd like to run by you. Instead of carrying all that extra weight and taking up space with a bunch of solar panels, why not just set up your battery bank so that you can charge off of Tesla superchargers? In most cases you could charge within an hour and you can even use that charger to run your devices while you're waiting to get charged.
That would be amazing, especially if I had a system that could take in at least 50 kW
Another thing I would like to run by you. I would think it would be a better idea. Take a window air conditioner and mount it through the floor face up. The van would be much more stealthy and the AC would still work and drain without being seen from the outside.
I love that idea although the air conditioner does need to remain flat it can’t be turned
Geez… a whole f*n solar rant vs just the inverter ac update the clickbait title states. Holy jezus
Says it's out of stock.
They have them at Costco
$579.99 for a 200w solar panel!!! Yeah, if money is no option, then why live in a van? All the people who can't afford homes are getting run off now because of the number of rich, carefree people taking over the limited parking resources. More people, more trash, more problems. Most Walmarts won't even allow overnight parking now, and even rest areas are putting up no overnight parking signs. I just watched a guys home/vehicle towed because he parked it overnight in a public parking lot. He can't afford to get it back so now he's just another disabled person sleeping on the street. Please be mindful that being homeless isn't a fad or choice for everyone and recognize that you are limiting resources for actual poor, disabled and homeless and do your part to help... especially since you have so much money to just throw at whatever you want. Maybe use that money to organize some law changes so there's enough accessible parking for all you fancy rich trendy vanlifers and the rest who can't afford basic necessities like food and housing. Maybe make some budget friendly videos for the people living in thier car that are in danger of dying from the heat and need ac. Your setup is not helpful to anyone but the rich people that are driving out all the poor people living in their vehicles.
Wait, why are you doing all this? Just to stay cool inside of your van in LA? Go outside then. And nights are cold, I would be running a heater at night there. And if at night you still need an AC, sleep in a tent or go north. I am totally puzzled here. While I am trying to solve a problem how to stay actually warm on the West Coast, you are trying to do the opposite. I think it is much easier to stay cool by moving outside all together. I wish I would be hot all the time, I would be sleeping in a tent. You are making zero sense, it is like Sisyphus, you lock yourself up inside of metal box that naturally gets hot and then using all the solar panels that you can use to run an AC. I cannot explain your behavior other than you have nothing better to do, honestly. .