VAN LIFE IN A BOX TRUCK: 12 Volt DC Mini Split Install
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- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2023
- I recorded the installation of my 12 volt air conditioner. In an effort to keep the video short and on topic, I cut and trimmed the video while editing every chance I could. The installation was not difficult, but it did require drilling and cutting metal, basic hand tools, and the necessary equipment to charge the system with refrigerant. Hopefully this video will be useful to anyone considering one of these budget friendly A/C units.
Thank you for watching.☺
12 VOLT MINI SPLIT:
RV65F 12V Parking Air Conditioner Unit, 12V DC Air Conditioner Truck RV Excavator Van Farm Vehicle Split Type Air Conditioner (12V voltage) a.co/d/2Uo6NjF
R134 A/C MANIFOLD GAUGES:
www.harborfreight.com/r134a-a...
R134 AIR-VACUUM PUMP:
(air compressor required)
www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...
Thanks for a very good video on 12V AC.
The NEPOKKA brand seems to just be another brand from TREELIGO or many others. They seem all to be the same except labels though prices vary a little bit.
Your installation is very informative. Clever use of the tv mount. 👍🏻
The condenser/compressor unit can be tilted a bit but there's a limit. Also, the hoses have to be in proper orientation.
Thank you. I appreciate the information. I will pin this comment; others may find it helpful too.👍🏾
"Hoses have to be in the proper orientation"? Please elaborate. Nowhere does it say you have to orient them in a specific way. You mean those connections in the expansion valve?
@@serjstol6695
With all due respect to the "hold my beer" folks in the world...😁
Mixing up the orientation of the low and high pressure hoses on the Nepokka model I bought would be difficult. I remember on the compressor ends, the hoses had different connectors. I don't specifically remember the ends on the expansion valve side, but they may be different in size. I don't have direct experience with other Nepokka models, or the other brand mentioned.
I believe the original comment was intended to accommodate the small subset of do it yourselfers that, in spite of the odds, will manage to find a way to screw up anything. 😉 Thank you for commenting.
@@xlamontxFair haha, I connected mine and the hoses are different diameter so its impossible to mess up so I was confused. (Commenting from different account)
@@tehdreamer
😁😁😁 Thank you for keeping us honest. And it gave me a chance to practice my diplomacy skills.😂
This is the first time that I've seen anyone on RUclips install a 12V AC under their vehicle. I don't have any experience with electrical connections or using a compressor to charge a system, but for someone who does they would more than likely understand exactly what you did. Thank you for taking the time to share your install so that others may learn from you. Take care.
You're welcome. I didn't have room on my roof for a roof top system. I've seen a couple of videos where they mounted their systems to the back door of their vans. I wanted to try something different. Thanks for watching.
Hard working man deserves success..
Thank you. 👍🏽
I love how methodical you were and explained everything you did. Isn't A/C nice. Cheers.
Thank you danwetherington5096. I appreciate that. 👍🏽
Thanks for pointing out the importance of increasing wire size to adjust for a longer run. I think this is an area that people don’t understand and they think smaller/less expensive is Okay. I am not an engineer, but I do know the bottom line is it is fire risk at worst to go too small. Great video! Appreciate the in depth description, and I too think you are genius re: the TV wall mount for the Handler!!
Thanks nmartin5551. 😁 I appreciate you watching.
Yep. Long cable runs are also a very good reason to choose a higher voltage system. I went with 12v in my system, but even for a short cable run, a 3000w Victron inverter wants a 4/0 cable! If I ever do another build I'll definitely choose a higher voltage system.
You seem like a good man. Sending you love brother
Thank you @sherifkaissi4109. Right back at you.
Thank you for sharing. We are a manufacturer of parking air conditioners. Many customers need to actively explore like you. You are great.
Thank you.😊
Who do you recommend for repairs on these units?
@@ormie07 youtube.com/@cathyHan-rj6mx?si=3xibQVDNTXQo8-vE
Hopefully, Cathy Han can offer you an answer to your question. It's a great question, and I would certainly include the answer in a future video.
@@ormie07 Who do you recommend for repairs on these units?
Depending on how many people would choose this type of system to use for cooling in a vehicle, you have already figured it out which if you wanted to make $$$ by putting them together for a customer, or just make a step by step video with plans so if anyone wanted to do it themselves, they could watch your video, and any included printed materials you included…you might just have a way to earn money either by offering a couple of options to anyone interested in having you do the work…or not do any of that and simply enjoy your days without offering installations and instead offer the instructions and a video and call it good.
Nice job on your hard work and it looks great!
Liked and subscribed. 👍❤️
I like where your head is at. I was thinking the folks that install solar, roof fans, and diesel heaters would eventually offer the installation service of these 12 volt mini split A/C systems. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for an install video Done Right and sharing with us all the steps and logic without overwhelming us with blah blah. I really like your solution for mounting the red box, and how you showed how you got the lines into the van through the corner hole. It was really interesting about the thick wires to the batteries. Freaking genius putting the air handler on a tv-mount!
Thanks Costa2984. I appreciate everything you said. I can do without the blah blah myself. LOL. Thanks for watching. 👍🏾
Awesome video my friend. You answered some questions in this video that I was unable to find in others! I think i am going to get one of these for my Van. Rest easy today knowing you helped someone. Thank you again man
Thank you. It is good to know and it is very motivating to making these videos. I appreciate you. 👍🏾👍🏾
A low whirring sound is nothing to having cold ac! Thanks for your video - very nice installation!
I agree 100%.😁 Thanks for watching.
nice work, thanks--going to put it on my off grid trailer
It grunts and gurgle a bit; mostly at start up. But I can live with that over the 90°F temperature in a closed in box. Thanks for watching.👍🏾
Genius, thanks for sharing!!! Love the swivel!
Thanks. I appreciate you watching. 👍🏽
I have to say, when it come to buying from China, it is never a failure. They make cheap products with good quality. Thank you for sharing. 👍🏼
I agree. My made in China diesel heater has gotten me through three winters without a catastrophic failure, and is still going strong. The two minor issues I had, were easy to deal with. Thanks for watching.
Good. China Goods.
Good stuff, a cool sleep space at night is a make or break situation.
Agreed. And it has been a game changer. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the post, it was very well done!
Thank you. I appreciate you watching.👍🏾
Aloha, great to see you! Glad to see you still are working on your rig. Hope you have had a chance to make a couple trips in it. 🤙
Aloha. I managed a couple of nights camping down in Georgia with a couple of van dwelling friends the second weekend of July. Only my second time in a paid campground, but really enjoyed the experience. Thanks for watching.🤙🏾
Thanks for putting this together. I've been looking into buying this unit.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.👍🏾
1. I would make it a habit to video record opening and doing inventory to help prove your case if any items are missing or damaged, especially of large relatively expensive purchases. Publishing is a different story.
2. More hose and less hard-line be it PVC or metal decreases harmonic vibration which is a major factor in a traveling vehicle (goes for plumbing as well).
3. What is the exterior unit's final ground clearance?
Is it the lowest component of your undercarriage?
Overall, personally, I want more specific information (i.e. data points) in a video.
I also own a box truck and am still designing.
I intend to use a mini-split with the output in/near the sleeping area that can be curtained off. This area includes my desk & electronics. I don't need to cool the rest of the interior when sleeping. No information on the electrical draw at start-up, running to cool the space down and once achieving set temperature does it drop down?
Good comment. My a/c is the lowest item under the rig. It has 13 inches of clearence from the bottom of the metal plate I mounted it to. I'm considering air bags for the rear suspension to help with the overall weight. If I get an extra inch of clearance, it will just be a bonus.
The manual says the amp draw is 60-80 amps. That is consistent with my general "test." I usually run it with the temp set to the coldest setting and the fan speed set the lowest speed (to minimise the noise).
@@xlamontx I think watt hours is the measurement most people are concerned with. There is a mini-split that runs at 800 p/h until the desired temperature setting is achieved then reduces to 200. For the area, your unit may be a bit undersized and drawing more electricity than required. The gist of my comment is proper selection of a unit for each specific vehicle requires a lot of technical data.
My 16'ft box is going to have two DYI opposing slide-outs. I have not seen anybody do this.
Cupboards with doors versus more open-air design affect the environment. Internal cubic feet for BTU calculations is going to differ for every vehicle, as we know.
Best of luck.
@@Mark-gg6iy
I've seen a loft added to a box truck. I've seen a roof raised on a box truck. Two slides on a 16 foot box truck would very likely be a first. If you plan to post pictures or video to the public, I would certainly follow that build series.👍🏾
Excellent content. I'm happy that worked out for you.
Thank you. Summers in the mid-south would be difficult without it. I appreciate you watching.
Dude. Great video…. Thank you. I have a bus and have been considering this for cooling.
It has definitely been worth it for me.👍🏾
You give me a great idea with the tv mount for avoid drill inside of the cab
That's awesome. I've gotten several ideas from other channels. It's good to know when I passed one along. Thanks for watching.👍🏾😁
Hey u!!! Hope your well. Glad to see you again. Stay cool, my friend!!!
I appreciate that Selisa. I'm glad you hung in there with me. Thanks for watching.☺
Man, I'm super impressed with your work. Subscribed.
Thanks c11p. I appreciate that.👍🏾
Great video filled with information and creative ideas. Thank you!
Thank you kindly.
Well done, my friend. Congratulations and enjoy.
Thank you kindly.👍🏾
Great video. I’ve been trying to get AC in my daughters transit. Tried 110v portable powered by EcoFlow power station. Tried 5000 btu window unit and would not cool. Recently saw this option and glad you posted your install. Looked through some comments and you already answered my questions. Thanks for posting video, Lamont!!
I installed mine in early July and it's still keeping me very cool and comfortable. I noticed the compressor seems to run a bit louder at times, but no so loud that it bothers me. Also, the hoses on the inside would accumulate condensation on them so I wrapped them with insulation. I plan to update in a future video, but your comment reminded me. Thanks for watching.👍🏾☺
@@xlamontx Thanks for response. Good tips as those issues were not addressed in other videos. So, I would make sure I plan for wrapping lines and if my compressor is close, I will try to insulate and use sound deadening around it.
What is your solar and battery bank?
@@Bellasafari
I just stumbled across your question. I have 810 watts of solar and 400 amp hour AGM batteries.
@@xlamontx ok thank you ~
Neat gadget their lemont
Thanks for sharing good to see you 👍🙏✌️
Thanks Darryl. Same to you. Thanks for hanging in there with me.👍🏾
it is good to see you again. thanks for sharing.
Thanks Yourpleasure721. Always good to here from you.
@@xlamontx yw hope to see you again soon
Great job My friend , Working hard as usual,. I know the heat has been brutal to be out in, I'm doing part time work in Wilmington,N.C. and the heat and humidity has been oppressive. Stay hydrated.
Yes indeed.☀️ You do the same. Thanks for watching
Really appreciate this video.. thanks!
Thank you for watching. 👍🏽☺
very good instruction. am putting ours on rear sprinter van driver side door.
I watch a video where a van owner mounted his to the rear door. He also painted the cover to match the van. It blended in nicely. That was my second option if I couldn't fit it under my rig. Thanks for watching.👍🏾
I’m so impressed!!!! 👍
Thank you
Spray foam no good bro, absorbs moisture. Jumper cables alot cheaper and easier than specialized ass welding cable, every van build I ever did was just 20' jumper cables. That's all ya gotta do. Braided cable is the key it's more flexible. I just used like 16 guage or whatever sae it don't matter. I basically slapped cables on a victron intelligent charger to a 200mah redodo battery lithium, and it works perfectly fine. Just follow your instinct and put the right size cable on it. If it fits it ships. So just use reasonable size cable. Simple as that.
Thank you @atye04. I appreciate the information.
Very cool and well done. Thanks for the helpful video
You're welcome. Glad to do it.👍🏾
Awesome video! I know who to come to for my van installations when my channel really blows up!
Thanks Reggie. Van life and biking go hand in hand, especially with all the traveling you've been doing to the various trails and bike parks.🚴🏾♂️😎
@xlamontx that's right ✅️!!! I finally got my 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time. Now the real work starts.
I had no clue they made Mini split units on 12v that would work perfect for my cabin. I love the idea you used for the mounting of the interior unit on the wall using a tv mount that is brilliant! Great video, I also subscribed, looking forward to your life's journey.
It's been almost a year and it's blowing just as cold as it did when I did the install. I've recorded about 90% of an update video. I just need work to lighten up a bit so I can finish it up. Thanks for watching and I appreciate you subscribing.👍🏽
Great job! 👍 and welcome back! 😊
Thank you. I finally found time to make a little video. Thanks for watching. 😁
Nice explanation!
Thank you. 😁
Very impressive tech chops. Nice job.
Thanks gjonesii. I appreciate you watching. 👍🏽
Wonderful video. A loot of good, practical information!
Thank you kindly.
very cool. thanks man
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.👍🏾
Thanks so much for the info
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
Thank you!! very informative. New Subscriber here, keep creating content! You have a nice easy to follow/understand/educational style. Keep it up people will learn good things from you!👍🤙✌
I appreciate that very much. I've gotten several ideas from other channels, it's good to know I may have shared a few along the way. Thanks for watching.👍🏾
Great video my man. Good tutorial.
Thanks. I appreciate that.👍🏾
Thanks for recording this man. Super helpful 🤙
Thank you. I appreciate you watching. 👍🏽
@@xlamontx oh for sure! I’ll be following along. Maybe we will bump into each other one day.
This is our rig @lovehut4life
@@shanecamp15
Great channel. I just subscribed. I will certainly keep an eye out for the lovehut at any gathering I may attend. Safe travels.
Good to see you posting again, Lamont. Dang, has it really been a year and a half? That's worse than my track record. Lol. 😁
Hi Dove. It's incredible how fast the time passes. I didn't want to mention it in the video but my phone stop working to upload videos, so I bought a laptop and a GoPro and it took me 6 months to figure out how to work the darn things. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I'm good with working with my hands,😁 horrible with tech stuff.😣 Glad to see you're getting your setup dialed in.
@@xlamontx We all have our strengths and weaknesses. There's definitely a learning curve to all this technology. Lol.
Good job man!
Thank you for watching. 👍🏽
A great video sir, thank you for this informative video.
I appreciate you watching. 👍🏽
Good video. That AC will make a world of difference. So glad to see you're doing well man.
Thanks DamitaJoBoy9. Its made these hot days amd nights much more comfortable.👍🏾
Thank you for this how to video👍🏿😂
You're welcome. 💯
Well done sir you earned another subscription
Thank you kindly. 👍🏾
@Driving Home 👍Thanks man, this is exactly what I've been planning on doing under my Winnebago View so that I can get rid of the huge, loud AC on top and make room for more solar panels. I don't think it will cool the entire thing on super hot days so I plan on curtaining off the rear bed and bath section and mounting the inside unit back there. Thanks for the video and was hoping you could do a follow up on how much battery power the unit is pulling on a fairly hot day, that would be great.
Thanks for the question. I couldn't remember right away and had to dig through a few previous comments to find the answer I gave another viewer. It seems at the time I got a reading of just under 400 watts at about noon that day. That calculates to just over 33 amps per hour. I should be able to get a bit more than 5 hours of use with no sun but I get nervous going past 4 hours. Batteries are usually reading about 60-65% after 4 hours.
@@xlamontxThanks for the reply, I actually went and read through the comments and found that as well, sorry I didn't acknowledge that. Take care bud.
if its anything like the unit I just received (12v 60A 750w), your wiring is much preferrable. I am taking mine 1/0 all the way back to the compressor form the 800ah of lifepo04 batteries in my bank; however, you may want to rethink the nylon nut as in a short situation the nylon can catch fire
You have a great point. I could have used a second non nylon nut tightened against the first to prevent them from vibrating loose.🤔 l even gave some thought to crimping the wires for an even better connection. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for watching.👍🏾
You look a lot like adventure van man. Have my sub.
Lol. His channel was the first I subscribed to before I got started. Thanks for watching.
@@xlamontx I've followed Brian for...... maybe 7yrs! You have a good vibe too.
Cool
Thanks.
SOLID
Thanks
I would put fuses in your high current lines for fire safety.
Hi SALEEM23ful. This is a good point. The unit came with a fuse on the positive line that I connected to the hand made block, and is visible at the 18:22 mark in the video. I should have pointed that out and made a reference to the second fuse I have in the line closer to the power source. Hopefully I remember to mention it in my update video. Thanks for watching.
That condenser has MicroChannel tubing, RUN!
What's the issue with the condenser tubing?
@xlamontx Yikes! Those things leak like wild! I work in HVAC, and it's the only thing that strikes fear in me on a service call.
@@reggiepplee5759
🤣 I was thinking explosion for some reason. I appreciate the heads up.🙏🏾
put a audio capacitor at the end will help a great deal
Thank you for watching. 👍🏾
Thanks for posting. Learn more about these units. Just been searching on Ebay and looks like prices are coming down quite a bit. Most recently as of 8/31st, they are $400. I am excited to get one. How many watts are you pulling from the battery?
One morning I checked and calculated the watts used at 162. Shortly after noon that same day I was using 380 watts.
I noticed a significant difference in price between eBay and Amazon. I'm all about saving money when possible. Unfortunately for me, I was planning a trip and needed the faster shipping and easy return (just in case it arrived damaged) Amazon offers.
Hi, sir, thank you for the video! My question is, what generator, how powerful, do you use when you run your AC?
Great question. I currently use the SPORTSMAN 2200 WATT DUAL FUEL GENERATOR to run my A/C over night or on cloudy days. It runs continuously at high idle and uses a full 20 lbs tank off propane every 12-14 hours. So far, I used my A/C at the low fan speed and coldest or next to coldest temp setting while summer temps were in the high 90's or more.
I only run the generator on propane because it's easier for me than gasoline.
Nie job, wondering did you fuse it at all. I assumed you would use fused contact blocks but I don't think you mentioned it, The newer units now,., are fully assembled gassed up and ready no pulling a vacuum or filling ... needed,, yep they are now making home direct to solar ... mini splits really nice super low amperage draws..
Thanks. Yeah I ran the larger wires from an existing fuse in my system and the unit came with an inline fuse close to where I made the connection. I didn't know about them coming pre charged with refrigerant. Its amazing how quickly the industry is adapting to consumer demand. 👍🏾
I can’t tell if you’re in a cargo trailer or if you’re still in a van but I think you should consider doing an update video on your setup. It looks like you have had some time to make some nice touches a long the way. I may have missed it but is the condenser mounted under the rig or on the backside somewhere?
I'm in a box truck, or I sometimes say box van. I do need to do an update video but I need to shoot it with a wide angle lens. That will be coming soon. The Air conditioner is mounted underneath my rig. The more my rig looks like a plain old box truck, the less attention I think it will get.
Hey Driving Home. Is it possible to extend the High/Low hoses to around 16 feet. I understand it comes with only 10 feet? Also want to extend the comms/electrical wires. I'm also going to install under my van. But I don't want to drill a hole since there's a gap I can use towards the back.
I extended my electrical wires by about 16 feet by adding thick gauge wire from my batteries to reach the factory wires that came with the unit. As for the high/low hoses, I don't know if longer hoses will effect performance. The instructions did not address adding to or shorting the hoses. If you do buy longer hoses, let me know how it turns out. Thanks for watching.
Towards the end of the video. You said, you plug it into your generator.? I want to do the same thing but how do you convert the 12v system to your generator power source? Did you just added a plug in end to it and plug it to your generator? And does it work good like that ?
I have a 60 amp Progressive Dynamics 12 volt Converter in my solar electrical system. I run an extension cord from my generator (or any shore power outlet) to the converter, and it charges my batteries and allows me to run my AC at night. Excellent question gilbert7614. I should have detailed that in the video. Thanks for watching.
Can you make a video on how you use your generator to run this unit. I have an 18 wheeler with a generator thanks.
I will certainly include this in my next video, but let me give you the short answer now.
I use a "Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power 9200 Series (converter) Charger" to keep my batteries charged while the A/C is being used at night.
This charger has a traditional shore power plug on one side that connects to the generator, and a positive and negative output that goes to the batteries.
The important thing to understand is the Progressive Dynamics (converter) Charger is not the same as a regular battery charger you might use on a car battery. This is a product that is commonly used on RV's.
Here is their contact information. I'm sure they can tell you if they make a (converter) charger that will work in your 18 wheeler.
Progressive Dynamics, Inc.
507 Industrial Road
Marshall, MI 49068 USA
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00 -4:00 PM EST
Ph: (269) 781-4241
Did you happen to measure the length of the hoses. I want to do this same install between the frame and running board/steps of my IH 4300, but am concerned about having enough length of hose to reach the evaporator inside. None of these, or similar units, provide that information. Genius idea on the swivel mount; that may fit right in with my install.
Hi, the hoses are approximately 10 feet. I went to my Amazon history to confirm and they have 118in/3meters. Thanks for watching.
What about the outer part of the split? Are the ventilator and the compressor noisy? Do you think i could install it inside my van in a place with good ventilation?
The outside parts are a bit noisy at times. I get use to the sound quickly and occasionally have to stop and listen for a moment to hear it. The idea of putting it anywhere inside the living space won't work because the heat from inside the living space has to be dissipated at the outside unit. If the outside unit is inside the same space you want to cool, it will sort of cancel each other out. I tried this with a window unit in my fist build design, and found out the hard way.😞
I saw on amazon a similar version but has a different type of compressor in it, a black vertical standing one. Do you know the difference and can they be mounted to the floor of the vehicle horizontally with the fan facing at the ground? How is your holding up?
There are a few different versions, and I've seen a couple of the other styles on vans while traveling. I was willing to experiment with mine and mount part of the unit sideways, but fortunately I didn't have to. I wouldn't feel comfortable saying it's okay unless I was 100% certain. So far, mines is doing fine. I will be checking it again in the next few days to include an update in the next video. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for this helpful information. I am looking into getting one of these AC units. I guess you used it for a few months in the summer. Are you still happy with it? Thanks!
Yes. It has been great so far.
Does the indoor fan unit need to be mounted vertically or can I mount it horizontal like laying down in my case it would be a better fit in my build
It has to be mostly vertical because there are drain holes on both ends for the condensation tube to attach. They give one hose and one plug in the kit, but I put a hose on both ends to maximize the drainage. You might be able to tilt it a bit forward or backward, but if it can't drain, the water will hit the fan and get sprayed out the vents.
Finally
😆Yes. It's been a minute.
How's it holding up? How many amps does it draw? Those are some big cables, does that thing drain batteries quickly?
Im thinking about installing one of theae in my cargo camper but am worried about power consumption. Excellent video BTW
The air conditioner is holding up nicely. I know I've tested the amp usage, but can't seem to recall the numbers off the top of my head. However, I can get about three and a half to 4 hours of running the air conditioner without Sun before I start to get uncomfortable about the batteries going below 50%. I have 2 Renogy AGM batteries that hold 200 amp hours each. That is with my 95 quart refrigerator running, a light if I'm cooking, and the water pump as I clean up. In the summer, I can let it run on sunny days with no worries. 4 solar panels totaling 810 watts and at night I just use my generator. Thanks for watching.👍🏽
20:24 Try using Google Lens to translate the words on your remote.
Great idea😁. Thanks.
How is the composting toilet holding up?
It took up too much space for my box truck. I put it in storage. I will say that a composting toilet is better for people who are in their homes (vehicles) daily. I'm away from my rig for days at a time so the Lugable Loo style toilet works better for my situation.
Hi. Thank you for the video. I’m in a process of installing the same unit. I am checking all my tools and equipment and I found out that my vacuum hose has not the right fittings to connect to the Freon line. Both high and low pressure line s are different to my gauges hoses. So could you please tell me where you got your adapters for the fittings? Please let me know If you have links (Amazon). Thanks.
Hi there inforventure. I bought my gauges from Harbor Freight with a coupon at the time and the kit includes the r134 connectors. It the Pittsburgh brand and I paid about 50 dollars. I was going to use my old Mac Tools r12 gauges and buy the adapter but the hoses were falling apart and I decided to just grab a new kit that had the fittings included and I also wouldn't have to convert the readings on the gauges.
Having said that, you didn't mention if your gauges are for the old r12 systems. If they are, here is an Amazon link to the adapters. Thanks for watching. Best of luck on your project.
Adapter R134a Air Conditioning Adjustable Quick Coupler Adapters High Low AC Freon Manifold Gauge Hose Conversion kit 1/4 SAE HVAC a.co/d/2nJi7te
I had to edit my post. The fist link was to a conversion kit. The current link is possibly what you are looking for. Thanks again
I,ve been installing hvac for 30 + years both mobile and Stationary. U did a very nice job. I am curious however why u didn't install the condenser on the horizontal plane. Nice job either way though.
Hi there. Great question. The short answer: I didn't know if ac compressors have a "top" or "bottom."
Let me explain...I bought that unit specifically because there's a rubber hose between the condenser and the compressor. My initial plan was to remove the condenser and the compressor from the little red plastic cage and mount the condenser horizontally while keeping the compressor mounted vertically. (I was thinking about a time I was told to keep a refrigerator upright for the compressor to work properly.) My plan was to make a little mounting perch for the compressor. However, when I got the unit and could rely on my own measurements, I realized I can probably make it fit without the extra work of separating the compressor and condenser from the cage. I took the path of least resistance. It would still be useful to know if that unit can be mounted horizontally with no ill effects to the compressor. I had the room under my rig, but others may not. Thanks for watching.
Hi, I saw your comment. As an HVAC installer, would you say that most mini-split condensers can safely be mounted horizontally like you're describing? I've read some people say it's okay and others, like @xlamontx in the reply to your comment, worry that the compressor won't work as well on its "side" -- would love your input
Compressor has to be mounted upright or else it will be starved of oil and burn out
As there an other kind of oil I can use to lubricate the hose connections? It calls for POE 68 and can’t find any local and don’t want to pay 40 bucks for a few drops. Thanks ahead of time!!!
Yeah, I wouldn't spend that either. The POE68 is the viscosity rating so if POE32 is cheaper it will do the same thing. Like you said, It's just a few drops. In hind sight, I could have saved myself the trouble because the system went together with no issues at the o-rings. Admittedly, Ilike to do extra sometimes.
Thank you so much for your time! The video is absolutely helping me! Trying to find something to mount my blower on. Planning to use the inside upper horizontal frame support where my back doors open in my Promaster. Currently it’s the only and best spot due to cabinets. I need to allow at least 6” of space for airflow into the blower. I like your tv mount idea. Wondering if a tv mount may be the way to go. Again thank you!
Does it blow hot air as well for when it’s cold?
This only blows cold. I have a cheap diesel heater to keep warm.
how many kWh are your batteries total? and how much solar watttage do you have total at the time of this video? I'm looking into the most efficient system whether it be AC or DC, So im trying to find out whats best for my situation. Im trying to temporarily live out of my 2021 Kia Soul which doesnt need many BTUs to cool
I have 4.8 kwh of AGM batteries. 810 watts of solar. I car run my a/c in full sun, but on a cloudy day, I can run it about 4 hours.
hey I bought an home mini split to mount on my box truck but the outside unit is too s big it will block one of my doors in the back ,,,so ive been looking at these on amazon ,,,you dont have enough battery to run this unit over night .... thats my concern ...I have 6 206 amp hour SOK batteries configured in a 24 volt system...I hope this will be enough to run at night... good job
If I had another 200-250 usable amp hours in my system, I could probably do 8 hours at night with no issues. I just don't have room for more batteries. Sounds like you have an electrical system that will get the job done.👍🏾
For the clueless people, what's the total Wh of that 6 206 24v system? Is it simply 206*24v = 4,944Wh? Thx
Do you have any concerns of keeping the unit you mounted underneath clean, I hope road grime and dirt, mud doesn't plug up the underneath unit.
I had concerns when I did the initial install. Now that I've driven close to 5000 miles with no issues, I don't think normal driving conditions will be a problem.
Thanks for the video. How many amp hours does it draw? How long can it run off 400 amp hours?
Keeping in mind I have AGM batteries and must keep them above 50% state of charge, I can run it on low fan speed and coldest temperature setting for about 3.5-4 hours starting at 100% charge.
@@xlamontx thank you for the info, I am looking at a similar set up to yours
@@DentsNow My electrical setup was more consistent when I had 3 AGM batteries. I was hoping to save weight, but I may want to go back to 3. With 2 batteries, I use a few lights, run my diesel heater (below 50°F) and the fridge after the sun sets. I frequently wake to about a 55-65% charge. With 3 batteries I was usually around 85%. Just something to consider. Thanks for your question. 👍🏾
Did you need to add oil when adding refrigerant?
I bought oil thinking I would need to add it. However, the instructions were clear to not add oil. It was added at the factory during assembly.
I dont think ill be able to install this myself. What type of contractors should i call to see if theyll do it? Any HVAC person?
🤔 I would say handyman/mechanic. Possibly a mobile RV repair person.
It's not a difficult job, but it may require a bit of improvisation and fabrication, depending on your vehicle.
Some areas have companies that specialize in van and bus build outs. They may be able to do it or refer you to someone.
What’s the load after startup? What’s your solar wattage?
I've measured 15.5 amps after starting the a/c, and up to 30 amps while running. I have 810 watts of solar. Thanks for watching.
👍👍 👍👍 👍👍 👍
Thank you
Have the same unit. Finally installed the outside unit and hooked up the Freon lines and lost a good bit of oil from the outside unit due to my outside unit being mounted flat and not upright. Just dropped it off at the shop to get the refrigerant added and told them about the lost oil and they said it’s gonna be okay. Did you happen to lose any oil from the compressor side when installing ?
I didn't lose any oil when installing my hoses. I had some on hand just in case. Once you're up and running, you will appreciate the relief from the heat.
@@xlamontx looking forward to it!! Hoping the lost oil doesn’t cause any issues. Amazon listing said It’s POE 68. So guess I’ll have to add some if there’s any problem.
Some work backwards as a heater also
It would be nice to have a backup heater. Unfortunately, this one did not include a heat pump. Thanks for watching.
My question is how much 134a and how much oil to mix in.
The instructions say the unit is shipped with oil from the factory and that there is no need to add more. I used the oil I bought to lubricate the o-rings as I connected the hoses. I used 2 cans of r134 but I don't remember the exact amount recommend in the instructions. Thanks for watching.
How many btus is that AC and do you know how many amps?
According to the Amazon listing, it is 8875 Beth's, and from the manual that was included 60-80 amps.👍🏽
I am making my ground wire as short as possible. The ground wire doesn't need to be 20 ft.
You are absolutely right. It can any length that accommodates your build.👍🏽
How much watt draw were you seeing given the outside temp difference? How much solar do you have? Thanks!
I read your question just as I was climbing into my rig, so before I touched anything I activated my Renogy App to get some baseline numbers. At 9:15am, 86°F my system is fully charged, nothing is turned on and I'm averaging 34 watts (12.6volts × 2.7amps) moving through the system. That is likely the float charge coming in and a small parasitic draw from the connected components going out. After turning on the AC, my Amp draw went up to 15.56 amps or 196 watts. Subtract the initial 34 watts and it means my AC is drawing approximately 162 watts. That's on the maximum cold setting and the lowest fan speed.
I have a total of 810 watts of solar on the roof. Two 305 watt panels connected to a Renogy Rover 60 amp charge controller, and two 100 watt panels connected to a Renogy 50 amp DC to DC charge controller. The latter will use the solar panels to charge my house batteries and starting battery when parked, and the alternator to charge my house batteries when driving. A little more information than you asked, but it may be helpful if my math is off a bit.😁 Thanks for watching.
Oh, I forgot to mention the system is maxed out trying to cool off the living space. I will let it run for a couple of hours while I run errands and check wattage with a completely cooled off interior. I'll update this post shortly.
12:40pm 96°F outside, living space thermometer says 82°F but it feels cooler because I'm in the path of airflow. I put a thermometer in one of the vents and it shows 50°F cool air coming from the unit.
The system is using 30.11 amps, or 379.3 watts at this moment. It also shows me bringing in 410 watts of solar energy at the same time. I hope this information is helpful to you.
All great info Lamont. Answered many of my questions.
What direction does the air flow through the outside unit?
Thanks for the question. I will need until the weekend to experiment and try to find out. I was initially concerned that if I'm driving with the air on, I may be forcing air through the fins to the fan backwards, while the fan was trying to push air forward.
I have driven many times with the a/c on and noticed no issues, but that doesn't answer your question. I will physically check between tomorrow and this weekend, and update you with my findings.
Robert, the unit I have "pulls" air through the condenser and out the back of the fan. I have my unit mounted facing the rear of my vehicle. Fortunately, my fuel tank sits low enough to block the back of the fan, otherwise I would be pushing air into the back of the fan while the fan is trying to move air in the opposite direction. I hope this answers your question.
If I missed it what’s the cost on this unit approximately. ?
I paid $800 on Amazon, but I've seen similar units I'm Amazon and EBay for less.
How did you run it on your generator? I’m thinking about purchasing, but I don’t care to run it on solar generator power. I’m in my semi truck and I have a 4000 W generator with inverter. How do I feed it that power
My last video I uploaded the details of how I use my generator in conjunction with the A/C. Basically, I use a converter, plugged into the generator to charge the batteries while using the A/C at the same time.
ruclips.net/video/ZILzYZ6S_NM/видео.htmlsi=T8csWegH3_P_DJLA
Thank you going to check out that video. I’ll give you a like and the following one as many videos as I watch be safe out there.
8875 btu, I wish they had a more powerful unit.
Most of the listings say 6800 BTU. This link says 12,000. I'm not sure any of these numbers can be trusted
Look at this on eBay
www.ebay.com/itm/12V-Truck-Cab-Air-Conditioner-12000-BTU-Split-AC-Fits-Semi-Trucks-Bus-RV-Caravan-/404895633420?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
is it still working? how much power does it consume? would it be worthwhile to add to a travel trailer as additional A/C?
It is still working. According to the manual, it uses 60-80 amps per hour (about 960 watts) which is consistent with what I have found in testing. If you should add it to a travel trailer will depend heavily on your particular needs. It is not an exceptionally quiet unit. It has a rumble that I can live with. I will attempt to demonstrate the noise and cooling ability in the next video. Thank you for watching.
@@xlamontx I have a mini split, wanted a backup - looks like mini splits are cheaper and more efficient, maybe I will add a second one. Thank you. Chinese remote, lol
@@xlamontx I have a mini split, wanted a backup - looks like mini splits are cheaper and more efficient, maybe I will add a second one. Thank you. Chinese remote, lol
How much solar is needed to run this?
I have 810 watts of solar, and during the day I can run the A/C, and my lights and other items as needed without issue. I'm not sure of the minimum amount of solar that would be required.