Our new Luxliner 21'van is currently being built and I would like to know does anyone know of a caravan (not pop top) full inverter style (soft start) Aircoditioner purpose built for vans Or the best non purpose soft start that can go in a van.
As we are planning to do a lot more free camping way up north. After much information seeking re that we have 450 watts of solar on the roof backed up with 360 a/h batteries and a 3k 240 volt power inverter everyone keeps telling us that we have none to little chance of running a normal compressor style ibis a/c unit off our solar system when free camping.
We do have a 2K generator but for peace and quiet in most of the camp sites I'm not keen on annoying anyone with it, except in an emergency.
Our last Jayco van's air con was noisey and not efficient in heating mode either.
Yuglamron said
02:03 PM Aug 16, 2015
I was recently looking at these units on the net. DC or Solar. I really don't know if they are any good and you may have to send abroad to buy. However it is one of the few I have found on the net.
Thanks Yuglamron,
Have been on to their website already and sent off an email to China to find out the obligatory How,Why, When and Where if there is An Australian agent or distributor so will now wait for a response.
Cheers , keep safe and keep on giving good advice
Plendo said
04:06 PM Aug 16, 2015
When we built our van (two years ago) we searched high and low for a decent roof top, we even approached the manufacturers asking when they were going to make an inverter system. We eventually gave in and fitted a household split system with the outdoor unit on the rear bumper. It then had the added advantage of freeing up more roof space for solar.
Our system works beautifully, and we can run the air con whenever we want, we also run a 3K inverter, but the air con is typically only taking a few hundred watts.
Liltacker said
04:48 PM Aug 16, 2015
Thanks Plendo,
I'll be very interested to see what comes back from China re these Dc Inverter A/C units could be very interesting as my best mate who owns an A/C , Fans and switchboard spares company said it could be well worth the little extra to get one out for peace of mind and have a good geek and play with it.
Could be a good market idea as well.
Keep safe,
Dav4Cris said
07:10 PM Aug 16, 2015
We have a 3kw inverter running off 200Ah of lithium, yes our soft start Ibis can be run but only for a few hours. When and if ours dies I am going to fit a invertered domestic ac which draws so much less than the Ibis, then we will be able to free camp comfortably. We have 500watts of solar on roof plus 150 portable which will recharge batteries by 10.30 or 11 in summer and around 1pm in winter.
The Doo crew said
01:49 PM Aug 17, 2015
At 820w for this rooftop inverter is getting close to the domestic type for power consumption, about twice the usage of my split.
-- Edited by The Doo crew on Monday 17th of August 2015 01:49:47 PM
Liltacker said
08:52 PM Aug 20, 2015
Hi All
After much investigation and not getting replies from overseas builders/manufacturers, there is a manufacturer of exactly what most of us need, in China which is a MSD Merlin Suit DC Inverter Low Profile Type Airconditioner from Aislu.com but unfortunately I cannot get an email from there. Thought about phoning them then realised if they cannot email they probably won't understand me on the phone.
I did how ever get a return phone call and email from Marcell at Ibis after I asked a question regarding the NEW Ibis 3 and that was are the new models all coming out with the "soft start" feature to which he replied "YES yahoobiggrinbiggrinbiggrin;" so based on that we will try the new Ibis3 and with our 450 watts of solar on the roof and 360 a/h AGM batteries with a 4000 watt inverter and back up Genmax 4.4 kva generator and portable 150 watt folding solar panels. I figure I should be able to keep the wife cool and happy.
And as all of us know " HAPPY COOL WIFE,HAPPY LIFE"
If I do get an email etc I will let everyone know ASAP
Our new Luxliner 21'van is currently being built and I would like to know does anyone know of a caravan (not pop top) full inverter style (soft start) Aircoditioner purpose built for vans Or the best non purpose soft start that can go in a van.
As we are planning to do a lot more free camping way up north. After much information seeking re that we have 450 watts of solar on the roof backed up with 360 a/h batteries and a 3k 240 volt power inverter everyone keeps telling us that we have none to little chance of running a normal compressor style ibis a/c unit off our solar system when free camping.
We do have a 2K generator but for peace and quiet in most of the camp sites I'm not keen on annoying anyone with it, except in an emergency.
Our last Jayco van's air con was noisey and not efficient in heating mode either.
I was recently looking at these units on the net. DC or Solar. I really don't know if they are any good and you may have to send abroad to buy. However it is one of the few I have found on the net.
http://www.aislu.com/documents/MSD_rvairconditioner.pdf
Have been on to their website already and sent off an email to China to find out the obligatory How,Why, When and Where if there is An Australian agent or distributor so will now wait for a response.
Cheers , keep safe and keep on giving good advice
When we built our van (two years ago) we searched high and low for a decent roof top, we even approached the manufacturers asking when they were going to make an inverter system. We eventually gave in and fitted a household split system with the outdoor unit on the rear bumper. It then had the added advantage of freeing up more roof space for solar.
Our system works beautifully, and we can run the air con whenever we want, we also run a 3K inverter, but the air con is typically only taking a few hundred watts.
I'll be very interested to see what comes back from China re these Dc Inverter A/C units could be very interesting as my best mate who owns an A/C , Fans and switchboard spares company said it could be well worth the little extra to get one out for peace of mind and have a good geek and play with it.
Could be a good market idea as well.
Keep safe,
At 820w for this rooftop inverter is getting close to the domestic type for power consumption, about twice the usage of my split.
-- Edited by The Doo crew on Monday 17th of August 2015 01:49:47 PM
After much investigation and not getting replies from overseas builders/manufacturers, there is a manufacturer of exactly what most of us need, in China which is a MSD Merlin Suit DC Inverter Low Profile Type Airconditioner from Aislu.com but unfortunately I cannot get an email from there. Thought about phoning them then realised if they cannot email they probably won't understand me on the phone.
I did how ever get a return phone call and email from Marcell at Ibis after I asked a question regarding the NEW Ibis 3 and that was are the new models all coming out with the "soft start" feature to which he replied "YES yahoobiggrinbiggrinbiggrin;" so based on that we will try the new Ibis3 and with our 450 watts of solar on the roof and 360 a/h AGM batteries with a 4000 watt inverter and back up Genmax 4.4 kva generator and portable 150 watt folding solar panels. I figure I should be able to keep the wife cool and happy.
And as all of us know " HAPPY COOL WIFE,HAPPY LIFE"
If I do get an email etc I will let everyone know ASAP
Keep safe.