1. I have a companion air cooler like this one. They do not work in humid places and people from humid environments over east might tell you they are useless, but they're not useless here in the dry heat of Perth. Here, people have evaporative systems on their houses and this little unit works in WA where I've used it.
www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/companion-mini-evaporative-cooler-system-rechargeable

It won't cool your van, but it will cool you if you let it blow on you, especially when you are trying to get to sleep.

2. If you have a freezer and can freeze ice bricks, using one as a "cold water bottle" will help make you feel cooler. Wrap it in a teatowel or handtowel and if you don't want it to wet your bedding, put something non-absorbent underneath. It's the same as hot water bottles in winter, if your feet are happy the rest of you is happier.

3. If you get a sea breeze, open up any windows facing the coast and on the other side for cross-ventilation. The sea breezes can rapidly cool things down if there is one. Often it will drop and you get no breeze but if you get the "fremantle doctor" it can cool things down a bit.

PeterInSa wrote:

---

just in case of starting roof rust.

---

 In our dry heat, the water truly evaporates and you leave the windows open when you run them so there shouldn't be build up of condensation.  (again, different story in humid climates).  My little one is very compact, fits in a small cupboard and has a small footprint but if OP can go bigger it might be better for him. 

Maids, you might need a portable solar panel, so you can park in the shade, and still get some charge.

Doesn't matter what you have inside for cooling, Perth is very hot in summer, 38 tomorrow and usually a week of 40 degrees, do not park in full sun.

Just have enough battery power to run during the day and get the solar to charge up mornings and afternoons in the cooler times.

12V fans are the go for sleeping at night, but try to sit under the awning in a breeze during the hot times.

Probably a bit late for you but after going to Greece I bought a misting spray on Aliexpress and connected it to my 12v fan.  

Re (we have a 2000w I verter but running that may kill the batteries)

From memory friend said his larger unit was 65watts so to me a $45, 150watt inverter should do the job. But check B4 buying.


www.jaycar.com.au/150w-450w-12vdc-to-240vac-modified-sinewave-inverter/p/MI5300

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Friday 23rd of December 2022 11:54:30 AM

PeterInSa wrote:

---

Re (we have a 2000w I verter but running that may kill the batteries)

From memory friend said his larger unit was 65watts so to me a $45, 150watt inverter should do the job. But check B4 buying.


www.jaycar.com.au/150w-450w-12vdc-to-240vac-modified-sinewave-inverter/p/MI5300

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Friday 23rd of December 2022 11:54:30 AM

---

 dont need another we have a 2000w which is much bigger

Hi Maids

I was in the same position as yourself, when I was using AGM batteries, I had to have the sun, shining on the roof solar

I can therefore see where you are coming from

As the sun goes across the sky, in the north, I tried to angle my motorhome, so that the fridge side of my motorhome, (passenger side), had a bit of shade by about 10 am

If I was staying for more than one night, then I would put out the shade, and sit under the shade, and not the inside of the motorhome, in the heat of the day

I opened all widows and hatches (which had flywire) as any breeze always seemed to help

As I use a GPS to find the free/donation/low cost sites, I always knew where the north was
If I could park the motorhome with the nose inside the shade of a tree, while still having the solar panel in the sun, then that was a bonus to me

I purchased the usual Sirocco 12 volt fans, and then purchased a lightweight solar panel, so that I could park further under the shade

As I now have lithium batteries, then as soon as I stop somewhere, I look for the shade, as these batteries seem to be a lot better than AGM ones

In summery (apart from all the other advice), if you can keep your body under some sort of shade, (perhaps on a chair under a tree, reading a book), you will be cooler, than sitting inside a motorhome

Hope that this advice is useful to you

Tony Bev wrote:

---

Hi Maids

I was in the same position as yourself, when I was using AGM batteries, I had to have the sun, shining on the roof solar

I can therefore see where you are coming from

As the sun goes across the sky, in the north, I tried to angle my motorhome, so that the fridge side of my motorhome, (passenger side), had a bit of shade by about 10 am

If I was staying for more than one night, then I would put out the shade, and sit under the shade, and not the inside of the motorhome, in the heat of the day

I opened all widows and hatches (which had flywire) as any breeze always seemed to help

As I use a GPS to find the free/donation/low cost sites, I always knew where the north was
If I could park the motorhome with the nose inside the shade of a tree, while still having the solar panel in the sun, then that was a bonus to me

I purchased the usual Sirocco 12 volt fans, and then purchased a lightweight solar panel, so that I could park further under the shade

As I now have lithium batteries, then as soon as I stop somewhere, I look for the shade, as these batteries seem to be a lot better than AGM ones

In summery (apart from all the other advice), if you can keep your body under some sort of shade, (perhaps on a chair under a tree, reading a book), you will be cooler, than sitting inside a motorhome

Hope that this advice is useful to you

---

 the problem was in our Van the sola panels has to be on the drivers side as the awning and all the vents were an issue. Not of the vents have fans and no hatch, it was sealed up previously because we think it was leaking.

I did get a siricco fan and we have a big shade for the fridge side which partially goes over a window

It appears that most of the heat is coming through the roof.

We were also told these new shingle panels still change under a bit of tree shade.

Was trying to work out if we park the arse end west or not but I know the sun is hotter in the afternoon but then if the sea breeze comes in we can open the back doors.

Lithium batteries sound great but we were told not to put them in the van? and they are soooo expensive

yobarr wrote:

---

maids wrote:

---

PeterInSa wrote:

---

Re (we have a 2000w I verter but running that may kill the batteries)

From memory friend said his larger unit was 65watts so to me a $45, 150watt inverter should do the job. But check B4 buying.


www.jaycar.com.au/150w-450w-12vdc-to-240vac-modified-sinewave-inverter/p/MI5300

-- Edited by PeterInSa on Friday 23rd of December 2022 11:54:30 AM

---

 dont need another we have a 2000w which is much bigger

---

Did you consider that perhaps Peter suggested using the 150 watt inverter because doing so would address your concerns about "kill the batteries"? Nothing matches Lithium. Quickly charged with solaR (that's SOLAR with an R) , far more usable power, under half the weight. Could I suggest that you heed advice from people on here (NOT me) who know their stuff about Solar etc. Jaahn and Jonathan come to mind, but there are several others. My van never was in the shade when I worked on a 500,000 station in the Pilbara, (45 degrees plus): but the roof is covered in SolaR and I ran my 2.5kw AC 24/7 off Lithium. You could consider hinging the panels on a couple of sides to maximise exposure to the sun. Cheers.

---

 I dont understand we have a 2000w inverter much bigger than a 150w. the guy that put ours in suggested lithium but we simply could not afford it as we are over capitalizing on this thing lol it cost a lot to fix up when we bought it. I was told these shingle solar panels are very good

yobarr wrote:

---

maids wrote:

---

yobarr wrote:

---

Did you consider that perhaps Peter suggested using the 150 watt inverter because doing so would address your concerns about "kill the batteries"? Nothing matches Lithium. Quickly charged with solaR (that's SOLAR with an R) , far more usable power, under half the weight. Could I suggest that you heed advice from people on here (NOT me) who know their stuff about Solar etc. Jaahn and Jonathan come to mind, but there are several others. My van never was in the shade when I worked on a 500,000 station in the Pilbara, (45 degrees plus): but the roof is covered in SolaR and I ran my 2.5kw AC 24/7 off Lithium. You could consider hinging the panels on a couple of sides to maximise exposure to the sun. Cheers.

---

 I dont understand we have a 2000w inverter much bigger than a 150w. the guy that put ours in suggested lithium but we simply could not afford it as we are over capitalizing on this thing lol it cost a lot to fix up when we bought it. I was told these shingle solar panels are very good

---

 The point I was making is that surely a 150 watt inverter would use less of your available power than would a 2000 watt inverter, thus saving battery power? Also, I am being thinking that anybody who tries to tell you that a shingle panel, or indeed any panel, will still work when in the shade either has a vested interest, or speaks with a forked tongue. (Or both). My Solar system cost big dollars, but, believe me, when it's 45 degrees C outside and you're comfortable at 25 degrees all night, "over capitalising" is the last thing on your mind. Cheers

---

 now I understand but we need the 2000w for other things we run (over capitalising" is the last thing on your mind) so true

they are 200w x2 shingle panels

msg wrote:

---

maids wrote:

---

 

Lithium batteries sound great but we were told not to put them in the van? and they are soooo expensive

---

 What is the reason given for not having lithium batteries in your van?   I have had mine under the passenger seat for about four years with no problems.

---

r Agreed. My Lithium lives under my bed, along with all manner of controllers and other stuff that I do not understand! Mind you, if such advice came from the same person who peddled the Shingle panels to Janet, it is understandable. Cheers

I agree. Everything I use in my van is 12v. except, the air conditioner and microwave and the gas stove. Hot water is generated via the engine.

All the lights, fans, computers, notepads, TV, sound system, water pumps, shower, Loo, and fridge run off 12 v. I am loaded to capacity with batteries and solar panels. Its only a small MH (5.7mtrs nose to tail)

Was a bit touch and go with power usage when I had the AGM's but lithium has made all the difference and I no longer worry about what to plug in.

If it's raining and I'm getting low, I could just go for a 30minute drive and recharge, but I haven't had to do that yet. (It's a motorhome and takes no time at all to pack up and move)

Simples

yobarr wrote:

---

msg wrote:

---

maids wrote:

---

 

Lithium batteries sound great but we were told not to put them in the van? and they are soooo expensive

---

 What is the reason given for not having lithium batteries in your van?   I have had mine under the passenger seat for about four years with no problems.

---

r Agreed. My Lithium lives under my bed, along with all manner of controllers and other stuff that I do not understand! Mind you, if such advice came from the same person who peddled the Shingle panels to Janet, it is understandable. Cheers

---

 Actually we did not go with the guy that said lithium is a waste of time in a van, we went to a professional that we have dealt with before who tried to talk us into lithium but at the time irt was much too expensive. bottom line is we went away for three nights to test the system and it went well with the peddled shingle panels..this ran our tv nvidia player microwave and filled up the batteries as much as it could as we were at Badem power under huge trees.

Our only concern now is how to keep cool until we decide if we really need to spend some more money on an upgrade,, and YES would go back to the same person as he did try to convince us to spend the money