400 Watt Super-Efficient Air Conditioner for RV - RV Air Conditioner Options. No More Roof AC.

[@bradleyrm]

I’m loving the Midea 8000 BTU U shaped 15 ceer AC in my RV window, 150 watts on low 525 max on hi and whisper quiet!

[@davebean2886]

Supposedly the Media converts to Direct Current. I'm wondering if anyone has figured out how to feed the Media direct current from solar panels?

[@David-rx2to]

I have the exact ac unit installed in my van. Make sure you have a lot of air flow to the back of the unit to carry away the heat generated there. Inadequate airflow will cause the unit to struggle and draw more power. I have mine plugged into my Jackery and it will draw 475 watts...but part of that number is the ac inverter running in the generator.

[@covetthecamper2289]

Thanks for that information. I’m playing with the baffles to separate the intake/exhaust. The exhaust will be completely open at the side of the camper with a door that closes for when not in use. The intake is a bit tricky but will bring cooler air in from underneath the camper. It’s been too cold to test it here lately.

[@supremeautomotive6749]

Drill holes in bottom for water to drain it won't lug the fan down

[@sarac3882]

Where did you end up installing this on your van? In a window?

[@David-rx2to]

I have an extended length high top van. I built a wall between the living area and the garage. Mounted the AC unit in the wall. Drilled holes in the rear doors and installed stainless steel vent holes. Mounted a Maxxair fan in the roof above the garage. With fan on exhaust, air is pulled in through the rear door vents, up and over the AC unit and exits out the roof.

[@toniortiz819]

What size is your jackery and how long will it run this unit for?

[@jimjr6919]

In the winter, just flip that puppy around and cover the front which is now out front, and its a heat pump, it will heat faster and more efficient than an electric heater! Ive tested this with infrared and its Awesome!!

[@tag_76]

Just use an electric blanket. Less energy usage and it does a great job.

[@thomasmurray4717]

I don’t know if you’re serious, but I like the idea. Is there a way to control the temp?

[@jimjr6919]

@@thomasmurray4717it really works, and a heck of a lot quicker per my infrared camera, it's controled manually unfortunately I haven't been able to figure out the thermostat yet

[@sammylaguna1388]

Pretty cool test- i would have thought it used way more- it opens up more possibilities for vanlifers.

[@baneverything5580]

My old style manual control Frigidaire only draws 400 watts max. I use a 300ah 12v Ampere Time and solar panels for power outages. Just got new wiring. I charge it up before storms from the grid. So much stress recently from others that I`ve neglected finishing my system.

[@suppaman12]

Do you know if it surges high when the compressor kicks in? I have an old Frigidaire and don’t want to swap it out bcs I saw the newer ones surge to over 1k watts when the compressor kicks in. My little box does not do this

[@baneverything5580]

@@suppaman12 The old manual 5000 BTU version has soft start. Even my Bluetti EB70 runs it.

[@whydontyouaskme]

I’m running a 5000btu Eenour pa600 and it does not surge. Starts off at 36watts and climbs to 3 or 4 hundred watts

[@thomasdipaolo2349]

Nice. We also have 5k btu window unit in our yruck camper mounted at the rear. Our ac has analog control and is an older unit amp / watts used are higher but still able to run of our two 100ah agm deep cycle battery for night time. Look forward to your next video

[@covetthecamper2289]

Nice! That’s the result I’d like to get from this system. I’m installing three 100ah lithium iron phosphate batteries hoping I can run this and a few other DC appliances. Testing in the camper will have to wait until next spring/summer.

[@josegarza55]

Can you run it the whole night off of two batteries? I’m trying to do the exact thing … any pointers?

[@thomasdipaolo2349]

Two 100ah with external thermostate which completely shuts of power off to ac unit. When temp goes above preset temp power come back on. This only works with analog power switch on the ac. New units with digital controlls will typically go to ready after power is restored but not turn back on. Hope that helps

[@akshonclip]

Thats 37 amps at 12 volts not including inverter losses. On a 100 ah battery with 50% DOD thats barely an hour

[@SeaOfLuv]

Thank you for making this video!

[@covetthecamper2289]

👍🏻

[@kurtgramoll5542]

Been looking at 12v roof top roof units my truck camper (2021 Northstar Liberty), but they are EXPENSIVE. This unit is very reasonable and

[@covetthecamper2289]

For sure. I’ll be completing the installation and performing more tests this spring. I’ll try to document as much as possible on video.

[@gabriellombera7370]

Hi . Can you give me an idea to put this ac in to may van? It’s a cargo van pro master 2918 window s in back doors

[@davebean2886]

Please keep us updated if you find more reasonably priced direct current air conditioners. I'd love to put some in windows and power with off-grid solar.

[@AlexBrandon.]

I have the same unit in a 12K btu ... Great little units

[@sergeys.2316]

Very useful research, thank you very much!

[@miamiSincar]

check media U shape in eco mode low only 190 watts

[@williammcarthur1966]

Hey mate, just subscribed. Any updates in 2024 how this unit is going?

[@noguardrails47]

How high does the watt draw get up to when its really hot out? It should draw more. Thanks!

[@zacharyatkinson8462]

When you show a video like this when you kick the compressor on, you need to be looking at the watch as soon as it comes on, so you can see what the draw is. People that use inverters and solar would like to know that so you want to show the meter before the pump comes on because you’ll see the instant draw and then it’ll drop down.

[@covetthecamper2289]

Those tests will be done when I run the A/C using the inverter and shore power with it installed in the camper later this spring/summer. I’ll use the Kill-A-Watt meter for AC power and a clamp-on meter for DC power monitoring. I’ll also use my new Victron Smart Shunt monitor for DC usage.

[@thomasmurray4717]

?

[@gieb6428]

Good review - Exactly what I needed to know - Thanks

[@covetthecamper2289]

👍🏻

[@jimmywalker2429]

What is the starting watts. Those specs to spoke of are running watts and amps. It could be a deal killer.

[@VideoByPatrick]

So AC unit will work not in RV window ? Can I just drain water into sink ?

[@ronb6182]

The water is to cool the unit down. People need to get that water out of your brains. The water cools the hot side. If you want to use a hose get a portable AC unit. They are designed for the hose. 73

[@coachbatata]

Great I need one to my jackery 1000❤

[@typeelite9283]

Everything buy from here on shall be as energy efficient as possible. Who knows what I want to bring for some off grid camping!

[@angelahoffman7984]

Can this fit in the room of a rv trailer

[@Adrl-i3r]

Can this unit be used in a bedroom? Does it have to be mounted in a window?

[@edwinhill1784]

It need to vent the hot exhaust so yes you will need a window

[@ronb6182]

A window or a hole cut in the wall for the unit to slide in. In tiny home installs I would cut a hole in the wall below a window so you can use the window on cooler days. 73

[@christopherblaisdel]

Super efficient? Doesn't it say 12 ceer on the side? Isn't 22 a good ceer or seer rating?

[@SuperSushidog]

It's good for a cheap window unit but doesn't compare to the 28.5 SEER-2 rating of the mini split I just mounted on my RV that will produce over twice as much heating and cooling for the same number of watts consumed.

[@massa-blasta]

@@SuperSushidog Isn't a 28.5 SEER-2 unit like $2000, tho?

[@SuperSushidog]

@@massa-blasta Close. It was $1,500 for my 12k Btu unit. It only draws 1/3rd the power of my motorhome's rooftop A/C, plus it makes heat efficiently too. This means my batteries and solar can be much smaller, saving me a lot of money, as LiFePo-4 batteries and the other components are very expensive. Actually, my roof is full, with 4,400 watts of solar and I have 23.5 kwh of batteries on board, so there's no room for a larger solar system. But my system is enough to allow me to run all my normal appliances as needed and 24/7 A/C and heat from my heat pump even in the winter. I can also run both A/C s and charge my batteries at the same time as long as the sun is shining, with sufficient batteries to last all night using only about 1/3rd of my battery capacity.

[@CM-ym4is]

@@SuperSushidog Would you please share which mini split you used?

[@rogerdayton]

12.1 EER (not CEER). Which is good and translates to about 410 watts in 95F outside temp.

[@RichardAlbright]

Where do you vent the water?

[@terricorbin3513]

Does this unit have a drain plug?

[@covetthecamper2289]

No plug. I have mine set up to collect/harvest water. My unit sits in a modified stainless steel pan 18” long, 14” wide, 2” deep. The ac drain hole feeds into the pan which I retrofitted with a drain plug with a hose into a 1 gallon jug. I can capture a gallon of water per day with this setup.

[@mayiakashmurr3000]

@@covetthecamper2289I love this. Did you make a video of that set up?

[@ronb6182]

​I had a portable AC unit and it filled a 5 gallon pail in eight hours but I live in Florida. 73

[@simonbowman6206]

410 watts at normal operations whats the max draw as compressor kicks in could be 3,5 to 4,5 kw

[@JV-io3nn]

No. 400 watts would be with the compressor running. They tend to idle (just the fan running without the compressor) around 40 or so watts. You'd need a huge air con unit to pull kws of power. Either a whole house unit or a garage sized unit.

[@thomasmurray4717]

How many amps does it draw when the compressor kicks on? I’m interested in running one on solar alone. Great job. Thanks.

[@rogerdayton]

410 watts is based on the 12.1 EER rating. Which means it should pull 410 when outside is 95F. If it is hotter ouside, the watts will go up.

[@YehNayaNaya]

How much does it cost?

[@massesbulet]

Are you sure about the wifi feature?

[@covetthecamper2289]

This one does not have WiFi. The 6000btu model does. The manual for the 5000btu unit mentioned WiFi used with their app, but the fine print stated (6000 btu, 8000 btu) Not a huge deal for me.

[@ronb6182]

​@@covetthecamper2289yeah we dont need people messing with settings via WiFi. I have three 8000 BTU units and no wifi. Mine were bought before they started putting WiFi control. I like my remotes without WiFi. 73

[@cgdrider]

We have an older Goldstar 5000 watt window air conditioner, manual two knob controls, in our living room window for hot days when PG & E shuts of the power, which happens all the time. Probably won't be using it until next spring. I power that AC with our Goal Zero Yeti 3000X, (98 amp hours), portable power station which is the size of a toaster oven and sits on our kitchen counter top. On High Fan Cool it draws 285 watts and the Yeti will run it for 14 hours on full blast with a 100% full charge. I backup the Yeti with a 40 pound Champion 2500 watt inverter generator. With that combo then we can run our 5000 watt AC, 18CUFT top freezer refrigerator, Starlink internet with Wi-Fi, a couple of 50" TV's, my desktop PC plus lights, etc. We've had an 18 foot Wolf Pup Toy Hauler Travel Trailer that had a Factory Installed 5000 watt window AC in it which worked just fine. I don't know which option I will want to go with in the future with our Elkhorn but I'm leaning towards a lower wattage RV roof AC that can replace our stock 13,500 BTU Air Conditioner. Looking at the Coleman Mach 8 Cub, 9200 BTU but price may be a problem.

[@akshonclip]

Your numbers are made up.

[@flolou8496]

Dumb question here: This obviously weighs too much too install in a regular car or even RV Window right? at over 40 lbs even when used in park mode for say 2 or 3 days at a time, won't the weight be too much for long term use on the window door frame before warping or compromising the integrity structure of the window frame?

[@rogerdayton]

You can simply reinforce it.

[@keishadholmes9796]

Where did you get the ac from for 410w ?

[@rogerdayton]

Pretty sure the model has been discontinued (FFRE053WAE). I recenty came across this one (model: FHWC054WB1) that has the same specs.

[@YehNayaNaya]

If it is kept running for 12 hours or 24 hours will it still draw the same 350 or 400 watt?

[@diversie509]

400 watts per hour. And the wattage shouldn't change if it's not turning off. Start up has a higher watt requirement.

[@suppaman12]

From what I’ve heard, the outside temp(where it draws are from) has to do with how much wattage it’s pulling.

[@rogerdayton]

It has a 12.1 EER rating. Which means it should pull 410 when outside temp is 95F. When hotter, the watts used will be higher. You want your rig to be well insulated. So that it holds the cold air well / the cycle times when the compressor doesn't run are longer. Which the overall total watts used will be lower.

[@rogerdayton]

@@diversie509 It has a soft start so no significant spike when the compressor comes on.

[@diversie509]

@@rogerdayton Wow, thats actually amazing. Saves some money on an invertor.

[@DoritosResidue]

This is more efficient than an ecoflow air conditioner using dc...and a 3rd of the price. Both are at 5000 btu. Any body come up with a DIY hoses for these window ac?

[@DoritosResidue]

@@rogerdayton sure I believe you without any documentation of your own. Care to elaborate?

[@rogerdayton]

@@DoritosResidue I delete my response. I thought you were saying the ecoflow was more efficient.

[@ronb6182]

That's not a circuit breaker it's a GFI for ground faults. 73

[@bronston81]

You make no sense. It was too cold in your garage. Are you running in the wintertime or summer? So if it's cold in your garage, that's a good thing, right?

[@Guns_and_Saints]

I have a 5000 BTU Air Conditioner and a dumb stepdad. He keeps the roof AC running all day. And that dummy thinks my 5000 BTU Air Conditioner have his bill up at about $380. Jeez, he don't even know WTF I have it on.

[@clarktferrill]

Damn it..wasted my time..didnt install in a van .😟😡

[@12vLife]

im in a micro camper in Florida right now and in the shade I get away with a 24v 1800BTU AC. It only consumes 170watt and my house battery is 460AH charged by 320w and 50a dc-dc. It's a tiny space it needs to cool so I'm good. The AC is basically in the van's garage facing in and is vented with shared garage fan out. Its a very clean and stealthy design.. In a few years plan to build a bigger van I can stand in (maybe a 118 wheel base) and wonder if this design will work with a 5000btu AC like yours? That is venting into the shared garage and having a shared exhaust fan from a hot , muggy garage with my tools, other appliances and devices like inverter, fridge, mppt, dc-dc, etc.? also I would need to consider drainage of course.

[@kipdiddy23]

Damn, I have the Coleman, cools fantastic always wondered how many watts it pulled

[@covetthecamper2289]

My old roof mounted Coleman Mach cooled great. Even on low, it froze us out. I always felt it was overkill for the smaller space of the truck camper. This new Frigidaire A/C has been working great. I can run it off of power generated by my solar array through the inverter. I’ve done a bit of testing (trial and error) with the intake/exhaust airflow baffles. The most efficient is using 1/2” baltic birch plywood lined with 1” foam for insulation and sound damping. I ran it for a few hours last weekend while boondocking and I only used 2% of my 200ah battery bank. More testing and videos coming.

[@kipdiddy23]

@@covetthecamper2289 How many hours?

[@Chowneowi]

Yea how many hours punk

[@kipdiddy23]

@@Chowneowi only 6 with your mammy sissy