A/C Install in a DIY Truck Camper (Off Grid Air Conditioning)

This week I install a small 5000 BTU air conditioner in my homemade DIY truck camper. Will this small A/C be able to run off grid on my simple solar setup? I also install a 12 volt system and solar panels running to an Anker SOLIX C1000 solar power station.
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[@sshaw4429]

Why are you not over 100,000? This channel is so dang informative. People spread the word, I’ve been watching this kid for 7 years. He’s the reason I bought a Honda Element, and get to travel.

[@jamesc1108]

Little tip, I’ve built almost the same setup. You’ll want to drill extra weeping holes in the bottom of the ac unit and put a piece of tin over the top of it to shed rain water off. Not a problem when sitting still but when going down the road water will pool in the bottom tray and when you hit the breaks it will dump it into the camper . Great looking build and I look forward to seeing the finished product!

[@andrewloranger]

Excellent tip and super cheap insurance!

[@TheDogsBox]

Window unit air conditioners are meant to collect the condensate and the fan splashes it up onto the coils helping them to more efficiently cool. Read the instructions, they will tell you as much. If you must drill a hole in the bottom, attach a drain, so you can drain it prior to driving away, but let it stay closed when you are parked so it can run more efficiently. I have a 12v powered valve hooked up to my reverse lights so when ever I am about to drive off, I just put it in reverse and sit there for a minute and the bottom of the AC drains on the ground.

[@robs4988]

I have to drill holes even in window AC at home as it just fills with water in humid climates.

[@jbrat1967]

Building your own truck camper makes incredible sense. Relatively simple and you end up knowing it inside and out.

[@mrchitlin6255]

Nicest guy on KZbin!!!

[@bonitapeterson6390]

Nate--consider some moveable solar panels where you can park in the shade and put the panels in the sun. My hubby mounted some flexible panels in a frame made of PVC pipes where they can stand or tilt to the sun angle by moving a moveable "leg" frame he added to the piping. Also, if you can mount the panels on the roof where you can tilt them you will capture more sun. We have learned that flat laying panels just don't catch as much as ones that can be angled to the sun.

[@minimallyleah7208]

Dang, I haven't seen you in a very, very long time! Life has been lifing. It's great to see you again. 😊

[@Parker-di7ef]

The unit you chose makes a lot of sense. A roof mounted unit would have taken up that valuable solar panel space. An AC that runs 100% off grid is the ultimate setup.

[@SUVRVing]

Nice job! Having the AC will be great, even if it's just to run it for half an hour before going to bed when it's super hot. And if you run out of power to run it during the day, you can just work in a library or coffee shop for a few hours. Not a huge deal.

[@jonathanbmBen-Menachem]

Or Connect it to a very small generator with an output of 700 watt.

[@dave64340]

Couldn’t Someone rip out your fan cover and reach in through the fan and unlock the door for a fast way in? Just wondering.

[@lesleyhughes3174]

Good to see you again Nate! 🙋🏼‍♀️🚐 🌏

[@RonInAVan]

Wow Nate your project is really coming together nicely, can’t wait to see it all finished ✅ enjoy!!

[@chrissydnor151]

that camper is badass!!

[@user-rw6hq8mf9u]

Happy Friday everyone!

[@samanthadodd8112]

Love the idea of an ac unit. Please don't forget to get a dehumidifier if ur staying in florida. No one wants mold.

[@CGGarage]

Bro, you should totally think about making a hard side pop up roof. There's some examples on KZbin, and they're really awesome. I think if you got the headroom for it, you could stand up, be comfortable, and maybe even put in a cabover. Idk man, an idea. Looks good though!

[@Uprise95341]

Next you gotta get one of those atoto head units and mount the camera on the back…. It has live rear view camera so you can use to see your back whenever

[@TheDogsBox]

You need to absolutely maximize the solar you can get on the roof. Consider a string on the side as well for that low angle sun in the winter, and mornings and evenings if you can park in a way to capture it. I have an 8000 btu unit running in my ambulance that uses about 700-800 watts. But it will keep it cool in full sun, but the issue is that there are more hours without full sun than there are with it. In the dog days of summer you need to be collecting the morning and evening sun to keep those batteries up.

[@DrMott]

Nate-you might consider placing the ac on a slide so you can put a hatch on the outside to cover it? See the T@b tear drops.

[@sylviajones4907]

Yay for the a/c!!😊

[@ZEVONLIN]

Coming along!

[@clydesmith1855]

Coming together nicely.

[@evelyndunn50]

So happy it’s coming along. Great video!

[@keithjetski3060]

Looks good

[@alohajason]

mounting exhaust fan higher on the wall would be better for effectiveness, same with AC. it would also give more using room near the bench

[@mohamedouarsafi3923]

You are always the best. Been a fan of yours for the last three years.

[@sswwooppee]

There’s a newer generation of solar panels that are much more shade and angle tolerant. They’re worth looking into.

[@cfayard]

Good work. At the end I'd love to see a material cost breakdown and estimated labor hours it took.

[@alvinmousseau1100]

Awesome video

[@rtshort]

Looking good, going to be a nice setup.

[@ThatBobGuy850]

You do nice work, man!

[@cyndykated358]

Looks great…well thought and carried out!

[@TheCruisinCrew]

Awesome progress! But I'm slightly worried about your headroom, since the tongue and groove ceiling is going to take another inch and you may have not tried any cushioning on the benches and how much that will reduce the space for sitting up comfortably...

[@ApteraPioneer]

You might be able to get more solar on the roof, if you use a slider on each side (or front and rear) and stack the panels on top of each other. I think Everlanders did something similar. So, at least when you are stationary (and are most likely to run the a/c) you can pretty much double your incoming capacity. The panels that slide under, could be the lighter, semi flexible kind, mounted on lightweight rigid board, if weight is a concern.

[@Omri.Collects]

Very cool update

[@offgridgesertdwellers]

I would suggest using higher wattage solar panels to maximize the use of roof space and power created.

[@verabuyhouse]

hey buddy, Question... how about if you layer the solar panels ( and put the bottom solar panel on a slider) (and slide it out to get more sun when your at your location) this way you'll be able to have a lot more solar for your needs

[@lesliehunter1823]

Frigidair model FFRA053WA1 5000 BTU soft start. You want the Energy Star for soft start and the digital model so that the fan cuts out when the compressor is off. The knob version fan stays on all the time. Priced at ballpark 250 ( not sure CAD or USD) ViewYT: I Ride Tiny House Adventures "this conversion van has it..." to see a unique hidden install.

[@leann4925]

Enjoyed watching and your doing a great job.

[@rugbysaturdayusa8434]

unbelieveable great video -- great content

[@llorylloyd]

Great video the camper is coming along nicely looks small on the outside but big on the inside

[@aaronosborn7395]

I was a little skeptical at first, but while I’m impressed looks really nice

[@posteroonie]

Thanks for the video, cool camper! If I was building from scratch maybe I'd size the roof to fit the panels I had in mind, with the goal of mounting residential panels for maximum roof coverage. Maybe a couple of 350w residential panels would fit your roof.

[@jamespoinsette1154]

Awesome👍🏿

[@noyopacific]

Nice job Nate ! I have the same A/C in a small cabin. Once the temperature reaches the minimum set point the compressor cycles on and off. It draws the full 450 watts only when the compressor is running. I don't recall the load when the compressor is off but I think it was about 100 watts to run the fan only. On hot days I call it my "meat locker." It's pretty awesome. I can't imagine it taking very much electricity to keep your camper comfortable.

[@cinnamon--girl]

Looking good!! As a Florida resident and frequent Florida State Park camper, you need the AC!!

[@lynnef3297]

👋 Well, thats coming together nicely. 😃👍 I'll be following along to see your progress.

[@nomoremeetings1183]

He's crafty

[@agentofficerthomasa.porter107]

Nate Another Positive Accomplishment In The Build! Using 3 Solar Panels That Are 400watts Each To Produce 1200 watts Would Provide w/2 Lithium Batteries Enough Power To Have The A/C Unit Going 24/7. always Tommy🤠

[@lokeylovesyou]

Had the same exact AC in our lance. We had around 800w on the roof. It def works and since yours is smaller it probably would require less

[@MjVanCamping]

I have a window unit in my van. I usually set it to a medium to low while on and it will cycle the compressor off and on to maintain temperature. So it's not going to be a constant 482w draw. I love having the window unit! Good luck with it!

[@diaperdood1]

this is way more practical than the 99 percent of truck campers they build out there

[@edwardeighth1948]

The AC makes it even more stealthy 😅

[@mindychulka314]

Well…… 🙄🤔😂

[@upforanadventure3039]

One part GE silicone outdoor caulk and one part oderless mineral spirits. It will make a brush on sealer that waterproofs anything!

[@jimc5624]

While hopefully run on solar I would suggest adding a power plug in so if you are somewhere to plug in you can easily

[@RolandoNispiros]

Looking good so far. Because it’s made of wood you can cut as many holes as you want.

[@paulmfti]

now all you need is to put padding on the walls and test to see if the windows are large enough pass food on a tray through them...all the elements are coming together...great work...home stretch?

[@t04v7]

There’s a device rv owners install on their AC units to prevent circuit overload called a soft start… Don’t know if you can do that with a window unit, though.

[@theseamazingplaces]

I think that's called a soft starter

[@lesliehunter1823]

I think frigidair makes a 5000btu soft start

[@theseamazingplaces]

@@lesliehunter1823 I think those units are about $2000. The unit he is using now is about $150.

[@teresa3889]

You awesome

[@lesleyhughes3174]

I'm sure you will do well with what you are planning, solar wise. What a luxury to have the little aircon system.🌞, I have so many days where I wish that I could magically make one appear in my van!!. Really pleased for you. Going to make all the difference. 🍀🍀for completion and your coming travel Nate. 👋🚛 🛣 ⛽ 🚥

[@schmonsequences]

you need to tilt your solar. it's far more significant to have the right angle than just throw more panels on a flat surface

[@conchscooter]

We have 600 amps of lithium and a 3,000 watt inverter which runs our 120 volt Coleman overnight in our van. After a night running it we either have to plug in or drive a few hours so our twin alternators can recharge the batteries as our 400 watts of solar isn’t enough to recharge our system. Having off grid a/c makes van life much more comfortable and versatile in so many ways, out shopping, cooling off on a hot afternoon not just at night. Best of luck to you.

[@renatoscutube]

When you cover the roof with solar panels, you will have another layer of thermal isolation and that will help to control the temp inside.

[@beyondshuffleboard7654]

Nate, Nice job so far on your build. Not sure if you’ve addressed this Q. But here goes. It appears that the vent on your AC unit is open when running? If so, it’s not helping the unit to work to its max capacity. Bring in outside air will just introduce more heat to your camper.

[@bntravelin2]

Make sure you put a stop on the door so it does fly open and hit the ac

[@williamley7380]

Good video bro, loving the build so far. That A/C is a must here in Florida!! I'm in the Volusia County area and travel the coast and to Jax for work mostly perhaps we'll be in the same parking lot one day, lol. I'm wanting to build a small sink/counter space and shadowbox window shelf for my rear side window. Adventure on my friend.

[@southerngal7899]

Hi Nate. Did you think about putting your ac on a small tilt for drainage? That's the only thing I've seen people have a gripe about. Keeps it from getting in the walls. Just a thought from other ac users. I installed a 5000 btu in my living room last year and it's really efficient. Doesn't pull a lot of watts, thank goodness lol. Safe travels 🙏

[@electriccuts]

You could get used commercial solar panels… I got two 375 watt panels for about 200 bucks. They are a bit on the heavy side though…

[@thisone.]

Maybe consider building an insulated removable cover for the A/C for when it is not in use. Would help insulate the interior from noise also to help from having leaks from the outside water like rain and so on and also the evap radiator from damage. Gonna be a pain to always have to be level if not slightly uphill so the accumulated water does not drip inside your cabin. Having an adjustable two axis mount would help in that. Those small units do not have a drain hole as it uses evaporation to rid itself of accumulated water while also helping cool the unit. You can drill a small hole and add a drain tube to direct the dripping water.

[@BuckSodbusterf]

Can you add solar panel "wings" ? By that I mean solar panels that are on hinges that fold down onto the walls while moving, but can be swung upwards, parallel to the roof while stopped.

[@Chris-be1fo]

How about a slide out solar panel that doubles as an awning? I love your videos. They helped in my own van life. I’ve been watching since almost the beginning of the element days. Keep up the good work.

[@seantaylor4107]

Awesome, Would 2 - 300 watt panels fit up top? Surely 600 would be plenty. Great build.

[@offgridgesertdwellers]

Like two 435 watt solar panels. Or three if possible.

[@jimmymcconnell629]

If you can get to N Texas anytime soon, I am getting brand new Hyperion 400w / 500w Bifacial solar panels for 120.00 each from Signature Solar in Sulphur Springs, Tx.

[@electriccuts]

Get a sportsman 1000i generator for those cloudy days. Or a small propane generator…

[@leonardli3667]

Hi Nate, excited about your new camper venture. Did not see much if any of Lex’s cross dowel method. Also was wondering if you will have enough power to run your instant pot for cooking? Best wishes on the completion of your camper! 🤠

[@bonniepwtf]

All your years of different builds is really paying off ! You know what you want & know how to do it correctly. Especially like the fact you know every inch of the build so there's no guess work as to where things are if something were to need fixing. Great job, very excited for you.✌️🧰🔨🪚🏄

[@calvinmarshall1610]

Great video and build ever think you will make it back to Michigan again??

[@smc65714]

Need to do A s9lar panel rear Awning(or on Side)

[@Klojum]

If anything, I would try to make the solar panel(s) tilt to various angles just to optimize the sun's input.

[@brentzobel1907]

3 400 solar panels and 4 100ah of batteries. A mini spilt is more efficient. I can run mine all day and through the night in 100 degree weather.

[@loraypruitt5922]

😊

[@dallas7644]

Can you do a video on ,How to receive mail when on the road. Can a P. O. Box serve as an address, how to do it if someone is traveling?

[@ncfly88]

Awesome work, Nate! Have you considered putting in a power plug port to serve if you got to a campground (or somewhere with shore power) and want to plug in? May just run it inside beside your power station?

[@Jimstone216]

Coming out awesome! I’m sure you already thought this through but what if you added panels on the side that were on a hydraulic so they could flip up towards sun when your not moving? Since you got no side windows figure it might be worth a shot

[@robs4988]

Once the camper is cooled down it shouldn't use anywhere near 400 watts. You should be able to run the ac all day long no problem.

[@LiveInspired24.7]

Looks great Nate I’m curious , could that fan pull exhaust into the camper since it’s on the back, if it’s on while you’re driving ?

[@Bellasafari]

Could you make an ‘awning’ of solar panels? They lay flat against one side of your rig lift and bolt at an angle. I rec atleast 1Kw of solar. Rich solar has some great 250s- 14? Busbar… I have 4 of them and run a portable AC drawing about 600w in my van. I would love to figure out how to do a window mount without looking like a gypsy:))🎉

[@shermanbland5417]

Since there’s not enough room on the roof. What about mounting extra solar on the side of the truck camper. They can be flush when in transport then you could extend the up when parked.

[@TFrakesTanks]

Huge sale on dko batteries right now in the states chrome said 280 amp hours for like 600 bucks maybe check that out

[@blackandwhitesportstoo]

I've been watching your channel for a long time. Great stuff. If you can get up to around 500 watts you are in business.

[@moisetingue7457]

Nate! Could you have put the A/C unit towards the front of the camper? Could that have worked too?

[@markheil6374]

Looks great! Do you think the A/C has enough support on the outside for bumpy roads? I am not sure the weight & balance of the unit, but shelf of some sort might help.

[@vince4316]

Why didn't you plug the ac directly into Anker power? Nice build

[@ourv9603]

Know this: The bigger the solar panel, the more power per square inch it will collect. !

[@marksandoval5361]

Maybe put more solar panels on the roof of the truck?

[@ElementLife]

That would be pretty awesome!

[@sergeant_senna]

Hi. I am have no experience in this at all, but can you not have some fold-out solar panels on the roof for extra power?

[@ThePlanet_L.I.]

Y an house ac as opposed to getting the ecoflow

[@wendyfrederick5965]

Looks like your unit vents are particularly blocked by the wall ... Why did you not use a through the wall A/C unit? Was it because the price is higher?

[@cooltrkin]

You know they sale 700 watt panels for 200 bucks. Two of those would fit on that roof.

[@garyi8608]

Please be careful using the circular saw and it can kick back and can get hurt real bad. To keep hands-fingers away from the blade... saw. You made a very nice camper and hope it works out well in the long term.