Cracking video. Never heard it explained so well. Subscribed as this summer was a nightmare and i am about to build my on old van, so videos like this are eye openers as to insulation for instance and loss of heat. Thanks

OMG! Such a brilliant BRILLIANTLY detailed video. Thank you. Love that you spoke about every competent that goes into making a decision for an air-con. And you explained it in simplified terms for some of us who don’t know much of the mechanics of things yet (me 🙋🏾).

Thank you 🙏🏾

I’ve been a thermal engineering technician for 45 years and a truck camper enthusiast for 15, let me tell you where the misunderstanding of the problem lies :
1. Van color : the darker the color, the more infrared light it absorbs. The result is surface heating : 40°C in the shade becomes roughly 45–50°C in the sun for a white van, but 70°C or more for a black one! It's not a van, it's an oven ! Note : infrared rays pass through the windows and heat up the surfaces inside.
2. Air circulation (convection): Hot outside air never naturally enters through the top, however, extracting hot interior air from the top requires bringing in cooler air from elsewhere—such as the shady side or from underneath. An exhaust fan will be completely ineffective if this rule isn't followed.
3. Insulation: There is a lot of misunderstanding here. Insulation is not a barrier against cold or heat, it simply slows down heat transfer. An uninsulated van will match the outside temperature in under an hour; a poorly insulated one takes 2 hours, and a highly insulated one takes 3 hours—but the final temperature is approximately the same. A thermal equilibrium is reached between the incoming heat and the ability to extract it. In winter, the balance is struck between the heater's output and the insulation's ability to slow heat loss to the outside. If you turn off the heater, the van’s temperature drops back to ambient levels—faster or slower depending on the insulation—but it will end up just as cold in any case.
Conclusion: parking your vehicle in the shade rather than the sun makes the real difference. Only air conditioning (which actively extracts heat) can do better, standard ventilation only affects how you feel regarding perspiration—it’s 40°C in front of the fan and 40°C behind it.
Bonne route à tous ! 😅

SOOOOOOO bloody helpful, instant sub !!

Great videos mate! Very helpful

Thanks great  info in power usage 👍🏻

Brilliant video! 👍

New to the channel but got to say this comes across more like a sales blurb for your website than a reasoned lesson on van AC. There’s no reason why a modern 12v inverter air con unit isn’t a better option for the vast majority of people to use on the move. The only reason I can see for choosing the one you went with is your 48v battery system and it’s limited 12v output. All your efficiency arguments are void when you advise using it while driving (which I think is a good idea to prevent heat soak). For most people that would mean turning on an inverter and pulling from the 12v system anyway while on the move. Watts don’t change and if you’re driving or leaving it on while you explore for an hour like you said It’s much more practical and efficient to leave the inverter off and run direct from a correctly sized battery with suitably sized wires. It means you can also use it at night without that awful inverter hum which the typical victron multiplus and others have when under load.

I think anyone looking to retrofit AC to a camper with a large enough 12v lithium based system and not the Zeliox Neo should research 12v AC as perhaps a more suitable alternative. Start with videos from people who aren’t selling the product they’re recommending.

Great Information.. I thought the video was excellent.

I work in building services so I'm fully involved with HVAC


Plus I can't remember if you mentioned it but as we all know AC dries the air which is very handy in a van

Blimey, did you go to the Rolf Harris school of Art? 😂 nice one mate, now I’ve got to save up for a AC unit after watching this 😂 think I’ll do it after I’ve expanded my NEO 👍

I'm getting a van soon and planning on a lwb sprinter with a pop top (with solar panel) and an air con unit. I hate being hot and plan on travelling in the summer, so air con is high on my list.

Very explanatory video! I really helps to compare electricity with water(flow). Well done...one small thing: a roof vent glueing us sufficient. Every screw you put through the roof, is a potential leak. Windows in cars are glued and they don't fall out. I glued my VentPlus to my roof and it's still there...

Interestedly we have the same range cooker and I think you might have had a power cut but don’t worry I don’t know how to set the clock either..😊

I'm still not sure I can afford a new build but air con is a must if I get the opportunity. I've seen cheapish Chinese units and I'm gonna give them a go plus the price of batteries is low enough that 900ah+ isn't insane anymore. The last few weeks have been hell, never again.

Yes I'm really thinking about it for a boat,  I've already got a maxx air fan and it's really good cutting down on the condensation in winter..

I have a Transit Custom day van and the Van’s own air conditioning is excellent if I leave the engine running, and set my Diesel heater to run the fan only to circulate air it doesn’t take long at all to bring the temps down to a comfortable level. 15-20 mins and I can turn it off. That will take all the daytime heat soak out and allow it to be comfortable at night.

Also if you have fridges or things that generate heat then that will also massively turn your van into a cooker when its hot outside

I struggle enough for solar space without trying to find space for air con😉😉. That said I dont go abroard and really hot places would not be my thing. But certainly for regular trips abroard its worth looking at if you can suitably run it. For me the roof space is almost as problematic as the interior space for storage, carrying and solar, and compromises are needed. For this last heatwave in the uk we have managed with several clip on USB fans, which have been surprisingly efficient. But air con is definitely appealing once it gets to mid 30's. I have not experienced the 12v a/c, but 240 a/c has been fitted to a few vans over the years, but i think off grid useage would be limited to a couple of hours here and there.

Hey mark hope you’re well
Great video ❤ as a fellow manc we would never need such a thing 20 years ago but now with the change in weather I’d like to consider something for our van?

We have a Clayton LPs 3000 bought from urs truly !
will a 230 aircon not work well with this unit ?
would I need to change over to the same brand power control unit as you?
If we did with our Clayton being installed under the rib bed would this other brand fit in the same place?
Cheers Jay
Hope you’re both doing good mate.

I struggled last week had to sleep out side my work with my doors open. It was awful 😞 I need ti get a roof aircon