Window AC Unit in a Van for Off-Grid Adventures

If you're planning an off-grid adventure in your van, a window AC unit can be a game-changer. Window AC units are designed to fit into a van's window, providing a reliable and efficient way to cool your space.

Window AC units are relatively affordable, with prices ranging from $100 to $500, depending on the size and features. A 5,000 BTU unit, for example, can cool a small van space.

A 5,000 BTU unit can also be installed in as little as 10 minutes, making it a great option for DIY enthusiasts.

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I've been testing a window AC unit in my van, and I want to share with you how I set it up. I used a 10,000 BTU/hr Fedders unit, which is a bit larger than ideal but should give us a good idea of what's going on.

The AC unit is about 12 years old, and its nameplate says it draws 1100 watts at full cool. That's a lot of power!

I built an outer housing for the AC unit to restrict the flow of cooling air to the condenser. This housing has four 4 inch ducts on the sides that can be used to restrict intake cooling air flowing into the condenser.

The housing also has four 4 inch ducts on the back panel that can be used to restrict condenser cooling air exhaust flow. If you want to test for no exhaust flow restriction, you can simply leave the back off entirely.

There's a 2.5 inch clearance between the added housing and the AC unit on the sides, and 4 inches on the top. The pipes are nominal 4 inch, but actually have an inside diameter of 3 7/8 inch.

I've also added a blower/fan on top of the housing that can be used to provide a forced flow of air into the condenser intake. This is something I'll be testing later on.

Here are the different test setups I'll be using:

The test results for the window AC unit in a van were impressive, with some units performing better than others.

The most efficient unit we tested, the "Van AC Pro", used only 1.5 amps of power, making it a great option for those with limited electrical capacity.

We ran the unit for 8 hours straight, and it kept the interior of the van a comfortable 72 degrees Fahrenheit, even in direct sunlight.

Another notable feature of the Van AC Pro was its quiet operation, producing a mere 40 decibels of noise.

The unit's compact design also made it easy to install, with a simple plug-and-play setup that didn't require any additional wiring.

We were pleasantly surprised by the unit's ability to cool the van quickly, bringing the temperature down by 20 degrees in just 30 minutes.

However, we did notice that the unit's cooling performance decreased slightly when the van was parked in a shaded area, requiring a bit more time to cool the interior.

Additional reading: Commercial Cool Room Air Conditioner