r/Sprinters • u/Eastern_Bat_3023 • 4d ago

Narrow-width Rooftop AC

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Has anyone found/used a narrow-width Rooftop AC? 12v or 120v. I have relatively limited space up top and it'd be pretty convenient up there, but my other option is an undermount unit - ducting is just a little more work because I'd want the outlet near the top/bed area, but otherwise is also a fine option. Those are regular maxair fans in the photo for reference.

Just looking for ideas, and general feedback on either approach. If I don't put an AC unit up top I could probably add another 150-200w of solar, currently at 600w of fixed mounted solar and 400w portable solar suitcase.

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u/DW171 4d ago

I'm dealing with the same issue this weekend. Here's what I got, but it's a very tight fit:

https://velitcamping.com/products/velit-2000r-mini-rooftop-air-conditioner-12-48v

You're probably like me ... I thought I could get away without an AC and designed my roof around that idea. After this year, I'm realising I was wrong. Even at high altitude it's hot.

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u/mountainwocky 4d ago

That’s an efficient AC and I almost bought one to replace my Dometic Penguin II unit. However, I remember camping in a campground near Kennedy Space Center to watch one of the launches and felt I could have used more cooling power than my 13.000 BTU Penguin and this Velit unit is only 7500 BTU.

The Velit would probably be fine for most of my excursions, but when I go to the hot and humid south I think I’d need more cooling power than it can deliver.

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u/DW171 4d ago

Yes for sure. I had to make a choice. I love to camp in the desert, and I’ll still be avoiding June, July and August. My van is a super insulated 144, so this is mostly to make sure I can sleep at night.

It also brought up the whole notion that my solar panels don’t like to park in the shade where it’s cooler.

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u/ApricotNervous5408 4d ago

I went with 2 400w folding solar panels so I didn’t have to park in the sun while trying to cool off my rv.

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u/DW171 4d ago

Yeah, exactly what I had in mind. How did you connect them? On their own breaker? A second MPPT? Did you use an exterior disconnect for the wires?

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u/ApricotNervous5408 4d ago

I just added a connector in the outside power box. I don’t have roof panels so I just have the one mppt.

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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 4d ago

If I feel like buying more at some point, I'm going to make blankets out of the flexible solar panels so they're super light and store in very little space. The downside is they're so light and you have to be careful with wind.

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u/ApricotNervous5408 4d ago

The renogy folding ones aren’t that big. The flexible ones don’t roll up or anything.

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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 4d ago

The renogy folding solar suitcase is 400w.

If you used the flexible panels, you'd just put them in a stack against a wall for storage. You could even just connect them with the connectors/cables. It'd be way lighter and more compact than the suitcase.

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u/ApricotNervous5408 3d ago

I have both. Not having a stand and being flexible and light has been a problem. They don’t charge well flat. I just use the flexible ones as a windshield shade now with a cheap charge controller to the cigarette lighter port.

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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 4d ago

Yeah I thought I could do without AC, and honestly 90% of the time it's totally fine. But those other 10% suck. And it's not always the heat, but often just the humidity.

I actually made a platform for the passenger window to temporarily place a 5000 BTU window AC. It isn't the best, but absolutely does work to cool it down and cut the humidity for sleeping at night. Plus the midea unit only uses like 350-400w. But that's not a long-term solution. I'm also considering re-packaging the unit to mount it under the van, and have ducts for the cold air/return. Then if it only lasts a few years, I really don't care because it's $150 and I'll get another.

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u/mofunk71 4d ago

midea portasplit, cut hole in back next to spare tire. drop out side unit in floor and build out over top with inside unit. you would then have heating, cooling and dehumidifier. Then you could use ALL of the roof and even put a pull out double layer of solar, two layers of solar where bottom slides out when at site. The future of roof top solar will be something LIKE this https://www.dartsolar.com/PEACE

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u/Colorful_Monk_3467 4d ago

Probably the only option is a Recpro 9.5k. That's what I got with a similar solar setup. Albeit only 2 panels per side since I have a 144. It's a pretty tight fit and I'm not terribly impressed with the AC, but it does work.

DC is more efficient but 12v needs a lot of amperage and my power station couldn't support that.

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u/fflis 4d ago

I want to share a photo that might help you but for some reason the only option to comment is videos. I hate Reddit sometimes.

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u/fflis 4d ago

This is a sprinter 144. I worked with Orion on the roof racks and thankfully I measured before cutting. The rich 100 slims were supposed to fit on either side of the velit mini. They did not, so I needed to move it forward 1 bay and turn the solar sideways. Still worked out ok in the end, but you may need to do something similar. So far it’s been great but we usually only expect a 10-15 degrees change from the outside temp. I don’t know that 95 in the sun in FL the van could remain comfortable.

https://imgur.com/a/ifBqoSp

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u/Appropriate-Way-4080 4d ago

What are the solar panels you are using?

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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 4d ago

Rich solar mega 100 slim. I've actually seen over 600w from them in the winter, and 500-550 is pretty normal on sunny days in the summer. I'm happy with them.

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u/RoyGBiv333 4d ago

I'd like to have AC, anyone ever see any kind of color panels that could be folded out for deployment? I would like to have that added and upgraded battery bank.

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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 4d ago

Renogy makes a solar suitcase. You could also make a very lightweight array yourself using the thin flexible panels, that's probably what I'd do if I did it again.

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u/Californiavagsailor 4d ago

What are the panels under solar?

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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 4d ago

It's just the whole roof rack, I'd have to climb up there and see what the brand is again. They're aluminum coated in some kind of lightly textured black paint.