Air conditioner installation
12V, 24V and 48V DC units that run straight off lithium, or 120V units for shore power. Usually installed in your existing fan opening, and sized to your batteries and charging first.
IllustrationThe AC is the easy part
An air conditioner makes a July night in Moab livable, and it's the biggest power load you can put in a van. Most DC units fit the standard 14 by 14 inch fan opening, so we can typically install in an existing fan hole. Picking the unit is easy. Making sure your batteries and charging can actually run it for the hours you need is the real project, so we look at the whole system first and quote the AC and any power upgrades together.
We've installed OutEquipPro 12V units with a new framed roof opening and finished headliner, and we work with the units van owners ask about most: Nomadic Cooling X3, Dometic RTX 2000, Velit, Truma Aventa and Dometic's 120V rooftop units.
Section through an AC install, often in the existing fan opening. The opening is framed to carry the unit, sealed like a fan install, and wired on its own circuit sized to the unit's draw.
- 1AC unit 12, 24 or 48V DC, or 120V AC
- 2Butyl and lap sealant at the flange
- 3Framed opening carries the unit's weight
- 4Dedicated fused circuit cable sized to the unit
Units informed buyers compare
| Unit | Power | Rated cooling | Roof opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomadic Cooling X3 | 12, 24 or 48V DC | About 12,000 BTU | 14 x 14 in |
| Dometic RTX 2000 | 12 or 24V DC | 6,824 BTU | Its own larger opening |
| Velit 2000R / 3000R | 12 to 48V DC | Up to about 12,000 BTU (3000R, 48V) | 14 x 14 in |
| OutEquipPro | 12V DC | Model dependent | 14 x 14 in |
| Truma Aventa Comfort SoftStart | 120V AC | 15,000 BTU | 14 x 14 in |
| Dometic Penguin II / Brisk II | 120V AC | 13,500 or 15,000 BTU | About 14 x 14 in |
Ratings are manufacturer-stated. DC units run straight from lithium; 120V units need shore power or a large inverter and bank.
How we do it
Power check
Battery size, inverter and charging reviewed. Most off-grid AC builds pair with a second alternator.
Roof and structure
Placement planned around rack, fan and solar; opening cut and framed to carry the unit.
Seal
Butyl and lap sealant at the flange, edges primed.
Wire
Dedicated, correctly fused circuit sized to the unit.
Finish the headliner
Ceiling assembly and headliner finished around the unit.
What to know before you buy
Bank size
Hours of AC take a big lithium bank. Nomadic recommends at least 400Ah for the X3.
DC or 120V
DC units skip the inverter and run efficiently off-grid. 120V units cool harder but really want shore power.
Height
Rooftop units add height. Check your garage and parking structures.
Insulation and covers
Good insulation and window covers make any AC work better on less power.
Questions about AC
Can I run AC overnight on batteries?
With a DC unit and a large enough bank, often yes. We calculate runtime from your bank and the unit's measured draw.
What voltage should I use?
It largely depends on the battery system you already have. Higher-voltage DC units, at 24V or 48V, have a lot of advantages, like less current, thinner cable and less loss, but may not be possible on your system. 120V units only make sense if you will mostly run them on shore power.
Can it go where my roof fan is?
Many DC units fit the standard 14x14 opening, but you lose the fan there. Sometimes we add a second fan location.
Get an AC quote
Send a few details and we will call you back with ideas, options and a ballpark.
- 6771 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City
Office visits by appointment - 5.0 on Google from 39 reviews
Read what owners say