diy solar

diy solar

I am always fantasizing about having a energy efficient air conditioner for van life, anyone seen any concepts in tech news or anything?

Q-Dog said:
We are not talking about a window unit here.

If you were to install that server unit inside a van, where, would the air to cool the condenser come from? And where would the hot air go?
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you would have to pull fresh air from outside, maybe from a hole in the floor. you could make a duct that would supply air to the intake, and exaust heat out the top
 
Zwy said:
Sounds like trouble than it's worth. One thing you're missing is the hot moist air from outside will condense on cooler surfaces.

I know, I've worked in HVAC with a background of automotive for 27 years now.
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my idea would be to save the condensate water, filter it; and use it for drinking water.
 
Moltensurf said:
my idea would be to save the condensate water, filter it; and use it for drinking water.
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if you are keen on saving water,

please consider feeding the condensate water to plants instead,

like another person mentioned, the condensate water can start out with some very unfriendly materials, specifically metals from the coils/fins, and biological critters who got to the water before you.

if you REALLY want to drink water from the air, please be very careful. i’m very keen on extracting potable water from the air for self reliance. so i really want you to succeed.

there are one or two threads on this forum with some more discussion about atmospheric water generation. one is like “WILL i’m SORRY but”. one is like “wilderness hike water collection”. but basically

the safest options use HEPA filter on the incoming moist air before condensing the water onto the coils. the safest options use food safe material to condense onto, and both filter the water and expose it to UV radiation in a stainless steel holding tank.

be safe out there! water is precious but many other living beings like it too and contamination can be really yucky and ouchy.
 
Picasso said:
I see unsolved missing person mysterys with that underground vans pic.

and ontopic, I still love my 33 SEER Fujitsu / 09LZAS1 minisplit.
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Yes, the Fujitsu unit looks good. Can you recommend any budget models with the high SEER numbers?

I have two 8S2P batteries, total of (16) 3.2V 280Ah LiFePO4 cells, 400W of solar panels, Epever 40A MPPT Tracer, and a Samlex EVO 2224 inverter charger. Would this system run a mini split?

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guidecca said:
Yes, the Fujitsu unit looks good. Can you recommend any budget models with the high SEER numbers?

I have two 8S2P batteries, total of (16) 3.2V 280Ah LiFePO4 cells, 400W of solar panels, Epever 40A MPPT Tracer, and a Samlex EVO 2224 inverter charger. Would this system run a mini split?

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Short and simple answer is yes it will run a mini-split. For how long is a little more complicated and depends entirely on how well-insulated/efficient cooling your van is.
 
Our van is a Ford Econoline E250 and the air conditioning would be used at night when we are not driving. At home I can keep the system plugged into the grid to keep the batteries cooler or warmer. Parked out-of-town away from home during the "day" would be the challenge for the system. If the mini split can drop the temperature from 90+ to 75 that would justify the expeniture. Hope to combine the 16 cells for a 24V system; have not wired them yet or top balanced them. I have a steel box for each set of 8s cells with an Overkill 100A BMS for each set; not sure yet how to join the sets.
 
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guidecca said:
Our van is a Ford Econoline E250 and the air conditioning would be used at night when we are not driving. At home I can keep the system plugged into the grid to keep the batteries cooler or warmer. Parked out-of-town away from home during the "day" would be the challenge for the system. If the mini split can drop the temperature from 90+ to 75 that would justify the expeniture. Hope to combine the 16 cells for a 24V system; have not wired them yet or top balanced them. I have a steel box for each set of 8s cells with an Overkill 100A BMS for each set; not sure yet how to join the sets.
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you have a nice battery set up... but 400 watts solar won't get you much charge.....

you have 13,000 watt hour of battery... so prefect sun let's say 7 hours a day. 7x 340watts (you will never get 400w out of your panel especially flat mounted) 2,380 watts a day so it will take 5.5 days to charge your battery if you use nothing during that time
 
GSXR1000 said:
you have a nice battery set up... but 400 watts solar won't get you much charge.....

you have 13,000 watt hour of battery... so prefect sun let's say 7 hours a day. 7x 340watts (you will never get 400w out of your panel especially flat mounted) 2,380 watts a day so it will take 5.5 days to charge your battery if you use nothing during that time
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This system was set up to charge two BB 100Ah batteries in series. One thing leads to another and . . . I was wondering if charging off of the alternator while in driving mode would be a fix? Some advise against it. Should have bought much larger panels in the beginning; the ones on top the van are the Renology compact 100W panels x 4.
 
guidecca said:
This system was set up to charge two BB 100Ah batteries in series. One thing leads to another and . . . I was wondering if charging off of the alternator while in driving mode would be a fix? Some advise against it. Should have bought much larger panels in the beginning; the ones on top the van are the Renology compact 100W panels x 4.
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you can charge off your alternate.. I would set it for 40a max at 12v or 20a at 24v ... or 480w still better then nothing
 
guidecca said:
This system was set up to charge two BB 100Ah batteries in series. One thing leads to another and . . . I was wondering if charging off of the alternator while in driving mode would be a fix? Some advise against it. Should have bought much larger panels in the beginning; the ones on top the van are the Renology compact 100W panels x 4.
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DC to DC charger for alternator charging. No idea why someone would advise against it. You just don't want to hook the batteries up directly to the alternator.

If I were you, I would strongly consider upgrading the panels or adding a ground mount array that you can deploy when parked. Being a van, not sure how much roof real estate you have.

All of that said, I dont think cooling would be the concern, I think keeping the system powered would be. 400W solar isnt much. If you dont add more solar, then a small auto-start generator might be an option. I have an EVO 4024 in my system. No generator yet, but it is part of the future plan.I'm not familiar with the 2024 specs, but mine has the built-in auto transfer switch and auto gen start.
 
DerpsyDoodler said:
DC to DC charger for alternator charging. No idea why someone would advise against it. You just don't want to hook the batteries up directly to the alternator.

If I were you, I would strongly consider upgrading the panels or adding a ground mount array that you can deploy when parked. Being a van, not sure how much roof real estate you have.

All of that said, I dont think cooling would be the concern, I think keeping the system powered would be. 400W solar isnt much. If you dont add more solar, then a small auto-start generator might be an option. I have an EVO 4024 in my system. No generator yet, but it is part of the future plan.I'm not familiar with the 2024 specs, but mine has the built-in auto transfer switch and auto gen start.
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Was just looking at the van from a bird's eye view and I think there is room for bigger panels; would need to have a larger frame to attach them to the ladder rack. They rode very smoothly from East Coast to L.A. and up to South Dakota and back again. I think there is room on that rear bumper for a mini split running the 16' under and up where the two side-doors open.Four per set and Two sets per Box.jpgRenology Compact 100W Panels.jpgRoute 66 Solar Van.jpgSteel Frame for the Panels.jpgVanTech Ladder Racks.jpg
 
DerpsyDoodler said:
DC to DC charger for alternator charging. No idea why someone would advise against it. You just don't want to hook the batteries up directly to the alternator.

If I were you, I would strongly consider upgrading the panels or adding a ground mount array that you can deploy when parked. Being a van, not sure how much roof real estate you have.

All of that said, I dont think cooling would be the concern, I think keeping the system powered would be. 400W solar isnt much. If you dont add more solar, then a small auto-start generator might be an option. I have an EVO 4024 in my system. No generator yet, but it is part of the future plan.I'm not familiar with the 2024 specs, but mine has the built-in auto transfer switch and auto gen start.
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has to DC-DC since he had a 12v alternator and 24v battery
 
guidecca said:
Was just looking at the van from a bird's eye view and I think there is room for bigger panels; would need to have a larger frame to attach them to the ladder rack. They rode very smoothly from East Coast to L.A. and up to South Dakota and back again. I think there is room on that rear bumper for a mini split running the 16' under and up where the two side-doors open.View attachment 91808View attachment 91809View attachment 91810View attachment 91811View attachment 91812
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maybe like a 2nd layer on slides that goes over the windshield area.. 4 x 305w would be awesome
 
Take some measurements and do some shopping. That slope up front is a bit scary. I'd come up with a wind guard or baffle to keep the air from scooping up under. My guess is you could get close to 1000W on the roof. Keep the 4x 100W panels for a ground mount system. Ever planning on adding a roof vent? Something to think anout before you cover the entire roof. You could always do some type of side vent. Stuff to think about.
 
Thank you for the ideas; these are long-term projects for me. Here is the battery box for 8s2p and a BMS and there will be two. I had them fabricated in China. In the short term, if I drive 8-10 hours a day with the DC to DC connection how much power would that generate? How would you connect the two 8s2p batteries in the two boxes?
 

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