Extremely impressed with the testing of the Cruise N Comfort 12v A/C unit. As you'll see in the video I pushed it to the limits running my heat on full blast for a hour before this and having the van sit in the sun on a 90 degree day.
Your van looks like you took the best of every idea from every van that you have ever seen! You should have no trouble getting top dollar for your incredible creation!
I would buy your van any day. It funny how your selling your home, because sometime ago I said to myself I wish one day you will sell your van. Now I am wishing you can buy it.
Also another thing that may help would be get a insulated magnetic cover for your max air fan to help with the cooler air escaping the van. Just a idea. Get one like your window coverings.
Thanks for this video! It was information that I’ve been curious about. And I love that you showed the proof. I like your fancy pants style. It’s right up my alley. Marc’s gonna get tired of hearing. “You know, I want the one that Jarrod has” 😂
It was because of Jarrod, that we chose Cruise N Comfort. Glad we did. Lily, our 2019 Sprinter, 170 extended, XD, 4x4, has been in 47 of the 48 and North Dakota might happen next month. Lily has been from Vancouver Island to Key West. From Los Angeles to Montreal. She's been to the bottom of Death Valley and 12,000 ft up in Rocky Mountain National Park. All of this would have been a lot less enjoyable without our HD series, 24v, split Cruise N Comfort AC system. Save your roof space for a deck or better yet, more solar. Don't risk another hole in your roof; you won't know you have a leak until the damage is done. Cruise N Comfort and with confidence. PS: we did have a problem with our system; it kept losing its charge. Nobody would consider diagnosing the problem, much less fix it because it's a Mercedes and if they didn't build the van, they didn't want to fix somebody else's problem - and that's exactly what it was, our up-fitter builder didn't crimp the lines at the evaporator properly. Even though she was out of warranty, both the upfitter's and Cruise N Comfort's, we took Lily to THE specialist - to Cruise N Comfort in Tempe, AZ. Chris (Chris Frye, Owner) got under the van and spotted the crimping problem immediately. Chris set us up with new (and improved lines and fittings) and a local guy that could install them - Chris was getting ready for Overland Expo and besides, it was the builder's crimp job, not a probhem with his unit. Anyway, yeah, happy campers again! Thank you Chris.
With a vent and drain pan in your garage you could just install a $150 5000 BTU wall unit that dumps into your garage (nothing visible from outside ). I tested this in my much smaller van and while drawing about 450 watts it felt like freezer in 30 minutes under the sun in Florida. But thinking about it, if I need to work in the van for an hour in the middle of the day I just park under the trees and run the van's AC on full blast and the fuel needle does not even move. At night before going to sleep while I surf and watch TV I run the van's AC on full blast and it cools down the van and tops off battery.
Thanks for a great series of videos on the Cruise N Comfort AC! I have a Sprinter and want to install a 12V ac without adding a unit to my roof. You've had the AC for a while and you know quite a bit about Nomatic and Dometic AC units as well. Are you still happy with your decision? Another question, does the unit quiet down once the van get close to the set temp? Do the fans slow down and quiet down a bit? The Nomatic and Dometic have "ecomode" and I wonder if the Cruise N Comfort cycles down to consume less amps in the middle of the night when the heat load is less. Again, thank you for the great videos! Very informative, well done, thank you!
Seems to me if you go with the AC, best time to get it is prebuild. Gotta be tough trying to figure it out post build. I was told you needed 600 AH minimum to run it overnight. and maximum insulation. I placed mine in front of the drivers back wheel stacked with the hydronic floors equipment. My van is at that exact location now, getting 3 belt 24v 2nd alternator and alarm, high idle and remote start put in.
Yeah I had that baby running max 😁 needed to test what it could do! But yeah I should of done half speed to show everyone. Maybe when I go test at camping
Someone needs to do a reality check. For $4K+ it is better to buy 3-4 extra BattleBorn LiFePo4 batteries, an efficient inverter, and a cheap and efficient 110V A/C unit.
Vanman Mike the unit has a thermostat that has a low and a medium setting that reduces the noise for sleeping and what not . The unit is way quieter than a roof top unit ( I have 2 on my toy hauler ) I think it’s how the phones pickup that frequency range better when recording .... not sure 🤔
As a otr truck driver I've never been a fan of any of the electric ac units. Now a diesel Apu powered AC unit is hands down capable but it comes with it's own footprint of size sound and cost
Coachman uses a 12v roof a/c that does 20k btu in the Galleria and I believe Advanced RV uses the same unit in their custom camper vans. I’m not sure of the brand name.
Sorry, another question. Are you still set up to get the battery discounts for your subscribers? If so, how does it work, how can we get to discount? Thanks for the great videos and all the help!
Very cool 🤙🏼 it was a little louder than I expected... how loud is it from the outside? Does it have an effect on the stealth side of things? ..... man that Van is nice 👍🏼
With the dual fan condensers you can run them in parallel (like in the video) and they move about 1,900 CFM. This is great for really hot days and in the southwest united states. Another option on the dual fans for the rest of the United States that is not like Arizona for example would be to wire them in series and cut the speed in half. We are working on a way to do that with a knob inside the vehicle but until then see the installation manual for wiring configurations. static1.squarespace.com/static/574ddcb49f72667133223193/t/5efec9646ad93e46b154997e/1593756019251/HD+12%3A24+L%3As++Installation+2.6+.pdf
@@CruiseNComfortUSA Yes I dont get why a/c manufacturers dont give you the option for a lower fan speed for more quiet. Put a dial there, so you can turn it super low. If we waste energy, it's our choice, right?
One of the reasons the ducting is loud is die to air velocity. I know space was an issue on this post build install. But to quiet down the vents for new installs, install larger ducting. And if you can put in a few vents. The larger the diameter of the duct and the more outlets you have the lower the velocity of the air. Thus much quieter. A MFG suggestion for the condenser. Install a fan cycle switch in the low pressure refrigerant line. Typically these head pressure controls are for cooler climates to control head pressure. But can be adapted for noise abatement. Set the first fan cut in about 144psi to kick on 1 fan. Then a second switch to turn onnthe second fan at 160 or so. Both fans will run when it's hot outside. Only 1 will run when its cooler. And if it's in the middle the second fan will cycle on and off. Assuming you guys use a TXV in the system. You could also use 2 speed fans and have first stage be low on both fans and 2nd stage being high on both fans. Lots of options but will increase the price a bit. The johnson control all range switches are not very expensive thou so it could be only a small price impact.
from outside the compressor fans sounded loud which to me is not much of a difference then idling the engine so that takes away it from being totally stealth. If somehow that can be noiseless that will be a hit.
Way too expensive for anyone but the very wealthy. Five to ten times an affordable price. Five times the cost of a small mini-split, which people are putting in buses. Fifteen times the cost of a small window AC, which people are putting on the back of their Van's. I'd like to see a fair comparison of the actual draw, but it's not so much as to make this worthwhile to most.
None of the ones you listed work well or efficiently off grid. I think you would be surprised at the money that can go into a van. We spend $1000 on a battery, $1000 on a toilet, what is $4000 to be comfortable when you have a van worth $80K? $4000 is high but it would be worth every penny if I could keep cool during Burning Man. ;-)
So there's no way to make that machine quieter.. not very..there's got to be a way to make it quieter or at least at 80%. They now do it with air compressors.. I'm wondering if he's singing in an egg crate box of course with venting might cut the sound??? Just an idea not sure I haven't tried it yet.
Couple different ways to cut the noise on the outside condenser fans. If you purchase the double fan condenser option the 2 fans can be wired in parallel (like in the video) for hotter climates like the desert Southwest. The fans can also be wired in series and cut half speed to reduce the noise for night time sleeping or for normal use in climates other than the desert southwest. When we developed this product for a very large and popular amusement park 8 years ago they were wired in series to keep the sound down. The internal evaporator sound can be reduced for sleeping by selecting low or medium on the thermostat. This will also make the evaporator colder and reduce the power consumption by the compressor and blower (a feature not found in any other unit we know of).🤓
Couple different ways to cut the noise on the outside condenser fans. If you purchase the double fan condenser option the 2 fans can be wired in parallel (like in the video) for hotter climates like the desert Southwest. The fans can also be wired in series and cut half speed to reduce the noise for night time sleeping or for normal use in climates other than the desert southwest. When we developed this product for a very large and popular amusement park 8 years ago they were wired in series to keep the sound down. The internal evaporator sound can be reduced for sleeping by selecting low or medium on the thermostat.
I personally took it off. However if someone still wanted to keep in on then you can get it mounted on the back doors. There are a few companies that make a way to mount it right to the hinges of the doors.
@@JarrodTocci Thanks for replying quickly! I didnt know about the two fans until seconds after I placed the order when Chris emailed me suggesting it. I emilaed him back asking if i can alter the order and pay a difference im waiting for a reply. fingers crossed i can but i bet if not ill be okay.
Don't know if I'd do that. I'm just speaking personally. I'm not sure I would see the point to that is all. The box is designed and made for storage and the condenser fan is designed and made to fit under the van. I personally think you'd be doing a disservice to the usage of the box. Plus not sure if there's enough air flow in the box for the fans
@@CruiseNComfortUSA I have 170 sprinter 4x4 and was thinking off roading might clog the condenser even with some form of screen. Just noodling for now. Thanks for the reply
I was thinking the same thing, I think with some hefty modification to the box it would be fine, the trouble is how the roof of the box encloses around the sides. That would be difficult to waterproof
Mike Land it is a automotive grade condenser and fan combo. I have not heard of any issues mounting it underneath. If it gets dirty hose it out at the local car wash
@@andreawisner7358 The VES system is $2,995 but doesn't have a thermostat option or variable speed compressor to reduce power consumption. The HD-12L is $4,295 without the thermostat or double fan condenser.
Our compressors are truly 12 volt and are made for us right here in the USA . We started using these about 10 years ago when we designed this system for the largest theme park in the world. They are ridiculously expensive (my wife tells me this every time she writes a check for the truckload 😂) but they last and are super efficient compared to all the overseas companies that have sent us samples. Warranty work is not good for both the consumer and the manufacturer ❄️
@@jeffreyulery2182 Actually, it does well. with the cruise and comfort systems, they say to run the vehicle A/C first and cool the room; if it has been in the sun all day. then, turn on the Cruise N Comfort; to maintain room temp.
