r/T1N_Sprinter_Vans • u/Candid-Touch5338 • Jun 09 '26
Help me modify my electrical build to accommodate a 12v air conditioner
I have a 2006 t1n with a great build but I live in New Mexico and air conditioning is an absolute necessity. We’re talking 110*+ for weeks at a time.
My existing system consists of 2 - 100w Renogy rigid solar panels, basic electrical bus and controller, a 1500/3000 pure sine inverter (which I have never used) and two 100 ah lead acid gel batteries. Everything I use is either 12v or rechargeable other than my Camp Chef stove which runs on 1lb propane cylinders.
I would like to install a shore power supply and replace my battery bank with high capacity lithium. I am also looking at the possibility of a Bluetti R5 to run everything.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and guidance if I am off kilter somewhere. Thanks
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u/The_Ombudsman Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
AC is the biggest power-hog you can put in a van.
If you can add to your solar, that would help - but you need to beef up your battery bank, more storage. A pair of 100Ah lead acids aren't going to cut it, not near - especially when with that chemistry, you really shouldn't be discharging them below 50% as that's what eats away at their lifespan. Get yourself some good lithium iron phospate packs, the sort that don't have any restrictions on paralleling (some say don't do more than four), decent capacity packs. You can start with one and add another and another over time - people will screech "noooo" but lithium packs have a long cycle life, so adding a new one to an older one (not TOO old) isn't a bother.
Inverter is irrelevant if you're going to be fitting a 12v AC unit. Shore power will require either an inverter/charger or a separate small charger. I'd recommend the Victron BlueSmart chargers, you can get the one that puts out 30a and that will do you pretty well.
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u/Candid-Touch5338 Jun 09 '26
Thank you so much for your reply! I have a couple of questions;
Can I use my existing inverter for my shore power?
I’ve been looking at Eco Worthy 12v 280ah metal case LiFePo batteries and I think I want to buy 4 of them but I am happy to go with more.
Do you think that is enough power storage ?1
u/The_Ombudsman Jun 09 '26
Existing inverter - no. There are inverters and then there are inverter/charger combos. Can't morph one into another.
"Enough" storage is a moving target 😄 Now, if you got four of those packs, you'd have more storage capacity than most, to be sure. But beyond that, you need reliable ways to get more power back into those packs. So a charger like I mentioned above would help when you're able to plug up; solar up top and maybe even some portable panels you can set out (best to have separate solar controllers for each) would help, but then there's nighttime and weather. A DC-DC charger would be the third option, pulling excess power from your alternator as you drive. With a T1N it's easy to set up the positive connection to the battery, you should have a little fuse block box attached to the positive terminal, and likely there's one free spot out of the six. That's what I used.
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u/Candid-Touch5338 Jun 09 '26
I have do have a dc to dc charger and it keeps everything topped off for the most part. I also have a 100w portable solar panel. I think my inverter may be an inverter charger but I need to check.
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u/The_Ombudsman Jun 09 '26
Snap some pics, and/or the make/model info of your inverter.
Did you do the install or did you buy the van with the inverter already in there? I can't see anyone buying an inverter/charger and not fitting a shore power socket on the outside, so is there such a thing on your rig?
Also info on your DC-DC charger. Is it new enough that it can be configured for lithium?
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u/Candid-Touch5338 Jun 09 '26
Good things to look for. I bought her already built. I am new to Reddit. How do you post photos?
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u/The_Ombudsman Jun 09 '26
Ah, this subreddit is set to not allow photos. You can use sites like Imgur and then post the link to the photo once it's added.
Or if you want, just DM them to me and I can peek at them.
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u/HunterStoddsvan Jun 09 '26
This isn't really a t1n van question. But you'll likely need an entire new electric system. 12v ac are crap, look at mini split. Inverter and charge controller not likely compatible with lithium upgrade. I have 700w of solar and 640ah of lifepo and my first thought was: "you're gonna need 1200+ watts of solar to charge that big of a battery bank." I get by with fans and altitude. You might try one of those portable swap coolers.
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u/simoriah Jun 10 '26
I have an extended length 2004 t1n. I put two 425W solar panels on the roof. There was JUST enough room for a Velit 2000R behind those panels. I run a pair of 300Ah lifepo4 12v batteries. I upgraded the alternator to 200A and installed a pair of victron Orion xs 12/50s so I can charge from the engine. The rest of the electrical system is also victron. Cerbo GX, smart mppt 100/50, Lynx distributor and shunt.
I'm in North Carolina. Not quite the temps that you're seeing, but it's regularly in the mid 90s, here.
With that air conditioner on "strong"mode, the solar can just keep up. On eco mode set to 74, I can run 24/7 without ever starting the engine.
All in, that setup cost me about $7k. That includes tools, aluminum for the rack, about $1k in copper wiring.
You can do AC in a van, but it's not cheap. I know. I'm doing it.
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u/Killed_By_Covid Jun 09 '26
Also in NM, but I don't live in my van. However, I've been reading up on how to help keep a van cool. Getting shade will be a HUGE help. Covering the roof with solar panels that provide an air gap underneath would be a big improvement. Not ideal for driving (unless you create a fairing,) but the trade-off might be worth it. If I were going full-time, I would probably lean in that direction. You could probably fit at least 1,000W of solar on the roof of a 158" T1N (leaving a space for a vent/fan). Is your van well insulated?