Ok, here we’re going to take a look at 3 of the best 12V RV air conditioners.
There have been some great improvements in recent years, with battery run aircon now a viable choice.
Of the systems on offer, I believe the Dometic RTX 2000 comes out on top.
We’re going to look at two 12V units and a very good portable option.
Contents
Top 3 12V RV Air Conditioners
- Dometic RTX 2000
- Nomadic Cooling X2
- EcoFlow WAVE 2 (Portable)
Here’s a more detailed look at my 12V air con choices.
Dometic RTX 2000
⭐️Best Overall
A very popular choice among van builders and small RV owners, the Dometic RTX 2000 is my top choice for an RV 12V air conditioner.
The unit has a very efficient two cylinder compressor, and has four operating modes, including “Eco Mode”. It’s important to note that the unit doesn’t have a fan only option, only AC modes.
The boost mode allows for fast cooling, and when running is really quiet. The manufacturer quotes 70db maximum. 70db is good for an AC unit, it’s not whisper quiet, but more than acceptable for a good night’s sleep.
The unit is compact overall and doesn’t take a lot of footprint on the roof. The profile above the roof is also very good – only 6.6 inches high.
The Dometic is supplied with a cutout guide, but it would be well worth double checking this. A number of installers have commented that you can get by with a much smaller opening than the one recommended by the manufacturer.
Performance is quoted at 19A in “Eco Mode” by Dometic. For a much better idea, see this real world test.
The unit is supplied with a remote control, and comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
Eco Mode
Efficient
Quiet
Cons
Blowing Capacity
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
| BTU: 6824 |
| External Dimensions: H: 6.6″ x L : 25.4″ x W: 33.9″ |
| Internal Dimensions: H: 5″ x L: 15″ x W: 14″ |
Nomadic Cooling X2
⭐️Choice #2
The Nomadic Cooling X2 system is my second pick 12V air conditioner.
The X2 is the latest offering from the Nomadic Supply Company, a company with an excellent track record in products for the off grid lifestyle.
The AC unit itself is very low profile externally, and doesn’t intrude at all into your internal space.
The unit has four internal directional vents, and there are five fan settings to choose from on the simple user panel.
When running, the system only measures 60db on the noise scale, which is really quiet for an aircon unit.
The manufacturer quotes 27A power draw on Eco Mode, topping out at 40A when running at maximum.
Installation is pretty straightforward, with the unit designed to fit in a standard 14” x 14” roof cutout. (You can find the installation manual below). It will also come with a mounting kit, and some extra spare parts for the fitting process.
Product support from the Nomadic Supply Company is excellent. They are more than willing to help from pre purchase to installation and beyond.
The unit has a color choice of white or black and will come with a 2 year warranty.
Pros
Excellent Support
Easy Installation
Very Quiet
Cons
Expensive
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
| BTU: 8188 |
| External Dimensions: H: 6.9″ x L : 28″ x W: 22.5″ |
| Internal Dimensions: H: 14″ x L: 14″ |
EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable Air Conditioner
⭐️Best Portable Option
The EcoFlow Wave 2 is my choice as a portable 12V air conditioner.
The Wave 2 is a heater as well as an aircon system and works on the heat exchange principle. It can run off its own battery or you can plug it directly into an AC socket.
The unit is designed for the exhaust hoses to exit from a window, and all the related mounts will come with the unit. The Wave 2 is water resistant so can also be put outside a tent which can then be either heated or cooled via a hose.
The unit will last up to 8 hours (with the addon battery) on Eco Mode from its 1159wh battery, and when running in Eco Mode is also very quiet at 47db. On max setting the sound level increases to 55db.
The display on the Wave 2 is simple and intuitive, and you can also run it via bluetooth from the app.
One of the best improvements from the original unit is its solar charging ability. You can now charge the Wave 2 with up 400 watts of solar, and from 12V, right up to 60V. This means that you could, in theory, run the Wave 2 pretty much indefinitely with the right set up.
Pros
Heater & AC
Solar Charging
Efficient
Cons
Can’t Charge Battery Separately
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
| BTU: 5100 |
| Dimensions: H: 13.2″ x L : 20.4″ x W: 11.7″ |
| Weight: 32lbs |
Real World Test
Here is an excellent real world test of the Dometic RTX 2000.
Battery consumption, amp draw, running with solar (and without), and performance on a hot day.
Manufacturer specifications and claims are all well and good, but real world data is the ultimate test.
Why Choose A 12V Air Conditioner?
The most obvious answer is freedom from shore power. Battery powered air con (with a hefty amount of solar) eliminates the need for a plugin source. You can boondock to your heart’s content.
An important thing to remember is that 12V aircon systems are really only suitable for smaller RVs, vans and motorhomes. A 12V unit is just not powerful enough to cool large spaces.
12V air conditioners are very popular in the vanlife world, with systems being successfully installed on large vans like the Mercedes Sprinter.
The larger model Mercedes Sprinter has 530 cubic feet of load space (when totally empty), so using that as a ballpark figure, you can estimate the amount of area that a 12V air conditioner could effectively cool.
Cost
Make no mistake, to get decent 12V air conditioning in your RV, it’s going to take a fair amount of investment.
As well as the obvious cost of the unit itself, a good quality lithium battery bank would be the first thing to factor in. You may already have this, which is a great start.
You’ll also need a decent amount of solar to replenish your battery bank.
The cost of the aircon systems featured here aren’t cheap, but they are the best available on the market today.
How Much Battery Power Do I Need?
The compressor on a 12V air conditioner is designed to be very efficient, which allows the system to run on battery power alone. That being said, you will still need a 200ah battery bank at the very minimum.
200ah would get you by with conservative use, but the most successful installs of 12V AC are running 300ah+ of lithium batteries to power decent 12V air con, alongside everything else.
Read more on my choices of lithium battery.
Performance Variables
There are a number of factors to consider that will all affect how well your 12V air con will perform.
Size of RV
You have to be realistic about the size of the space you’re trying to cool. 12V air con is not going to be capable of cooling larger areas.
Duty Cycle
The unit won’t be on all the time. It will cycle on and off to regulate your chosen temperature.
Outside Temperature
Obviously, the hotter the outside temperature, the harder the unit will have to work. This will definitely affect just how good your 12V air con will be.
Insulation
Good insulation in your RV is what I would consider to be one of the biggest factors in the performance of your air con.
Windows
How many windows you have, and how well they are insulated will play a part in your AC performance.
How Much Solar Do I Need For 12V Aircon?
The AC is never going to be the only thing you’re running. Don’t forget, lights, fridge, and anything else you use a decent amount.
In general, I’d recommend 600 – 800w of solar. Although this will be quite a large footprint on the roof, more = better. The added bonus of more solar, is the more roof you cover with panels, the more shade/insulation you create.
How Long Can I Run 12V Air Conditioning?
Obviously, there are plenty of factors that dictate just how long you could run 12V air conditioning.
If you’re realistic in your expectations, and don’t expect your air conditioning to be running 24/7, running 12V AC overnight in hot conditions (as an example) is perfectly possible.
Tip: Rather than relying solely on the AC unit to distribute the cold air, use a couple of small 12V fans below the unit to improve cool air distribution.
Installation
Installation should be fairly straightforward for most practically minded RVers.
Both the systems featured are available with an installation kit and pretty comprehensive instructions.
12V air conditioning has improved massively in recent years. Advancements in compressor technology and manufacturing have made decent battery powered air conditioning a real option.
My pick is the Dometic RTX 2000 system.
Please check out my other equipment reviews.
See how I rate my recommendations here.
