You love the freedom of travel, but when the thermometer climbs towards 30 °C (or more) in midsummer, it can quickly become uncomfortable in the camper. This is exactly where 12-V air conditioners come into play: they cool directly from your leisure battery without a 230-volt connection and without an additional inverter.
With the Bergstrom 12-V air conditioners (e.g. OpenAIR 12 V and OpenAIR Plus 12 V), there is a solution designed specifically for off-grid motorhome and vanlife setups: efficient, practical, and gentle on the system.
Tip: If you are currently planning or want to optimize your electrical system, a 12-V air conditioner is always something that should not be added "somehow" at the very end, but should be properly considered from the start.
Who is behind Bergstrom?
Bergstrom is a globally established manufacturer of air conditioning and heating solutions with more than 75 years of experience. In the caravanning and vehicle sector, the Spanish company Dirna Bergstrom S.L. is particularly well known.
Dirna Bergstrom specializes in vehicle air conditioning systems, with a focus on autonomous, highly efficient 12-V air conditioning systems for motorhomes, vans, and special-purpose vehicles. In addition to solutions for industrial and special-purpose vehicles, the brand also has a strong presence in the caravanning sector. The goal is clear: thermal comfort in the vehicle, even when the engine is off.
Thanks to its focus on innovation, energy efficiency, and reliability, Dirna Bergstrom has established itself as a major player in the European market for mobile air conditioning.
The most important key data at a glance
|
Feature |
Bergstrom OpenAIR 12 V / OpenAIR Plus 12 V (depending on the version) |
Why this is important for you |
|
Cooling capacity |
up to 2,000 W |
enough reserve for warm summer days |
|
Power consumption |
approx. 750 W |
helps you plan the battery runtime realistically |
|
Technology |
Full inverter |
quieter and more efficient, because the system regulates its power according to demand |
|
Operation |
directly from the 12-V leisure battery |
no inverter needed – fewer losses, less complexity |
|
Roof dimensions |
40 × 40 cm (standard roof hatch) |
fits many common vehicles |
Note: The actual runtime always depends on the outside temperature, vehicle insulation, set target temperature, and your battery/solar capacity.
Why 12 V instead of 230 V?
Classic roof air conditioners in motorhomes often run on 230 V. But this quickly becomes tricky when you want to be off-grid: you usually need an inverter, have to factor in conversion losses, and often face high load peaks.
A 12-V air conditioner like the one from Bergstrom takes a different approach:
- Direct operation from the leisure battery: fewer components, fewer potential points of failure.
- No additional conversion losses: Every conversion costs energy, and energy is worth its weight in gold on the road.
- System-friendly operation: Inverter technology reduces typical "startup current dramas".
If you use or plan to use a setup with a LiFePO₄ battery (lithium iron phosphate battery) and a solar system, a 12-V air conditioner often fits the concept perfectly, because everything is designed to use battery power efficiently.
Bergstrom OpenAIR vs. OpenAIR Plus: What's the difference?
Both models are designed as 12-V roof air conditioners and use modern inverter technology. The difference lies mainly in comfort.
Bergstrom OpenAIR 12 V
- Remote control operation
- integrated LED lighting
- Focus on efficient, direct cooling via 12 V
Bergstrom OpenAIR Plus 12 V
- everything from the OpenAIR
- additionally app control
- extended comfort features
If you like to keep an eye on everything on your smartphone (or simply love operating it from bed), the Plus version is often the more pleasant companion.
Cooling while driving and stationary: What's realistic?
One major advantage: Bergstrom systems are designed so that they can be operated both while driving (depending on the alternator and onboard electrical system) and while stationary.
While driving
If your onboard electrical system and charge management are properly designed, the air conditioner can run while driving—practically useful when you are traveling with children or a dog and don't want the vehicle to turn into a sauna.
Stationary (off-grid)
When properly designed, it is realistic to lower the interior temperature by approx. seven to eight degrees during stationary operation. That may sound like "only" a few degrees, but in practice, it makes a huge difference.
As a rough guideline: with a 150 Ah LiFePO₄ battery, several hours of operation are possible, depending on conditions. Whether it will be two, four, or six hours depends heavily on how hot it is outside and how well insulated your vehicle is.
Why inverter technology makes so much sense in a camper
"Inverter" simply means: The system does not always run at full throttle, but regulates its power according to demand.
This gives you three real advantages:
- lower power consumption, because maximum power is not constantly applied
- less noise, because the system often operates in a quieter partial-load range
- more pleasant indoor climate, because the temperature can be kept more stable
Especially at night, this is something you only truly appreciate once you have experienced it.
Will it fit in your vehicle? (Roof dimensions, mounting kits, installation)
The Bergstrom OpenAIR models use a standardized 40 × 40 cm roof size. This is practical because many motorhomes and campers already have a roof hatch there.
For vans, there are also suitable mounting kits. And: Bergstrom is also working on 12-V underfloor air conditioners, an exciting approach if you want to keep the roof free.
Important: An air conditioner is not a "quick" project. We recommend having it installed by a certified partner company, because it involves sealing, electrical work, circuit protection, and proper cable routing.
How to plan your electrical system for a 12-V air conditioner
So that the air conditioner not only works "somehow", but also really suits your travel style, you should carefully consider these points:
- Battery capacity: How many hours do you want to cool off-grid?
- Charging capacity: How does the energy get in (solar, alternator, shore power)?
- Solar power and season: In midsummer, there is plenty of sun, but also a high cooling demand.
- Parallel consumers: Is the compressor refrigerator also running at the same time? Are you cooking electrically?
Many find it exciting that a well-planned 12-V system still has room for comfort despite the air conditioner, e.g. for a coffee machine or hair dryer. The deciding factor here is not "one device", but the overall system.
For whom is a Bergstrom 12-V air conditioner particularly worthwhile?
If you…
- really want to be off-grid,
- don't want an additional inverter just for the air conditioner,
- value efficient, quiet, and controllable cooling,
- are traveling with LiFePO₄ and ideally solar ,
…then the Bergstrom OpenAIR 12 V or OpenAIR Plus 12 V are definitely candidates you should take a closer look at.
If you like, we are happy to support you with the planning: from proper battery sizing and system integration to mounting options – so that your air conditioner not only sounds good on paper, but also really delivers in summer.
