RV life is rather more comfy when your RV air conditioner works effectively. A practical air conditioner can be important for protecting the temperature inside your RV secure for pets and people, particularly in scorching and humid climates. Like all RV home equipment, your air conditioner requires correct operation and upkeep. This information will train you the fundamentals by answering probably the most generally requested questions on RV air conditioners.
How To Use an RV Air Conditioner
The fundamentals of secure AC operation start with making certain you could have ample energy provide to run your air conditioner. Earlier than transferring on, let’s reply just a few questions:
Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner on 30-amp Energy?
In case your RV requires 30-amp service, that will likely be sufficient to run its air conditioner. With a number of air conditioners, you’ll seemingly want 50-amp service to run each (or all) models. In case your RV requires 50-amp service, you could possibly use a 30-amp adapter to run a single air con unit, however not a number of.
Your finest guess for safely working your RV’s air conditioner is connecting to {the electrical} service your RV is designed for.
Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner on 15-amp Energy?
Theoretically, 15-amp energy is sufficient to energy an common air conditioner. The issue is determining whether or not your particular A/C is “common.” You’ll must know the precise amperage required. Sadly, you received’t have the ability to run your A/C on 15-amp energy if in case you have a bigger mannequin.
Even when your AC attracts lower than 15 amps, chances are you’ll be unable to run any further electrical home equipment with out overloading the circuit. For instance, the mixed attracts of your A/C unit, RV fridge, and electrical water heater could also be sufficient to journey a breaker.
There’s additionally the query of surge watts versus working watts. Even an RV air conditioner that attracts lower than 15 amps when working could draw extra when beginning up, leading to a tripped breaker.
To fight this concern, some have gotten away with putting in an RV air conditioner smooth begin system or manually soft-start by turning on the fan for about 30 seconds earlier than switching to the bottom A/C setting and dealing your means up from there.
Nonetheless, putting in smooth begin units or manually making an attempt to function an A/C with lower than the designated energy provide minimums could void your guarantee, trigger harm to the tools, and presumably lead to fireplace.
Backside line: your finest guess for safely working your RV’s air conditioner is connecting to {the electrical} service your RV is designed for.
Can I Run My RV Air Conditioner on 120?
Normal 120 electrical energy provides about 15 amps. So, working your A/C whereas plugged into a regular 120 outlet is feasible if it attracts lower than 15 amps and also you’re not working too many further RV home equipment concurrently.
The issues are the identical as working on a 15-amp shore energy connection. You’ll want to think about surge watts, you received’t have the ability to run many different home equipment, and also you’ll must know precisely what else is drawing on that circuit. If somebody plugs a field fan into an outlet on the identical circuit, it could possibly be sufficient to journey the breaker.
Protected Air Conditioner Utilization Suggestions
Now that you just’re accustomed to these energy issues, listed here are just a few ideas for secure use:
- Flip off all home equipment earlier than beginning your air conditioner. RV air conditioners draw extra when beginning up (surge watts) than they do as soon as they’re working (working watts). Turning off home equipment reduces the probabilities of overloading a circuit when the unit begins.
- Examine the shroud commonly. The shroud protects the A/C elements mounted in your roof. Examine it earlier than and after every journey to make sure it isn’t cracked or lacking. Cracks permit mud, moisture, and different particles to degrade delicate A/C elements.
- Preserve doorways and home windows closed. Decrease the stress in your unit by trapping cool air in and protecting heat air out.
- Park within the shade. This additionally reduces how onerous your air conditioner must work by limiting your RV’s publicity to direct daylight.
How To Clear an RV Air Conditioner
Correct RV air conditioner upkeep begins with commonly inspecting and cleansing an RV air conditioner’s air filter. Listed here are some ideas to assist:
How To Clear an RV Air Conditioner Filter
Inspecting and cleansing your air filter needs to be achieved each 3-4 months. To scrub the filter, both rinse with water and permit it to dry fully or vacuum out unfastened particles earlier than rinsing and drying.
The Prime Questions About RV Air Conditioners
Are you continue to questioning, “How do RV air conditioners work?” We’ve some further solutions. Let’s discover these widespread inquiries to find out about AC models and the right way to cool your RV responsibly.
How Many Amps Does an RV Air Conditioner Use?
The common RV air conditioner attracts between 11 and 16 amps, however there are models (smaller and bigger) that fall outdoors that vary. Power effectivity additionally comes into play. You may have two A/C models of the identical measurement, however the extra environment friendly mannequin will often draw fewer working amps.
Right here’s a fast breakdown of the typical A/C amp draw relative to unit measurement in British thermal models (BTUs):
Technician Tip: Amp scores are listed for 70℉. Add 1 amp for each 10℉ outdoors temp above 70.
| AC Capability | Operating Amps |
| 5,000 BTU | ~4.35 |
| 6,000 BTU | ~5.22 |
| 8,000 BTU | ~6.96 |
| 10,000 BTU | ~8.70 |
| 12,000 BTU | ~10.43 |
| 13,500 BTU | ~11.74 |
| 15,000 BTU | ~13.04 |
| 20,000 BTU | ~17.39 |
How Many Watts Does an RV Air Conditioner Use?
Calculating wattage requires multiplying amps by voltage. RV air conditioners run on a 120-volt circuit, which you’ll multiply by the A/C’s amperage to transform to wattage. You’ll discover that you would be able to additionally divide an air conditioner’s BTU score by 10 to get an approximate measure of working wattage.
That is useful when figuring out whether or not you’ll be able to safely run your air conditioner with a generator, which often has a wattage score somewhat than an amperage score.
Listed here are some common wattage scores by A/C measurement:
| AC Capability | Operating Wattage |
| 5,000 BTU | 500 |
| 6,000 BTU | 600 |
| 8,000 BTU | 800 |
| 10,000 BTU | 1,000 |
| 12,000 BTU | 1,200 |
| 13,500 BTU | 1,350 |
| 15,000 BTU | 1,500 |
| 20,000 BTU | 2,000 |
Will a 3500-watt Generator Run an RV Air Conditioner?
The quick reply is sure, for many. However you’ll must know your air conditioner’s surge and working watts. Bigger models will draw extra wattage and should hinder your potential to run different RV home equipment, even with a 3500-watt generator.
Listed here are some generator measurement suggestions primarily based in your RV’s electrical calls for:
- 30-Amp RVs: Minimal 3,500-watt generator
- 50-Amp RVs: 6,000 to eight,000 watt generator for RVs with twin ACs; 10,000 to 12,500-watt generator for RVs with three ACs.
Try ideas for choosing the proper measurement generator in your RV.
How Lengthy Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner?
Most RV air conditioners final 6-8 years if maintained correctly. The extra diligent you might be with service and upkeep, the longer you’ll have the ability to run your A/C.
When tenting, you’ll be able to run your A/C 24 hours a day. You’ll simply need to use a modest thermostat setting that permits the compressor to cycle on and off periodically. For bigger RVs with two or three models, you’ll be able to cycle between them to offer the models intermittent breaks. As a complement, you can even use a camper dehumidifier to help your air conditioner in eradicating moisture from the air inside your RV.
Having a constant energy supply is crucial factor to maintain your A/C working effectively. This isn’t a problem if you’re plugged into 30 or 50-amp service, however you’ll be restricted to your generator’s run time if you happen to energy your A/C utilizing an appropriately sized RV generator.
How Do I Make My RV Air Conditioner Colder?
In case your air conditioner isn’t reducing the temperature inside your RV to a snug stage, right here are some things to strive:
- Modify your RV thermostat. It could possibly be so simple as telling your air conditioner you need it to be colder inside your RV.
- Transfer to a extra shaded location. Lowering your RV’s publicity to direct daylight will make your A/C simpler as a result of it received’t must work as onerous.
- Add insulation to home windows and roof vents. This traps cool air inside as a substitute of permitting it to flee.
- Clear and/or change the air filter. Inadequate airflow reduces your air conditioner’s effectiveness.
- Clear the coils or fins. Clogged condenser or evaporator coils may also cut back A/C effectivity. These needs to be checked and cleaned each different 12 months.
- Examine your energy provide. Inadequate energy will trigger your A/C to function under its cooling capability.
- Decrease the variety of occupants. Our our bodies give off warmth. The extra folks you could have inside, the tougher your A/C works to chill issues down.
- Prepare dinner outdoors. It’s simpler in case your RV options an outside kitchen, but it surely’s value it to maintain issues cool inside.
- Bathe within the bathhouse. Eliminates steam and condensation from scorching water…except you want chilly showers.
- Decrease the usage of home equipment and electronics. Each equipment in your RV provides off warmth when it’s on. Lowering equipment and digital utilization will make life simpler in your RV air con unit.
- Improve your RV air conditioner. In some circumstances, chances are you’ll resolve to interchange your present A/C with an upgraded mannequin. Listed here are some ideas for selecting an air conditioner in your RV.
Learn our tutorial on enhancing RV air conditioner effectivity.
What Is the Smallest RV Air Conditioner?
Roof-mounted models are the most typical sort of air conditioner for RVs, however there are additionally small moveable and window-mounted models. These are nice choices for RVs with out AC or for supplementing an present RV air conditioner. NewAir and EvaPolar are two prime manufacturers for small RV air conditioners.
Can You Add a Thermostat to an RV Air Conditioner?
Most A/C models have a built-in thermostat or are wired to a wall-mounted thermostat in your RV. Aftermarket residential thermostats not often work with RV air conditioners, and whereas improve kits can be found, they should be from the producer and be designed particularly in your RV air conditioner.
These kits will seemingly require the set up of further elements that permit them to speak correctly along with your AC. In case your thermostat must be changed, your finest guess is to seek the advice of the proprietor’s guide and wiring diagrams in your mannequin and speak to your native service middle.
Does RV Peak Embody the Air Conditioner?
Most RV producers record heights measured from the bottom to the best level, usually your air conditioner. A possible exception can be if the bottom mannequin doesn’t embody an air conditioner, however one is out there as an improve. In that case, the listed top could not embody the air conditioner.
Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner Whereas Driving?
You’ll solely have the ability to run your RV’s air conditioner whereas driving if it’s outfitted with a built-in generator and that generator is working. You need to NEVER run a moveable generator whereas driving in an try and energy your air conditioner. If you happen to’re using within the cockpit, the sprint AC needs to be sufficient to maintain you and your navigator cool till you attain your vacation spot.
Hopefully, you already know much more about air conditioners for RV use, the right way to use them, and the way to make sure they maintain your RV cool and cozy. If you happen to really feel like you have to improve your air conditioner, take a look at our full assortment of RV air conditioners.
Do you could have any further questions on RV air conditioners? Tell us within the feedback under.