Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner While Driving

If you are a travel enthusiast who loves taking risks and adventures, then at some point in your life you must have asked yourself, Can I run an RV air conditioner while driving? Well, I had a similar experience, and let me share it with you. On one scorching summer day, my family decided to embark on a road trip to explore nature and enjoy the view. Little did we know that with the sun blazing overhead, we would feel the need to turn on the AC much sooner than we expected.

However, before I decided to do that, several confusing questions engulfed me. Can I run it while driving? Is it necessary to have a generator to operate the AC? How do I run it? Is it safe to do it? The overall answer was yes! But I am going to answer these questions in detail in this blog. So without keeping you waiting, let’s start.

Can You Run the AC In An RV While Driving?

Yes! You can run it while driving. However, to run an oversize air conditioner, you need a generator, as it will put strain on the batteries. The generator provides the necessary power to run an AC system efficiently. Additionally, you must ensure that the generator is installed correctly within the RV; otherwise, problems may arise.

Okay, now you might be wondering how to run an AC safely. No worries; that is why I am going to explain next.

How To Run AC In RV While Driving?

There are mainly two options for running the AC in an RV while driving. If you have a sufficient rating generator, you can run it, which is usually the most doable solution. However, depending on the generator size, it will use 0.5–1 GPH. Also, keep your fuel tank full so that the generator keeps running smoothly, and turn off your AC first before the generator. On the contrary, you can install a larger lithium battery bank with a DC/AC inverter, which offers a long-term solution for running AC while driving.

You might be wondering why you take on so much of the hassle of installing a generator instead of going with the battery. You will get the answer to this question next.

Can RV AC Run Off The Battery?

It is not practical to do so, as RV AC typically requires a significant amount of power to operate. Running an AC unit of 1300 or 1500 BTU on batteries will draw them down quickly. So you need a generator as a dedicated power source to run an AC in an RV.

Without further ado, let’s discuss how long you can run an AC without getting it overheated.

How Long Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner?

A general idea is that you can run your AC as long as you want without worrying about it getting overheated. You can continuously run it on the compressor; it’s much easier to do that way.

However, there are some things that you need to be careful about to avoid overheating. Always make sure that the electric wire is not exposed to direct sunlight and that the electric draw is not extreme. Also, clean the filters and condenser coils regularly to maintain maximum efficiency.

How Many Watts Do to Run RV AC?

It is recommended by the manufacturers to use a wattage of 4,000 watts for generators to ensure a smooth startup and operation under any conditions. You need to consider some factors like outside temperature, altitude, and other power draws that can potentially affect the AC to start. Also, it is important to keep in mind that you should always start the AC unit with the fan and temperature settings at their lowest and gradually increase them. Doing so will not put extra pressure on the AC compressor.

Moreover, you need to find the BTU to get the right watt, or vice versa. For instance, 1 W is equivalent to 3.41 BTU/h when converting between W and BTU/h. As a result, to change from BTU/h to Watts, divide by 3.41; to change from Watts to BTU/h, multiply by 3.41.

Furthermore, the power requirement also depends on the type. A 2400-watt generator works best with the high-efficiency generator. For a standard full-height AC model, you need a 3000-watt generator or higher. If you have a low-profile AC that is 13,500 BTU/hr, you need a 3600–4000 watt generator.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is possible to run an RV air conditioner while you are driving, which can give you much-needed comfort while you are on the road. The AC can be powered by installing a generator or by choosing a bigger battery bank with an inverter. The large power requirements make it impractical to run the AC entirely on batteries. So, to guarantee smooth functioning, it’s crucial to pick a generator with enough watts.