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Old 05-30-2018, 10:54 AM   #1
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Portable In Room A/C ?

I'm thinking about getting a portable in room A/C unit to use when I have my TT parked at home getting ready for a trip while in the Summer heat of NC.

Would I have any issues plugging it inside the TT the units I am looking at are 8,000 btu 115V and 15Amp I guess if I had to I could plug it in the garage if Had to.

We are still working on our RV parking at home and will be installing a 50AMP plug in the future so this is a temporary situation for now.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:06 AM   #2
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Why not just run the TT's AC?
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:11 AM   #3
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I'm not electrical genius by any stretch, but from what I'm reading you can plug them into your TT, so it has electricity?



I'd plug into the garage.



In running a 50 amp plug make sure you understanding the wiring. It's not the same as wiring for a dryer or other appliance.

Good Luck.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:13 AM   #4
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The AC itself in your rig is probably only about 12 amp (depending on what you actually have). If the portable is 15 amp, it's about the same, if not a little higher load.

I'd try to run it off a separate circuit if possible. One of the main reasons it's not recommended to run your rig's AC is because the AC and other loads (like the fridge, converter, etc..) can exceed 15 amp if they kick on at the same time. If you can wire the portable AC to a different circuit, then you can run it without worrying about overloading the 15 amp circuit you've got the rig plugged into.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:14 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Why not just run the TT's AC?
I just have a standard outside electrical outlet I didn't think could run my 15K A/C unit while my TT was plugged into it.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:25 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Kaadk View Post
The AC itself in your rig is probably only about 12 amp (depending on what you actually have). If the portable is 15 amp, it's about the same, if not a little higher load.

I'd try to run it off a separate circuit if possible. One of the main reasons it's not recommended to run your rig's AC is because the AC and other loads (like the fridge, converter, etc..) can exceed 15 amp if they kick on at the same time. If you can wire the portable AC to a different circuit, then you can run it without worrying about overloading the 15 amp circuit you've got the rig plugged into.
X2 I had left mine unplugged for a few days after a trip. I went inside after plugging it up.... the EMS said ? 10 amps and the only thing on was the converter. Kinda scared me. 10 amps?
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:26 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Ejs4029 View Post
I just have a standard outside electrical outlet I didn't think could run my 15K A/C unit while my TT was plugged into it.
Prolly can, but I would turn the converter off at the breaker.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:35 AM   #8
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How do you propose to exhaust the heated air. I think additional cost, effort and hassle is not worth it. For the cost of the portable AC, you could have a 50A/30A outlet added to the side of the house.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:35 AM   #9
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I only have a 30A trailer but I have successfully run my 15k btu colman mach III off a dedicated 15A outlet. That one single outlet has it's own breaker in the box as mentioned above. It was there already if I had done it then I would have put in a 30A but no easy way now.

I ran the trailer cord in and used a dogbone to 110. I have a hard start capacitor on the AC so I can even have the converter going without tripping because I am only at 14A with ac starting and converter on. It runs steady at about 9-10A. If you have trouble you can always flip off all the breakers except the AC in the trailer. Then no AC to buy.

An important note is get a good large gauge dogbone. DO NOT use a small gauge cord or it will overheat and melt.

I don't run anything else except for the converter and AC when I do it and I have watched usage closely.

Best of luck and stay cool.
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Old 05-30-2018, 11:36 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by Ejs4029 View Post
I just have a standard outside electrical outlet I didn't think could run my 15K A/C unit while my TT was plugged into it.
Maybe I'm missing something? If you want to plug this stand-alone AC unit into one of your TT's inside outlets as you stated ("Would I have any issues plugging it inside the TT....") it will have the same impact on your outside electrical outlet as your rigs AC since the power will still be coming through your rigs shore power cord from your "outside electrical outlet;" maybe worse, if it pulls 15 amps vs your TT's 12 amps.

I plug my 30 amp shore power cord into a 50 ft 14 gauge outdoor extension cord that runs into my garage and I run my 13.5K AC unit. I have not any issues with the extension cord overheating. Of course, I do not run any other 110VAC stuff in the camper (other than the converter). So if you're just doing this while you load the TT, I don't think you'd have any problems.

But the bottom line is that whatever you plug the stand alone AC into has to be able to deal with 15 amps, or whatever current the AC unit pulls. For sure a 12 gauge extension cord that only feeds your stand alone AC should not be an issue. But now you'll have to run the cord through a window or a slide. And as mentioned above, you'll have to deal with the units hot exhaust air.
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Old 05-30-2018, 12:06 PM   #11
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Courious about where you will put the "portable AC"? Is this similar to a standard home "Window A/C" unit? You have a "wiindow in the TT that can support the weight of the AC unit?


Anyway here are some links on extension cords.
Home Depot
Size CHART
120V Power Converter



Don't forget BOTH 30A and 50A RV service is 120V and if you have an electritianadd a special box so you can plug in your RV shore power be sure he doesn't confuse RV plug with home cloths dryer or shop welding plug. That mistake can fry all the electrics in the Rv is not done properly.

YouTube has a number of videos on how to do it properly
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Old 05-30-2018, 12:09 PM   #12
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I think the OP is talking about something like this.



https://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Elect...7WSR/300422892


Still needs a hot air exhaust.
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Old 05-30-2018, 12:12 PM   #13
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How do you propose to exhaust the heated air. I think additional cost, effort and hassle is not worth it. For the cost of the portable AC, you could have a 50A/30A outlet added to the side of the house.
Bob makes an excellent point. You have to exhaust the heated air outside. You can't just set it in a room and turn it on. It will blow cold air out the front, heated air out the back, offsetting each other.
That being said I run my travel trailer unit on a home circuit often and it does fine. It is a 20 amp circuit but has a few small loads on from the house.
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:32 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody View Post
Bob makes an excellent point. You have to exhaust the heated air outside. You can't just set it in a room and turn it on. It will blow cold air out the front, heated air out the back, offsetting each other.
That being said I run my travel trailer unit on a home circuit often and it does fine. It is a 20 amp circuit but has a few small loads on from the house.
Thanks for all the input....I can vent the exhaust out of the TT via a window in the dinette slide out or from the storage area underneath the dinette accessed by a cabinet inside then thru an outside exterior door so that wouldn't be a problem.

My thought was that because it only 8,000 btu's it wouldn't draw as many amps as my 15K TT A/C unit anyway I think I have given up on the idea considering I will spend $200-$400 on the portable A/C unit when I can just use that money and ramp up the install of the 50AMP plug and be done with it.
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:33 PM   #15
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Portable AC have to have the condenser (hot) air vented outside.
So sure, just cut a vent hole in the side with flap closures inside and outside when not in use. Attach exhaust hose when in use, run the drain tube outside so you don't have to worry about dumping the tray or it shutting down because it's full, provide the 110V receptacle to plug it in an you are set.
Use one in the garage and vent and drain out under the door.
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:36 PM   #16
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Portable Floor Model AC

I understand what OP is proposing, a floor model portable AC.
I considered the same, until I tried to run my 13.5KW RV AC on household current (with 35A>15A adapter) and it worked fine, with every other 110V item turned off.
I also have a 10000BTU portable AC in a hot BR in the house. Label says it draws 9A continuous. It has a large expandable hose (similar to sewer hose) that pumps hot air and condensation out a window, through an expandable panel. The problem would be mounting the hose and panel in a window in the RV. Also the portable AC takes up a lot of space. For now it stays in the house.
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:37 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
How do you propose to exhaust the heated air. I think additional cost, effort and hassle is not worth it. For the cost of the portable AC, you could have a 50A/30A outlet added to the side of the house.
X2....That is the new plan
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:38 PM   #18
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Or you could do the old fashioned way before AC was common in travel trailers, popups even seen in tents before... Cut a hole in side high or low or in a window, put that little window air conditioner in, brace it, duct tape the places where the light comes in and you are old school ready with the comforts of home. Ask me how I know it can be done in the side of a 4 man tent?
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:43 PM   #19
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I just have a standard outside electrical outlet I didn't think could run my 15K A/C unit while my TT was plugged into it.
You won't be able too unless you turn off everything else. It would be much better if you can find a 20 amp circuit to plug into. the wire is bigger and avoids voltage drop.
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Old 05-30-2018, 01:45 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by rlh1957 View Post
Or you could do the old fashioned way before AC was common in travel trailers, popups even seen in tents before... Cut a hole in side high or low or in a window, put that little window air conditioner in, brace it, duct tape the places where the light comes in and you are old school ready with the comforts of home. Ask me how I know it can be done in the side of a 4 man tent?
This looks pretty high tech
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