Adding a second AC unit

[tom39]

So this week's trip finally convinced my wife that a second AC unit would be a benefit.
Our current and only AC unit is a Mach 3 - 13,500 which is located in the main living area. The potential second unit that I am thinking of adding would be installed in the vent in the bedroom and would be the same make and model. Hoping that the rv was pre wired for a second AC unit, I have pulled the bezel from vent and found that there are wires run through that area.
Is there a schematic to identity or know what the wires that I am seeing are? And is it possible that the wires that I am seeing are actually run to provide the option for a second unit?
I have added some pics in hopes that it would help.

[cavie]

You need to look for a piece of 12/2 romex. (Yellow) tug on it. One end will be free.

Then go look for the other end behind the converter/AC panel box.

[A32Deuce]

It looks like wiring for roof vents and lighting. Did not see any romex.

[Thurman]

I agree in that I don't see any "Romex", standard household wiring for a 20 amp circuit, which would be needed as a power source for the new A/C unit. I did this mod June of '17 on my TT. I had a Dometic 15K unit on a 31' TT with two slides and g'kids that just could not keep the front door closed. I'll try to keep this simple and short: I also placed the new A/C unit on the former vent over the bed. My original unit has the ducted air option but I did not see any reasonable way to have the new A/C unit tie into the duct work, probably works better in that it's not. I ordered the new unit with the standard air distribution box, or ADB, so that I would not need to worry with a t'stat. I bought a 50 foot extension cord with 12/3 ga. wire, one hot, one neutral, and one ground for this project as it is stranded/flexible. I stripped back the outer jacket on the cord a few feet, the length from the vent to the cabinets plus a couple of feet. I put the stripped wire into plastic wire way on the curved ceiling from the vent to the cabinet. Once in the cabinet I ran the cord with the outer jacket over to the driver side wall, then down through a clothes closet, then down into my front storage area. Once inside the storage area I placed a 6" x 6" metal electrical box with cover. The wire from the new A/C goes into this. I bought from a marine supplier a 20 amp re-settable circuit breaker (you push the button back in IF it trips) and mounted in this box with the button sticking out on top so nothing would bump it. I also purchased a marine type male receptacle/cover which mounts into the side wall of the TT. In the 6x6 box terminate all the wires accordingly. When placing the new A/C unit terminate the extension cord type wires and the A/C wiring in the box with the new A/C. I use the remainder of the extension cord for power from the electrical CG pedestal to the male connector mounted on the outside wall of the TT. There is usually a 20 amp protected duplex receptacle in most electrical pedestals and I have the 20 amp circuit breaker I placed into the system as backup. IF the front of you RV is curved, as is mine, the plastic wire way can be bent by using a hair dryer to warm it up. I secured the wire way to the ceiling with very short flat head wood screws, maybe four of them. I have used this system probably seven (7) times since I installed it and had NO problem at all. I park my TT in my back yard and plug into a dedicated 30 amp service at my shop. After installation I ran the new unit wide open for a couple of hours with power from a 20 amp duplex receptacle in my shop. I ran some tests on amp draw (I forget the numbers but they were good), voltage drop through the length of power supply (I got 1 1/2 volt drop in the total 50 foot of cord), and with the bedroom doors closed it got quite cold in there. We've been through some high 90+ temps here in SW GA with high humidity and these two units have kept this TT very comfortable for us, even with the g'kid's. Good Luck

[757Dave]

We did pretty much the same things that Thurman did. We LOVE having the second AC in the bedroom of our sunseeker.

[tom39]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am going to order the new unit in the new week or so.
My other concern is the location of the proposed unit. It would be in the bedroom on the nose of the 5th wheel which slants forward. Would this be problematic in regards to weather and travel down the road, especially traveling in the rain.
I have included a pic for location reference. It's the best I have at the moment but the proposed location is where the vent cover shown in the picture is.

[bigmurph]

I'm sure if it came with the 2nd unit from the factory it would have been mounted in the same place you intend to mount yours.

[tom39]

Originally Posted by bigmurph

I'm sure if it came with the 2nd unit from the factory it would have been mounted in the same place you intend to mount yours.

This is true.

I'm overthinking this for sure.

[Rookiewood]

We added a second AC separate from main fuse box. Best money spend ever !!!
So we had a 30amps 15K BTU's and a 13.5K BTU's running on a separate circuit on a 20amp line. We were able to use the 2 AC everywhere, now with the new camper we can only use the 2 AC if the campground has 50 amps.....

[TURBS]

Thirty amp camper ? Definitely not pre wired.
50 amp? Possibly, but it would say so with a sticker on the ceiling.

[tom39]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Thirty amp camper ? Definitely not pre wired.
50 amp? Possibly, but it would say so with a sticker on the ceiling.

The RV is a 30amp and there is definitely no sticker found at the vent.
Looks like it is going to be unit independent of the electrical panel and thermostat with a dedicated line that will plug into the 20amp outlet of the CG power pedestal.

Thank you all for your help and advice,

Tom G