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02-25-2016, 11:41 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Walled Lake
Posts: 1,140
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Running RV A/C on the road?
When we are traveling, the back of the rv gets pretty hot and our kids complain about it. I haven't figured out how to run the A/C unit without running the generator. I was speaking to a Class A owner and he mentioned he was doing the same until he discovered the electric inverter and was able to switch the electric from going to the batteries to the A/C unit. Can I do what he mentioned?
__________________
Kristina
2016 Rockwood Premier 2317G
2021 F150 XLT
Previously:
2005 Fleetwood Seapine, 2012 Rockwood Roo
2015 Sunseeker, 2017 Fleetwood Pace Arrow
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02-25-2016, 11:45 AM
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#2
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Berkshire 390QS
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,489
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Don't think you can run the roof ac without having the generator on. AC takes alot of power to run and the batteries won't do it.
__________________
2011: 54 days, 2012: 218 days, 2013: 175 days, 2014: 196 days
2015: 188 days, 2016: 72 days, 2017: 185 days: 2018 182 days
2019: 156 days (2009 Berkshire, 390QS, and toad)
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02-25-2016, 12:11 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 1,645
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It is possible, but it would require an inverter of at least 2000 watts capacity and dual alternators of at least 250 amps total capacity. Unless you already have that installed, running a generator makes more sense.
__________________
2019 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2015 T12RBST Flagstaff Hardside
Disclaimer: The actual value of my "Two Cents" of advice varies just like a bitcoin.
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02-25-2016, 12:15 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Walled Lake
Posts: 1,140
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Thanks for the info. 😊
__________________
Kristina
2016 Rockwood Premier 2317G
2021 F150 XLT
Previously:
2005 Fleetwood Seapine, 2012 Rockwood Roo
2015 Sunseeker, 2017 Fleetwood Pace Arrow
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02-25-2016, 01:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Lake Wylie
Posts: 502
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I've been told that you will use less gas running the Genny and air than running dash air and of course making the engine work harder
I run the dash cause it's just the two of us but start the Genny on the last leg of the trip (hour or so) to precool at set up
__________________
I never saw a Hearse towing a Trailer
'71 Dads VW camper pop up Van
'78.....tents
'93 Coleman pop ups (I'm Dad)
'04 Fleetwood Jamboree 26q
'14 Sunseeker 2860DS
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02-25-2016, 02:17 PM
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#6
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geezer with gadgets
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SE Virginia
Posts: 672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hockeytownmom
When we are traveling, the back of the rv gets pretty hot and our kids complain about it. I haven't figured out how to run the A/C unit without running the generator. I was speaking to a Class A owner and he mentioned he was doing the same until he discovered the electric inverter and was able to switch the electric from going to the batteries to the A/C unit. Can I do what he mentioned?
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Hockeytownmom, we have the same model MH and we run the generator when we need the AC on in the unit. We traveled over 7,000 miles last summer and ran it most of the time while driving. No problems, didn't really see much difference in the gas consumption with or without the generator running.
When we first joined the forum last year that was a big question for me as well and many responses were to run the generator, "that's what it is there for."
__________________
Sent from my Atari 2600
2011 Sunseeker 3170ds "Ladybug"
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee TOAD
Days camped 2015: 37; 2016: 66; 2017: 86 2018: 57 2019: 30
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02-26-2016, 01:56 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 68
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 757Dave
Hockeytownmom, we have the same model MH and we run the generator when we need the AC on in the unit. We traveled over 7,000 miles last summer and ran it most of the time while driving. No problems, didn't really see much difference in the gas consumption with or without the generator running.
When we first joined the forum last year that was a big question for me as well and many responses were to run the generator, "that's what it is there for."
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I concur, when we travel the genset is running
__________________
2014 Forest River Sunseeker 3170DS
TOAD: 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Black Bear Edition
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02-26-2016, 03:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Athens
Posts: 685
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We run the generator and a/c too on hot days to keep the dog cool!
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Phil, Heather & Olaf the Boxer
Ontario Canada
Lexington 283GTS
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02-26-2016, 03:56 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,198
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It's not a problem to run the generator so you can have your ac on while traveling. I have owned two diesel pushers and neither one was wired to the inverter. Honestly I don't believe they do that, but who knows. You cannot do that on a Sunseeker for sure it doesn't have a inverter at all.
__________________
2015 sunseeker 3050s. 2007 saturn aura
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02-27-2016, 08:45 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 5,977
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Driving & using the generator,,,
Sure seams to me that would drain the fuel tank PDQ ???
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02-27-2016, 08:51 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,645
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Yeah, at about a gallon an hour fully loaded shouldn't take long to empty that gas tank..
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02-27-2016, 08:55 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 113
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Genny is made to run. Actually works better when it's run regularly. We use it whenever we need it.
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02-27-2016, 09:21 AM
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#13
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World Wide Wanderer
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Sprung Leak, NC
Posts: 1,732
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945
Driving & using the generator,,,
Sure seams to me that would drain the fuel tank PDQ ???
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My generator is rated at .5 gallon per hour at half load. Unless it is blistering hot I doubt you would exceed that with the A/C on. FWIW by my calculations that would take me from 8.5 mpg down to maybe 7.9 mpg. Small price to pay for being comfortable. If you want to run the A/C off an inverter it is going to take a big one, big battery bank and big alternator to keep up. Not cheap to install. On some buses I have seen basement air that is run off the engine compressor, and then has a second compressor that can be run off electricity when parked. Again, not an inexpensive installation.
Aaron
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02-27-2016, 10:04 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945
Driving & using the generator,,,
Sure seams to me that would drain the fuel tank PDQ ???
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Not really I think mine will run an hour on a gallon of gas. So it wouldn't have that much of an effect on gas mileage.
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02-27-2016, 10:05 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pacostaco
Genny is made to run. Actually works better when it's run regularly. We use it whenever we need it.
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We run ours an hour a month whether we use it or not.
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02-27-2016, 10:10 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 5,977
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Myrle
Not really I think mine will run an hour on a gallon of gas. So it wouldn't have that much of an effect on gas mileage.
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Not to bad @ todays gas prices,,,
But not so good back when we were paying $4 a gallon !!!
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