A/C in the South

[xr751]

Any luck with portable air conditioners? It’s mid 90s here with high humidity. I’m baking in the sun! 30 amp tt with one a/c. I should’ve gone for 2, but live and learn. [emoji16] Air runs nonstop to keep it at 85. Only one dinky bathroom fan. I’m considering a hotel for the next week! We seemed to have skipped spring and gone straight to summer. I’m full-time stationary for now.

Thanks again. You guys are a big help!

[kfd82]

Id suggest not running that bathroom fan, its pulling your A/C air up and out into the atmosphere. That cant be helpful...


Try some circulating fans and try closing vents and doors in unused rooms. (like close off the bunkhouse if its not being used) I know this may not apply to you.

[Kimber45]

pull your shades to stop solar heat gain from windows. leave the door shut, don't run in and out. What size is your ac? maybe able to get a large unit but still a costly upgrade.


Open the air damn and let the air dump out so you are not losing precious cold air in the vent lines. (depending where a/c unit is located and were you are at)

[rockfordroo]

There are people who use them. You have to figure out how to get the cooling air and the heat they remove outside the TT. See the hose in the pic below:



You'll also have to run the power cord outside, either through a window or a slide seal, and plug it into the 120VAC outlet on the pedestal. Your 30 amp supply isn't enough to run your rooftop AC as well as the portable AC.

[Vikes79]

Cover your windows with towels. If you don’t have shades.

Orient the coach with the nose facing the west if possible or have the awning side to the west. Deploy your awning to help keep the sun off the side of the coach.

Park around trees etc.

Clean the filter on the AC unit if you haven’t already.
Have you checked to see if your return and supply are are not short circuiting?
Set the AC fan on your TStat to high vs Auto if you haven’t already.
Let the AC run all night and have a head start for the day.

[rockfordroo]

Some things you might want to try before you plunk down big bucks for a portable AC:

1, You might want to "pimp your AC:"

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...-ac-42280.html

2. If you have ducted AC, a number of people have reported that the cold air has leaked out of the duct past the last ceiling register. They pulled out the register and sealed the duct downstream of the register and got a lot more air into the TT.

[Iwannacamp]

If I read correctly...your unit is less than 30 ft? If you have a 15K unit..and it works.. and y'all ain't standing there with the door open... and it isn't 115 out side and you have any shade. There really any reason your a/c cannot work. We had a 35+ OAL 5er and it worked...perfect? No, but it did pretty good. If we arrived at 6P in 90+ weather a 60% humidity it would take till bed time to cool off, but then it kept up pretty good after that.

Do you have a thermometer? Take a return air temp and a supply air temp(leave you infrared in the box) and look for a 20 deg difference. It cannot be 95 or 65 in there as the readings are out of the efficiency range of the a/c. Temp OK? It is working. Temp 15 or 26 deg. we have stuff to check. Let us know.

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Some things you might want to try before you plunk down big bucks for a portable AC:

1, You might want to "pimp your AC:"

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...-ac-42280.html

2. If you have ducted AC, a number of people have reported that the cold air has leaked out of the duct past the last ceiling register. They pulled out the register and sealed the duct downstream of the register and got a lot more air into the TT.

X2 on all of this

[jeff64]

Pumping the ac works. Block off all the roof vents with either the camco vent pillows or find an appropriate foam material and cut to fit. Put a circulating style fan on the floor aimed towards ceilings in each room. Dehumidifiers also help pull humidity and make ac more efficient

[Walholler]

You can add another AC unit even if you have a 30 amp. trailer and it is not wired for an additional AC. I made the same mistake you did, I purchased a Crusader Lite, 30 amp with one AC and not wired for a second AC. I added a second 15K unit to our bedroom where the skylight & vent was located. New unit fits the opening perfectly, I wired the unit through a added 20 amp circuit breaker mounted in the lower forward cargo area, added a another 30 amp twist lock plug on side of skirting and purchased another power cord. The added AC unit has the ceiling controls.

[RamblerGuy]

I cut window covers from Reflectix that I bought at Lowes. It's available at many places. It makes a big difference in heat and cold coming through the windows. It does make it darker inside, but that's the tradeoff to stay cool.

It comes in several widths and roll lengths.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R...5-ft-L/3011904

[CaptnJohn]

We just closed up in the high 90s. Starting early with one 15 did the trick until id-afternoon when we put on the 2nd. Ordered with the 3rd ~~ all 15s, 2 with heat pumps~~ doubt we will need it at 41'.

[xr751]

Originally Posted by kfd82

Id suggest not running that bathroom fan, its pulling your A/C air up and out into the atmosphere. That cant be helpful...


Try some circulating fans and try closing vents and doors in unused rooms. (like close off the bunkhouse if its not being used) I know this may not apply to you.

Thanks. Got doors all shut to bathroom and bedroom. Reflectix in all windows. Air open vented and not ran ducted as suggested. Set it on high. I appreciate the feedback. Moving the camper isn’t an option at the moment.

[xr751]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

If I read correctly...your unit is less than 30 ft? If you have a 15K unit..and it works.. and y'all ain't standing there with the door open... and it isn't 115 out side and you have any shade. There really any reason your a/c cannot work. We had a 35+ OAL 5er and it worked...perfect? No, but it did pretty good. If we arrived at 6P in 90+ weather a 60% humidity it would take till bed time to cool off, but then it kept up pretty good after that.

Do you have a thermometer? Take a return air temp and a supply air temp(leave you infrared in the box) and look for a 20 deg difference. It cannot be 95 or 65 in there as the readings are out of the efficiency range of the a/c. Temp OK? It is working. Temp 15 or 26 deg. we have stuff to check. Let us know.

Also - temp only shows a 5 degree difference from thermostat. It’s just mid 90s and I’m in direct sun from 11-6

[GL1800Rider]

We live in the South and have a 32' class C with one AC. I have done all that has been mentioned with vent covers, Reflectex, etc. Wife like it cold so I bought a Frigidaire round portable that doesn't take up much space. I vent it out the window and run a heavy duty extension cord out to the pedestal and hook up to the 20 amp circuit. It reduces the temperature about 5 degrees but the exhaust tube get pretty hot. I picked up some shielded insulation from Lowes and it helps.

Sorry for the sideways photos.

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by xr751

Also - temp only shows a 5 degree difference from thermostat. It’s just mid 90s and I’m in direct sun from 11-6

I hope it gets better.

If you have the doors shut(unless it’s unducted) you are not doing yourself a favor. I would put a fan blowing towards the hot part.

The temp reading would be taken at the X area...assuming dometic.



And the nearest supply duct in ceiling with the same thermometer.

[Retired JSO]

3 A/C’s, 2, 13 K and 1, 15K in full sun east of Dunnellon, FL all set to 78 degrees this passed Thursday. Thermometer sensor under the fiver overhang in constant shade. Weatherbug was showing 98.

[CincyGus]

Originally Posted by RamblerGuy

I cut window covers from Reflectix that I bought at Lowes. It's available at many places. It makes a big difference in heat and cold coming through the windows. It does make it darker inside, but that's the tradeoff to stay cool.

It comes in several widths and roll lengths.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R...5-ft-L/3011904

One of the best things you can do to help a camper your having a hard time getting cool enough. Use it for the windows, use it for the skylights, use it for the vents. You won't believe how much difference blocking the suns rays from heating up the inside of your camper will make. Also hugely helpful in the cold, keeping it warmer!

[grafic]

These single hose portable A/C units are constantly pulling in outside air to replace the inside conditioned air that they are using to cool the condenser and then exhausting that air to the outside. There is some net gain I guess but a two hose unit that uses outside air to cool the condenser is more efficient.

[rgchrishunter]

Rigged up a portable for a summer trip to Texas last summer. Made a plate to fit discharge hose to window, ran power cord to outside power stand, trailer stayed at 75 in 113 degree heat with both units working. Also had external window shades and awning for both slide outs.