Fighthing the heat: running a second A/C in a 30A rig
The first of several modifications to tailor our rig to exactly what we want.
Actually the original RV A/C unit plus a portable heat pump we're using as the additional A/C unit.
My wife vocally complains about the heat here in the desert southwest and wanted a cooler rig else we would not be traveling to hot areas. I wanted an easy solution so came up with this modification to our under-powered 5th wheel.
My method is not exactly pretty, but it required minimum work to get it operational. There are now two ways to connect the second A/C unit to the park power supply:
I left the original 30A circuit RV completely alone and added the second power inlet to serve a single new socket inside the rig (in the same area as the power inlets are located). That socket is protected with a 20A marine breaker, and I deliberately chose a round socket so the wife will always know that anything plugged into the round socket is on the new circuit.
We now plug the 12,500 BTU heat pump into that dedicated circuit, and have the vent for the portable unit ducted outside the window where the unit is located.
We tried it out on a run to Orifino Idaho on the Clearwater river where the temperature was 105 degrees. We were very comfortable in our newly equipped rig with both cooling units running.
The 30A inlet on the left had a 20A cord attached to run the second A/C if a proper 20A outlet is available on park power
We can also connect via a 50A cord split into two 30A inlets
Inside the rig the round socket is powered by the new feed, and is protected by a 20A marine breaker (on the left_
This is the 12,500 BTU heat pump that we are using as the second A/C
The heat pump is ducted out one of the windows in the slide
Actually the original RV A/C unit plus a portable heat pump we're using as the additional A/C unit.
My wife vocally complains about the heat here in the desert southwest and wanted a cooler rig else we would not be traveling to hot areas. I wanted an easy solution so came up with this modification to our under-powered 5th wheel.
My method is not exactly pretty, but it required minimum work to get it operational. There are now two ways to connect the second A/C unit to the park power supply:
- Using the existing 30A cable and a second 20A cable - I added an additional NEMA L5-30R power inlet. I understand this might not be usable in all parks because the 20A and 30A park sockets are wired on the same 3Aa source.
- Using a new 50A power cord and a "Y" splitter adapting the 50A cord to two 30A plugs, then to the rig
I left the original 30A circuit RV completely alone and added the second power inlet to serve a single new socket inside the rig (in the same area as the power inlets are located). That socket is protected with a 20A marine breaker, and I deliberately chose a round socket so the wife will always know that anything plugged into the round socket is on the new circuit.
We now plug the 12,500 BTU heat pump into that dedicated circuit, and have the vent for the portable unit ducted outside the window where the unit is located.
We tried it out on a run to Orifino Idaho on the Clearwater river where the temperature was 105 degrees. We were very comfortable in our newly equipped rig with both cooling units running.
The 30A inlet on the left had a 20A cord attached to run the second A/C if a proper 20A outlet is available on park power
We can also connect via a 50A cord split into two 30A inlets
Inside the rig the round socket is powered by the new feed, and is protected by a 20A marine breaker (on the left_
This is the 12,500 BTU heat pump that we are using as the second A/C
The heat pump is ducted out one of the windows in the slide
