Keeping cool
How do other Class C owners stay cool in the hot summer months? Do you drive with generator on and air conditioner running? Or do you use the engine air conditioning on the road with generator off...
Forum Discussion
JaxDad wrote:Bordercollie wrote:
"Dave", the generator expert at Smith Powerhouse, Inc, recommended using the RV generator and roof air conditioner while underway as the generator uses a lot less gasoline than the dash AC requires.
I'm not sure how much faith I'd put in an "expert" that makes such silly statements as that one.
A basic 4kw genny at idle uses 0.3 gallons per hour, 0.5 at half load.
I saw a test a few years back where they concluded thata V10 in a large vehicle would consume an extra 1% in fuel. That makes sense since they figure an econo-box will use an extra 3% with A/C on, smaller engine, proportionately larger load.
If an RV then gets (for easy math) 10 MPG, running the A/C compressor will decrease that to 9.9 MPG if said RV is going 60 MPH then it will use 6.06 gallons per hour instead of 6 gallons.
If somebody thinks 0.3 to 0.5 gallons is "a lot less" than 0.06 they're no "expert" in my books.
A politician maybe, but NOT an expert.
Well stated comments and analysis above!
Plus ... adding to your analysis and math ... in our case I pretty much trust that the Ford E450's air conditioning equipment powered by it's V10 computer controlled engine, when taken together as an air conditioning system, is probably "better and more modernly engineered" than our Onan generator and Coleman rooftop air conditioner. ;)
