Air conditioning for off grid camping

We figure that our motorhome has a $3K+ generator built into it for more than just charging the batteries and running the microwave when drycamping. It's not too noisy inside when it's running, so we run it hours if necessary for comfort in the summer heat.

Once when parked out in the middle of nowhere in the Texas Panhandle in August we had to run BOTH the coach's rooftop A/C off the generator and the cab A/C powered from the main idling engine in order to cool the interior down enough to keep from getting heat stroke after being outside in the heat rockhounding.

We wouldn't want an RV that didn't have a built-in generator and rooftop A/C system adequate enough for camping in the heat and/or humidity. I find it strange that some folks wouldn't own an RV that wasn't adequately heated, but don't think that a matching adequate A/C system is important. To be considered as a fully self-contained RV, good A/C must also be included.

Here in Texas, from May to September, either one is using a generator to power an A/C (a swamp cooler won't do, because it is humid as well), one is parked with hookups, or one isn't going to try camping. It is just too hot, and fans just blow around the humid air, and offer little to no relief.

Without A/C, it -might- be possible with older rigs with large, vented windows (the louver design that was commonplace.) With new RVs that have small windows, only a part of it is openable... no way, just because there is no way to circulate air effectively.

I read a lot of people who are from Canada or northern areas which are surprised by the fact that people actually use A/Cs most of the day... but 100-110 degrees (38 degrees C) is not sustainable indoors for long periods of time, especially with a high humidity level.

2oldman wrote:
Few people actually run air with a generator. Many plan to, but I don't see it.

Never been down South?

I replaced my AC with the Dometic High Efficiency model. I ran my AC off my solo Honda 2000 this past week just fine. Yes gas is needed.

I would never consider not having my AC in the deep south in summer,
(mainly Fla.) A swamp cooler increases moisture in a dry / arid area where as an AC removes moisture and we have plenty of moisture here in the south. I would go with the generator to run the A/C

The easiest and cheapest thing to do is just to go to a higher elevation. That's what we did. We dry camped and boondocked a lot. It's easy to find cool places in the West.

paul judd wrote:
I have purchased 1 brand new Honda Generator and am thinking about buying another one to hook in tandem for my bumper pull to generate enough power to run air conditioning when camping off the grid. I am wondering if there are good solar panel generators that can do the same thing thus avoiding the need to haul extra gasoline.
Somebody out there must have already thought this through and come up with a great solution. If so I would like to hear your solution.

I think you've got a good range of answers. I'd give some thought to the off grid camping you want to do. At least my experience with dry western air, it can be reasonably comfortable into the mid 80s especially if you're in the shade or run fantastic fans. To me it is unlikely I'd need aircondtioning at night, or more than a few hours in the heat of the afternoon typically. There may be times I'm crossing low desert and need it extensively off the grid, but it is rare. In general I pick campgrounds with that in mind, a cheap RV park can be less expensive than generator time.

Essentially the cost of generator time for the AC should be reasonable for typical off grid camping because the usage isn't too high. Lets say that most people don't dry camp for days in the lower Colorado desert in the summer.

Perhaps the solar for AC would make sense under some very unusual circumstances. But it would likely involve more than what would fit on the roof of your RV, it would be costly and it would weigh a lot.

MrWizard wrote:
We ran the A/C via generator at least some everyday this week

You and I are in the distinct minority.

I have two air conditioners, both draw 13.5 amps at 120 volt running, one is 13,500 BTU the other 15,000, (yes they are different ages).

That translates to 135 amps DC roughly... or 1,620 watts. EACH Now this is RUNNING you do not even want to ask about starting current/power (often aroudn 5x running but thankfully not for long)

You would want at least 2,000 actual watts of solar, likely 4,000 rated watts since you are doing good if you get half out of most panels. That's a lot of solar panels. And 3-4,000 watts of inverter (true sine of course) and that means 8 to 12 GC-2 batteries minimum OUCH, you now have NO cargo carrying capacity and in fact are overweight.

What I don't like about the AC is they don't last. Our 5th is 22 years old, and we have had it 10 years. The AC worked when we got it, changed the thermostat and tried it, and it was working. It was hot one day, and we happened to be plugged in and it worked. Last month we were in the desert, and it was warm, so I turned it on, and it wouldn't work. I guess we wore it out. The fantastic fan still works.

Mike