I'm a little surprised that campers aren't equipped with some sort of two-stage air conditioning that would operate on ~1,500 watts for the sake of a 'common' ~2000 watt generator.OTOH, I'm sure the tremendous variability that exists with generators and throw in human nature with folks who don't have any idea of wattage, folks who become irate that the low wattage version might not cut it on wamer days and bigger campers, sales guys saying anything to sell the camper, and folks forgetting to switch a switch to turn off "the big wattage" air conditioner...it's probably a no-win scenario.Conversely, I don't think it would be too many zillion dollars to set up a camper with two small air conditioners- one which works off of a ~2000 watt generator and the other that's available when you have a full hook up.(Yes, I know that big campers ALREADY have two "small" air conditioners and the deal of bigger generators and the Honda paralell 30A deal)......But I still see a niche for a smaller camper and just provide decent AC in the evening and a single 2000 watt genny...No big deal here- just something kind of interesting to talk about.

I do see your point but I think it's a non-issue. People just have to pay attention to what they're getting.There are smaller AC units than the standard 13.5K BTU that do run just fine on a 2 kW gen.I don't know that a 2 kW generator is any more standard than a 3 kW. 3 kW units are plentiful. Honda makes a very nice one.If you make a smaller AC unit "standard" then people will want one that runs on a 1 kW gen.

Your right K3WE. They have multi-stage cooling systems for residential use that work great. They run at lower speeds and continuously for better comfort and are more quiet, more efficient and only ramp up when more power is needed.I suspect cost is the reason we don't see that technology on RV's.

Here's a post about operating a 5000 BTU window A/C with a 800 watt Harbor Freight generator.

How about reverting back to the days before air-conditioners were permanently installed on the roof, actually before RV air-conditioners were part of the "standard" set-up ... get a window air conditioner that meets the requirement and cut a hole in the side of the camper to install it.

They actually have smaller roof mounted A/C units other than the 13,500 and the 15,000 BTU models.I always thought if I was to add a second air conditioner to the 5th wheel i would go for the smaller one for the bedroom area that would run from the 2KW Honda setup. That would be my PLAN B for A/C...I think those portable a/c units that have hoses that connect to windows are also available in small enough sizes to run from a 2KW generator as well.Also out west where the humidity is low they tell me the roof mounted evaporator coolers work pretty well too.

Why don't they just... | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

sch911
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
I think a better question is why don't people buy a generator that can run their A/C if that's what they're trying to do? Make no sense to me to buy a small genset if it isn't going to accomplish the job you're buying it for....
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
99.999% of the time, when the question is "Why don't they...", the answer is money. Dometic makes a starter box called the Smartstart which will let a 13.5 unit start and run reliably on a Honda EU2000, but it costs close to $400 (it's a Dometic Marine part, where $400 isn't much) :)
RVUSA
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
DutchmenSport wrote:
How about reverting back to the days before air-conditioners were permanently installed on the roof, actually before RV air-conditioners were part of the "standard" set-up ... get a window air conditioner that meets the requirement and cut a hole in the side of the camper to install it.

Crazy, but that pic reminds me of the Brave Little Toaster for some reason. It's almost animated.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
The hose on those portable AC units get extremely hot. In front of it is nice and cool and behind it is cooking.

They make window AC's really small but will it be enough to do any good?
K3WE
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
ScottG wrote:
Your right K3WE. They have multi-stage cooling systems for residential use that work great. They run at lower speeds and continuously for better comfort and are more quiet, more efficient and only ramp up when more power is needed.
I suspect cost is the reason we don't see that technology on RV's.

But we shouldn't over simpify this:

The system you describe "automatically determines" high or low depending on your need for cooling- but always has full ELECTRICAL power available.

There's no good way for an air conditioner to "automatically determine" that it's hooked to an under-sized generator (or determine exactly what size the generator is.

The user needs to flip an over ride switch to force the RV air conditioner to stay in the "low mode" even if it's 98 degrees inside. The user also needs to know if his "little" generator is big enough.

Like one poster above said- if we had AC broadly designed to work off 1500 watts when you are dry camping, someone's going to want a system to use an 800 watt generator...

Interesting comments so far, though.
RoyB
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
They actually have smaller roof mounted A/C units other than the 13,500 and the 15,000 BTU models.

I always thought if I was to add a second air conditioner to the 5th wheel i would go for the smaller one for the bedroom area that would run from the 2KW Honda setup. That would be my PLAN B for A/C...

I think those portable a/c units that have hoses that connect to windows are also available in small enough sizes to run from a 2KW generator as well.

Also out west where the humidity is low they tell me the roof mounted evaporator coolers work pretty well too.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
How about reverting back to the days before air-conditioners were permanently installed on the roof, actually before RV air-conditioners were part of the "standard" set-up ... get a window air conditioner that meets the requirement and cut a hole in the side of the camper to install it.
gbopp
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
Here's a post about operating a 5000 BTU window A/C with a 800 watt Harbor Freight generator.
ScottG
Nomad
Nov 09, 2013
Your right K3WE. They have multi-stage cooling systems for residential use that work great. They run at lower speeds and continuously for better comfort and are more quiet, more efficient and only ramp up when more power is needed.
I suspect cost is the reason we don't see that technology on RV's.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
I do see your point but I think it's a non-issue. People just have to pay attention to what they're getting.
There are smaller AC units than the standard 13.5K BTU that do run just fine on a 2 kW gen.
I don't know that a 2 kW generator is any more standard than a 3 kW. 3 kW units are plentiful. Honda makes a very nice one.
If you make a smaller AC unit "standard" then people will want one that runs on a 1 kW gen.

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