Forum Discussion

TxGearhead's avatar
TxGearhead
Explorer II
May 26, 2018

11,000 BTU A/C vs. 9,000?

My Bigfoot has a DuoTherm 11,000 BTU A/C. It works too good. I find it difficult to lower the thermostat enough to stay comfortable. I haven't used it in 100F+ temps though.
Best I can tell, Bigfoot only offers the 11,000 rather than a 9,000 BTU. All I have seen on dealer lots have the 11,000. Does anyone have a Bigfoot, or maybe Northern Lite, or heck anything, with a 9,000? How well does it work in 90F+ temps?
I also would like to use just 1 Honda 2000 generator for the 9,000 instead of 2 for the 11,000. Best I can tell, that "should" work.
Thanks for any info.
Truck Campers
  • BradW's avatar
    BradW
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2018
    That turned out to be the case. The smaller 9k pulled more running and locked rotor amps.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2018
    I think you are assuming too much.
    The factory BTU ratings have big tolerances, while the designs can be quite different.
    Meaning you will find occasionally that 12k AC will draw less current than 9k AC.
    Still remember when I bought new 15k Carrier for my motorhome 10 years ago and that thing was running with 8.6 amp at full blast.
    Than going small with AC can backfire on you.
    I think the AC on our Lace is 12k, yet last year staying in 125F weather it was not adequate.
  • anutami's avatar
    anutami
    Explorer III
    May 26, 2018
    My experience with the Coleman Mach 9k is that it does not work well with a Honda 2k genny at elevation nor in temps above 100 in the desert on hi. I am stuck with only low cool and does a sub par job at best.
  • Troutguy's avatar
    Troutguy
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    TxGearhead wrote:
    Great info Just what I needed.
    I guess Bigfoot has some reason for the 11,000 BTU unit. I agree with the cool down vs. humidity issue.
    If my A/C ever just hiccups, I'll go with the Cub 9,000.


    The 9000 btu unit actually costs more than the 11,000 and 13K units, when you price them at the retail level. Also the 9,000 is a low profile design. I’ve had the 9,000 for four years now and it’s been an excellent unit. For quite a few years the standard unit in a Lance was the 13.5 btu unit and I could never figure why you would need or want that large of an AC in a TC.
  • TxGearhead's avatar
    TxGearhead
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2018
    Great info Just what I needed.
    I guess Bigfoot has some reason for the 11,000 BTU unit. I agree with the cool down vs. humidity issue.
    If my A/C ever just hiccups, I'll go with the Cub 9,000.
  • bigfootgrey's avatar
    bigfootgrey
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    We have a Coleman Polar Cub 9000 BTU unit in our Bigfoot. It cools it fine in 90 degree temps. Honda 2000 powers it as well. We bought our camper used with no AC unit and installed the Coleman
    Bob
  • DWeikert's avatar
    DWeikert
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2018
    I have the Coleman Mach 8 Cub (9200 BTU) on my Northstar. I run it off a single Honda 2000. I do plan to add the Micro Air Easystart at some point as the initial startup makes the Honda groan a bit. But other than that I'm happy with the setup. The higher BTU units can cool down the air before it has a chance to pull down the humidity. That's not a problem with this setup. I've run it in near 100° temperatures and it kept the inside very comfortable.
  • Troutguy's avatar
    Troutguy
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    TX,
    I have the 9000 BTU AC in my 811, which has a Slideout, and it works very well. I wouldn’t hesitate to put one in an AF 1150 which is a big TC. I also power it with a Honda 2000 but I turn off the power converter when I start the AC. I don’t have a QuickStart capacitor either but may get one.
  • GeoBoy's avatar
    GeoBoy
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    I had a 9200 Coleman Mach installed on my AF990 instead of the 11,000 and it works fine. I wished I had known about the MicroAir, I would have kept the Coleman 11,000 and saved a few dollars.

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