AC unit choice for AF 992

[claymcc]

Hi all -

We've got a new AF 992 order, with a build date sometime in late January, and I want to get a low-profile AC unit on it so that I hopefully will be able to get it into my 12' clearance garage. My current AF 811 is too high (due to the AC unit) by a couple of inches.

Our dealer checked with Northwood, and basically what they said is that I have 2 choices if I don't want the 11k btu standard unit:

•13.5K 47203A876 Mach 8

•9K 47201A876 Mach 8 Cub

(11K is not available in Low Pro)

Northwood said that Onan says that the 2.5 Gen will not run the 13.5 A/C, so if I choose to go that route they won't warranty it.

My dealer (in Wyoming) says "for years the 2500 Onan LP gen has run 13.5 BTU AC's for us. But a year ago Northwood was getting many complaints from dealers saying that for customers in high elevation the 2.5 Onan would not run the AC. We have never come across this but I guess its a thing."

I don't use the AC all that incredibly often, but I do have to head to the Gulf Coast in summer sometimes, and I spend many nights camping in rest areas in hot weather when I need the AC to be run by the genset. If I'm taking a trailer - which most often happens when I'm actually using the rig for camping - I'd have my EU3000 that would run the 13.5k with no issue, and is a lot quieter.

So if I need to run the AC in hot weather off the Onan, I'd most likely be at lower altitudes and on a road trip, and if I'm camping, I'll most likely be at higher altitudes and have the Honda anyway.

Would the 9k cool the camper just fine anyway, or would I be giving up something significant by downsizing to it? What would you folks do?

- Clay

[SoCalDesertRid1]

I had a 13.5K Btu AC in one of my campers. It was way way overkill for a truck camper. A 9200 should be plenty enough.

[KD4UPL]

My Onan 2.5 kW gen. runs my 13.5K AC unit just fine. It's more than enough in my 11' TC. For a 9' TC I would think the 9k BTU would work.

[okan-star]

The only other low profile is dometic penguin,11000btu but its higher amps I think

[Troutguy]

I have a Polar Cub 9200 in my A.F. 811 and I power it with a Honda 2000 genny up to 8200 ft. elev. The 9200 works perfectly and I wouldn't hesitate to use this same combo even in a A.F. 1150, if I owned one.

[Reddog1]

claymcc wrote:
... - the 992's bedroom is almost a separate room. For that reason I'm concerned that even with the 9k being normally sufficient, I'd have to freeze out the main room for the cabover to be cool enough. ...

Other than amp draw, I think the greatest difference you would see between the 11000 and the 9000 would be the time it takes to bring the TC temp down to temp. That might be splitting hairs. The A/C cools the air a little more each time it cycles through the A/C, until it is the temp set on the thermostat control.

I think the 9000 series is a great choice for a TC. I have had mine since 2004, and it has always cooled my TC. In the Dakotas, it was so hot I ran the A/C while I was on the road. It was cool in the TC when I stopped for the night.

The freezing in one area and too hot in another is simply air flow. A simple 12-volt fan (about $15) from Walmart will work great. I have one I sometimes use, to circulate air from the A/C or hearer. They have a very low amp draw, and plug into a cigarette receptacle.

Wayne

[kerry4951]

claymcc wrote:


True, the Onan is known to be noisy, but it sure will be convenient, and on road trips when staying in rest areas, the white noise can be an advantage. I wouldn't normally use it otherwise, I'd use the Honda.

I mounted my Onan legs on rubbers bushings, lined the genny compartment with "B" liner sound deadening material, and installed an Onan resonator on the muffler. I dont mind running our Onan at all. If I stop for a sandwich at a rest area and its 100 degrees out I sure dont want to be messing around with a portable genny just to get things cool inside.

[claymcc]

Thanks all -

The 11k unit in my 860 has been more than enough for me so far, but it's a fairly open floor plan - the 992's bedroom is almost a separate room. For that reason I'm concerned that even with the 9k being normally sufficient, I'd have to freeze out the main room for the cabover to be cool enough. Have any 992 owners had an issue with that?

True, the Onan is known to be noisy, but it sure will be convenient, and on road trips when staying in rest areas, the white noise can be an advantage. I wouldn't normally use it otherwise, I'd use the Honda.

[homefor2]

I have been following these threads on the AC and the generator that comes with the AF for quite awhile. Lots of people are not happy with the noise and big propane consumption of the Onan. I have chosen the Coleman Mach 8 and a Honda EU2000 generator for what I consider a great combination.

[Buzzcut1]

well just to chime in with a older version, the Polar Cub 9200 worked just fine on our late spring early summer desert trip. We had night time temps of over 110 and peak day time ones of 115 and running on a Honda 2000 we were comfortable in the high 60s inside my Lance 1055. On shore power in Vegas when it was 115 at night we had to turn the AC down to low as it was chilly inside. I was happy with it.

[CAJW]

Traveling to Phoenix and Redding, Ca last summer, with temps in both places at 118 & 120F, we stopped to make a sandwich in our AF996, fired up the 11K unit and the temperature inside was tolerable in about 10 minutes and decent in 20. I wouldn't be afraid of the 9K unit at all, especially if it meant that you could use the Onboard Onan to run it. Very convenient for quick stops like noted above and if you're not going to use it in extreme situations like we did, the 9K should be fine.

[dadwolf2]

Seems like a straight forward answer. According to your research only the 9200 unit will fit and that's really a priority to you. I would imagine that the 9200 would handle your cooling needs most of the time. So unless you plan on visiting Las Vegas or Phoenix during the summer I bet you'll be ok.

[kerry4951]

My 11,000 will freeze us out in our AF 1140. With the way AF TCs are insulated, I would not be afraid to try out the 9000 BTU A/C

[Super_Dave]

The 9200 btu unit will handle Wy. Summer temps. If you don't camp in temps higher than low 90's, I'd go with the 9,200.