Forum Discussion

silverbullet555's avatar
Jul 10, 2020

Adding an A/C

Good day,

a Dometic brisk air II a/c unit popped up locally for sale. It is supposedly brand new and a takeoff from a new travel trailer someone just bought.

It got me thinking, how hard would it be to add this to the camper to provide some cooling when we are in a location with power?

What potential challenges am I likely to face in the installation that will make this an issue?

I'm thinking I would need to get it for under $400 to make it worthwhile.
  • Lot of campers are prewired for AC, what makes the job easy.
    Check if your central roof opening is having Romex wires in it.
    Sometimes it is separate electric cover next to it, sometimes you have to pull inner shroud.
    Also check breaker panel for wire.
  • X2 lot of rv,s are pre wired, get your vin number and call them, or pull the vent apart and see it its pre wired. p.s payed $800. couple years back .
  • If it’s not pre-wired it’ll be a pain in the ____ and you’d have to get pretty creative to get wiring up into the ceiling and make sure you have a breaker slot available or install a separate breaker.
    I’m thinking surface mount the wire and cover with a trim strip.
    If pre wired, it’s a piece of cake. Remove vent, install AC, seal up the connection on the roof, attach the wiring and sit back n enjoy!
  • Kayteg1 wrote:
    Lot of campers are prewired for AC, what makes the job easy.
    Check if your central roof opening is having Romex wires in it.
    Sometimes it is separate electric cover next to it, sometimes you have to pull inner shroud.
    Also check breaker panel for wire.


    No prewire in the opening for the vent. That's a bummer. Breaker panel has 3 spots. Main, GFI and the third one has the refer and 110 RECP.
  • With lack of wire you can put new one in WIREMOLD
    Figuring out new breaker will requiring some more experience.
    Or you can tap into existing outlet, but then you will have to be very careful with power management.
  • Kayteg1 wrote:
    With lack of wire you can put new one in WIREMOLD
    Figuring out new breaker will requiring some more experience.
    Or you can tap into existing outlet, but then you will have to be very careful with power management.


    Well, I'm getting ready to pull the fridge and have considered changing the A/C panel anyway. If I can find a way to run the wire it might all line up.
  • There are also trim products (wood or plastic) with a wire channel. You can also use a router and roll your own.
  • Link to Dometic install pdf
    depending on model. Lighter than many units at ~75lbs it is also taller at about 13", but over all smaller foot print which is why I have one. Fit within available area. It works well though rarely use
    Not knowing structure on your '95 I'd get on the roof and check sag-constant load of 75#+ & bouncing 'could' be issue.
    At about 15 amp load I wouldn't share with refer. If you don't change panels possibly breaker style (brand) can be had in a tandem configuration to fit.
  • My factory AC operates at 6.3 amp.
    But with AC it is always about starting current.