Adding Second A/C to 50 Amp TT

[thegabrielles]

Hi All!! My family are getting back into the RV scene after getting away for a few years. We purchased a 2022 Cruiser Aire 28RKS. This is a 32'-9" trailer with one slide that runs the length of the Kitchen and living area. The camper came with a single Dometic A/C in the living room that is ducted. We have only been out a few times but one of our trips it was pretty warm with no shade trees. The A/C didn't keep up very well and it was especially warm in the Bedroom. The RV came prewired for 50Amp so adding a second AC shouldn't be too complicated... except finding one. The specs on the ceiling where the wiring is state: 110-125Volt, 60Hz, and here is my problem 16Amps Maximum. I am struggling to find an AC that will meet the 16Amp minimum (especially on start-up). I am looking to add heat to that AC as well. I would appreciate any advice or point me in the right direction.

2022 F150 Powerboost Platinum (purchased Nov 2022, ordered May 2022)
2022 Cruiser Aire 28RKS Purchased Aug 2022

[thegabrielles]

Thanks everyone for the great answers. I'll definitely look into the mod on my current AC and check the ductwork. Maybe if I can make that system more efficient I wont have to worry about adding an AC.

[spoon059]

GottaRunGottaCamp wrote:
here is a mod, that will improve your AC unit
clicky

OP, I have a 32' with a large slide and only 1 15K AC unit as well. We have always struggled in the hot humid summers to keep up with cooling. The AC would be on all the time in the summer at the lake without tree cover. We put reflectix in the windows to prevent as much heat coming in and we got the window screens on the outside to prevent heat as well. It was better, but the AC would still run all day long and it would be cooler, but never got to temp during the day.

Last spring I did this mod and it was an amazing difference. It was so effective that my FIL asked me to do his, and we camped with friends in Tennessee and they asked for help modding it too.

The AC is so horribly designed, you get plenty of cold air that dumps into that box, then loses air pressure and doesn't go into the ducts and ultimately cool off the camper. Putting in those channels isn't perfect, but greatly improves the airflow and reduces the turbulence and noise from the box that it used to dump air into.

When we were at the lake this past summer after the mod, I came in at one point and the AC was off. I thought one of the kids might have messed with it, but I looked and it had just cycled off because it had hit the set temp. I was amazed, the mod really helped!

That said, if you add a second AC, I would also recommend that you add the Soft Start capaciter to your existing and your new unit. They will really lower the startup draw of the AC unit. It puts a lot less stress on your wiring and your AC.

[deltabravo]

afidel wrote:
Before investing in a second AC I'd tear apart the ducts, look for missing tape, disconnected hose segments, etc.

Check things like this

A Second A/C is easy to install. Here's my installation project

[GottaRunGottaCa]

here is a mod, that will improve your AC unit
clicky

[afidel]

Before investing in a second AC I'd tear apart the ducts, look for missing tape, disconnected hose segments, etc. There's a very good chance your AC can keep things cool if it's properly installed, is just probably not installed correctly. A 20' cheap boroscope will allow you check to see if the vent is cut, kinked, or otherwise damaged.

In short you probably don't need to brute force your cooling with a second AC, you probably just need to use the cold your current AC can produce more efficiently by fixing the piss poor assembly job done at the RV factory.

[thegabrielles]

Thanks for the responses. This AC would not be ducted. The wiring is indeed there, I checked today. I only need a unit to keep the bedroom and bathroom cooled (or heated) in extreme temps. I think a smaller unit may be lighter as well. Hard to find ones with a heat pump though.
totally sure where that leg goes to in the Power Distribution. There would not normally be an issue unless I am using my truck to power it. The truck has a 7.2KW inverter built into it. Technically it works as two 3600 Watt generators. The more balanced the load the better chance I would have with the truck keeping up. I highly doubt there would be a need for that but another Hot weekend in Talladega and I may want it... but need, not really. Outside is where we want to be.

[ScottG]

All is good, you're just misinterpreting the requirements.
To make a long story short, any 13.5K BTU AC will work fine (or probably a 15K for that matter) and your rig should be prewired for it. You'll need to verify whether you wan't or need a ducted AC model.
I will have to respectfully disagree with my old friend Bud though. It is not imperative that the two AC's are on separate legs. With 50A (100A really) there's enough power to go around. Now if I was wiring it from the very beginning I would indeed "balance" the load but if yours is prewired, I would not worry about it. In fact, I think mine may be on the same leg but I don't remember.

[enblethen]

etrailer has one that is 11.2. Doesn't show startup.
Make sure you connect the second A/C unit on opposite leg of 50-amp connection.
In your post you say maximum in one place and minimum in another line!