For RV or motorhome owners, especially those wanting to travel to all different climates, it’s important to have the right equipment to remain comfortable no matter what the temperature. For that reason, not only do campers like to upgrade their RV with a furnace to keep them cosy in colder temperatures, but also with an air conditioning system to keep them cool when it’s hotter.
Can the RV AC Run on Propane and Can it Run All Day?
Can I get a propane fuelled air conditioning unit?
The refrigerator within an RV will generally run off propane, this leads people to wonder whether they could run their air conditioner off the propane also. It’s a natural assumption that perhaps it could work. Whilst there has previously been a model of propane fuelled air conditioning unit manufactured within the US, at present there are not any companies producing these units.
If you search online, you will find a great many articles discussing the theory of it. You may even manage to find a home unit to purchase second hand. However, it is doubtful that you would find one small enough to be practical in the space within an RV.
So that leaves us with the traditional model of an air conditioner unit that runs from 110-volt AC (alternating current) electricity. This is either from a mains supply if you are staying in an RV park, or from battery power or a generator.
Unfortunately, there are not many options for small air conditioning units that run from DC (direct current) power. That means it can be difficult to find a suitable unit that could run off solar or propane.
It is possible to get a small unit that runs off DC, but these are really very small and designed to cool down a small space such as the cab of a truck. This might be a sufficient for a small RV, but it is unlikely to be effective in a standard size unit.
It’s worth noting that technology is progressing all the time and small air conditioning units suitable for motorhomes or RV’s is a market that is ripe to be explored. With the surge in popularity of these vehicles in recent years, it’s surely only a matter of time before there’s a plethora of alternative products on the market.
Can the RV AC run all day?
Of course, it’s certainly possible to run your air conditioner unit on your RV all day. It’s just like your unit at home. However, there are some downsides to this which are worth giving some consideration to. One is how much power it will consume.
If you are staying at an RV park, then it’s worth checking whether electricity is included. If it is, then you’re good to go. If it’s not, then it’s worth only using the air conditioning when you really need it because it will consume a lot of electricity, and if you are paying by the unit this will land you with a large bill.
Similarly, if you are not in an RV park and have gone off grid, then it’s worth considering that you are most likely running your air conditioner from a generator. This will consume a large amount of fuel and could end up being very expensive .
Another thing to consider if the noise, the air conditioner in your RV is likely to be significantly louder than the one you have at home. In addition to the general disruption, because it is attached to a mobile vehicle rather than a fixed structure, it can also cause a bit of vibration throughout the RV which can become quite uncomfortable and annoying after a while. Not only that, but you will also need to consider the noise from the generator that is needed to run the unit.
It may be that for some people the noise is enough to warrant not using their unit, or they switch it off at night-time when it’s generally a little cooler anyway. Some may decide to only use their air conditioner when they are in an RV park or may even decide to stay away from hot climates. However, as already mentioned, it’s an evolving market and hopefully in time models and options will improve and the noise issues can be reduced greatly.