Motorhomes have secured immense massive popularity over the past few years. They come with a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, allowing you to bring your home along on your journeys.
Additionally, you can have many electrical appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, in your RV. With such unparalleled comfort, it is little wonder they are so popular among travelers.
Having said that, an air conditioner is an essential part of any RV. Gone are the days when it was considered a luxury. With ever-increasing global warming, AC has become more important than ever before.
It keeps the temperature inside your RV nice and cool while offering several other benefits as well.
But where do you get the electricity to run AC? A generator is often used to supply electric power to all the appliances. No doubt, it is a preferred option for many RVers. However, its downside is that it makes a lot of noise, even on expensive models.
So, is there any way you can run an AC in your RV without a generator? If yes, what are the alternative options? Today, we will tell you three ways you can run AC in your RV without a generator. Let’s delve deeper without any further ado!
How to Run RV AC Without Generator
As it turns out, there are many ways you can use AC in your RV without a generator.
1. Additional Batteries
Using batteries is the first way to use RV AC without a generator. Batteries are the main source of power in RVs. RVs nowadays come with in-built batteries that are powerful enough to last you a few days.
However, an air conditioner unit requires a lot of electricity to function. So, it is only a matter of a few minutes before the air conditioner kills them.
The most viable option in this situation is to install additional batteries. If you have enough high-end batteries, you can surely use an air conditioner in your RV without a generator. In addition to the batteries, you will also need an inverter for this purpose.
Apart from that, purchasing a soft start kit is also recommended to improve your air conditioner’s energy efficiency.
It’s no secret that an AC takes a high amount of current to start the compressor. Of course, you’d want to save the power since you are running the air conditioner on the batteries only. So, this is where a soft start kit can help you.
But the main question is, how long can you run an air conditioner on the batteries? Well, it depends on the number of batteries you use and the air conditioner size in your RV.
You will need to have lots of batteries to power an air conditioner. A 100 Ah battery will run a traditional RV AC unit for hardly half an hour, which won’t help you on a sunny day.
However, if you install eight 100 Ah batteries, you can surely use the air conditioner for longer. Approximately, they will keep your AC running for four hours, which would be enough to survive a hot day.
As you can see, you’d be on your wits’ end trying to power a traditional AC unit with a battery. So, it would be better to opt for a more energy-efficient rooftop AC or a 12V one if you are to use batteries.
This way, you will be able to keep them running for longer. Furthermore, you won’t even need to use an inverter in the case of a 12V AC.
And yes, it would be better to buy lithium batteries as they are more powerful than their lead-acid counterparts. If you use lead-acid batteries, you’d need more batteries to power the same 12V AC.
Having said that, it is pertinent to mention that running an air conditioner on batteries could be expensive since you’d be using multiple batteries. A 100 Ah battery costs around $1000 per battery, so you’ll be shelling an awful lot of money to power your AC for long.
So, if the budget is the decisive factor, know that opting for a generator would be more cost-efficient. Moreover, you will have to go through a lot of hassle to install additional batteries.
If you do not have enough time and knowledge, seeking professional help would be a better option. However, if you have DIY skills and want to install the batteries on your own, make sure they have the same amount of power before connecting them.
2. Solar Panels
Solar panels can also be used to power various electrical appliances in your motorhome, including an air conditioner. These panels receive energy from the sun in the form of sunlight and convert that energy into electrical energy to power your RV.
Solar panels charge up the batteries in your vehicle using sunlight. Alternatively, you can even use them as a direct power source.
However, they may not be powerful enough to keep your AC going, so pairing them up with your batteries would be a good idea.
Using solar panels is an option only if you have enough space on top. If you own a mini motorhome, it will likely not have enough space to operate an air conditioner sustainably.
An average air conditioner unit continuously consumes around 1300 to 1500 watts when its compressor is running. So, you will need about 2000 watts of solar panels installed on your RV to generate sufficient electricity.
And, of course, mini RV models won’t have space to fit that many solar panels. Also, it is advised not to run any other appliance if your air conditioner is running on solar panels or batteries.
Otherwise, they will also draw energy from batteries or solar panels, and you won’t be able to run AC for a long time.
Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to install solar panels on your RV anyway. First, they will require sunlight to generate electricity.
So, they would be a viable option only if your area receives a lot of sunlight. Furthermore, they won’t produce electricity if you run out of power at night.
The good thing about solar panels is that they are readily available all over the world. In addition to that, they require little to no maintenance. Cleaning them once in a while will keep them in tip-top condition. However, you will need to reach out to a professional to install them.
3. Direct Power Source
A direct power source is another option to run an air conditioner in your RV without using a generator. However, you will need an inverter to convert the current from a direct source.
Once you have converted it, the power can be used to run appliances or even charge your batteries.
The Bottom Line
Many users wonder if they can run an air conditioner in an RV without using a generator. Although it is possible, it is not financially viable. This is because ACs draw a lot of electricity, and you will need a multitude of batteries to generate enough power.
Solar panels are another option, but your motorhome may not have enough space to install that many panels.
