Generator To Power Rv Air Conditioner

Whether an rv generator will be able to run your rv air conditioner or not depends on how many watts it can output.

Generator to power rv air conditioner.

There are a lot of factors involved in what size generator will work best for you but for the most part you will be able to use your ac and other appliances even with a 2000 watt generator. To power the average rv air conditioner the generator needs to have at least a 2000 4000 watt capacity. Once it s up and running it will need 50 less power like 1500 watt running. Dear gary i have just borrowed a 29 foot motorhome to drive to a nascar race.

Air conditioners are extremely power hungry and will use a lot of gas to run. The air conditioner works wonderful when using the extension cord and running off my electrical power but it doesn t work at all when the generator is on. A portable generator won t normally run an rv air conditioner. 15 000 btu rv air conditioner 3 300 to 3 500 watts starting 1 500 running.

Some generators may be more efficient than others when it comes to operating at higher altitudes. A 15000 btu rv ac will need 3500 to start and 1800 running watts. To choose the right size generator you need to know the starting surge watts and running rated watts required by your rv s air conditioning unit. Power requirements will vary with the size and make of the air conditioner and rv.

These are based off of averages from different brands of rv air conditioners including built in ac units that come with certain rv brands. Take into account other 120 volt power draws within the rv such as the converter charger refrigerator etc. An rv that has 13500 btu air conditioner will need at least 3000 watts to start. Before you stop reading there are two solutions to make this work.

Every air conditioner is different but they all require a specific number of start up watts the initial burst when the unit is turned on. Our first rv was a 16 foot travel trailer with a small rooftop ac unit. So after your 3000w generator starts your 13 500 btu air conditioner which might run at 2000w you have around 600w to use on other items. So a 3000w generator might give you up to 3000w to start that air conditioner but for long term use might only be rated 2600w.

However with no modifications a portable generator won t be able to run an rv air conditioner.