How Many Watts Does a RV AC Use?

Camping within a camper when it is summer is really hot. You will not feel comfortable and cannot enjoy yourself. This is why it is necessary to know the amount of wattage that an RV AC unit employs. This is because an AC is vital in this condition if you want to have a wonderful experience, especially if you are trying to know how compatible your generator is for all requirements. 

How Many Watts Does a RV AC Use?

You need to know that the figures we will be presenting you with are average ones. The average air conditioning unit that is in an average size RV requires around 1,900 to 3,500 watts so as to startup. It employs between around 600 to 1,700 watts so as to run. 

Users should keep in mind that the startup amount will use the most power, and running the RV AC will be less. It may be around half as much as the startup power employment. 

When you are searching for an RV trailer, you should keep in mind the wattage employment for the AC unit.

When it comes to the AC unit, this is an appliance that uses a lot of power and some RV owners also regard this as one of the most important. 

When there is no air conditioner, you will see how hotter the RV can become inside especially when it is a really hot day. There is little insulation within. This is why you definitely need an air conditioner if you are in an area that experiences harsh summers. 

BTU’s and why they are important when it comes to AC unit’s wattage

If you are using air conditioners in an RV, you will probably have heard of BTUs. This is the British Thermal Unit. This is what is used to figure out how an air conditioning unit can cool a certain amount of area, moreover the amount of power that the air conditioner will take for cooling.

Electricity needs in an RV are important and this is why you should know how much the RV AC will require. You do not want to end up having any power out in the wild. 

Bigger RVs need more BTUs for the air conditioner to cool the area and allow it to remain cool. The more BTU that there is in some units, the more power this will employ. 

Let us present you with the amounts of BTU which certain air conditioners may employ, as well as the amount of wattage that they need to start plus run. 

If there are 15,000 BTUs, the start-up wattage for this will be 3,200 to 3,500 and the running wattage will be 1,200 to 1,700. This is for 700-800 square feet. 

If there are 13,500 BTUs, the start-up wattage will be 2,700 to 2,900 and the running wattage will be 1,000 to 1,300. This is for 500 square feet. 

If there are 10,000 BTUs, the start-up wattage will be 1,900 to 2,050 and the running wattage will be 600 to 750. This is for 450 square feet. 

If you have an idea of the figures you can choose which air conditioner will be able to fit your requirements based upon the size of the RV whilst knowing the wattage that is needed. People can get a rough idea from this and work from here to find the right one. 

You need to consider the point that generators are available in different sizes as well as wattage use, but size will not always matter when looking at the amount of wattage output that it has. 

You should first know how big the RV is. If you have a larger one, you will need to get something bigger whilst a smaller one will require something smaller for the motorhome. 

On top of this, you need to keep in mind how much wattage all the appliances you need will require. Know exactly what you will be employed at a single time, along with the air conditioner. Without this, you cannot know the right usage and which one to get. 

Power consumption of some RV electrical appliances

The additional appliances you will typically use, apart from the RV AC should be kept in mind as well. 

It is not a good idea to utilize all appliances at one time as this could lead to a breaker trip on the generator. 

The following presents you with the average power consumption when it comes to typical electrical appliances that are used.

If you are operating an RV roof-top AC that is 15,000 BTU, this will use about 2,000 watts for the running. One that is 13,500 BTU will use 1,500 watts for the running, and one that is 11,000 BTU will use about 1,010 watts for the running. 

A dehumidifier will use about 785 watts for running. A fan may be used sometimes rather than the AC. This depends on how the weather is. If you use a fan it will use 200 watts for running. 

A coffee maker uses 800 watts for running. A dorm-size refrigerator will employ 350 watts for running. 

Which AC unit to get for my RV?

You may just be figuring out which kind of AC unit to get for your particular RV. You can answer this by keeping the size of the RV in mind when you go to purchase an AC unit. It is important to not end up with an AC unit that has too few BTUs. This will negatively affect the cooling. The required one will be able to give excellent cooling. 

You also need to know where you wish to fit the RV AC into the camper. There are some models that you can select from. 

It is possible to get a rooftop air conditioner which does not take up much room. It can use a lot of power. 

There are portable ones made for an RV if you do not wish to employ so much power. 

You can get an in-window AC that is cost-effective but you will lose a window. But you can install this in any window. 

Tips to effectively use the RV AC

Turn on the AC when it is morning time prior to it getting really hot outside. This will cool the RV. The unit will not be working really hard to cool the inside when it becomes too hot. 

The filter of the AC should be clean if you want efficient cooling to occur. You can turn off the unit then pull the filter out. Next vacuum the filter or you can wash it using soap plus water. 

The doors, windows, as well as vents, must be closed at the time that you are operating the AC unit. 

Now that you know how many watts does a RV AC use, you can figure out how to effectively use power when you are on an exciting adventure in your RV. It is fun to camp in this when you have power. This is why you should use your appliances carefully knowing how much power they will use. You do not want to end up with no power when trying to enjoy yourself on an exciting adventure. Get the right size AC unit which will be perfect for your particular RV after keeping its size in mind.