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Most generators can give your AC unit the energy it needs, just make sure you are checking the amount your AC units require for their BTU’s and how much your generator needs. If you were looking for a little bit of formula on how to calculate, here you go!

The bigger the RV or the more appliances you have, the more energy you will need or you’ll just have to get selective of when and how much you want to use each appliance.For a generator that you want it to run more than just a small AC unit, a 3200-watt generator could handle a larger AC unit and few more appliances. If you just want to cut throughout all the grey area and just play it safe. The 4000-watt generator covers even the largest RVs and lots of appliances.

If these are inverter generators try turning off the ‘eco mode’, the startup current draw of the air conditioner might be overwhelming the generator’s ability to ramp up in time to supply that rush of current needed. Another option is to add a ‘soft start’ device to the A/C unit, they’re about $300. In some cases turning on another appliance like the microwave will ramp them up enough to then power the A/C, but that’s hit & miss since you’re adding to the total load on the generators.

As the ancient Chinese proverb states, if we give you a little bit of background, the next time you make a purchase or need to calculate energy needs, you’ll be an old pro. Not that you’ll never have to work again if you follow the advice here, but it will save you a bunch of time and headaches.A safe generator size is about 2200 watts. This is a common kind and most people I have found, especially if you don’t use the AC a lot, this is a perfect fit for them. Usually, the pricing for these ranges from $430 to about $750 US dollars. Of course you will find a few outliers that can be under $300 or over $900, but for the most part that’s your price range.As a reference guide, if you want to do a little general estimation, below is a chart with common household appliances that you may be using. This is just to give you a general idea of what you could see. Sometimes 2200 watts doesn’t seem like a whole lot, however, it can go a long way.Because this site caters to a lot of different RV owners, whether you be a veteran who’s looking for an update or a newbie to the whole thing, we will be going over the logistics and background to generators.

What you can run with this type of generator would be with a 10,000 BTU AC, of course, the lights inside, a microwave or coffee maker. Smaller appliances like this can be run but it is suggested not to do it all at once.

Electricity is one of the most useful discoveries in this era and has been major the power source for advancing the human race for centuries not only in the medical and scientific realms, but also modern conveniences. That sphere of higher technological living isn’t limited especially when it comes to the realm of camping.

Watts, volts, and BTU’s oh my! It can get overwhelming. I’m not a mathematician or the worlds best electrician, but I can give a few pointers on the things that I have learned about all the air conditioner business.

These generators are most often portable, but they sure do pack a punch despite their size. You can get any sized generator you want to charge your phone, but AC units, since they are the energy guzzlers of the RV world, you’ll need something hefty.Hi there I’m full time living in a 2021 camper trailer about 25 feet and I live in ANN near the city of London Ontario Canada I really really require somebody’s property or industrial zone or something that I could plug into to get some power for the winter months I’m willing to pay more than I’m using in power I realize there’s no water in the winter time I bring my own in and everything else I can look after it’s just the power that I require I hope and pray somebody could get back to me my email is

A keynote, make sure that when you are buying a generator get one that is more than what is required to just get your AC running. If you don’t you won’t have any leftover energy to power your phone, microwave or other appliances.

In a nutshell, your generator works almost like a bank with an allotted amount of money or energy inside. Every time you run an appliance you take out a portion of the allotted energy you can use at a time.

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.

They don’t generate heat, but do heat up from absorbing sunlight. Keeping airflow below them will keep them cooler and therefore make them more efficient, especially on hot days. I wouldn’t seal all the way around for multiple reasons, I also wouldn’t use the butyl tape.It is pretty unfortunate that the AC uses a lot of the energy that one generator could use to power most of the RV. Especially in the summertime when we use our AC the most. Hopefully, you don’t have to choose between your morning coffee and the AC too often.My mom would always tell my siblings and me to turn off the lights in the rooms we weren’t in anymore. Saves heat and energy bills. Below are actually a few do’s and don’ts you can try to maximize your generators allocation of energy to the AC. Keeping at the very least a 200-400 watt buffer from how much energy is required from the start-up energy requirement will help you from experiencing an energy shortage. Now there are a lot of factors that contribute to the life and energy capacities for generators and AC units. This is just a general post of what to expect when you are choosing a generator. One thing that may be tricky is just to see how you can maximize the generator while catering to the needs of the rest of the RV. Overall, you have a lot of options in working around and with your AC unit. You will find that a lot of the generators on the market can be used for multiple types of AC units, as a lot of factors are involved, but with some careful research, you’ll be able to find the best one for you. This section will go over a few ways that you can be wise with the amount of wattage you have and use. It’s always good to be aware of the environment and to be frugal with our resources. The point of camping is enjoying nature, so here are a few ways you can do that.Let’s put some numbers behind that explanation. If I have a generator that can give 2000W (watts) and my air conditioner uses 1800 watts to start up and then running it needs about 650 watts, then I would have 1,350 watts left over to use for the rest of my appliances in the RV after it initially starts up.I was surprised that you wanted to seal the edges all the way around the solar panels. I would’ve thought you would want to have some airflow underneath the panels so they don’t generate too much heat. Isn’t that the general rule with electronics?

You’ll see that the common unit of measurement for AC units is BTU. This just stands for British Thermal Unit. It’s what air conditioner scientists use to identify the whole capacity of your AC unit. I’m just really glad they know how to do the math.

Some people have even asked, due to the significant amount of energy that is used by the AC if there are alternatives. In fact, there is an option that hasn’t been listed yet and that is using solar-powered items to support the energy consumption or even replace a generator.However, technology is best used to its full capacity when we understand it. Sometimes we get stuck on where to start and how to get it to work. When it comes to your RV’s air conditioning that is not exception. Nothing is worse than a hot trailer! So, what exactly is a good size for a generator to run the AC in your RV?

Air conditioners require a significant amount of energy to get started and to keep running. To power the average RV air conditioner, the generator needs to have at least a 2000- 4000-watt capacity.With all the choices that you have for the right generator, here is a quick line up of what to expect. On the low end, you’ll see generators that have 400-800 watt capacities. On the high end, you will see 3400- 4000-watt generators.

There is a little bit of math involved to know which generator is best for you, but for the most part, you’ll find that is really straight forward once a few terms are learned.Below is a link to not only a website but some really helpful videos about how to size your AC unit and the pros and cons of installing a solar panel on your RV. For AC units you can run them only at certain times during the day and not at full power. If you are aware of the times of day that you are mostly in your RV or when you like making breakfast, being aware of what appliances are on help save on energy. Although it’s nice to know that you to have such a range of options so, this post will aid you in giving you the ins and outs of how generators work. It will also help you figure out what sized generator will work best for you and your adventuring needs.The typical RV heater draws around 500 to 1500 watts of energy, depending on the size and model. That’s a lot of juice! To find out how much power your specific RV heater requires, check the label or manual that came with it. Larger RVs, such as motorhomes and fifth wheelers with a loft or slideouts, tend to carry 50 amp service. The most significant difference in these types of RVs is not only the amperage but also the wiring that provides two legs of service. By multiplying the 50 amps of service by the 120 voltage, you can determine a capability of 6,000 watts. But, because of the two legs of service, 50-amp RVs can handle up to 12,000 watts. Finally, look at the weight since that can impact portability. Some options are lightweight and compact but come at the cost of lower capacity, while others have higher capacity and diminished portability.

Anyone who has gone boondocking in a rural area knows there’s not always a power supply. Even campgrounds can have limited access, making shore power inconvenient and unreliable.When it comes to RV generators, bigger is not always better. You need enough power to run your appliances and charge your batteries. But you also need a generator that is powerful enough to run your devices without causing damage to them or the generator itself.

That said, when it comes to generators, you may only need enough power to run your essential appliances. For example, if all you want to do is keep some lights and a television on at night while you sleep in your camper, then a 2,000-4,000 watt generator may be adequate. A larger generator will be necessary if you run multiple appliances at once (like air conditioning and refrigeration) or operate other devices requiring more power.Built-in generators are different from portable generators in that they are wired into your RV’s electrical system. They generally use the RV’s batteries as a fuel source, although some models use propane or natural gas. They’re also typically quieter than portable fossil fuel generators.

For example, let’s say your laptop has a wattage power of 50W, and you use it for two hours a day. That would require a generator with at least 100Wh capacity to run your laptop.

Next, look at the recharge options. Some require you to fuel up, while others come with portable solar panels that let you take advantage of renewable, clean energy. Many generators also recharge using shore power and car adaptors.Portable generators come in all shapes and sizes. Some are designed specifically for RVs, while others are more versatile and work for off-grid camping and backpacking, home backup, and more. Some run on fuel, like the EcoFlow smart dual fuel generators, while others use solar energy.

A 50-amp RV requires an additional calculation because of the four-prong design. This type of plug has two volt wires, meaning it can provide more electricity.Generators for RVs come in two basic types: portable and built-in/stationary. Portable options provide additional backup power, while built-in generators often come pre-installed.

Recharge rates are also critical since you don’t want to get stuck at the campground recharging your generator for too long. The faster the recharge rate, the quicker you can get back on the road. With roof-mounted solar panels, you can even recharge when you’re on the move.

Remember that this is only the wattage for one device. You’ll need to find the sum in watt-hours for all your appliances and devices to figure out the electricity usage for your camper. You can use an appliance energy calculator to estimate the watt usage for your RV for a year.

The first thing you want to look at is the generator’s capacity. This is the amount of electricity it can produce at once. If your generator has a higher wattage rating than the appliances and lights you want to power, it should be able to handle them all together without any problems.However, you’d also want to leave room for the surge power and a bit more room to avoid draining the generator’s battery completely. A safe estimate here would be a generator with a portable power station with at least 200Wh. Something like the River portable power station would be suitable with 256Wh capacity.

Something like the DELTA Pro, which has a 3600W capacity, should be able to meet most of your needs. That’s enough to power your fridge, laundry machine, and other smaller devices.

As mentioned, amps refer to how much current flows through an electrical device like your generator. When it comes to RV power, 30 and 50-amp capacities are the most common types. Although the names imply a 20-amp difference between 30-amp RVs and 50-amp RVs, there’s more to it than that.

Choosing the right generator for your camper can be a tough decision. This guide should help you understand the significant factors in determining the right generator for your RV.

A 30-amp RV, like a travel trailer and fifth wheels, has only one 30-amp service leg that supplies power to appliances and outlets of 120-volts. In the formula above, that means multiplying amps by volts (in this case, 30 watts x 120 volts) to determine the wattage. One can figure out that a 30- amp RV can handle no more than 3,600 watts.But which one is right for you? Which size of generator do you need for a camper? Is there a generator powerful enough for a class-A motorhome? And where do you even start calculating your power needs?

The generator you need depends on your RV or camper size and energy consumption. A small pop-up camper may only need a 1500-watt generator, while larger RVs and motorhomes require more power. When it comes to generators and RVs, there are three main sizes:While some campers may need that much power, the average RVer will find a range of 6,000 to 8,000 watts sufficient to use essential appliances together comfortably. You can link multiple portable power stations to reach that capacity or save space by installing a Power Kit.

For RVs that don’t already come with a built-in generator, you can purchase modular Power Kits that integrate with your RV. These systems come in sizes ranging from 2kWh to 15kWh.Whether you need a portable generator for your camper or a permanent installation, knowing the power needs of your RV is required to choose the right one. Do your research before making a purchase, and don’t forget to consider the long-term costs of refuelling and maintenance for fossil fuel generators.

Most large RVs already have a built-in generator that you can turn on and off depending on how much power you need. Sizes of built-in RV generators vary but typically range from 3,000 to 12,000 watts. A built-in RV generator is a permanent installation and can provide backup power or directly power your RV.

Air conditioners require more electricity to run than any other equipment in an RV, about 1,200 to 2,400 watts. While most RVs can operate without air conditioning when temperatures aren’t too high outside (generally lower than 80°F), it’s always best practice to have some form of a cooling system in your rig just in case things get hot!Whether your camping trips take you near or far, you will want this single slide R-Pod travel trailer. The unique rear kitchen features extra counter space as well as a two-burner cooktop where you can whip up a snack or your meals. Enjoy family time at the U-shaped dinette, and at night you will be impressed with how easy it is to convert this area into a sleeping spot for the kids. This unit also includes an RV queen bed up front, a pantry, and a wardrobe. With a wet bath included, washing up after a long day is a snap.Princess Craft Campers is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. Any price listed excludes sales tax and registration fees. Manufacturer pictures, specifications, and features may be used in place of actual units on our lot. Please contact us @512-251-4536 for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.