Can RV Air Conditioner Run Continuously? Is It Good?
RVs are not just a simple camper, but a well-built home, on the move. Take it anywhere and park in an RV parking or in the wild, and you have everything inside it, just like your home.
A well-furnished kitchen, refrigerator, toilet and shower, and obviously the bedroom. Best of all, there is heating and air conditioning. Which you get to use 24/7, nonstop.
This is where you get a bit concerned. Can a Rv air conditioner run continuously? Just like home? It’s an RV, so will it get worn out due to running all the time?
The answer to all of these is, you can keep the air conditioner running all the time without any problem. But there are a few things we need to address before you run off all happy.
Continuously Running RV Air Conditioner | Things To Keep In Mind
The one thing any electrical appliance needs is power. And an air conditioner? A lot of it. Regular RVs with a single air conditioner consume 15 amps give or take.
When it comes to keeping the appliance on all day and night, you can do that if you are parked in an RV park. This is because you get to pay a one-time fee and can use the shore connection all you want. Most of the time, these lines give out 30 amps of output. Which is fine for a single AC Class B RV.
But for a Class A RV which has more room, appliances, and a twin AC setup, you have to hook it up to a 50 amp shoreline.
You can keep the air conditioner running and have an ambient temperature all over the RV. As it will be running for a considerable amount of time, it won’t work as hard when it has to start and cool a hot atmosphere.
Also, you will be greeted with a cool indoor environment whenever you come from the outside.
So the only thing you need is a shore line to keep the air conditioner running.
Running The RV AC Without The Shore Line
While you get to run the AC continuously from the shore line on an RV park, what about on the road? In the wild?
You can definitely keep it running without the shore line. But as air conditioners are power-hungry appliances, they require more than solar panels and batteries to operate. So a generator will do the trick.
With a couple of gallons per hour, you can keep the AC running all day and night. If you plan on using your RV’s built-in generator, make sure your vehicle fuel tank is full. Because the generator draws fuel from it. And you don’t want to get stranded because you kept the AC running.
The Downside Of Keeping The Air Conditioner On In An RV Running
There are two main problems with keeping an RV air conditioner run all the time the power consumption and the wearing off of the air conditioner parts.
If you are hooked with a shore line, you don’t have to worry about fuel consumption. You pay a fee and be on your way. But while running your generator, you are basically burning your money. So turning it off from time to time when you leave the RV would be the best action.
Another thing to consider is the parts of the AC getting worn off. As we know everything that vibrates constantly is slowly breaking down, the fan, vent, compressor and other AC parts will get overused. And in time, you might need to replace some of them. So keeping it running will wear it off.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
How long can you run RV air conditioner?
You can run an RV air conditioner 24/7 on both shore line and generator. But running it on a generator in the wild will cost you more for fuel than running it on shore line.
Is it OK to run AC nonstop?
Yes. It is perfectly OK to run AC nonstop. But make sure that the vents are clean and the fan is in pristine condition. Or you will cause the AC to overwork and heat.
Is it better for AC to run constantly or cycle?
Running an AC constantly won’t cause you any harm. As the air conditioner comes with a compressor and thermometer, it will cycle on its own for 15-20 minutes when the temperature is reached. But if you want to save up on energy, fuel, and bills, you can turn it off when you leave your RV.
Conclusion
So if we were to suggest, we would go with running your RV air conditioner continuously on shore line. But while on a fuel generator or battery, the best action is to turn it off when you are not in the RV. And always make sure you clean and maintain your AC to avoid any inconvenience.
