Posted 2012-02-14 6:23 PM (#140968) Subject: . Air Conditioner
Member
Posts: 6
Location: Pecatonica Il
I have on order a three horse Elite with a 13ft. LQ and was wondering if a 15,000 BTU A/C would cool the trailer down and keep it cooler better than a 13,500 A/C.My current trailer has 12 ft. LQ and last year it was so hot the A/C was always running, would there be a noticeable difference? I will have a 4,000 generator, would this run a 15,000 A/C? Thanks for any input.
Posted 2012-02-14 8:47 PM (#140978 - in reply to #140968) Subject: RE: . Air Conditioner
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
Coming from my father in-law who is an HVAC installer, "You can never put too big of an A/C btu in an RV." We used to have a 10' LQ trailer that had a 13,500 btu in it, after 12 years I had to replace it so I installed a 15,000 btu, much better. As for the generator aspect, 4000 watts, is that continuous or surge. 4,000 watts = 33amp at 120v, which will run a 15,000 btu A/C just fine. Considering most LQ that size only have 30 amp service coming in. But if that's 4,000 watts surge, probably won't be enough to keep from under volt the A/C unit, which is a number one killer to the compressor.
Posted 2012-02-14 10:49 PM (#140991 - in reply to #140968) Subject: RE: . Air Conditioner
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Have the filters been removed and cleaned lately? The AC units can get pretty lethargic when the insides are dirty, and the fins are plugged on the condenser unit. Are you getting cold or just cool air from the vents? It's worth checking before you replace the old unit.
We have an unducted 13.5 unit in our 13' LQ, and it does fine even with three people and two dogs heating the place. A 4K gen shouldn't have a problem running a new 15K AC unit. My friend has a Yamaha 2800 (2500 continuous) and runs his AC with no problems.
Posted 2012-02-15 5:50 AM (#140992 - in reply to #140968) Subject: RE: . Air Conditioner
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
If it's an RV Onan generator, that's probably continuous load rating. They usually don't boast surge ratings like the portable generators do to make you think you're getting a better generator then you really are. Gards right about the cleaning. I clean our two or three times a year from all the dust build up. That being said, since you're in the build process, I'd still get the 15,000 btu over the 13,500. The price isn't that much more and worth it.
Posted 2012-02-15 6:41 AM (#140993 - in reply to #140968) Subject: RE: . Air Conditioner
Elite Veteran
Posts: 658 Location: Rayne, LA
If it's not a ducted model you will be fine. If it is a ducted model, you should read the installation manual to make sure the ducts are large enough and you have enough grills. Good Riding
. Air Conditioner
