By Nanci Dixon
I recently had the opportunity to speak with techs from Coleman about RV rooftop air conditioners and heat pumps. They had some great suggestions to get the most out of these units.
SoftStartRV
SoftStartRV™ is mentioned a lot on RVtravel.com, and for good reason. Here’s why:
• Soft start systems slowly ramp up power to the compressor to allow using two A/C units with 30-amp shore power, small generator or even one A/C unit from a 20-amp household outlet.
• Manages the start-up power surge so that it doesn’t hit at once, but gradually, avoiding the huge power spike. Eliminates the “thud” when the compressor kicks in.
• After-market soft start systems can void the warranty so check with the manufacturer before installing.
Learn more about the amazing (and highly recommended) SoftStartRV here.
Keep it cool with an air conditioner
• Start early and turn on your A/C in the morning.
• Keep windows closed when humid. Opening windows, even when cool in the morning, can add humidity to the RV that the A/C needs to remove along with the heat. Humidity infiltrates everything – wood, clothes, furniture, even Styrofoam insulation!
• Don’t add heat or more humidity. Cook outside when possible and avoid adding more moisture when cooking inside.
• Point ceiling vents toward the walls. Think of the cool air hitting the walls and circling to the bottom of the room and back up.
• Rotate the vents away from the temp sensors if the RV is so equipped. Cool or warm air blowing on the sensor can provide false readings to the thermostat.
• The A/C times out for about three minutes if stopped and then restarted.
• Use a high fan setting to avoid A/C freeze-up.
• Use portable fans to rotate air through RV.
• Set A/C fan to ON when A/C is cycling on and off. This keeps the air moving through the RV even when A/C is off.
Warm up with a heat pump
Be ready when the chill finally descends again. If your unit has a heat pump, it is a great way to take the chill off without using up propane.
• Heat pumps don’t run when exterior temps are below 40 degrees or above 70 degrees.
• Heat pumps will turn on propane furnace if the thermostat setting is 5 degrees higher than the ambient temperature in the room.
• The condenser in the A/C/heat pump becomes an evaporator as the coolant literally circles in the coil in the opposite direction.
These few tips have really helped keep my motorhome cool in the summer’s heat and warm when the temps have dropped up north. Good luck, and stay cool!
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RVDT2704
I can’t speak for Coleman HPs, but our Dometic heat pumps will run below 40°F. The heat produced drops off dramatically though. At around 35°F mine still produce heat, but it is more luke warm than hot. Below that it’s not viable to run them, IMO.
I’ve had mine running at 34°F and still keeping the motorhome comfortable. Also a Dometic. l think the newer AC units are more efficient at low temps.
The ActiveStart soft start device is reasonably priced and has worked perfectly for me over hundreds of hours
In addition to adding a SoftStart to my Coleman AC I also added a RV Airflow to increase the air output. Before the RV Airflow installation I measured the airflow from my ceiling outlets at 8-9mph, using a handheld Anemometer. After the RV Airflow installation the airflow increased to 17-19mph! That alone saved me from having to add a second AC!
I can now run my AC using my 3500 Watt generator and stay cool in the Arizona heat. I highly recommend both products!
https://rvairflow.com/
And why don’t they just include the soft starts with the unit when it’s built? It’s like Henry Ford saying, “That model T will work better if you add some brakes to it!”
I agree, but it will eventually become irrelevant, as the new “inverter” air conditioners have variable-speed compressors that ramp up slowly by design.
I’m curious as to why adding a soft-start to the ac may void the warranty. I would think that it would be easier on the compressor and may help it last longer. Anybody have thoughts about that?
Coleman makes a soft starter for their A/C units. When I spoke with them, there was no mention of it voiding the warranty.
Glad to hear that. I think I’ll get them for my Dometics. They are out of warranty anyway.
Unless the thud bothers you I wouldn’t get soft starts. If your breakers are tripping that’s another matter. Remember Soft Start also makes a plug in module that’s also a whole house surge suppressor too and at almost 700 bucks it’s expensive but the convenience is nice.
Adding a SoftStart make a huge difference if you’re using a smaller generator.
…or running the A/C off battery power through an inverter.
We have an Ecoflow Solar Generator and the SoftStartRV does a tremendous job in reducing the power draw when AC starts.
The use of the fan in continuous mode is generally not as good idea as it increases the humidity in the interior space. When the compressor cycles off the blower will evaporate moisture from the indoor coil and reintroduce it to the living space, only to be recondensed when the compressor cycles back on.
Thank you for sharing the information and suggestions, Nanci! Have a great weekend and safe travels!