In most cases, the only DC only items you might have would be the overhead lights. We tried it once but both shut off while driving. Not all 2000w portable generators can be run in parallel. Your Electrical system in your RV is designed for your generator to support all of your electrical equipment while you are camping at a site where there is no electrical hookup. When you are on the road on your RV trip, you might be worrying about food kept cold during your travels. So long as everything is in working order, it is fine to do so. You now know how to charge RV battery while driving. When I turn either a/c … When we get up in the morning, we immediately turn the furnace temperature up to around 63-64°. You can also use an … The generator starts and runs all of the coach except a/c units. Samurai Hoghead . TIP: One thing to remember… The drain on your RV battery will be extensive when operating on 12-volt DC. As these tools assist an individual in the appropriate method of charging the RV battery. This Enerdrive 12v Lithium Battery Setup will allow you to run your air conditioner and other heavy amp drawing 240v appliances without the need for a generator or mains power - making caravanning a lot more comfortable. Running furnace while driving - Ok? — William J. Dear William, Typically, to get the AC electricity produced by an on-board generator to power the RV, it requires one of two methods. It is easier to explain what it does not run, typically your 12 volt system will not run your a/c, TV, or any other 120 volt plug in items located in your trailer. Of course, I learned these things the hard way. Thanks for any input. I wanted to make a cell-phone call, so I put the windows up (for quiet) and turned the AC on. This runs the refrigerator fine but runs my battery down in less than an hour even when driving. Having said all that, a generator is not a necessity. If you’re thinking about running your 2-way fridge off of your inverter, that’s not always possible. This is especially true for fifth wheels and camper trailers which you can’t ride in while underway. The key to running your AC unit off of batteries is that the batteries will need plenty of power. The 12 volt system will run the blower on your furnace to allow you to heat your RV while you are off grid. You’ll need more gas. Answer: Yes, you can run your motorhome's generator when the engine is OFF. With your motorhome's AC unit, you can enjoy a relaxing day (or night) in your camper, sipping an ice-cold drink and congratulating yourself on your decision to buy an RV. Mel likes things quite a bit warmer than Stef and I do. RV batteries are what are called deep cycle batteries, they are specifically designed to hold plenty of power over a long period. You have to buy another generator (expensive!) Propane gas is … Personally, knowing the integrity of all my components, I’d probably choose to operate on the LP function most of the time while driving. And, if you want to enjoy the RV camping or a road trip, then knowing how to charge RV battery while driving, is essential. Now, you can take your motorhome, 5th-wheel, or travel trailer equipped with multiple air-conditioning units virtually anywhere and enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing, or just hanging around the campsite, knowing that when the day is done you can relax in the cool comfort of your rig, even on a 30-amp connection. Your refrigerator will run for 8 – 10 hours with the batteries on. So the battery will drain out quickly. Indeed, one must be equipped with all the necessities while driving in a recreational vehicle. It is possible to run your RV air conditioner off a battery but it may take two to get the power and longevity you need to cool your RV down. How long the AC unit will run for while on batteries would depend on its size and how many BTUs it produces. As mentioned, driving without a tachograph card is possible, but the situation comes with some rules … Fact or myth? I do it all the time. The air conditioner works wonderful when using the extension cord and running off my electrical power but it doesn’t work at all when the generator is on. Air Conditioner Settings: Though in the video you can see that the AC was set to a chilly 58 degrees when we turned it on, we didn’t leave it there. If your battery were to completely die, you could still run all of your appliances off of AC outlets with the exception of the DC only appliances. It is safe to drive RV while running the generator.However, if you are using propane as tour generator fuel, you have to check the local laws and ensure that they allow the use of propane while the RV is on the move. I don’t know about you, but personally, I’m not always comfortable letting propane run without someone who can monitor it safely. The breaker panel will hook up to all of your AC outlets while the battery will hookup to any DC appliances. If you have trouble getting cold air, check these culprits first. If you have a 40Amp DC to DC charger it will take about 3 hours of driving to compensate for charge lost from 1 hour of running your air conditioner. Lithium ion batteries are by far the best option for running such a high-draw appliance. Q: We have a 2008 Gulfstream 21-foot travel trailer with a two-way refrigerator. Just wondering if it works for anyone. You will need to recharge those batteries and it takes a while to recharge a big battery bank. Dear Car Talk | Apr 01, 2007. If you buy a large enough generator, you may even be able to run your air conditioner on your RV while charging. Gordy, My two cents. We have a 2015 37.1 Fuzion. A generator can not only charge your batteries, but will run some of your 110v accessories in addition to charging your travel trailer batteries if you are off grid (provided you have enough wattage in your generator). The Correct Way to Store RV Battery. This time is less for a long road trip. Keeping your air conditioner filters clean on the inside and the fins on the outside free of debri and wasp nests will also help to keep your the unit running efficiently and cold. I would like to run it when traveling, but I am not comfortable running the gas while driving. And it provides electricity in the event of a power outage at a campground or a roadside breakdown. Most RV refrigerators work on propane or 120 Volts AC. Important – the following does not constitute health advice, and official advice from the Government about travel and transport can change at any time. The cons of running parallel: Even though it’s an easy solution, it comes with many drawbacks. So we set the air conditioner for 75 degrees. ?While driving you would need to operate the refrigerator on propane (or AC if you keep your generator on). There are some 12 volt powered refrigerators but those are only common on smaller rigs or pop-ups. I am assuming the AC unit derives its power from a generator, rather than running of the engine's alternator. At the same time, you don’t want to be using your onboard or secondary generator while you are driving down the road. As long as the refrigerator is already cooled and the contents in the freezer already frozen, with properly sealing door gaskets, nothing will spoil or melt during the course of a normal day driving down the road. However, running with your propane on can be a dangerous act. Instead of 2000w of power, you’ll have 4000w – which is enough to run your RV air conditioner. Generator Overload. You can run RV refrigerators on batteries, but practically, it is not the best. They will have to know if your ability to work has been compromised or halted and you will also have to inform anyone else that your superior requires you to. A well maintained deep cycle battery can easily last in excess of 5 years. Obviously there are varying risks to running the unit on LP while driving and a noise/fuel factor for running the generator while going down the road. Is there a switch I must throw to get it to convert from extension cord to generator? But in our view, it is money well spent. The Lifetime of an RV Battery. All of your appliances on your RV run of a 12-volt system. Refrigerators with the 12-volt DC feature can be operated in this mode when driving — to conserve propane and avoid any danger that operating on propane may present while traveling. Lv 7. If you don’t have another source of power then everything will work of your RVs batteries. Question: I have an RV bus with an onan 7500 gen. They operate on propane and 110volt AC; 3 way refrigerator; these operate on propane, 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC; RV refrigerators work best when using propane but 3 way refrigerators can be run on 12volt Dc while driving. It’s usually a … When you are charging the battery at the time of driving, remember not to overcharge it. Dear Tom and Ray: On a recent cross-country trip (South Carolina to Nevada) with my boyfriend, we had an air-conditioning issue, which I'm hoping you can help us with. You can close the curtain between the you and the rest of the MH also, if you have one. 1 decade ago. A refrigerator requires lots of power. We also set the AC to the “Auto Cool” mode. It is a common concern as to whether you can drive with a fridge running or not. propane generator for rv Can You Run Generator in RV While Driving. It’s your RV, you can do whatever you want. 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