Question about air conditioning while traveling....

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Question about air conditioning while traveling....

November 25, 2013, 07:29:25 pm

Hello all....I have a novice question about air conditioning in the coach while on the move traveling down the road. I am a person that doesn't like to be uncomfortable (i.e. hot) while driving. Do most of you find that using the chassis A/C is enough cooling to make it comfortable throughout the entire coach or do many of you have to supplement the chassis cooling by using the generator and the overhead A/C's to provide enough cool air? Thanks for any response.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #1 – November 25, 2013, 07:36:38 pm

We usually run genset and roof air rather than dash air. Seems to be more economical (fuel efficient) than running dash air. It also works better since we have passengers (the spaniels) belted in on the couch where the dash air doesn't reach.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #2 – November 25, 2013, 07:38:11 pm

We run the roof AC's also in hot weather.

Mark

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #3 – November 25, 2013, 07:50:34 pm

If dash A/C is enough, that is what we run. If not the generator/roof A/C comes on.

OR, we just drive during cooler hours if not on a schedule-- particularly try to avoid driving west on hot afternoons!

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #4 – November 25, 2013, 08:08:44 pm

We have added legal tint to the windshields on both of our coaches. It made an amazing difference in stopping the solar heat gain. It was our first step, then dash air worked so much better. But at some point, we just fire up the generator and add a roof air or two. The DW loves to be comfortable, it is very important.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #5 – November 25, 2013, 08:19:53 pm

Do not use air when travelling ,just open the driver window and small one by passenger. AC is bad for you, and yes we do drive when it is hot too. Do not use it here in summer and it can get to 40c plus at times. One good point is that it is like Arizona mostly here in summer--dry. Craig will agree I'm sure.
John H

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #6 – November 25, 2013, 09:41:17 pm

Before our coach moves an inch, the genny is running and the AC's are on! If I try just running the front one I catch hell.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #7 – November 25, 2013, 10:01:38 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – November 25, 2013, 08:19:53 pm

Do not use air when travelling ,just open the driver window and small one by passenger. AC is bad for you, and yes we do drive when it is hot too. Do not use it here in summer and it can get to 40c plus at times. One good point is that it is like Arizona mostly here in summer--dry. Craig will agree I'm sure.
John H

That may worth for you in Canada, but the climate is different for me in Southern California.

And by the way, a few years ago after I removed the side window tint from my cay, I asked the officer about legal window tinting. He told me that any aftermarket tint added to the windshield or front side windows is illegals in California.

As for the dash sit, we use it when it does the job. For the times when roof air is needed, we drive with the thermostat pre-set so all I need to do is start the generator and reach up and flip the on/off switch on the generator.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #8 – November 25, 2013, 10:23:02 pm

We run the genny with roof AC when needed

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #9 – November 25, 2013, 11:23:28 pm

We leave it off unless it is really hot. Sooner if the humidity is high. I like driving with the window open.

Pierce

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #10 – November 26, 2013, 06:38:00 am

If it is over 75 the roof airs and the genny are on. Much nicer to drive that way.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #11 – November 26, 2013, 08:45:22 am

WCTANNER, WE use the dash air til it gets into the high 90's and are comfortable. If the dash air is maintained and working right it will deliver a lot of cooling. My method is to turn on the overheads to precool the coach ans after we get rolling I turn them off, very seldom travel with roof airs on.
Gary B

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #12 – November 26, 2013, 08:58:15 am

I run the genset and roof A/C's all the time in the dead of winter...(when I'm exercising the coach)

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #13 – November 26, 2013, 09:27:28 am

Have never found a need for the Genset and roof A/C units while driving, the dash A/C does all we need while on the highway. Yes it does work great, rarely need max settings.
Dave M

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #14 – November 26, 2013, 09:42:21 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – November 25, 2013, 07:50:34 pm

If dash A/C is enough, that is what we run. If not the generator/roof A/C comes on.

That is what we do also.
We put a rod across the back of the chairs with a sliding curtain on those hot days and it helps keep all that dash air in the front of cabin.
We have no pets so we only need all that air right in front of us.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #15 – November 26, 2013, 10:28:49 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – November 25, 2013, 07:50:34 pm

If dash A/C is enough, that is what we run. If not the generator/roof A/C comes on.

Like many, that is what we do, too. The dash air is usually sufficient for us and Cosmo, the miniature schnauzer who rides in his crate when underway. If very warm, but still doing fine with dash A/C, we move the crate to the middle of the floor just behind us, so the dash air can benefit him, too.

If we do decide to run the roof air, we usually run only the front unit and close the door to the bathroom/rear section of the coach.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #16 – November 26, 2013, 12:07:19 pm

What Berry said - it helps to about 95.
When we must turn on gen for coach ac curtain stays closed the 4" gap allows the vent to blow additional ac to frlnt.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #17 – November 26, 2013, 12:32:29 pm

Welcome to the forum!

You can use either. If the dash air is enough use it. Turn on the genny if you need more cooling. On one trip I ran the genny and the roof air for 2 days.

Keith

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #18 – November 26, 2013, 02:07:19 pm

This is my big problem. I can't turn on and off the roof a/c from the driver's seat while driving. I was just leaving the front unit on and using the generator start/stop button but learned that this is hard on the automatic transfer switch trying to activate under a load. Was thinking about running wire to the unit to rig up a remote controlled breaker at the unit so I could disconnect power then turn on the generator then turn on power to the unit but haven't gotten around to it.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #19 – November 26, 2013, 03:36:12 pm

Once your roof AC is off, starting the generator won't put an immediate load on the switch as there is a minute or two delay before the compressor switches on. Using a watch, count the seconds from when the AC is switched on to the time it actually comes on. Your post above is one of the reasons the delay is built in. Each roof AC should have a different delay so both don't come on at the same time.

Pierce

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #20 – November 26, 2013, 04:19:01 pm

Pierce,

I agree with Dwayne . Either shutting off or starting the generator with a heavy load does speed the pitting of the contacts in the ATS. Better to start AND stop with no load.

Can you switch under load-- sure. But it will very likely shorten the life of the ATS. And is also doesn't give the generator as much warm up/cool down time.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #21 – November 26, 2013, 08:32:38 pm

When AC is needed we run the generator and both roof airs. We live in good old Florida hot and humid. I've owned my F/T for 9 years the dash AC didn't work when I got it, still doesn't. Had 4 SOB motor homes the dash air wasn't much on any of them.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #22 – November 26, 2013, 11:53:56 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – November 26, 2013, 04:19:01 pm

Pierce,

I agree with Dwayne . Either shutting off or starting the generator with a heavy load does speed the pitting of the contacts in the ATS. Better to start AND stop with no load.

Can you switch under load-- sure. But it will very likely shorten the life of the ATS. And is also doesn't give the generator as much warm up/cool down time.

Starting the generator after turning the roof AC(s) on should not see any load on the generator because of the built in delay. No more than if the generator was already running and you turned on the AC. It takes almost two minutes for one and three for the other to start drawing any current when you first turn them on. In other words, they are just sitting there silent.

If you were at the back of the coach, turned on the AC, walked forward and turned on the other AC and then got into the driver's seat and started the generator, there would be no current draw until the generator had been running for at least a minute.

Pierce

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #23 – November 27, 2013, 12:09:38 am

What I was doing was running generator awhile then turning on roof air...driving till temp was good...turning off the generator while driving and after it started getting warm...starting the generator with the roof air already on. I then started having a problem with the ATS (since replaced) and in fact still have an undiagnosed problem with the electrical system when on generator. I had a generator starter failure which once replaced eased the problem a bit but I still have it. Local Onan shop can't find anything wrong. About half of the time (instead of all the time) the second A/C unit being started kicks out the ATS. Then have to turn both units off and let delay expire when ATS will come back in and restore 110V to the coach. Then fire up both A/C units one at a time and hope for the best. The units were old so I replaced them with new power saver models which also helped a bit. I don't know if what I had been doing caused this problem but it sure looks that way. By the way...still don't like the new A/C units compared to the old ones as far as cooling and dehumidifying goes. I did confirm that the old units were power pigs...which led to replacing them but it wasn't the fix I was hoping for.

Re: Question about air conditioning while traveling....

Reply #24 – November 27, 2013, 12:26:06 am

I worked for nearly 60 years before we purchased our coach. I see no reason to be uncomfortable when traveling. Life is too short to put up with discomfort when it can be avoided. We use the generator and roof air whenever we feel the need. It works great. That is why it is there, and the benefit is well worth the extra fuel expense. Plus, there ain't nobody happy if the DW isn't happy.

I always start the generator and let it run for a minute or so before I energize the Air Conditioner.

Gary

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