Can I Add Second AC Unit To Bedroom Of RV For When Off-Grid And Don't Need To Cool The Whole RV?  

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Expert Reply:

Good morning Yasmin, yes a 13,500 Btu unit can make a lot of sense for a bedroom second AC, especially if that room is smaller and you do not need the same capacity as the main living area. I’d look at the Coleman-Mach Signature Mach 3 # CM97RR. If the bedroom is ductless, pair it with # CM46RR. If it ties into ceiling ducts, use # CM36RR. I’m assuming it’s non-ducted and doesn’t have ceiling vents in that prepped AC spot. If it’s not prepped at all and you’re cutting a new hole in the ceiling, you’ll want the non-ducted air distribution box # CM46RR.

You can also add the Coleman-Mach heater kit # CM96RR if you want light electric heat in the bedroom. It’s not a furnace replacement, but it can take the chill out of that smaller space on cool mornings.

Running just that smaller bedroom AC from an inverter can work if your inverter, wiring, and battery bank are sized for it, but I would still treat it as short-term cooling rather than an all-night guarantee. The # CM97RR has a listed cooling draw of 12.8 amps, so once you convert that 120V load back to battery power through an inverter, it can drain a battery bank pretty quickly. Depending on your battery capacity and heat load, you may only get a few good hours before needing to recharge.

If inverter use is the goal, I’d also consider a soft start like # SSR54FR to help with compressor startup surge. Is your bedroom already prepped with its own AC opening and wiring, Yasmin, and what size inverter and battery bank are you planning to use?

expert reply by: Andrew N

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