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grizbear · 03-06-2015, 08:55 AM

I now have a 25ft 2004 with a 13500 btu A/C and it cools so well we never turn it to high. My wife and I are planning on going full time next yr and have been looking at the new 30 ft units the flying cloud comes standard with 1 15000 btu ducted A/C but most have been upgraded to 2 A/C's the classic comes with 2 A/C's 15000 and a 13500. I would like to know if anyone has used a single A/C in a 30ft unit and was it able to cool the camper. It seems that with the new ducted units it would be easier to cool using a single A/C.There are still many state campgrounds that only have 30 amp service so you could not run 2 A/C's anyway. I would like to have as much room as I can for solar panels. Any thoughts on the matter would be very helpful. Thanks to all. Rand

paiceman · 03-06-2015, 09:02 AM

We had a 2012 30' Flying Cloud, now have dual A/C 30' FC (don't ask). The single cooled ok, but in the sun, 90 degree weather it did not shut off until 11:30 at night and is very loud, it was running full out no stop for 16 hours and kept the unit comfortable.

A consideration is with two units you also get two heat pumps, we use ours a lot when the evening temp gets cool, not cold and do not use the furnace unless it gets cold outside. Heat pumps work very well for us.

grizbear · 03-07-2015, 05:32 PM

Thanks Alice and Bud that's about what I thought I just not sure I want to go to 50 amps and also have an A/C above the bed and loose room for solar panels. We plan on chasing 72 deg. but there are times we will be in areas where it will be warm to mildly hot. Thanks Rand

**jcanavera** · 03-07-2015, 05:38 PM

We upgraded to the 15K heat pump back in 2004 when we bought our 30' Classic slide out. At that time standard was the 13.5K unit. We've never had any issues with the single unit, finding that it has done a great job for us. If I lived further south where 100 degree weather was more frequent, I might have 2, but up to now I've very happy with the performance and ability of the 15K unit to keep us cool.

Jack

Beach Bum · 03-07-2015, 06:59 PM

We have a 30' FC 2014 w/ dual air. We have 4 135W solar panels and there is room for 2 additional 135's if needed. With out a 2nd AC you will lose some of that space anyway to the fan in the bedroom unless you delete it.

As others have posted 90+ degrees you need the 2nd to keep it cool. With ducted air that may not be the case.

There are two other advantages of a second AC:

We run the rear air mostly in the evenings so its much quieter when we are eat and relaxing on the couch at bed time its the reverse. We use the separate thermostats' to adjust where most of the noise will be.

The other advantage of having 50amp service is you can run many more of your electric toys with out poping the breaker. We run two small electric space heaters when its cold can still use microwave if we want to. In the summer if we only have one AC running we can still use most of our electric stuff. Not a necessity be sure is nice to have.

The only disadvantage for us was the loss of the fan in the bedroom. We do not mind the larger/heavier 50 Amp. shore power cable the trade off for more power is worth it. YMMV

We have no regrets and would get 2nd AC again. But we also live in Florida.

Benn

grizbear · 03-08-2015, 08:09 AM

Thanks all. If your limited to at 30 amp outlet at a park will the A/C's alternate so one is not over worked? Rand

graysailor · 03-08-2015, 12:17 PM

You would have to manually alternate the two AC's. It will not do it automatically.

switz · 03-08-2015, 12:28 PM

We have both air conditioners on a 31' 2014 Classic. Using the narrow 100 watt AM Solar panels, we were able to mount eight of them on the roof on both sides outboard of the air conditioners. If we give up on the television antenna, we could consider mounting a ninth unit on the roof. The ducted air conditioners have been reported to provide a quieter air flow. We reinstalled our Dometic units properly with the old style bases and the drumming sound disappeared when the units are running.

In the south or southwest, the second air conditioner would be considered a necessity with high humidity or high temperatures.

Better to have the option and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Schu · 03-08-2015, 01:04 PM

Your 2015 has ducted air so there is better distribution of the air and the ceiling is thicker so better separation of the exterior roof metal so it would be cooler than pre 2015.

Jim A · 03-08-2015, 02:36 PM

One or two AC units sort of depend on where you live and camp. In the Southwest for camping between about May and October, two units are almost a necessity unless you have a high heat tolerance. At 102F in the Sun, one unit will keep the inside at 90ish. An added benefit of the second unit is that if you watching TV in the front in the evening, you can turn off the AC in the TV area and use the AC in the bedroom area and actually hear the sound from the TV

Jack46 · 03-08-2015, 03:45 PM

We too have a 2011 FC with dual a/c. In our travels, we have not had to use both very much, but in those instances where we needed, we were glad we had both, if for no other reason to keep the single unit from running constantly.

grizbear · 03-09-2015, 06:30 AM

Thanks everyone will go with the two A/C's. We go full time mid 2016 want to use our present AS the first yr make a trip to Alaska would rather beat up this camper than a new unit. Will order new unit when we start the trip and maybe it will be ready when we return. Thanks all Rand

m.hony · 03-09-2015, 07:06 AM

In Alabama you need 2 a/c units to deal with 100 degrees and 100% humidity. Most Airstreams of that size are ordered by the dealers with 2 a/c units. My 2013 Classic 30 came with 2 a/c's. 2 a/c's is also a good idea if your wife is always hot and you're always cold- individual temperature control in different parts of the trailer-

Foiled Again · 03-09-2015, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grizbear

I now have a 25ft 2004 with a 13500 btu A/C and it cools so well we never turn it to high. My wife and I are planning on going full time next yr and have been looking at the new 30 ft units the flying cloud comes standard with 1 15000 btu ducted A/C but most have been upgraded to 2 A/C's the classic comes with 2 A/C's 15000 and a 13500. I would like to know if anyone has used a single A/C in a 30ft unit and was it able to cool the camper. It seems that with the new ducted units it would be easier to cool using a single A/C.There are still many state campgrounds that only have 30 amp service so you could not run 2 A/C's anyway. I would like to have as much room as I can for solar panels. Any thoughts on the matter would be very helpful. Thanks to all. Rand

It seems to me that we all sometimes forget that these are CAMPERS. Why try to get away from it all if we haul it all with us?

I see you are from Alabama so it makes some sense that you might need 2 air conditioners. You have a quandary though. If you want a big solar presence... it won't be optimized if you park in the shade; which is one way to minimize the need for 2 a/c units. I'd say the full awning package (and consider deleting those cheapa$$ skylights) could answer both problems. I don't know why, but 90% of the time, my big awning ends up on the NORTH side of the trailer - wish I had the short window awnings on the south side. If you ever sell, the full awning package seems to be a winner.

A cheap window unit can easily be put in a bedroom window for the one or two trips in hot humid weather. Several threads show how to mount them temporarily... and there's no reason you can't use a heavy duty extension cord to run directly from the 15 amp breaker to the a/c. Leaving the thing home during milder weather is just less weight to carry around.

At work, we have a roll around unit that requires a vent to the outside. Just for curiosity I measured that flexible vent pipe. It fits right into the ceiling vents for the shower & bathroom. It would be a PITA to have to move it in and out of the shower, but if I had a garage in addition to the A/S, it would be a handy thing to have there.

This weekend the winter freeze broke and Sunday it hit 72 degrees - I opened the windows and turned on both fantastic fans... and took a nap in the wonderful spring air. Still love A/C when it's 85+ but there's much to be said for fresh air instead.

This weekend I saw some poor moho owner fighting with a 50 amp cord. Woof - those things are HEAVY.

So as I see it - you gotta live with your choice - you choose. BUT, there are several very viable alternatives that can give you equal comfort when/if you need it.

Paula

m.hony · 03-09-2015, 06:45 PM

For us in Mississippi it is not one or two trips in the heat and humidity- it is 20-25 trips in the heat and humidity-

weirdstuff · 07-08-2017, 01:54 PM

I know this is an old thread. Hoping for some input on the same question though.

We're looking at a 2017 International Signature 28'. It only has one a/c.. We're assuming we can get a great deal on it, since it's a 2017, but we are questioning having only one a/c.

The salesman said he thinks we can add another smaller a/c unit, and still be under 30 amps. He thinks it can be added in place of one of the ceiling fans.

Anyone ever done this?

Not sure if we even want to do it, but would be nice to know that we have the option.

We avoid intentionally going places that are super hot and humid, however, sometimes it just happens!

weirdstuff · 07-08-2017, 01:57 PM

Just found this short discussion...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...er-153143.html

uncle_bob · 07-08-2017, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

I know this is an old thread. Hoping for some input on the same question though.

We're looking at a 2017 International Signature 28'. It only has one a/c.. We're assuming we can get a great deal on it, since it's a 2017, but we are questioning having only one a/c.

The salesman said he thinks we can add another smaller a/c unit, and still be under 30 amps. He thinks it can be added in place of one of the ceiling fans.

Anyone ever done this?

Not sure if we even want to do it, but would be nice to know that we have the option.

We avoid intentionally going places that are super hot and humid, however, sometimes it just happens!

Hi

You can add another AC one way or another. You can hook up to 30A service. Running both AC's on 30A? Not so much with normal AC units. Running both AC's (even tricked out) on 30A and a reasonable number of other things .... forget it.

The "two AC" trailers come with 50A plugs on them. The 30A setup is 30A at 110V. The 50A service is 220V split phase so you can use it as *two* 50A 110V circuits. Simply put, they bump up to almost 4X the power when they go to dual AC units.

Easy answer is to upgrade the power to a 50A feed when you do the AC add on. They will be pulling this and that and snaking wires in here and there anyway.

Bob

mayco · 07-08-2017, 02:13 PM

We have a 31' Classic Motorhome 310TD. I'm awfully glad we have two 13500 units. Camped in Colorado right now, weeks of 90 plus temps, one unit would not keep up. FWIW

uncle_bob · 07-08-2017, 02:39 PM

Hi

30' out in the sun / no shade / no awnings in the mid to high 90's, the 15,000 really will not keep up.(There is a video showing a demo trailer above 100F in the exact same conditions). Same temps, in the shade, the 13,500 + 15,000 combo is loafing when keeping things in the mid 70's. Shade (even from the awnings) can make a big difference. So can your expectations of how cool it should be. Once the sun went down, the 15,000 had no problem getting the trailer to the 70's quite quickly.

Bob