Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Jessica Lauren Vine
When it’s blistering hot, you don’t want to leave your air conditioning to chance. Having the best generator for RV air conditioner needs is a must.
Just because you go to an RV park with hookups doesn’t mean everything will go smoothly. You never know when their electricity will go down or when you will have some other problem.
While we were out camping in New York once, it was so hot and miserable, and everyone had electricity except for one row of very unhappy people—which happened to include us. However, we had a generator, so we chilled out pretty quickly.
Continue reading this article to learn about the best generator for RV air conditioner running.
My Pick for Best Generator for RV Air Conditioner
This generator saved us from burning due to lack of air conditioning or not being able to cook quite a few times. Works great.
- Nice run time
- Dual-fuel
- Great brand name
- Lightweight enough for the watts
- Parallel capable
- Not totally budget-friendly
You don’t have to wait until the end of the article to learn about which generator I think is best for powering your RV air conditioner. Enjoy.
We had been camping for a while before we sprung for this Champion 3,400 watt dual fuel generator. I think we paid a little bit less than $2,000 for it when we bought it, and it was worth every penny.
I’d never used a generator before but I did know we wanted an inverter generator so we could plug stuff into it and so it wouldn’t be so loud while it was powering us.
The electric start made a big difference because I’m weak and don’t do very well with the pull string. My husband can do it, but he’s got body aches from the military so it’s best he doesn’t.
This Champion generator is pretty quiet at only 59 dB and we can have a conversation without having to yell even if it’s only a couple of feet away. That makes it nice when you need to use it and you’re hanging out with friends.
This generator comes with a 3-year limited warranty and lifetime support from experts if you do have any technical problems with it.
How Much Power Does It Take a Generator to Run an RV Air Conditioner?
Most RVers would agree with me when I say that being able to run the air conditioner in their RV is probably the most important thing they want. You can’t enjoy anything if you feel like you’re melting. This is why it’s key to find the best generator for RV air conditioner.
RV air conditioners do take a lot of power, so you will need plenty of juice to keep them running.
The average RV generator takes anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 watts to get going and to keep you and your crew cool. Keep in mind that some RVs have more than one air conditioner, so you might need even more power than that.
Can You Reduce the Starting Watts on an RV Air Conditioner?
I didn’t even know that “starting watts” was a thing or that it was important, so don’t feel bad if you didn’t know what it was, so I was right there with you not too long ago. Basically, the starting watts are the surge that it takes to get the air conditioner going.
If you know what it is then you might have worries that the initial starting surge might push your rig’s electrical system limits. The best thing you can do is install a soft starter.
This air conditioner soft start working with your generator and allows your air conditioners to start with less power.
- 6 Ton Compressor
This works by connecting directly to your AC compressor and controlling the power supply. There won’t be a massive spike, but instead, you’ll notice the device slowly increases power to the unit until it’s ready to get going. This means you’ll experience a much lower starting peak.
Can You Run an RV Air Conditioner on 30 Amps?
If you are careful, you can often run an RV air conditioner on 30 amps. Keep in mind that you might trip a breaker if you have too much other stuff on since the starting watt need can use up a good percentage of your total available amps.
When it starts going normally, it won’t take as much, but you have to get past the initial jolt unless you’re using a soft start like we spoke about earlier.
What to Look for When Buying a Generator for Your RV Air Conditioner
The main things you need to think about when you’re buying and looking for the best generator for RV air conditioner:
- Watts
- Fuel efficiency
- Ability to tote it around
- How loud it is
- Type of fuel it uses
- How much money it costs
When you put together your budget, you might go a little too low if you don’t check out some of the prices. Generators are in high demand, so they are a little more money than you might expect, so take a look around before you set your budget.
When it comes to watts, keep in mind that it’s better to have more than you need than be sitting at your campsite wishing your generator could power your RV air conditioner.
We also like the dual fuel option, so we can always have fuel – even when one type or the other isn’t easily accessible.
You should also make sure you can get the generator in and out of your vehicle when it’s time to use it. Having a generator with a wheel kit can be a back saver.
When you aren’t sure how many watts you need, check out this calculator to make your life easier.
More Options for Best Generator for RV Air Conditioners
If you don’t want to go with the one above, then check out these other great options.
- 1600 Running Watts
- 2000 Starting Watts
- Gas Powered
- Super quiet
- Well-known name brand
- Easy-to-read fuel gauge
- Fuel line on and off ability
- Only gas powered
One of the big things this generator has going for it is the name brand of Yamaha. It’s a great company, and they stand behind their products.
People know the engines they make will stand up to a lot, and you want reliable power when you need air conditioning in your RV.
The Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is another quiet option, and at 25% load, it only puts out 51 dB and could even be quieter depending on how far away you are. That’s pretty quiet for a generator and won’t make you feel like it’s trying to take over the conversation.
You can get about 10 hours of run-time from this generator if you’ve only got it at 50% load. If you’re running the RV air conditioning on it then you might get a little less time before you need to refuel.
- 1800 Rated & 2200 Peak Watts
- Gas Powered
- CARB Compliant
- Super quiet
- Budget-friendly
- Starts right away
- Sometimes has issues out of the box
This Westinghouse iGen2200 is another generator that has a powerful brand name behind it. They have around 100 years of experience making electric equipment and lots of happy customers throughout that time.
It’s as quiet as a mouse at 52dB at 25% and still gives you a good bit of power for your money. You may only be able to run your small RV air conditioner off of this one since it only has 1,800 running watts.
The fuel efficiency on this model is good and can last for around 12 hours on 1.2 gallons the tank holds if you aren’t maxing it out. When running your RV air conditioner, it’s likely you’ll have less time.
If you want to charge your camera or smartphone, the Westinghouse iGen2200 generator has two 5V USB ports which make it easy to get a charge.
The low oil warning feature will save your generator by automatically making it shut down when the oil is too low and there could be engine damage.
- 3500 Watt
- Portable
- Inverter Generator
- Helpful display
- Multiple outlets
- Lightweight
- No wheels
- Big price tag
The Generac 7127 iQ3500 is a little on the pricier side of things, but it gets the job done. If you want to run your RV air conditioner, you can run it without worrying about power since it runs at 3,500 watts.
It has three operation settings which are start, run, and stop, so it’s easy to operate. Another thing that makes it easy to use is the carrying handle, so you can easily get it from one place to another.
The electric start takes out the need to pull the string as well. Sometimes it’s really hard to get the pull string to do what you want it to, and can take a while to get power going for the AC.
This generator’s LCD display lets you see the wattage, fuel level, controls, and run time, which makes it easy for you to plan.
Best Generator for RV Air Conditioner Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my air conditioner work better so it doesn’t have to pull so much power from my generator?
If it’s cooler outside your RV than inside your RV and your air conditioner has the option, let it pull air from outside while running.
How many watts does an RV air conditioner take to run?
The average RV air conditioner takes about 600 – 1,300 watts to run but keep in mind that it needs around anywhere from 1,900 to 3,500 to start up.
Best Generator for RV Air Conditioner – What to Do Next
Now that you have information about the best generator for RV air conditioner needs, it’s time to choose which one is the best for you. You already know that I recommend using the Champion 3,400 watt, but you’ve got to make the right decision for yourself.
This generator saved us from burning due to lack of air conditioning or not being able to cook quite a few times. Works great.
- Nice run time
- Dual-fuel
- Great brand name
- Lightweight enough for the watts
- Parallel capable
- Not totally budget-friendly
When Jessica was older and had a family, she took her crew on the road for 2.5 years. They lived in 2 different RVs during that time. One 18 foot long and one 28 foot long. Both pull-behind RVs.
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