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03-08-2020, 01:42 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Arizona
Posts: 10
THOR #12602
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Is a 2nd AC for FE24
Last Summer was brutal during our visit to Superior, NE. I do not plan on such a terrible experience ever happening again if preventable. My thought is a 2nd AC mounted in the rear vent. Has anyone done it or am I just delusional thinking it should be relatively easy and inexpensive (outside of the AC cost)?
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03-08-2020, 01:49 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
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What is your current AC, a 13.5 or 15K BTU unit? If 13.5 have you thought about upgrading to a 15K?
Adding a second unit may present an issue in the power system. I imagine you are currently on a 30 amp system and not 50 amp.
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Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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03-08-2020, 01:57 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2018 24.1 AXISSIXxSIX
State: Arizona
Posts: 6,759
THOR #13932
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It's very easy.
Lots of. YouTube videos showing exactly how.
I wouldn't hesitate to add one.
We chose lots of insulation and it seems to be paying off.
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03-08-2020, 02:25 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Citation
State: Texas
Posts: 920
THOR #8139
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Check this forum thread.
It's long but worth the time.
I've done most of the ac upgrades in the link, with a big improvement in the temperature and amount of air coming out of the vents .
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f2...ice-12980.html
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03-08-2020, 03:23 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,116
THOR #7035
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Piece of cake. Pull the vent out, put a 13.5 K BTU unit with manual controls and a separate power cord just for that unit and you're golden.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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03-08-2020, 06:24 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Renegade Valencia 38RB
State: California
Posts: 3,496
THOR #3156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
Piece of cake. Pull the vent out, put a 13.5 K BTU unit with manual controls and a separate power cord just for that unit and you're golden.
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Yep that's what did. separate power cord (I use a 30 amp cord) then use a 30;30 to 50 dog bone adapter to hook to the pedestal
Jerry
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03-08-2020, 12:48 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 30FE
State: Mississippi
Posts: 25
THOR #14190
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We have a 30FE and know exactly what your talking about. Second A/C is at the top of my list. As you say last year was brutal a few times with only one A/C that could not keep up. I’ve watched several videos and looks rather simple to do.
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03-08-2020, 04:06 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2018 24.1 AXISSIXxSIX
State: Arizona
Posts: 6,759
THOR #13932
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My v10 uses
.55 gallons an hour on idle.
When you were having your miserable time in the rv did you run your dash air along with the overhead ac?
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03-08-2020, 04:25 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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What most stated above is simple as long as you don’t need to power both A/Cs from existing 4,000-Watt generator. If so, your decision/design gets a bit more complicated and a little more expensive.
If running second A/C only on shore power, then it’s much easier.
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03-08-2020, 05:01 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Sunstar 29VE Winnebago
State: Texas
Posts: 5,584
THOR #13058
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cap10Jack
Last Summer was brutal during our visit to Superior, NE. I do not plan on such a terrible experience ever happening again if preventable. My thought is a 2nd AC mounted in the rear vent. Has anyone done it or am I just delusional thinking it should be relatively easy and inexpensive (outside of the AC cost)?
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I don't own a 24 or Thor, but assuming you love your coach; I would upgrade to 2nd AC without ANY 2nd thought or hesitation. Think of this way, the sooner you do, the sooner you can start to reap the returns. Even if done professionally, the cost is not that much different than adding a new condenser unit to your house, maybe cheaper.
I do think you have one angle or concern to understand. When you were in Nebraska and overwhelmed by the heat, were you in position to run shore power? If so, don't be too concerned with not being able to run both units with the generator. That's the ideal but even though we have two ACs. I can't think of when we needed to run both AC's off the generator? I am in Texas, we bought a unit that comes with 2 and we use them both all of the time when on shore power. When we only need one, we alternate for a unit to run opposite of where we are at. They are both wired to same ducting. If we have guests we run both and close vents in bedroom to make it even colder in front for door to be opened and closed with greater frequency.
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2019 Sunstar 29ve; Toad Lincoln Navigator; RVi Brake 3 & Command Center; Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow bar & Baseplate; Sumo Springs; Safe T Plus; Onan EC-30 AGS; Vmax 250ah AGM; T-Mobile Internet; H/W Heater / Chassis Disconnect Switches; Southwire Surge Guard 44270 & 34951 w/Monitor 40301; Jet Flo Macerator; Alpine SPE500 Speakers; Visio M21D-H8R
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03-08-2020, 09:03 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 29fe
State: Florida
Posts: 700
THOR #4656
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I wired the bedroom for a second a/c. In removing the rear inside trim from the roof vent, there were two 12v wires there presumably for a fan. I used the 12v wires to pull #12 romax through the ceiling to a closet. Continuing the routing in a floor channel to a box in which I placed a push button 20amp breaker. From there to a 20 amp service plug on the exterior.
Next I had a good rv dealer install the non-ducted 13,500 btu a/c. They removed the roof vent set the a/c in place and did the final connection and tested it. Their installed cost was about $75 more than I could buy the same a/c from Amazon. A no brainer at that point.
It's a meat locker in 90deg. full sun beach camping. Just do it and stop messing with cheep half fast fixes. Cost of a/c with install was $1039.
__________________
Making a smooth transition to senility for over 70 years
2017 Freedom Elite 29fe
2015 Jeep Wrangler Toad
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03-08-2020, 10:11 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Citation
State: Texas
Posts: 920
THOR #8139
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In the summer we use a portable AC.
Sit it between the seats, exhause it out the driver widow and power it from a cord run thru a hole in the slide floor then thru a storage compartment.
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03-08-2020, 11:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Generator considerations?
RVers use their motorhomes differently. Some always have shore power at campgrounds, and others park in the sun at the beach, or at football games, or race track, or out in desert and need to run all A/Cs without shore power through the hottest part of day. If so, plan ahead. Installing a second A/C on roof is pretty much the same in either case, but A/C selection and how they are powered may be different.
Granted, you can always use a portable generator for the second A/C when there’s no shore power, but that may be a hassle for some. It would be for me. My personal needs would require both A/Cs be able to run off motorhome’s built-in generator.
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03-09-2020, 12:24 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Gemini 24TX (Formerly)
State: California
Posts: 1,459
THOR #5821
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I had a second AC installed in the Gemini, up front where the vent was. Certainly solved the cooling problem in hot weather. I matched the rear AC so it was a heat-pump as well, useful in cool weather too.
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03-09-2020, 12:30 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abjbrtd
In the summer we use a portable AC.
Sit it between the seats, exhause it out the driver widow and power it from a cord run thru a hole in the slide floor then thru a storage compartment.
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Me too! For most of the time my single 15,000 BTU heat pump is fine. If we are going to be somewhere really hot we bring the portable AC and exhaust it out a ceiling vent. It was only $300 at Lowe’s and we use it all the time at home to keep the bedroom cool without cooling the whole house all night. But I wouldn’t hesitate to install a second unit if I needed it often or didn’t want to hassle with the portable. I believe I could do it myself for about $600.
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03-09-2020, 12:46 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,116
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
RVers use their motorhomes differently. Some always have shore power at campgrounds, and others park in the sun at the beach, or at football games, or race track, or out in desert and need to run all A/Cs without shore power through the hottest part of day. If so, plan ahead. Installing a second A/C on roof is pretty much the same in either case, but A/C selection and how they are powered may be different.
Granted, you can always use a portable generator for the second A/C when there’s no shore power, but that may be a hassle for some. It would be for me. My personal needs would require both A/Cs be able to run off motorhome’s built-in generator.
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Why use a portable generator? The Onan 4000 can handle both A/Cs as longa as they are not both 15K BTU units. You may not be able to run anything else if both are running, but the 4K should handle it.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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03-09-2020, 02:42 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 16ACE27
Why use a portable generator? The Onan 4000 can handle both A/Cs as longa as they are not both 15K BTU units. You may not be able to run anything else if both are running, but the 4K should handle it.
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Exactly the point I was trying to make — to plan the improvement in a way that makes most sense based on budget and intended need/requirement. To me it makes little sense to add a second A/C to then find out you can’t run it off the generator because you didn’t select the correct unit (as in a more efficient model). That assumes you’d want to run both A/Cs without shore power sometimes.
I looked a little closer at FE24 in question and it appears to be a Mercedes Sprinter-based full-wall-slide motorhome which normally comes with 13,500 BTU/hr A/C and 3,600 Watt propane generator. That’s indeed a lot of motorhome for a 13,500 if parked in sun on a hot day. The slide has 4 windows so if possible should be parked with slide facing north.
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03-14-2020, 06:38 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane
State: California
Posts: 7
THOR #3976
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Sometimes simple is the easiest. I have a 38' Hurricane with 2 A/C's but only 30A service. Bought a 5000btu window a/c fo $89. Put it in bedroom window on pedestal side and plugged it into 20A socket. Cut plexiglass to cover window opening. Use 30A for one or the other a/c's as needed. Don't need generator that way. Store under bed in winter. Central California weather in summer 100+. Bedroom with window A/C 70° or less.
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03-14-2020, 06:55 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Sunstar 29VE Winnebago
State: Texas
Posts: 5,584
THOR #13058
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About a year ago when I was a non RV owner and shopping around, I frequently ran into good deals with a unit that had 1 AC 30amps so I was trying to figure out the options because I knew that 1 AC would NOT be enough. Then through the knowledge of several seasoned owners on this site; they told me something that I too viewed as simple. If you want 2 ACs buy a unit with two. While I thought that was radical concept , that is exactly what we did. I would never EVER buy an RV of the size we are discussing with 1 AC. I get that some folks up north can get by off one AC, but a mobile home is NOT like buying a home with no AC on Lake Minnetonka. That RV may eventually go to Florida, Texas, Arizona or California. Why Mfgs make them with 1 AC is nothing short of criminal. At a minimum they should all be required by law to be pre wired; so they can plug and play into existing electrical. It actually may be cheaper to make if they were all made the same way anyway.
But for OP, given you own what you like with 1 AC; I am 100% confident you will NOT regret the cost to have a 2nd unit professionally installed with separate 20 amp service. If you got the money, tie it into Generator; but that is luxury nice to have based on 6 months of RV knowledge
__________________
2019 Sunstar 29ve; Toad Lincoln Navigator; RVi Brake 3 & Command Center; Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow bar & Baseplate; Sumo Springs; Safe T Plus; Onan EC-30 AGS; Vmax 250ah AGM; T-Mobile Internet; H/W Heater / Chassis Disconnect Switches; Southwire Surge Guard 44270 & 34951 w/Monitor 40301; Jet Flo Macerator; Alpine SPE500 Speakers; Visio M21D-H8R
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03-14-2020, 07:36 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
State: Alaska
Posts: 295
THOR #8813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EA37TS
What is your current AC, a 13.5 or 15K BTU unit? If 13.5 have you thought about upgrading to a 15K?
Adding a second unit may present an issue in the power system. I imagine you are currently on a 30 amp system and not 50 amp.
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Many install second but plug the unit into the 20 amp plug on pedestal with heavy duty cord. You can have cord coming down ladder.
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