How Many Watts Does a RV Air Conditioner Use?
RV air conditioners are power-hungry and have significant startup surges. Running on battery power requires substantial capacity or a soft-start device.
Typical Power
1200W
Power Range
800-1800W
Startup Surge
3000W
Daily Usage
9600Wh
(8 hrs/day typical)
RV Air Conditioner Runtime Calculator
Range: 800-1800W
Continuous Runtime
0.7 hours
Days at 8hrs/day
0.1 days
Daily Consumption
9600Wh
Usable Battery
960Wh
Recommended Equipment
* Calculations assume 85% inverter efficiency and 80% depth of discharge (LiFePO4).
Battery Runtime Examples
| Battery Size | Voltage | Runtime at 1200W |
|---|---|---|
| 200Ah | 12V | 1.3 hours |
| 400Ah | 12V | 2.7 hours |
| 600Ah | 12V | 4 hours |
* Assumes 85% inverter efficiency and 80% depth of discharge for LiFePO4 batteries.
RV Air Conditioner Power Tips
- •A soft-start device reduces startup surge from 3000W to under 1000W
- •Most RV ACs cannot run on batteries alone without a large lithium bank
- •A 13,500 BTU unit uses about 1200W running, 15,000 BTU uses 1500W
- •Running AC on a generator is more practical than pure solar for most RVers
- •Shade, ventilation, and insulation reduce AC runtime significantly
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run RV AC on batteries?
Possible but expensive. You need 400Ah+ of lithium batteries, a 3000W inverter, and a soft-start device. Even then, expect only 3-4 hours of runtime without solar input.
What size generator for RV AC?
A 3000W generator handles most RV ACs with the startup surge. A 2000W generator may work with a soft-start device installed.
How much solar to run RV AC?
You cannot run AC on solar panels alone - there is not enough roof space. Solar extends battery runtime but you need 600W+ of panels and 400Ah+ batteries for meaningful AC operation.