Tips on first use of AC on the hottest weekend of the year

HappyCamper2024 · May 21

Hey y'all. This fall I bought a new 2023 320s. We've gone on a couple of boondock trips and it's great. We live in Florida. Two months ago when it was temperate we made a reservation for an electric site this weekend. We've never even turned on the AC but this weekend will get up to 97 and will be humid as heck--Florida midsummer weather.

I don't want to abuse the AC but it's definitely the only reason we are able to make this trip. And learning to use our electric camper is the purpose. What's the best methodology for getting to temp and keeping it reasonably cool without overloading it? Can we just crank that sucker?

I've also never had a camper before so tips and etiquette for electrical use in campers generally is welcome.

Thanks y'all

Sharon_is_SAM · May 21

The best way to keep the TaB cool is to shade it as much as possible. If no natural shade is available, you can place a large canopy over the top and use aluminet tenting to the sides.

Don’t wait until it is blistering hot to start the A/C. Much easier to keep things cool than to recover from heat soaked TaB materials.

Using small fans to circulate the air will help. Keep the shades down, too.

I am not sure how good the Air8 is at dehumidifying, but, even without the A/C, we crack a window or vent fan to allow air to circulate better.

Don’t cook inside!

Bring an extra cooler or ice chest to avoid opening the frig excessively.

Shorepower tips:
1. Before connecting, to avoid stray voltage and hot skin, test the pedestal with a Non-Contact Voltage Tester

2. Use your EMS to protect against excess and low voltage
3. Make sure the circuit breaker is off before plugging into the pedestal
4. Try not to run more than 1 heat producing appliances at a time. If you lose power, the GFCI probably tripped. There is frequently a regular 120V outlet at the pedestal, so, you can run an extension cord from the pedestal and hook it up to another appliance to avoid tripping. This may or may not work depending on the limits of the pedestal.
5. No need for the water pump to be used if on city water with your electric site.

HappyCamper2024 · May 21

Thanks for the tips but I have questions, of course

What's an EMS? Is there normally a circuit breaker at the pedestal itself or do I have to find it in a central area? Do you trip the circuits and then plug in and then reset the breaker? That feels weird but if that's the drill I'm glad to know it

We have a surge protector with a circuit analyzer, if that changes any suggestions.

Great idea on the extension cord. We have two USB powered fans for sleeping or use at camp, plus a plug in "air mover" that probably uses a fair amount of power so we'll see if that's an option. We would only use that outside though, do you advise against plugging that into the tab outlets outside if the AC is on?

I know what a GFCI is in my house, but it's per plug. Is there a central one in the camper or do you mean the one at the plug for the appliance we are using? Is there one for the Aire8?

Re the water pump, no water at site but we'll use the bathhouse and only pump water to hose ourselves off with the outside hose for cool downs. Should we turn it off when we are not actively using it?

Definitely no cooking, and we'll just use the fridge for things that are odd shaped or too delicate for the cooler and cool drinks in case we wake up parched.

We will be arriving an hour or two before sundown so the plan is to get there and crank the AC to a livable temp before bed while we hang outside. It's regularly 104 inside there in the driveway.

Thanks so much.

donmontalvo · May 21

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/t4/4g6r0py1n69r.png

Yoshi_TAB · May 21

Hi,

The Air 8 can be set to have the fan on all the time or cycle on/off with the condensor (compressor).

Many people find the sound of the fan turning on and off bothersome so they set the fan to run all the time..sort of like white noise in the background. That is how I had it set.

Although I'm from the mid Atlantic, a few years ago we spent a great deal of time one summer in very humid air traveling around Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama & Georgia.

My observation was when the fan ran all the time, the inside of the TAB felt moist and bit clammy when the just the fan was running and the compressor cycled off (reached set point) . But when we changed it to have the fan cycled on/off with the compressor, it kept the inside much less clammy and drier.

My theory was, when the compressor cycled off, but the fan is still running, it was bringing in a combination of some outside humid air and picking any undrained condensate off the evaporator coil and blowing it into the cabin. And since the compressor was off, no drying of the air was taking place.

I chatted with someone in FL at the time and he had the same observation.

Just wanted to pass on my observation..you may or not see observe the same.

donmontalvo · May 21

HappyCamper2024 said:

I know what a GFCI is in my house, but it's per plug. Is there a central one in the camper or do you mean the one at the plug for the appliance we are using? Is there one for the Aire8?

My 2024 320S BBC has a GFCI by the rear bench.

My Victron inverter also has a GFCI, but is moot for shore power.

HappyCamper2024 · May 21

I just looked up how to program the fan and it looks like continuous fan is (was?) a reprogramming function. Is the default that it turns off?

We have a little noise machine so I don't think the on/off will matter and I definitely don't want to bring in more moisture.

The fan up top says to open it if we are sleeping inside. Is that the case even with the AC?

Thanks for the GFCI info, I'm going to check that out today

HappyCamper2024 · May 21

It looks like our circuit analyzer is somewhere between a regular circuit protector and an EMS. We may have to make do with this one on the first trip but I'll look into an EMS for the future.

HappyCamper2024 · May 21

Donmontalvo, your dog looks a lot like mine. It's also his first camping trip.

donmontalvo · May 21

HappyCamper2024 said:

Thanks for the GFCI info, I'm going to check that out today

Sorry not "side bench", but by the WFCO:

donmontalvo · May 21

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/z0/eeml9qom1g6j.jpeg

donmontalvo · May 21

Added this to my list, so I'm ready for Quartzsite, AZ next season.

We used the stuff (in OD green) in the US Army (1979-85), handles wind well.

https://www.camonetsusa.com/collections/most-popular-products/products/snow-military-reinforced-camouflage-netting

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/8j/gs5rsmehsx2d.png

Sharon_is_SAM · May 21

“Great idea on the extension cord. We have two USB powered fans for sleeping or use at camp, plus a plug in "air mover" that probably uses a fair amount of power so we'll see if that's an option. We would only use that outside though, do you advise against plugging that into the tab outlets outside if the AC is on? Your TaB has a 30 Amp limit. If your power draw exceeds that, a breaker will trip. You have 5 AC circuits that should be labeled like this photo.

The 120 V outlets are protected by 1 GFCI on Branch 1. The Alde, A/C and MW are on their own circuits without GFCIs. If you plug something into the outlets on circuit branch 1 that has stray current or excess current it will trip. The whole point of this is to appreciate the electrical limits of the TaB. I am not sure the draw of the Air8, but probably running the MW, a hair dryer, and the A/C at one time may not work. That is why I suggested using the 120 V outlet at the pedestal to plug in something that may exceed the TaBs limits.

Best practice is to turn off the water pump when you leave the campsite. You don’t ever wanna return to a flooded Tab. You just never know if someone accidentally left a tap on and then you fill your gray tank and then you flood your camper.

Hope this helps.

HappyCamper2024 · 12:02AM

I'll keep the Alde pump off and only turn it on to use the water. I don't know what an MW is. Hair dryer? Does that mean a fan?

My label isn't so helpful, attached. It sounds like I shouldn't use anything but the AC, not even a fan, unless it's plugged into a pedestal. That's all I was gonna run but it sounds dicey. But just in case I will try to get some fuses. I can't see any visible fuses. Gonna look for a fuse yt now but if anyone has a suggestion...

Sharon_is_SAM · 12:23AM

@HappyCamper2024 - you need to open the front of the Power Center by pushing in the top of the plastic box that is on the front of the driver side bench. Look at the AC breakers on the left side.

MW is microwave.

HappyCamper2024 · 1:09AM

Thanks, I couldn't figure out if you could open it. I'll check it tomorrow.

For my future self and any other confused newbie, there are some helpful pictures in a thread called Fuses for Newbies. Not sure but the thread doesn't seem to want me to post it

Thanks everyone.

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Tips on first use of AC on the hottest weekend of the year

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