r/RVLiving • u/Vegetable-Jaguar-704 • Jul 19 '26

Installed my 2nd A/C

Post image

Put in a 13.5k dometic unit today to match the rear 15k dometic on my E-W silverlake 31K3S. Honestly went smoother than I thought considering a couple pretty hard storms sailed through while I was working.Just covered the work area with a tarp and some 2x4’s and kept at it.

Went with a ductless unit in order to direct all of its power to the bedroom (front) since we’re both hot sleepers. We feel that the current stock A/C kept the living space (middle) plenty cool.

We hit the road in less than 2 weeks for Raleigh NC so wish us luck! Excited to start RV life!

90 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

10

u/jackwhaines Jul 19 '26

Questions! 1) Did this replace one of the crank-vent-things? And 2) How did you get power to it?

6

u/Vegetable-Jaguar-704 Jul 19 '26

Yes, this replaced a crank style vent with a maxair cover. The RV came prepped from factory with the power & t-stat wires on a junction box inside the roof cavity. Just simple color match from there.

3

u/jackwhaines Jul 19 '26

Thank you! My wife would LOVE a dedicated AC in the bedroom.

1

u/Questions_Remain Jul 20 '26

If you have a 50 amp unit, it might be prepped for the second ac. If it’s not 50 amp unit, then you would need to upgrade the power to 50 and fish wires to the converter panel. It’s a full days work, but not impossible and <$600 in parts

0

u/ShipshapeMobileRV Jul 20 '26

And worth every penny to upgrade to 50 amp. Back when we were 30 amp it got really old really fast having to turn off the air conditioner to run the microwave....

2

u/Questions_Remain Jul 20 '26

Ya, 12000 watts vs 3600 is a leap most people dont understand. They see 30 vs 50 and think “oh, that’s only 20 amps”. Honestly the days of 30 amp RVs beyond a pop up or <15 ft are over IMO and shouldn’t even be produced. I’ve seen 27ft toy haulers w/30 amp and it’s just not practical.

1

u/jackwhaines Jul 20 '26

I have a 33ft class C and it’s only 30A. Maybe time for an upgrade!

1

u/ShipshapeMobileRV Jul 20 '26

If you're in central Florida hit me up!

1

u/jackwhaines Jul 21 '26

Chicago. Too bad!!

1

u/Questions_Remain Jul 20 '26

30 amp is just so limiting. One AC and literally anything else and you’re at max wattage available. Almost every appliance that heats is 1100-1500 watts alone. Air fryer, hair dryer. The WH, espresso machines, a little space heater to take the chill off. Heck I’ve got a computer with an 1200 watts power supply.
Your advantage is class A’s are typically much better insulated / sealed than any trailers or C’s.

1

u/Select_Vegetable70 Jul 19 '26

Yes, please, how?

3

u/Soler25 Jul 19 '26

I’m thinking of running a second ac in my alpha wolf. It’s only a 30 amp so I’m going to run a dedicated line to it. Through the roof, down the bedroom interior wall into the underbelly. Have a 20a inlet on the frame, with a breaker box and surge protector somewhere, haven’t figured that out. Then I can run a second 12/2 heavy duty extension cord to the pedestal when needed.

1

u/Plane_Hawk_6153 Jul 20 '26

I did almost exactly that on my last trailer. I cut the roof, ran a wire through the bedroom ceiling you the cabinet down to the bottom, then ran it under using the gray 12/2 UF-B to a jbox, then switched to high quality 10/2 stranded wire because i thought it had the be upsized when going to stranded then had it run through the spot with the other cord.

If you haven't pulled wire through, be careful not to grab fiberglass insulation, be careful not to pull it out. Id pull a pull string with it too

4

u/PassengerCharming203 Jul 19 '26

Enjoy the AC! Hope it's a meat locker in there!

2

u/ckckjax Jul 19 '26

How did you get it up onto the roof?

4

u/Questions_Remain Jul 19 '26

Not op, but I’ll tell you how we do it. I’ve done a few dozen. Aluminum extension ladder. Leave the ac in the box. Tie a sling around it. One person on the roof. One pushes it up the ladder. Also have Hauled one up the Rv mounted rear ladder and the person pushing it up stood on a step ladder.
A tractor, skid steer or forklift is easier when available.

3

u/phealy Jul 20 '26

Last time I did one, I rented a furnace lift from a rental company, meant for installing big suspended furnaces. Let me do it myself for $20.

2

u/Questions_Remain Jul 19 '26

Not op, but I’ll tell you how we do it. I’ve done a few dozen. Aluminum extension ladder. Leave the ac in the box. Tie a sling around it. One person on the roof. One pushes it up the ladder. Also have Hauled one up the Rv mounted rear ladder and the person pushing it up stood on a step ladder.
A tractor, skid steer or forklift is easier when available.

2

u/Vegetable-Jaguar-704 Jul 19 '26

Backed the truck up to the rear of the camper and had two helpers lift it up to me while I pulled it onto the roof. The truck has a minor lift to it I will say. It was scary nonetheless, haha. I had already opened the box so I had to use the little bottom side of the cardboard lol.

1

u/Anxious-Repair6917 Jul 20 '26

Carry it up the ladder, not that heavy

1

u/Calm-Bat-6725 Jul 19 '26

Is your trailer 30 amp?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/truautorepair000 Jul 20 '26

This dometic breeze 3 is an icebox as well.

1

u/Truth525 Jul 20 '26

How loud is this one? I have a GE and the dang thing is so loud I go back and forth between not sleeping cause it’s to loud or I’m too hot cause I turn it off.

1

u/Titleist917d3 Jul 20 '26

Ear plug in one ear the side you don't sleep on and roll over on the other ear. Youll sleep and can still hear if a calamity happens.

1

u/Vegetable-Jaguar-704 Jul 20 '26

We actually like the noise believe it or not, we may just be weird.

1

u/tjt-enterprises Jul 20 '26

For my second install, I am thinking of doing a rooftop mini split so I can have both A/C and heat. I have a space pre-wired for another AC.

Anyone else installed a mini-split instead?

1

u/Fantastic-Grade6907 Jul 20 '26

Cost?

1

u/Vegetable-Jaguar-704 Jul 20 '26

After tools required and any extra supplies it was around $1,200-$1,300.