Running Your RV’s AC on Backup Power During Hurricane Season

Key Takeaways:

• After a storm has passed and conditions are safe, an RV parked on your property can serve as an alternative backup shelter during a prolonged home power outage.
• Starting an RV rooftop air conditioner on a portable generator can require a surge of power that sometimes can trip smaller generator circuits.
• An RV soft starter can reduce compressor startup current by up to 75%, depending on the air conditioner and operating conditions, potentially allowing compatible AC units to start on smaller backup generators or inverter systems.
• Planning your electrical loads, fuel reserves, and equipment maintenance before hurricane season can help improve the reliability of your RV's cooling system during an outage.

When tropical storms and hurricanes knock out power for days or weeks, extreme heat and high humidity quickly make a home unlivable. 

For RV owners, a motorhome or travel trailer can provide a useful temporary living space after a hurricane, once authorities confirm that conditions are safe. With its own refrigeration, plumbing, and sleeping arrangements, an RV may offer an additional option for shelter while home power is being restored.

However, keeping that space cool requires reliable power to run the rooftop air conditioner, which is often the largest electrical load on your RV. Understanding how to manage your RV’s cooling demands on generator or battery power allows you to maintain a safe, climate controlled space right outside your front door.

Why Your RV Can Help During a Post-Storm Power Outage

An RV is designed for off grid living, making it a good temporary living space after conditions are safe. Unlike a dark, humid house, an independent RV or trailer provides immediate access to food preservation, clean water, basic lighting, and power outlets for essential electronics and medical equipment.

During the aftermath of a hurricane, lingering heat can make indoor spaces dangerously hot. Having access to a living space with working air conditioning can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness and provide comfort for family members and pets during cleanup and restoration, once conditions are safe. The main challenge is supplying enough electricity to run the air conditioner alongside the RV's other essential electrical loads.

The Electrical Hurdle: Can a Backup Generator Run an RV AC?

Running an RV air conditioner on a portable generator is achievable, but one of the biggest challenges is the brief surge of electrical current required when the compressor starts.

Once your RV air conditioner is up and running, a typical 13,500 BTU rooftop unit may draw around 1,200–1,800 watts, depending on the model and operating conditions. Right when the unit kicks on, the motor demands a sudden burst of power to get started.

This is why some smaller portable generators struggle to start an RV air conditioner. A soft starter reduces the compressor's startup current, potentially allowing a compatible AC unit to operate on a smaller generator or inverter system.

Related: What Size Generator Do You Need to Run an RV Air Conditioner?

How a Soft Starter Manages Compressor Startup Current

Rather than upsizing your generator or lugging around an oversized unit, you can manage the startup demand directly at the air conditioner itself. Installing an RV soft starter like the Micro-Air EasyStart™ Breeze reduces the initial electrical surge drawn by the compressor motor.

An advanced soft starter like the EasyStart™ Breeze smooths out the startup sequence. Instead of allowing the compressor to draw its full startup current immediately, the soft starter manages the startup process to reduce the initial electrical demand:

• Startup Surge Reduction: A soft starter can reduce the surge of current the instant your AC compressor starts, by up to 75%, depending on the unit and conditions.
• Reduced Startup Stress: By managing compressor startup, a soft starter can help reduce the electrical and mechanical stress associated with hard starts.
• Broader Power Compatibility: By lowering the demand, a rooftop AC can start and cycle more smoothly on smaller portable generators, onboard generator sets, or lithium battery and inverter systems, potentially saving you the cost of purchasing a larger generator.
• Potential for Dual-Unit Operation on 30 Amps: On some RVs equipped with two rooftop air conditioners, soft starters may help both units operate on a 30-amp supply, provided the combined running load and other electrical demands remain within the available capacity.

Micro-Air has been engineering power management and soft start technology since 1983. With 150,000+ units in the field, these systems are manufactured in the United States and built to handle harsh operating environments. For RV owners, eligible EasyStart Breeze installations may qualify for Micro-Air’s Double Down Warranty, which provides qualifying coverage for the RV rooftop air conditioner compressor, subject to the program’s terms, eligibility requirements, and registration deadline.

Learn more about the EasyStart Breeze.

Best Practices for Powering Your RV During an Outage

To help ensure your RV remains fully functional throughout an extended storm outage, prepare your power plan before storm watches are issued:

1. Calculate and Stagger Your Electrical Loads: Your generator or inverter must be able to support the AC alongside continuous power usage from the converter charger, refrigerator, and medical equipment. If your RV appliances support propane operation, consider switching the refrigerator and water heater to propane mode to reduce electrical demand.
2. Stock Clean, Stabilized Fuel: Small inverter generators are prized for fuel efficiency, but gas stations often lose power or run dry after a hurricane. Maintain fresh fuel in approved containers.
3. Inspect Rooftop Components Early: Before hurricane season, inspect your rooftop AC shroud, seals, and drainage. Check the condenser and evaporator coils for dirt or debris, and clean them according to the air conditioner manufacturer's instructions. This type of maintenance will help the AC run more efficiently.
4. Utilize Bluetooth Diagnostics: The EasyStart Breeze provides Bluetooth connectivity for accessing diagnostic information, reviewing fault conditions, and simplifying troubleshooting through your mobile device.

Generator Safety Note:  Never operate a portable generator inside an RV, home, garage, or other enclosed or partially enclosed space. Position portable generators outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents, with exhaust directed away from occupied spaces. Follow the generator manufacturer's instructions, use working carbon monoxide detectors, and never operate fuel-burning equipment in unsafe weather conditions.

Securing Reliable Emergency Comfort

A parked RV can provide a useful alternative living space after a hurricane, once conditions are safe, but its comfort depends on having reliable power for essential systems. Managing the startup demand of your rooftop air conditioner can help prevent generator overloads and support more reliable cooling for your family and pets during post storm heat.

Built on decades of American engineering experience, with more than 150,000 units in the field, EasyStart Breeze can help compatible RV air conditioners start on smaller backup power supplies when the available system capacity is sufficient. Equip your space with EasyStart Breeze from Micro-Air and secure your home's backup shelter before the next storm approaches.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult your RV, generator, air conditioner, and power-system manufacturers for equipment-specific guidance, and follow all applicable safety instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run my RV air conditioner from a solar generator or battery power station during an outage?

Yes, provided your power station has an inverter capable of handling the air conditioner's startup and continuous running demands, along with a battery bank that provides enough usable energy for your intended runtime. Air conditioners can draw substantially more current during compressor startup than during normal operation. A compatible EasyStart soft starter can reduce startup current and may help prevent inverter overloads, but it does not eliminate the AC's ongoing power consumption. Actual performance depends on the air conditioner, inverter, battery capacity, and other connected loads.

How much fuel does a smaller generator save compared to an upsized generator during an extended outage?

Fuel consumption depends on the generator model, its efficiency, and the electrical load it supports. A smaller inverter generator may consume less fuel when powering a single RV air conditioner, particularly at partial load. A soft starter can reduce compressor startup demand and may allow some RV owners to use a smaller generator, but fuel savings are not guaranteed and depend on the generator and operating conditions.

Will installing a soft starter void my RV air conditioner's manufacturer warranty?

Micro-Air addresses this concern directly with the Double Down Warranty for RV soft starters. If your AC manufacturer disputes a compressor warranty claim due to the presence of an EasyStart unit within the original warranty period, Micro-Air provides matching coverage to protect your rooftop equipment.

Helpful Links

• RV Soft Start Double Down Warranty
• EasyStart Breeze RV Soft Starter

Related Reading

• Propane vs Gas Generator
• How to Run Your RV AC on a Small Generator
• Are “Plug and Play” or “No-Wiring” RV Soft Starters Actually a Soft Starter