Running all the a/c units while on the move

[gbuss]

Ok. Here goes the first of what I predict will be many stupid questions. I've been reading the books and manuals that came with my coach, and going through the threads on here. I read several people talking about running the generator the whole time they are driving. Does the engine alternator not put out enough power to run all the a/c units while running down the road? Am I going to need to runn my generator any time I'm not plugged in to shore power to keep the fridge, freezer, and all that going? We leave on our maiden voyage in a week and I still don't feel like I know enough to stay out of trouble. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[folivier]

First of all what year coach do you have?
Most Newells have a large enough generator to power everything in the coach.
No the engine alternator usually will not run the a/cs, besides you would need a large inverter to run the a/cs. Very few Newells are set up like this.
Depending on what year coach you have you should have a set of up to 6 8D batteries which would run everything except your a/cs for overnight or longer before needing to be charged from either the engine alternator (if driving) or the generator/inverter combo.

[77newell]

Gbuss: Every Newell has 3 electrical systems: 12VDC chassis, 12VDC coach and 120VAC. There are at least two sources of electrical supply for each of these systems. One supply for each system is at least one of the other systems. If all this sounds insane...... well sometimes it does make me insane. The redundancy creates enormous flexibility but only if you understand the basics of the systems. I strongly urge you to find a book or reference on the fundamentals of RV electrical systems, it will help you enormously and make it easier for us to help you.

Now to directly answer your question; no Newell coach I've heard of has an alternator on the drive engine big enough to supply a big enough inverter to run your air conditioners. If you need cooling while going down the road you either run the generator and house air conditioners (which by the way is fine to do) or you run your dash air conditioner (which is usually inoperable on older coaches and not worth resurrecting). Both Forest (above) and I regularly run our generators and house air conditioners while on the road.

[smquandt]

Always ran my Blue Bird with the Gen Set running to power the A/C, plan to do the same with my Newell.

[prairieschooner]

Agreed I looked at what it would take to get the Air Conditioning Compressor that runs off of the Main and decided that it was much more economical to simply run the Generator and the Overhead Air Conditioners instead of continuing to repair that system. The Dash Air Units on the older coaches aim the A/C at our Knees anyway. It is much better to run a Generator and load it than to not run it or run it with little or no load.
Besides if you are worried about the extra fuel cost you are most likely in the wrong RV!!!

[prairieschooner]

PS there are no stupid questions, we all had to learn.

[ccjohnson]

We run both dash & house A/C's while driving. The dash gives a little more"breeze" effect that way. And, it's not having to cool as much of a temperature differential.

[gbuss]

Thanks for all you replies! My coach is a 1990 (# 217). As you guessed my dash A/C is inop. I will plan to run the generator when I'm not plugged in on our trip as I will have a full freezer and fridge also.

[folivier]

Is your fridge a propane? If so run it on that when not plugged in or when generator isn't running. Watch your house battery voltage and when they get to about 12.2 volts run your generator for a couple hours with the charger/inverter set to high to recharge your batteries. If your batteries are in good condition you should be able to go overnight before needing a recharge.

[NewellCrazy]

Lots of great info in this thread. Do you have pictures you care to share of your Newell?

[VinceD]

If you have a diesel / electric aquahot, you cannot run the AC with the gen running and be on electric aquahot. You will need to switch it to Diesel heating.

[Dave-n-Marjorie]

When my engine is running, my generator is running, all my a/c's, fridge, in motion satellite, tv, basement fridge, everything is running, even diesel aqua hot, along with my ice cold dash a/c. That is the point of having a 20kw generator. 6,000 miles so far cross country and it is wonderful!!! Never gets above 72 deg in the coach :)

[Neweller]

But 20kw is still not enough to run the Aquahot on electric? Obviously that must be an inverter sizing issue?? Unless it is also total amp draw off a 50 amp service in the coach... Don't some of the later coaches actually have higher amp capabilities?

[Chester B. Stone, Jr.]

There is a switch in my coach that allows me to either run the AquaHot electrically or the A/C units, but not both at the same time. I estimate that the 20kw generator is capable of running everything at the same time, but the switch is necessary when connected to an outside 50 amp power source. So the coach is set up for the outside source for protection.