How Many Watts Does An RV AC Use ?

When it comes to planning an RV trip and staying comfortable in a hot summer, you'll need to look for a reliable charging solution for RV AC. On average, a 10,000 BTU unit can draw between 600 - 750 watts per hour and 1200 - 1700 watts per hour for a 15,000 BTU unit. How many watts does an RV AC use depends on the BTU cooling output. Portable RV AC consumes anywhere around 700 - 1500 watts per hour.

One of the best ways to charge the RV AC when living off the grid is solar generators. The Jackery Solar Generators are reliable and powerful charging solutions that can power RV ACs of different sizes and capacities. They can easily be stored in the RV or camper, so you can keep the space cool even when you're away from the power outlet.

Key Takeaways About RV AC Wattage

• An RV AC typically uses between 300 - 1700 watts per hour of electricity.
• The BTU rating of the RV AC will affect the wattage consumption of the air conditioner.
• Solar generators can help you charge RV ACs when you're outdoors.
• The wattage consumption of RV AC can typically be found on the appliance itself or in the user manual.

How Many Watts Does An RV AC Use?

How many watts an RV AC use depends on many factors, including the BTU, size, brand, and stage of the air conditioner. 

To understand how many watts does RV AC use, you'll need to find out the starting and running power consumption of the appliance. Let's explain the terms briefly:

Starting Watts: As the name defines, it represents the power consumption of the appliance that it requires for a brief moment. The RV AC starting watts is typically twice or thrice of the running wattage.

Running Watts: It determines the wattage the RV AC needs to run continuously. For example, the 15,000 BTU air conditioner watts are around 1200 - 1700W.

If you want to determine what size generator is needed to run an RV air conditioner, you'll need to look for a generator that can supply steady electricity to the appliance.

RV AC Watts Consumption of Atwood Air Command, Coleman-Mach 3 Power Saver, and More

As we discussed, the size and brand of the RV determine how many watts an RV AC uses. High-capacity RV AC watts are around 1500 to up to 3500 watts, while smaller ones can do 700 to 1250 watts.

Let us summarize the most popular RV air conditioner wattages and energy required to run them.

RV AC Watts Consumption Based on Stage

How Many Watts Does A Camper AC Use?

On average, a typical camper AC wattage is around 1000–1200 W. At startup, a camper AC can also use more than double its running power. However, how many watts does an air conditioner use per hour might vary depending on the size of the unit and the brand. When used for 8–10 hours a day, a camper or RV AC power consumption will be around 8000–12000 watt-hours.

What Size Generator Do I Need For RV AC When Off Grid

The generator size you need to run an RV AC when off-grid depends on your required air conditioner size and how long you want to run it. Since an air conditioner requires substantial energy to run, you need a powerful solar generator to support it. Jackery solar generators are available in high capacity, including but not limited to 1000-watt hours, 1500-watt hours, and 2000-watt hours.

Jackery Solar Generators are powerful and large-capacity charging solutions that can charge most household or outdoor appliances for hours. They combine the Jackery Portable Power Stations and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels to collect, convert, and supply stable electricity to RV AC and other outdoor appliances. The larger power stations have double wheels and pull rods to move the charging solution anywhere you like. Here are three recommended solar generators from Jackery that can power an RV AC.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a large-capacity charging solution that's designed for extended RV or camping trips. It has an ergonomic design that allows the generator to be stored in the RV and keep charging appliances without worrying about storage space. The powerful solar generator can charge 99% of RV appliances, so you can enjoy a home away from home. One of the best parts about the solar generator is its portability and functionality, which ensures you can keep the RV space cool during summers without worrying about finding electrical outlets in the RV campground.

Appliances Running Time

• RV AC (1000W) = 2.5H
• Outdoor Electric Grill (1600W) = 1.6H
• Lights (10W) = 257.0H
• Coffee Maker (800W) = 3.2H
• Blender (300W) = 8.5H

Customer Review

“The 3000 Pro is a beast. It is well-made and works great. I now have 6 panels that I can use at the same time to quickly charge the 3000 Pro. Good warranties. Buy with confidence.” — Dustin M.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is an expandable charging solution for RV appliances, especially heavy-duty RV ACs. The foldable handle and ergonomic design ensure you can carry the solar generator outdoors and charge appliances anywhere you like. It's also compatible with the Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus to expand the capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh. Since the portable power station can be charged with solar panels, it ensures you've power in remote locations.

Appliances Running Time

• RV AC (1000W) = 1.7H
• Outdoor Electric Grill (1600W) = 1.0H
• Lights (10W) = 173.6H
• Coffee Maker (800W) = 2.1H
• Blender (300W) = 5.7H

Customer Review

“I purchased this for my camping needs when power is not available at campsites for use with my Class A, Pop-up, and truck camping.” — Chris K.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh)

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh) is the expandable charging solution that supports 99% of RV appliances, such as ACs. It can safely handle the running and starting wattage of RV air conditioners to ensure the safe operation of the appliances. It can also run lights, TVs, lamps, laptops, outdoor electric grills, etc., for a comfortable outdoor experience. If you would like to run multiple heavy-duty appliances together or want to charge appliances for long hours, you may expand the capacity from 4kWh to 24kWh.

Appliances Running Time

• RV AC (1000W) = 3.5H
• Outdoor Electric Grill (1600W) = 2.1H
• Lights (10W) = 347.2H
• Coffee Maker (800W) = 4.3H
• Blender (300W) = 11.5H

Customer Review

“I’ll be using this unit both in our 22’ RV (30 amp) and when living off the grid in our larger 5th wheel in the summer months. I’m impressed with the quality and design (even the packaging) of the Jackery products. One unit feature that I particularly like is the expansion capabilities.” — Randall MacPherson.

The Jackery solar generators support pass-through charging, so you charge the generator and use the power simultaneously.

Another important point to understand about the statistics is that there is always some loss of power during the transmission and operation of a generator. Therefore, we have calculated the working hours based on 85% percent efficiency to make the estimates more realistic.

How to calculate the hours: Working time = Capacity Wh * 0.85 / operating wattage of your device

For example, assuming the power consumption of your RV AC is 1250 Watts.

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000Pro Working time will be 2160Wh * 0.85 / 1250w = 1.5 hrs.

FAQ About RV AC Wattage

1. What is the average RV air conditioner energy consumption?

1. A 15,000 BTU Air conditioner requires 1200 to 1700 watts.
2. A 13,500 BTU Air conditioner requires 1000 to 1300 watts
3. A 10,000 BTU Air conditioner requires 600 to 750 watts
4. A 7,000 BTU Air conditioner requires 500 to 650 watts
5. A 5,000 BTU Air conditioner requires 300 to 450 watts

2. How much electricity does an RV air conditioner use?

How much electricity an RV air conditioner uses mainly depends on BTU cooling output. For every 1,000 BTU cooling output, you need about 100 watts of electric power input.

3. How much power does an RV air conditioner use per hour?

The average RV air conditioning unit needs between 1,900 to 3,500 watts to startup and uses 600 to 1,700 watts per hour to run.

4. How many watts does a portable AC use?

Portable AC wattage is typically around 700 and 1500 watts, but the exact amount will depend on the cooling capacity and brand. Ideally, if the BTU rating is higher, the wattage will also be higher.

Conclusion

An RV outdoor adventure is more convenient and more enjoyable because you can experience the outdoors and nature without leaving your comfort behind. So, you should be able to run your RV air conditioner too, but how many watts does RV AC use, and how can you support it? It depends on the size, manufacturer, and the BTU of your RV AC. You need about 600 to 1700 watts to run an average-sized RV air conditioner.

We have discussed the capacity and the runtime of leading RV ACs and Jackery solar power generators. These generators have enough capacity and are safe, reliable, and fast charging to make your RV-ing experience smooth and trouble-free. You can choose one for your requirements based on the information laid out in this article.