Adding Air Conditioning Q’s….

[John-in-Texas]

Our E19 is due for delivery in about a month. Although I asked ETI for a Houghton 9.5, they would only agree to installing the 13.5. I caved and accepted this with the heat pump, although I've heard that the 13.5 is overkill.
The rest of the build sheet includes a lead-acid battery, no solar and no inverter. I plan to do a DIY install of 3 x 250W 24v Rich Solar panels in series on the roof, a battery bank of two 12v Epoch 460Ah batteries wired in series, 24v Victron components and a 24v-12v step-down transformer. I invite y'all to comment on the wisdom of this design.
I'm in the process of completing the Explorist Power Audit as a start for inviting their design input. Questions: 1). In trying to determine the daily watt-hour requirements for a Houghton AC, how often does your Houghton cycle on-off in hot summer and how long does it usually run? 2). I've ordered the E19 with the Norcold N2175 12v compressor fridge. Again, how often does this fridge cycle on-off in hot summer and how long does it usually run each day?
I have a Westinghouse 2500W dual fuel inverter generator, and plan to add a SoftStart to the air conditioner. Will the AC (and Softstart) be happy with this generator? Should I plan to upgrade the battery bank to a second pair of series-wired 460Ah batteries, with each pair wired in parallel?
To anyone who's had the perservance to read this far, I say, "Thank you," and I invite your comments and advice. All the best.
John-in-Texas

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

transformers only work on AC, I assume you meant a DC-DC 24 to 12V converter.

I find the N2175 uses about 600 WH/day total. I have a 5200 WH 12V battery (2 x 12V 206AH in parallel), and it can run the fridge and the rest of my usual DC loads for a solid week with the solar disabled, my 360W single 36V solar panel recharges the battery most days by 10 or 11am. If the battery is deeply discharged, it can take two sunny days to bring it back to 100%.

 

[John-in-Texas]

Thanks for setting me straight on the DC-DC converter vs a transformer. I didn't know what I don't know. I appreciate knowing your experience of the fridge and managing power requirements. All the best.
John-in-Texas

 

[Chamberman]

Questions: 1). In trying to determine the daily watt-hour requirements for a Houghton AC, how often does your Houghton cycle on-off in hot summer and how long does it usually run?

There are so many variables here that it's going to be hard to compare one E19 to an E19 in another part of the country. Not only ambient temps and humidity levels outside, but is the trailer in full sun, partial shade or full shade? What is the thermostat setting inside? Does the trailer have spray foam insulation underneath and which window options. How many people are in each trailer, how much in-out traffic is going on and is cooking going on inside of the trailer? Even the difference between 9.5k & 13.5k BTU units will likely have different WH usage rates even in otherwise identical conditions.

There's a lot of scenario's that generate heat in normal usage that will add significantly to the runtime of the AC and these will mostly go unaccounted for.

 

[Rockhead]

John in Texas. Have you considered installing a 9500 your self. I’d get the heat pump version. It’s easy todo. I was able todo this myself with the aid of an electric winch. Ask friends or family to help n make it a day with a cook out. Just a thought

 

[John-in-Texas]

Hi Rockhead,
That was my plan until RecPro said the 9500 heat pump was out of stock with no delivery date in sight. I settled for the 13500.
John

 

[CharlesinGA]

I guess I got lucky, I ordered a 9500 with heat pump option on June 14 and received it on June 20th.

Note to the op of this thread, the weight difference is about 31 lbs. The 9500 is listed as being 68 lbs installed and the low profile heat pump 13.5K is 99 lbs installed.

I've rarely run the A/C in my trailer, but have used the heater (furnace or space heater) quite a bit to take the night chill off the inside, so the heat pump was a no brainer. I had a Coleman heat pump on my '07 Winnebago View motor home and used it alot.

Charles