RecPro 12V RV Air Conditioner

The van life and RV life can be an amazing adventure. This adventure often takes us into warmer climates, where the sun bears down without letting up. Even within a shaded campground, this heat can get a bit too much for comfort. To cool down their rigs, many people choose to open up a window or run a fan. These options can only take you so far, though. The fans take up precious space and might only push the hot air around, doing nothing for the humidity. Opening a door or window can let bugs in and even let the cool air escape. For the best cooling, you'll need an air conditioner. RV air conditioners answer the question of how to cool down your space without taking up floor space or letting bugs into your rig and with an easy operation. And if you're looking for a model that runs off of 12V power, then you're in the right place.

This is a direct wire 12V RV air conditioner unit, but what's so special about that? Well, from the excellent performance and energy efficiency rating to the high comfort and low noise to the lightweight and durable material and construction, this 12V RV AC unit has a lot to offer. It can even save you money, as this unit does not require the use of a soft starter device, which can easily cost $300 or more! A soft starter device is an often expensive tool that reduces the initial influx of power from your battery to the AC. When your battery turns on, it can produce a charge that is too high for a typical AC unit, which can lead to damage and malfunction, but our RecPro 12v Air Conditioner does not need you to get or use a soft starter device!

Excellent Performance and Energy Efficiency 

This RV AC unit is a direct wire unit into a 12V system. It is important to note that you DO NOT plug this into a 110V system, as doing so will fry the unit and void the warranty. Once plugged into the 12V system, this unit has a maximum current of 100 Amps with a wattage ranging from around 950W to 1100W, depending on the ambient temperature. This unit is non-ducted, so you will get all of the air on the inner side of the unit, rather than getting a softer stream that goes through a ducted system. This helps you feel more comfortable, having all of the cool air coming out of one place. This unit is also cooling capable only, not including a heating system or heat strip. Once installed correctly, this unit should be able to last you for many trips to come. And you don’t have to limit this unit to just an RV. It can be installed on an RV, camper, van, trailer, and tiny home, and more.

High Comfort and Low Noise

Often, what happens with RV air conditioners is that they provide you with cool air at the cost of a loud noise level. So you have to trade sitting in the sweltering heat for sitting in a room where you can barely hear yourself think, not even mentioning hearing someone else talk. And while noise isn't the biggest factor in choosing an air conditioner unit, it's a pretty big one. This unit has an indoor decibel level of 65 db. That's about as loud as a casual conversation. So instead of having a full rock concert in your limited space, this RV air conditioning unit allows you to have your own quiet time with just the small hum.

This unit also comes with a few more features for your comfort and convenience. First, it comes with a removable filter screen that allows you to remove it and clean it, rather than waiting for it to need to be replaced entirely. The easy to clean filter allows you to quickly remove it, clean it, and replace it so that you can keep your air fresh and clean. It is also designed with a soft starter inverter driven compressor to ensure a smooth ramp-up to full speed. This means you don't have to worry about your lights flickering whenever you turn on your air conditioner and you can know that your AC unit is able to warm up to the ambient temperature, extending its life even further. Once warmed up, it is able to cool the temperature of the air by about 17 to 24 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that if you camp in an area with extreme heat, it will be a good idea to help out your AC unit by following the tips below.

Lightweight and Durable

This RV air conditioner unit has an aluminum chassis construction with an ABS UV-resistant cover. Made in America, this unit is durable and able to withstand the rigors of the road. It can be installed in a standard 14" by 14" opening and it is best installed on a completely flat roof. When installing it, make sure to create a tight seal between the air conditioner unit and the roof, as a poor seal can create issues that will need to be addressed down the road. If you are installing this unit on a curved/mesa/grooved/otherwise not smooth and flat roof, you may need a frame for the gaps as well as sealant. Any modifications to the AC unit itself will void the warranty.

Inside the unit, there is a single wheel large diameter spal blower motor with dual spal 12" puller fans. The coils, both evaporator and condenser, are enhanced with copper tubing and corrugated aluminum fins for better durability and efficiency. Within the electrical components of this unit, there are safety measures put in place. Specifically, this unit is equipped with safety switches to protect the compressor from premature failure.

Maintenance

While this unit is low maintenance, there are two areas that need to be inspected and cleaned if needed: the air filter and the condenser coil.

The air filter in this model is washable and should be periodically rinsed out. This filter is designed to capture dirt, dust, grease, lint, and more, preventing them from getting into the internal parts of the AC unit and into the air. There is only so much stuff that can get caught in this filter, though, before it gets clogged and can't do its job well anymore. When this filter becomes clogged, it can cause problems with the unit, including lowered air flow volume and compressor short cycling. Luckily, cleaning the air filter is a pretty simple and straightforward process. Remove the four thumb screws from the air filter retaining ring. Lower the ring and filters from the ceiling assembly. Rinse out the air filter with water from a sink faucet, dry, and then reassemble. Make sure that the filter is completely dry before placing it back into the AC unit. Do not operate your AC unit for extended periods of time without the air filter installed. This AC Unit comes with a preinstalled gasket.

The condenser coil can become partially clogged with dust, dirt, grease, and general road debris just from driving down the road over time. Because of this wear and tear, it's important to rinse out the coil with water once a year. Use only normal water pressure from a standard water hose to clean it. DO NOT use high pressure water, as this can lead to damage on the aluminum fins, which can then lead to system failure. Only use normal, lower water pressure. You don't necessarily need to do any scrubbing on the coils, as just rinsing off this dirt and debris once a year will ensure maximum system performance over time