How to run my RV Air Conditioner on the campsite?

Air conditioners have the highest start-up current of all electrical devices commonly used in recreational vehicles. However, this current level is only required for fractions of a second; the level required in continuous operation is much lower. As the mains hookups on most campsites are fitted with a delay fuse, the short-time peaks are normally no problem.

Smooth start-up: Dometic FreshJet 2200 /3200

The two high-performance FreshJet versions are especially powerful and they have a feature that makes them start up properly even at campsites where there is an unstable power supply: the soft-start function. This gives the motor an additional boost in the start-up phase. The start-up phase is significantly reduced and ends before the (delay) fuse can respond.

Another benefit: drops in the voltage due to long improvised leads (cable drums) are generally tolerated.

“We like going to the smaller campsites in the south, but sometimes in the past I was really fed up with it. You want to get the A/C running, and the fuse blows. You try again, the same! There’s simply too little juice coming from the mains hook-up. Things are quite different now with our new FreshJet air conditioner from Dometic. We picked the FreshJet 2200. It was a hot tip from our dealer, who told us it would be the best choice for our caravan, and it would also provide heating in chilly nights. Despite the enormous power, he assured us, we wouldn’t have any power supply problems at the campsite. The integrated soft-start function takes care of that, he explained. It gives the motor an extra boost in the critical start-up phase, so it’s up and running before the fuse can blow. I trusted him, and he was right. It works a treat – even at smaller campsites, and even with a powerhouse like our FreshJet 2200.”

Andreas (41) – Cologne