Using solar panels to power an air conditioning unit is like using the Sun's power against itself. Do the little things to reduce the HeatKeep the Air Flowing Generally speaking, your camper or RV can get as hot as a tin can sitting in the Sun. Or, with a little planning, your Camper can be set up to maximize the cool air flow through the unit for your comfort with very little extra effort. It really doesn't matter if you have a simple Pop-Up or a big Motor Coach loaded with your personal luxuries, you need to know what you can do to chip away at those things that are allowing your RV to get hotter than necessary. Eventually, you will realize that you need to be smart and do everything possible to keep your camper cool when you end up in a campsite that gets really hot. At the same time, you want do things that help you cool your camper as economically as possible. To this end, keep reading to see a number of common sense hints that you can follow to stay cool in even the hottest weather.

A Shady Spot in Sedona Arizona First - Understand Mother NatureThere are some things that are just basic rules of Nature and you need to recognize their existence. Once you accept these simple facts, then you can use them to your advantage. It will be Cooler at night than during the day. The Sun will rise on the Eastern side of your RV, and it will set on the Western side of your RV. It is Cooler in the shade than in the direct Sunlight. Moving Air will Cool your Body while Still Air will seem hotter to your Body. Hot Air rises and Cold Air drops. I know, these are simple facts that we all know, almost instinctively, but if you utilize them to your advantage you can dramatically reduce the heat in your RV. Use available Shade, and add your ownShade is your friend. When you pull into a campground in the Summer, always ask the check-in people if they have what would be an ideal campsite for cool camping. An ideal Campsite would be one with a shade tree or two to pull your RV under, while also being a site with a nice breeze, especially in the heat of the afternoon.

It may be nice camping in the Sun; say near the Beach, but it will also be significantly hotter. And, if your camper is painted with dark colors, wow! It will absorb a lot more heat than a light colored camper. So you need to overcome these problems. Window and Main Awnings: When you set up your RV, open all of your window awnings. These awnings provide a nice shade at your windows, and increases the opportunity for cooler air around your RV. You will find that, It can be as much as five degrees cooler in the shade than in the direct Sun.home ac unit brands Also, try to pick a campsite that allows your largest awning to be either on the East or West of your RV, depending on whether you tend to be outdoors in the morning or the evening part of the day.how much does it cost to have a new ac unit installed

Many campers with a built-on awning will even have a sunscreen attached to the outer edger of the Main Awning. The Main Awning and these sunscreens can be lifesavers if your camper is sitting in the afternoon sun and, of course, they allow you a little more comfortable outside living area. Don't be afraid to stretch a Tarp near or connected to your RV for added shade. Tarps are cheap, they store in a small space, and they can provide additional cool shade at your site. If you add a Tarp between a couple of trees, or a tree and a pole that you have planted, then you have added a shaded and thus cooler area right at your RV that you and your family can enjoy.what size ac unit to buy If you have a Beach umbrella, then, of course, you should use it! Even if you are not at the Beach, stick your umbrella in the ground, open it up and enjoy this extra little area of shade at your campsite.

Windows and Screens and Ceiling FansIf your AC can't handle the job, then open the windows on the shady side of your RV, while keeping the windows in the direct sun closed. You want to maintain good air circulation in your RV, so set your RV windows up so that you are pulling in cool air not hot air with your ceiling or other fans. Along this same line you should close the shades on the sunny side of your RV. You need to keep that direct Sunlight out of your RV. Many people will even place a sun reflector, similar to those used on automobiles to reflect the direct sun back and out of the camper. When the sun is coming into your RV, it is heating up everything it lands on, so shade or reflect that sunlight. Once your camper is set up as described above, you can utilize your ceiling fan to suck the hot air from your RV, and thus pull the cooler outside air into your RV. This is especially important if you are cooking inside your RV. You want to get that heated air outside immediately.

Your Air ConditionerUsing your AC Most RVs and Campers, today, have at least one roof AC unit. When used with a little forethought, you can maximize the AC units effectiveness while minimizing the Electricity used. Usually, the first thing in the morning, the AC is not going to be necessary, if you use your awnings, windows screens and ceiling fans as described. Often, you can easily get through the mid-morning timeframe before you need to turn on your AC. Once your inside temperature approacjes 75F or so, turn the AC on, close all of the windows, but leave your ceiling fan on, running at a low speed. This will allow the fan to pull out the hot air near the ceiling, and reduce the load on the AC unit somewhat. Remember it is trying to cool your inside air, and specifically it is trying to cool that air right at the ceiling. Once your inside temperature has reached 85F or higher and your Ac unit/s are running wide open you should consider turning them off and opening your RV up for more air flow inside.

Set your AC to run into the early evening timeframe. At some point, before dusk, you will notice that the outside air temperature is dropping. It may still be hot, but it will be noticeably cooler than it was during the midday hours. At this point turn off your AC, and open ALL of YOUR WINDOWS, turn the ceiling fan on high, and get that cool outside air flowing into the RV. Once your inside temperature has dropped enough, then you can turn your AC back on and get that RV cooler for the night. Using this process will really minimize your electricity usage. If you plan properly, you can do a lot of your cooking outside of your RV, thus reducing the indoor heat during the day Here are a few tips: Cook most of your food outside of the RV. Either on a Grill, or in electric frying pans, electric broilers, Crock Pots, etc. Plan your groceries for meals that can be prepared outside, and you will really reduce the heat in your RV. And, of course, the cook will be a lot more comfortable than if they were cooking inside a small kitchen inside a RV.

Make cooking an outdoor social event where everyone participates, and it will be a lot more fun for everyone. Another hint, that is a great time saver, and an electricity saver is to cook enough for significant leftovers. It takes a lot less work and electricity to warm up leftovers than to cook just enough for one meal at a time. One thing that you can do to keep Cool is to add fresh vegetables and fruits into dishes that everyone will enjoy. When you serve these dishes, you are saving on the energy it would take to prepare a Hot dish and face it, people usually prefer a nice cool dish as a part of a meal when it is hot, anyway. Rate my Hub for Me! Plan your day to stay awayWhat most people call "the heat of the day" is usually considered to be from around 11AM until an hour or so, just before Sunset. Plan your day so that you are busy during this period of the day. If you need to shop for groceries, or go see the sites, or Fish, or go Boating, plan these outside activities for the heat of the day, and stay away from that hot RV.

Plan your day to spend your outside time socializing, or just sitting around your campsite with a cool drink for the time starting just before dark, when the outside temperature is starting to cool down. Follow these hints and your time spent camping in the Summer will be more enjoyable for everyone and certainly Cooler. Follow these tips and you will soon notice that you are enjoying your camping experience much more and everyone is having a better time together. operating an RV Awning How to Maintain your RV Air Conditioner How to restring an RV Pleated Shade © 2010 Don Bobbitt More by this AuthorCampers & MotorhomesYour RV, Motorhome or Camper Generator and How It WorksThis article provides a history of Campers and Generators, as well as great tips on how your generator operates and how to service it properly.The tips listed here should be useful to any RV camper. Campers & MotorhomesAn RV Buying SCAM - A Warning for Motorhome Owners who want to sellThis article explains how one of the more popular Scams is being perpetrated on owners of RVs and Motorhomes.