Running the AC with Cover on
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10559
Printed Date: 22 May 2025 at 5:24am
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Topic: Running the AC with Cover on
Posted By: clickscrazy
Subject: Running the AC with Cover on
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 5:02pm
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I have a poly pro cover (cheapo one). It is breathable and has venting at the top. What are you thoughts on running the AC with the cover on? ------------- 2018 R-Pod 171 2014 VW Touareg TDI |
Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 6:43pm
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Interesting. I think a RV AC does not use outside air, it recycles inside air. It condensates and expels moisture on the roof, which means you would have a moisture issue under the cover, you may have to deal with that. Personally I would not cover and then run AC, but that's me. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 6:48pm
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+1 ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 9:26pm
| I guess my question is ...WHY |
Posted By: spydie
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2017 at 11:08pm
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I question if the AC DOES indeed just recycle the inside air (like when you turn your car AC on maximum, or "recycle" setting) or does it cool the outside air? (we don't have a setting for recycle like home window air conditioners do). Either way, there is a lot of air movement from a fan pulling air over the condenser on the outside. I would question if your breathable cover will restrict any of the air flow. You would not want to put any burden on a fan/motor as it would shorten its life. ------------- 2018 R-pod 176 2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi 
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 7:56am
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If you pull the cover and look at the rooftop unit, you will see there is no provision for outside air to get into the unit. Outside air is used to cool the rooftop unit. There is no filters that would ensure outside particles would not enter the inside unit and stick to moist components. The issue I think is the outside air around the running AC could be 10-15 degrees above the ambient temp. So adding an additional cover could cause the outside to run hotter. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 8:01am
it is closed system.. that's why you have filters inside the pod, but not outside. ------------- |
Posted By: clickscrazy
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 10:59am
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The cover is pretty loose. Especially if I open the door flap or pull up the back just a bit. The moisture should not be a problem, it can easily run down the back. If anyone has one of the poly pro covers, you can literally see through it.
------------- 2018 R-Pod 171 2014 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: eye95
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 11:06am
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Condensed moisture will run off. Uncondensed moisture (humidity) will build under the cover. Moisture is the #1 enemy of TTs. ------------- <0> 2017 178 The "eye-Pod" 2011 Nissan Titan |
Posted By: clickscrazy
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 11:50am
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Does anyone have this cover? The poly Pro? ------------- 2018 R-Pod 171 2014 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2017 at 4:30pm
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That is probably the most popular cover there is for Pods. I would say most folks that have a custom fit cover have a Polypro. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2017 at 12:25pm
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Don't run the AC with the cover on. Even though the cover is vented, it would not allow sufficient air to get to the condenser coils in the outside part of the unit. That would mean that the unit could not get rid of the heat and it would probably cause the unit to fail. The evaporator coil that serves the inside unit does recycle the inside air, but the outside condenser coil needs unrestricted airflow to work. The only way you might get it to work would be to build a frame to set on the roof of your R-Pod to support the cover well away from the AC cover and allow for unrestricted airflow. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2017 at 1:31pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2017 at 5:30pm
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Did we ever learn why anyone would want/need to run the AC with the cover on?
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2017 at 5:54pm
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NO ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: spydie
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2017 at 7:12pm
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I assume he wanted to either exercise the A/C (which you should do monthly) or else he wanted to work inside it and it was too hot? ------------- 2018 R-pod 176 2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
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Posted By: clickscrazy
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2017 at 8:04pm
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To work inside. It's Florida. It's physically impossible to work inside it with no Ac.
I decided to just pull the cover back. There was a lot of hot air building up, and I think the Ac was not performing because of it. ------------- 2018 R-Pod 171 2014 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2017 at 9:17pm
That was probably the best move. I've seen covers for just the AC unit, but that would leave the rest of the roof unprotected. If you have the equipment, you could make a flap that you could open up when you want to work inside and close when you don't need the AC. You would need to have a really good heavy duty zipper or Velcro to hold it shut or just cut an opening to slide over the unit leaving it exposed and get the separate cover. Any of those options would be just about as much a pain in the neck as removing the cover since you would still need to get up on top to open or close such a flap or remove and install a separate cover. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |