Can I run my roof A/C's while driving?
Yes, you can run your roof A/Cs while driving in a Tiffin motorhome—but it depends on your setup:
✅ You Can Run Roof A/C While Driving If:
- You have a generator running – This is the most common setup in Tiffin Class A coaches. The generator provides 120V AC power to your air conditioners. It's designed for this and perfectly safe for long drives.
Bonus: it keeps the coach cool for passengers, pets, and your fridge.
- Your coach has an inverter large enough (typically not the case for A/C loads unless you've got a serious lithium + solar + hybrid inverter setup).
⚠️ Things to Watch For:
- Fuel consumption: Generator pulls from the same fuel tank as your engine.
- If fuel drops below ~1/4 tank, the generator will shut off to keep you from being stranded.
- Load management: Avoid running everything (e.g., both A/Cs, microwave, etc.) at once unless you know your generator can handle it—most Tiffin coaches have a load-shedding system to help.
👎 You Can’t Run Roof A/C on Batteries Alone:
- Air conditioners draw too much power for standard battery/inverter setups.
- Even lithium batteries would drain very fast without generator or shore power.