Camping is a favorite outdoor activity, especially during hot weather. Even so, high temperatures can quickly make the experience uncomfortable, whether camping in a tent, van, or an RV. Adding a portable air conditioner to your camping itinerary is necessary to keep you and your loved ones cool and comfortable.
The best part about portable air conditioners for camping is that they have improved significantly over the years. Now, they can run for many hours without plugging them into a power source, and some of them use batteries, breaking free from corded power sources.
In the next part of the article, we’ll look at the different types of camping tent air conditioners and what you must look at when buying one.
Types of Camping Tent Air Conditioners
Portable air conditioners provide a more convenient option for cooling spaces such as tents and RVs. As the name suggests, they can be moved from one place to another, hence an excellent solution for campers.
When buying a portable AC, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by the available models. Knowing the different types of camping tent air conditioners can help you choose one that meets your needs. Here are the most common categories:
Portable Evaporative Coolers
These air conditioners are more compact than regular ACs and come equipped with wheels to move them quickly from one place to another. Evaporative coolers use the principle of evaporation to cool a space.
The fan draws warm, dry air into the machine, which is absorbed by wet filter pads for cooling by at least 20 degrees and then released as cool, humidified air. Portable evaporative coolers are more affordable, easy to maintain, and have lower running costs than other air conditioners.
However, they’re more suitable for dry climates with extremely low humidity. Also, they function best when placed near or in front of an open window, which might not be appealing when camping in hot and windy areas.
As for their maintenance, it would help to conduct checks yearly to keep them in optimal condition. The filters need cleaning, while the exhaust pipe and water tank must be emptied. Also, the exhaust pipe must be inspected for holes and replaced.
Window Air Conditioners
These ACs are also called vented air conditioners as they have a window kit and remove hot air and moisture through an exhaust hose. Window air conditioners are suitable for campers visiting areas with hot and humid climates because they can cool down a space more efficiently.
The only downside is that they’re energy-intensive, requiring an external power supply, e.g., from the BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station.
The device packs up to 268Wh of power, enough to keep a 20W fan running for up to 11 hours, a mini-fridge functional for 3.6 hours, charge a 200W solar panel, and keep 5-watt lights on for 30 hours.
Moreover, the power station has multiple outlets for connecting an AC, a Qi wireless charging pad, an LED light, an Apple TV video streamer, and a 65-inch 4K TV, allowing you to enjoy all such comforts away from home. You’ll also love that BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station has a longer lifespan than other power stations.
The power station uses LiFePO4 batteries, which have more charge cycles (2500) than Li-ion batteries, rated for 500 charge cycles only. This means you’ll use the power station long before it loses capacity or needs replacing.
Battery-powered Portable Air Conditioners
If you’re looking for a more compact AC unit or camping in areas not equipped with electric outlets, battery-powered ACs are the best. You can easily power a 12-volt air conditioner with a solar panel, generator or other power source without electricity. The only downside is that they aren’t as powerful as electric-powered air conditioners.
Portable Spot Coolers
These devices are also called spot air conditioners. They are portable and pretty handy, providing targeted cooling to spaces, people, or equipment. Portable spot coolers function much like air conditioners.
Once the air is drawn to the unit across two sets of coils, it goes to the condenser and the evaporator for cooling. Some of the heat is emitted through the vents in the AC, but for other units, a duct is installed to carry heat out through the ceiling panel, door, or window.
Spot coolers are ideal for cooling large tents as they’re more energy-intensive than other ACs.
In addition to keeping a tent or RV calm, spot coolers help keep food and drink fresh for extended periods. For this scenario, you may need more than one spot cooler.
What to Look for When Buying a Portable Air Conditioner
You want to look at a few factors when buying a portable air conditioner for camping:
Size and Portability
You want to bring easy items to pack and carry when going camping. Therefore, the AC shouldn’t weigh you down or take up too much space in the vehicle. A good rule of thumb is to find one that strikes the balance between weight and power.
Larger units are usually more potent than smaller units, but add to your load. Conversely, smaller units are easier to carry but have less cooling power. At the same time, consider the camping activities you want to undertake.
Are you planning to move from one campsite to another or want to stay put in your RV? If the latter, a large AC is more suitable. However, if you’re moving from campsite to campsite for tailgating, consider how large and heavy the unit should be.
BTU Rating
BTU is an acronym for the British Thermal Unit, which determines the amount of heating or cooling power an air conditioner can provide. This metric is critical to determining whether an air conditioner will heat or cool a space adequately.
For camping, air conditioners with BTUs of 6000-8000 should suffice. Large tents need air conditioners with more BTUs for effective cooling.
Runtime
Buy an air conditioner that can run for extended periods. Check the runtime and if there are ways of increasing it, e.g., by connecting the unit to a portable power station. Determine how long you need to keep the AC running to keep you comfortable.
Ease of Installation
You don’t want to spend too much time setting up an air conditioner in the day's heat. Look for one that’s easy to set up. Many portable air conditioners don’t have complicated instructions; hence, they are easy to set up.
At the same time, learn about maintaining the unit, e.g., removing dirt or leaves that get stuck in the air conditioner. You may also familiarize yourself with specific issue codes to understand their meaning.
Power Source
Portable air conditioners run on batteries, AC/DC power, or both. If the campsite is powered, an AC running on AC power will do the trick. However, only a few campsites support AC power, so you want a unit that can use alternative power sources like DC, batteries, or solar power.
For example, air conditioners powered by DC power can run on an RV’s alternator. If going for a battery-powered air conditioner, check the run times to ensure they keep you cool for extended periods.
If they can’t it would help to carry backup power sources like solar generators. The EcoFlow WAVE 2 air conditioner, for example, can be paired with a solar generator for longer off-grid runtimes.
Ease of Use
A portable air conditioner shouldn’t be too complicated to operate. It would help to find out how essential factors like drainage, ventilation, and installation affect the ease of use. You may look for portable air conditioners with additional features like a vent board or air duct adapters that ease such operations.
Operation
Lastly, check how the air conditioner operates. While its primary goal is to keep a space cool, it should also be able to dehumidify a space. A unit that circulates air only won’t cut in scorching climates. Look for an air conditioner that removes heat and humidity.
FAQs
Are Portable Air Conditioners Ideal for Tents?
You can use a portable air conditioner for cooling a tent especially during the night. However, you want to bring a unit that doesn’t need drainage and has easy ventilation. You may bring extra ventilation support to ensure the unit is installed safely.
What Happens if the Air Conditioner Doesn’t Have Adequate Ventilation
Inadequate ventilation causes heat buildup. As a result, the unit won’t cool the a space as effectively as it would.
Can You Use Portable Air Conditioners for Cooling in the Outdoors?
Portable air conditioners can be used outdoors. However, they wouldn’t cool a space as effectively as they would in enclosed spaces like a tent or recreational vehicle.
Conclusion
With this guide, you can easily find the best portable air conditioner for camping. Begin by determining the best type for your excursion- battery-powered, spot coolers, evaporative coolers or evaporative air conditioners. Then check its BTU rating, mode of operation, power source runtime, and ease of installation, among other factors that may affect your experience. Be sure to learn more about the camping area beforehand, as it significantly affects the type of air conditioner you may purchase.
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