How many deep cycle batteries to power an air conditioner?

[Big Ying]

My thinking is all night, 10-12 hours, assuming you have a place to keep them. Here in Florida, boondockin, or staying in a place like Ocala National Forest campgrounds (no hook-ups) is way too hot and humid in the summer without air conditioning. I don't want a generator and am just thinking out loud. Anyone know how many batteries it would take?

[g1g]

It takes a lot more than you can carry. You better go back and rethink the generator option. It just isn't feasable.

[Big Ying]

You can carry a lot if you have a trailer hitch. I'm just wondering if it would be 6, or 20, or whatever.

[markopolo]

There are lots of variables such as how much cooling you need.

Hours: 12
Air Conditioner draw: example 1800 watt, 15 amp AC = 150 amp hours DC (actually probably worse than this once inverter inefficiencies are factored in)

If the air condition runs for 20 minutes every hour then that is 4 hours total runtime.

4 hours x 150 amp hours = 600 amp hours

Don't discharge more than 50% so 600 amp hours x 2 = 1200 amp hours.

So, in this guesstimate, 10 x 120AH group 27 deep cycle batteries would do it.

Now here’s a big problem………….

How do you replace the 600 amp hours used to be ready to use it again the next night?

[Big Ying]

I was kind of assuming 1 night only, here in florida, during the summer. Take it home and charge them back up. However, if you got a small trailer, you could put a whole lot of batteries on it and maybe could do two nights. Expensive for sure, but so is a generator and gasoline. Thanks for the reply Marc. It gives me a basic idea. I'm not saying I'm going to run out and do it. I'm a new campervan person and need to take a lot of trips and practice to determine if I would ever feel the need to consider something like that.