Hi everyone! I'm working on installing a rooftop RV air conditioner on my 1997 Suzuki Carry (DD51T model). My truck has a 3-cylinder F6A carbureted engine, a 340 CCA battery, and a stock 12V/60AMP alternator. According to my manual, when all lights are on, the truck draws about 298 watts, but the RV AC consumes around 3000 watts. I did some calculations and figured that my 12V battery with a 60 AMP alternator could provide up to 720 watts. Is my math correct? I plan to upgrade to a 100 AMP alternator, but I'm confused about the total power output that implies. Shouldn't that be 1200 watts? Also, since the stock alternator cable is 24AWG and quite old, I'd like suggestions for a replacement. Thanks!
1 Answer
It looks like you're mixing up power requirements here! Your 60 amp alternator is meant to supply up to 60 amps for charging while running other electrical components. However, your RV AC unit requires 70 amps on its own, meaning you'd need at least a 130 amp alternator to operate everything safely without overloading. Keep in mind, your little engine might struggle to handle that much load, so definitely double-check the compatibility before making a purchase!
You might want to look into an RV AC that has lower power needs, like the one I found that uses 12V/700 watts. That might work better with your 60 amp setup!