Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Kevin Waite on August 22, 2012, 11:00:47 am

Title: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Kevin Waite on August 22, 2012, 11:00:47 am
Yahoo Message Number: 81888 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81888)
To All Country Coach Owners:

I need your help this time around I am going to be installing my first Amish Cooling Unit next week & I have seen a couple of CC owners post some installation instructions and a couple of videos for this installation in past, I would like to request this information & video to look over and watch before my install next week. Any help from you guys would be much appreciated.

Kevin Waite (Former Country Coach Service Tech.) K&M Mobile R.V. Repair LLC
95430 Noraton Rd.

Junction City, OR. 97448
541-953-6162 (Cell)

kvn.wt.7629@... (kvn.wt.7629@...)
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Scott on August 22, 2012, 12:01:27 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81890 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81890)
Kevin - Here's the link to my experience: http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68#Post68 (http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68#Post68) The Pines RV Refrigeration cooling unit is heavy and clumsy to jockey around. It also has two cooling coils. That means contention for the AC outlet on some busses and also different mounting of the cooling fans. The hardest part (I think) is getting the sealing of the cold pack right. I got a can of Great Stuff (for the sealant) which I think isn't really all that great. BIG pain in the butt to work with. The next tricky part is working with the thermal mastic. The burner box may need to be tweaked as well as the condensate drain pan. As you can see in my photos, I installed the cooling unit working with gravity. I then crawled underneath the frig to install all the hardware. All the holes did line up perfectly. The most important part is getting a good seal on the cold pack and making sure the thermal mastic is proper. Getting the aluminum duct tape in behind the fins is also a bit awkward but with patience it goes well. Hope this helps you a little bit. The second, third and forth installs will go easier. Good luck.

At 08:00 AM 8/22/2012, you wrote:
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: C Marshall on August 22, 2012, 12:02:11 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81891 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81891)
I am going to Have Chris Snyder in Tucson do mine as he has done quite a few. I know he has a helper

and believe he built a platform to slide the refrigerator on for the installation.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Original Message:
-----------------

From: Kevin Waite angel7629@... (angel7629@...) Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:00:42 -0700 To: country-coach-owners@yahoogroups.com (country-coach-owners@yahoogroups.com) Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Amish Cooling Unit Install

To All Country Coach Owners: I need your help this time around I am going to be installing my first

Amish Cooling Unit next week & I have seen a couple of CC owners post some installation instructions

and a couple of videos for this installation in past, I would like to request this information & video to look over and watch before my install next week. Any help from you guys would be much appreciated.

Kevin Waite (Former Country Coach Service Tech.)K&M Mobile R.V. Repair LLC95430 Noraton Rd. Junction

City, OR. 97448541-953-6162 (Cell)kvn.wt.7629@... (kvn.wt.7629@...)
mail2web.com ? Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail (http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail)
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Barneym55 on August 22, 2012, 12:51:10 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81892 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81892)
I struggled with the decision to do this or replace with a residential frig for months. Went with the Samsung and I am glad I did. Head and shoulders a better refrigerator for about the same cost as replacing the cooling unit. No frost, the icemaker works great.
The Samsung will go from 90 degrees to full cold in about 3 hours and only uses 1 amp (120 watts) to run. Easily handled by the inverter and batteries.

Just my 2 cents,

Barney

07 Inspire 52059
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Judy on August 22, 2012, 12:53:09 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81893 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81893)
Kevin, here is a link to the installation. I also have instructions that I will email to you in a little while. Looking forward to finally meeting you! The unit is at the freight terminal in Eugene and I will pick it up Monday. See you Tuesday.

Judy

Norcold 1200 LRIM Cooling Unit Repair - Log Hill Mesa (http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=68#Post68)
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Kevin Waite on August 22, 2012, 12:58:08 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81894 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81894)
Judy:

Wanted to let you know that I did receive by UPS some parts for your install.

Kevin

Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Kevin Waite on August 22, 2012, 01:23:56 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81895 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81895)
Scott:

Thank you for the link, kind of looks pretty basic except for a few items.
Note: Wanted to thank you all for your input, that is what makes this forum the best !!

Kevin

Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Jay Williams on August 22, 2012, 01:59:10 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81896 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81896)
Kevin,

I would be interested in your (technical) opinion regarding the Amish conversion versus residential refrigerator swap out. We have all read compelling arguments supporting both options, and I'd like to hear what the (no offense to anyone) pro's have to say.

Thanks for being part of this community!

Jay

05 Inspire 51457 with a well functioning 1200, but someday....
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Jock Vargo on August 22, 2012, 05:21:34 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81898 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81898)
Kevin,

I had an Amish cooling unit installed in my Inspire in May. You will pretty much need two people to move the refer out and back in. There were two big guys and it look like a lot of muscle was needed. It took them just about 4 hours to complete the job. Good Luck

Jock Vargo
2005 Inspire
51248
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Larry F on August 22, 2012, 06:28:34 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81899 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81899)
When I installed my Amish cooling unit on my Domestic 1292, I built a platform on wheels (moving dolly) that allowed easy manuevering of the frige once I got it out of the hole. One man Job for me.

Larry,03 Allure, 30856
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Smitty on August 22, 2012, 07:33:48 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81900 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81900)
Hi Kevin,

Lots of good info sharing and 'how to' from this gang. I'll add a few more items that might be of interest to the owner:

1) SS-30 Extinguisher, in the cabinet behind the fridge
2) Fire Alarm in the same place
3) Add a Roof Top Solar Panel Vent, that is hooked up to be on when the fridge is on, and sunlight is outside.
4) Add a hard wired on/off computer pancake fan, down low on the cooling unit pipes. Pointing up and angled slightly in towards the back of the fridge. (The switch is added to the front wood cabinet that the fridge sits in. I turn on ours manually, when in real hot weather conditions.)

We did have to relocate our outlet, but not a big deal. Others I've talked to have played with the stock fans, and added in different thermocouples(SP?). I felt with all of the different fan options I had, it was not needed.
The extinquisher, fire alarm and lower pancake fan (attached with simple wire zip's) are all accessible via the outside access point.
Our unit runs cool and consitent, and does much better then the stock unit, and I feel it does it in about a 1/3 of the time.
For those who want to retain the LP cooling option, this cooling unit is a good option. The Samsung is also a nice unit, and for those without the desire for LP capability - is a good option too.
Many of the above was overkill, added as cheap insurance. I added the SS-30 after seeing the fist 'Norcold' recall, and then the following mickey mouse onces after that.
Some coaches have the fridge in a slide (though I admit I don't know if the CC's do this or not - never noticed) and the extra pan cake fan can help keep things cool:)!

Best to all, and Kevin have fun adding the amish cooling unit:)! Smitty

04 Allure 31017
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Larry F on August 22, 2012, 09:28:30 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81901 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81901)
P.S. I installed the cooling unit with the frig standing up on the platform. I secured it to the rolling platform with a cargo strap. Trying to tip over that 300 lb (?) Unit to the floor scared me. Instead of prying out the old cooling unit from the back, I used a 3' 2 X4 and a 2 lb hammer and banged/forced it out from the inside of the frige. It came out OK and the new one went in ok, but not easy. Good luck.

Larry
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Ridgleyjames@ymail Com on August 23, 2012, 10:49:10 am
Yahoo Message Number: 81912 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81912)
TWI, can you tell me Chris Snyder in Tucson company and phone number I would like to talk with him about refer cooling changeout. Thanks JR 2006 Allure 430 #31317
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Kevin Waite on August 23, 2012, 11:07:05 am
Yahoo Message Number: 81913 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81913)
JR:

Chris Snyder (520-665-1014)

Kevin Waite
541-953-6162

Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Mike948@aol Com on August 23, 2012, 11:54:41 am
Yahoo Message Number: 81915 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81915)
has any one tried to do a group buy on the amish cooling units

mike

2004 allure 31021
Title: Re: Amish Cooling Unit Install
Post by: Scott on August 23, 2012, 12:14:19 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 81916 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/81916)
Kevin - You and your brother helped me. Balanced give and take works well to keep internet communications healthy. Please let me know how your experience goes with the cooling unit.

At 10:23 AM 8/22/2012, you wrote: