Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air (Read 988 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Yahoo Message Number: 61457
I would like to know how much fuel/per hour I would burn to cool the entire coach down using the Coach AC..? Is it more efficient to just use the Cab AC while driving ??

Stan Inspire 2005

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61461
Forget the $$$ part. Stan, there is a coach interior high temperature tolerance point you need to find/learn for yourself . . . where the dash doesn't cut it and you have to go to the generator and roof A/C, or suffer. No calculation needed - the comfort factor will decide it for you.
Oh, on the gadget side, we use a small el cheapo electric floor fan to push the cool A/C air into the cockpit.

Lee
--

Lee Zaborowski

07 Intrigue 12153, Cat C-13

Author of 'RVers BEST PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS'

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61462
Stan, you know this will generate a lot of opinion. So, I'll give you mine.

All this assumes that you are comfortable under either scenario.
With the cab air option you will have a couple of HP load from the compressor, a small load on the alternator to run the HVAC fan and a large load during a short duty cycle for the main cooling fan. All of this is run by and engine that is already running most is efficiently using the rotational motion already present.
For the generator option you have to run an engine that is otherwise consuming no fuel and doing no other work to provide an efficient power sharing environment. In addition there is a lot of inefficiency involved in turning the fuel into electricity and converting the electricity into rotational power. Also, in my experience, the dash air will still need to run to provide relief from the intense reflected heat from the glass house.
I run the dash air only until rise into the high nineties. But I have a short coach with an excellent 19K BTU dash air conditioner.

Your mileage may vary.....literally.

George in Brimingham(currently in Santa Fe) '04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61467
Stan,

Ever since we purchased this coach in 2006, my dash air system (Evans Tempcon) would not cool properly so I used the generator/roof air option exclusively. I found it uses about 0.5 gal/hr when running and kept us very comfortable under all conditions we encountered. I needed to run the fans above the windshield to keep the cockpit area cool. After finally discovering that the hot and cold coolant feeds to the dash system were reversed (must have come from the factory that way) I find that system to be really powerful and we've been using it almost exclusively. Any change in fuel consumption that has occurred is imperceptible. Now my only complaint is the driver side vents are mounted next to the steering column and I have a hard time aiming them so they don't freeze my hands or legs when driving.

Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61475
Nate,

Thank You , I have to laugh, because our two hoses were also reversed. Currently we use the Dash Air while traveling. I was just concerned that the decrease in mileage would be significant.

Thank You

Stan Inspire 2005 51406

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61479
How did you discover that the hoses were reversed (in other words - how do I check to see if mine are reversed)?

John and Linda Walton

'06 Inspire DaVinci #51905

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61480
John & Linda,

It took several years of pursuing the wrong line of inquiry. Every time I told a technician about it, I emphasized that the system would not cool properly so he would check its cooling capability and declare it to be working fine. However, after an hour or so on the road, it would no longer cool. The breakthrough came this past February when I had the coach out of storage and was driving to Tampa. I turned on the vent and found that it was actually heating. That's when I realized I did not have a cooling problem, but a heating problem. I explained that to the next technician I took it to and he finally discovered the mis-connected supply lines. So, if on a cool day yours is heating when you just want ventilation, it's likely your hoses are reversed. I wonder how many other CC's came of the line with those hoses reversed.

Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043

Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61481
When I had my diesel pusher with the Evans dash air, I had to run the dash air plus two roof airs to keep cool in the AZ sun.

Glen w/SOB

Re: Dash Air

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61482
Hello campers,

If your dash air is heating when it should be cooling... or even cooling, but not very well, I recommend you check the heat control valve (CC called it the "H valve"). It is located inside the front cap, forward of the firewall. It is possible that it is not closing completely, allowing hot coolant to circulate.
My coach went through three defective valves before I finally got a good one.
Once again, those wretched people at Country Coach didn't bat an eyelash about replacing them until it came out right. I hope they read the vendor the riot act!
Say what you will about CC, while they were in business, they stepped up to the plate every time for me.
Somewhere I read that a properly functioning dash air conditioning should give you a 22° temperature drop. Mine is significantly greater than that. On the hottest days, I'll see outlet temps in the low 50's.

Jay

05 Inspire 51457

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61483
Unbelievable! Same exact problem I had on my Magna. Bought the coach earlier this year and first warm time out dash A/C not cooling very well. Took it to Colton Truck and they replaced a few A/C fittings that showed signs of leakage and then recharged the system. Better but drove it 5 mi and turned around and went back to Colton. They checked the system again and everything was working properly. Then Rich the lead mechanic said he had seen some CC's with crossed hoses and asked if I wanted them to switch them. I told him to give it a try but thought with the coach 4+ yrs old surely that wasn't the problem. 15 minutes later dash A/C ice cold and will now freeze you out. Amazing CC had this issue.

Brian
05 Magna

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61490
Brian/Nate

The best part is we got it solved. It took me two years to solve the problem of hot water. The sink and everything else except the shower was fine, somehow the shower connection of cold and hot were backward, once corrected everything was ok.

Stan Inspire 2005

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61492
I had a similar problem with my coach. The chassis heat plumbing was correct but the wiring from the control knob was reversed. In other words, while traveling in cool to cold weather my wife, who likes the temp warmer than I do, would turn up the heat on her side. I would get so warm that I would turn down the heat on my side. She would get colder so turn the heat up higher. This endless cycle finally ended when I discovered that the drivers side temp control knob was wired to the passenger side plumbing valve. I swapped the wire connectors at the valve and has been great since.

George in Birmingham(currently in Santa Fe) '04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61496
Thank you. At least now I know what to watch for.

John and Linda Walton

'06 Inspire DaVinci #51905

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61497
My dash air has never worked properly either. When you guys say "the hoses are reversed," what hoses are you talking about? The freon coolant lines (red and blue) or the air ducts or what?

MelShapiro
'03 LEXA 6177

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61500
Mel,

I my case it was one where the coolant hoses from the engine were reversed. The warm/hot supply line was connected to the return fixture on the Tempcon unit so it was receiving hot water continuously. Consequently, even though the cooling system was working properly, the heat exchanger was hot and would warm that nice cold air.

Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043
 

Re: Air Condition from the Generater vs. the Cab Air

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 61514
hi nate

i have a 04 allure can you post a picture please i think we are having the same problem

mike 2004 allure 31021