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Air conditioner problems

Yahoo Message Number: 10203
Last summer, I started having problems with both air conditioners in the coach. The problem is occurring again now. When it gets hot outside, the compressors won't come on. Last summer at the factory, the techs would tell me that the AC ran fine all day. But, the unit would be inside while they were working on it. Finally, one day after returning it to me, with the temperature inside reaching 95, I found the service advisor. It had been 30-45 minutes since my coach had been returned and the compressors still had not come on. They "did something" the next day, and there was no more problem, until now. The front unit has been cycling on and off irregularly lately. It comes on and shuts off within a couple of minutes, then later comes back on. It is hot outside (and inside) and neither unit is running.
Plenty of electrical power, 50 amp, 116-118 V, no breakers are tripped, etc.
It is 93 inside, the front unit just came on, ran about 30 seconds, and shut off. When they run, they are plenty cold, but, at this time, why won't they run?

If they do their "normal" when it cools down this evening, they will come on and work just fine, until tomorrow afternoon.
Does anybody have a clue what is going on? And what to do about it???

Ree

Current location---Bay Landing Thousand Trails, near Bridgeport, TX

2003 Allure 30852

Home is www.eldoradoranch.com near www.sanfelipe.com.mx

Re: Air conditioner problems

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10207
Ree,

Is the AC voltage at 116-118v when the compressor is running? The a/c units will shut off the compressor if the voltage drops below about 105 volts. This is most likely to happen in the heat of the day when every one is using maximum a/c. Where are you measuring the AC voltage? Remember that your coach has two seperate 120 volt circuits when you are on a 50 amp service. The a/c units are on one circuit and your voltmeter may be checking the other. Try running your generator if you are able and see if the a/c operates OK then. The generator ties both 120 volt circuits together so the voltmeter will read correctly regardless of which circuit it is on.

Dave

2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept. 99

Ree wrote:

Re: Air conditioner problems

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10211
Ree

Take your coach to a dealer who does warranty work for the unit. We never take our coach back to the factory or the dealer for this type of problem. I don't know what your problem is but if you have the same ACs we do go to Camping World, we have always had good service from them on ACs, HWHs and the frig.
There are very few RV manufacturers that provide good service on RV conponents like ACs.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Air conditioner problems

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10215
You certainly offer a good suggestion of checking both hot wires to neutral while the A/C is running connected to shore power, and also to test using the generator.

For correctness, on the Allure 2002 (and I would expect other models), one A/C unit is on one circuit and the other on the second circuit leg.

My favorite trivia question: How much more power can be delivered from a 50A RV plug over a 30A RV plug? Answer: Not 66% more, but 333% more power. 30A is just ONE 30A 120V circuit that supplies both 120V circuits in the coach. 50A is TWO 50A 120V circuits or a total of 100A of 120 volts (if the load is distributed equally between the two circuits.
Herb

2002 Allure #30690

Quote from: Dave Hills\[br\
]

Re: Air conditioner problems

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10217
Herb,

Thanks for the correction. I knew that and went ahead any typed it wrong anyway. My apologies to all.

Dave (who spent tooo much time in the sun yesterday) 2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept. 99

Herb & Melitta Strandberg wrote:
 

Re: Air conditioner problems

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10222
Ree,

I second Bill's comments. We had an intermittent Duo-Therm/Dometic a/c & furnace control problem that two CC dealers, and CC @ JC, could not solve. All used telecon assistance/direction from Dometic's technical support center. It was finally solved 6 months later by David Holmes of "Holmes on Wheels" in Elkhart, IN, 574-266-1586. I would also recommend Laurelhurst RV service in Portland, OR. Ed Sheppard there specializes on repairing Dometic a/c and refrigerator units. Laurelhurst RV is at 14 S.E. 56th St. in Portland, tel. 503-595-0261.
Laurelhurst and David Holmes were able to proceed without telecon support from Dometic while CCservice and the CC dealers I visited followed Dometic's direction to the letter and got no where.

Paul Thomas
'03 Magna #6239