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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / August 2006Dometic air conditioner problem
We've been full timing in a 1999 Forest River Windsong (going on 7 months) while running our business and building ourselves an extensively renovated little home. The RV has two rooftop Dometic units. The rear unit is fine, but the front produces no cold air. When I drop the thermostat temp, the fan goes on for a few minutes, stops for less than a minute and then cycles again..........over and over, without any cold air. I can hear what sounds like typical AC rumbling, vibrating........but without any cooling. Both units worked fine when we bought the RV used back in December, and I seem to remember that one suddenly died when switching over from the generator (which we start up every week or two to keep in working condition) to our business' external outlet. I'm using 8 ga. wire (about forty feet to the breaker box) and a 30 amp breaker, along with a 50 to 30 plug adapter. I read somewhere that momentary phase differences between the land line and generator when switching over can cause damage. What is this off and on fan cycling, without any cooling, indicative of? The one working unit is being taxed to the max in this very warm New York weather recently. thanks for any suggestions. I do have the manual and a multimeter for those of you who can tell me what to look for and try doing. anton Probably a starter cap -- any good tech should be able to check it out for you. Most AC problems are beyond the shade tree guys. Phil > We've been full timing in a 1999 Forest River Windsong (going on 7 months) > while running our business and building ourselves an extensively renovated [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > anton >> We've been full timing in a 1999 Forest River Windsong (going on 7 >> months) [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > to >> look for and try doing. > Probably a starter cap -- any good tech should be able to check it out for > you. Most AC problems are beyond the shade tree guys. Some A/C problems require a tech. Some do not. At the current cost of calling a tech out I personally like to pop the hood and take a look around first. It could be something as simple as a loose connection. http://www.dometicusa.com/pdf/drdac.pdf http://www.repairclinic.com/0088_16_1.asp#Level1_2 With his symptoms I would want to know if the compressor was actually running and if not, why not. I'd look at the start capacitor to see if it showed any obvious signs of problems. If it's getting the proper voltage to the compressor and it isn't starting this is a likely candidate. Sometimes if they've been sitting for awhile compressors just need a good swift kick. If it isn't getting power to the compressor then you can follow your wiring diagram with the multimeter until you find the point where the power stops. TB > We've been full timing in a 1999 Forest River Windsong (going on 7 months) > while running our business and building ourselves an extensively renovated [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > to > look for and try doing. Have you tried them one-at-a-time? 30 amps will only run 1 a/c unit. >Have you tried them one-at-a-time? 30 amps will only run 1 a/c unit. I have a dual compressor Coleman basement Heatpump/AC. It draws about 12A with one comp and 24 with 2, depending on heat load. >>Have you tried them one-at-a-time? 30 amps will only run 1 a/c unit. > > I have a dual compressor Coleman basement Heatpump/AC. It draws about > 12A with one comp and 24 with 2, depending on heat load. Right, but your startup draw on the AC is probably between 18-22A per unit. That's why 2 won't run on 30A. >>>Have you tried them one-at-a-time? 30 amps will only run 1 a/c unit. >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Right, but your startup draw on the AC is probably between 18-22A per unit. >That's why 2 won't run on 30A. Well, when I turn on the AC, IF the delta temp between the thermostat and setpoint is greater then 2 or 3 degrees, one compressor turns on and stabilizes. Then after about 30 seconds, the second turns on. I have been in 100+ degree weather for 1+ month and always on 30A service. Other than one low voltage situation, it has worked every time. Anything else? Dean >>Right, but your startup draw on the AC is probably between 18-22A per >>unit. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > service. Other than one low voltage situation, it has worked every > time. Anything else? Sure- You can explain to the OP how to get his 2 (separate) AC units working on 30A, against conventional wisdom and physics. >>>Right, but your startup draw on the AC is probably between 18-22A per >>>unit. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Sure- You can explain to the OP how to get his 2 (separate) AC units > working on 30A, against conventional wisdom and physics. We had a 2002 Pace Arrow motorhome with two AC units and a 30 amp service. The rig had some kind of energy managment system that monitored total current draw and, under the right conditions, allowed both AC units to run. It did not allow them to start at the same time. Eisboch >>>Right, but your startup draw on the AC is probably between 18-22A per >>>unit. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Sure- You can explain to the OP how to get his 2 (separate) AC units working > on 30A, against conventional wisdom and physics. Conventional wisdom isn't always correct. For 6 years, we ran both AC on our 1999 Itasca Suncruiser on 30 amps. Together they drew 14 amps after they were running. Start-up took a lot of power, but it only lasted a couple seconds, which wasn't long enough to trip a breaker. The key was to not try starting both at the same time. Start one, get it up and running, and then start the other. Lon For 6 years, we ran both AC on > our 1999 Itasca Suncruiser on 30 amps. Together they drew 14 amps after > they were running. Start-up took a lot of power, but it only lasted a > couple seconds, which wasn't long enough to trip a breaker. The key was > to not try starting both at the same time. Start one, get it up and > running, and then start the other. I recall years ago an accessory marketed by Camping World for a while. This device controlled the compressor start-up between the two units. Are dual-air-airconditioned, 30-amp RVs still made? If yes, is this "smart" power management function now built IN?  Signature:) JR | For 6 years, we ran both AC on | > our 1999 Itasca Suncruiser on 30 amps. Together they drew 14 amps after [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] | | If yes, is this "smart" power management function now built IN? There are standard thermostate controllers that do that. The cell companies use the them at almost every tower site. > For 6 years, we ran both AC on >> our 1999 Itasca Suncruiser on 30 amps. Together they drew 14 amps after [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > If yes, is this "smart" power management function now built IN? Our 2002 30 amp Pace Arrow had two AC units and a factory installed power management system. Don't know about newer ones. Eisboch > JR > For 6 years, we ran both AC on > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > If yes, is this "smart" power management function now built IN? It's the Powerline Energy Management System. It turns things off as you approach 30 amps of draw, starting with the rear AC unit. It doesn't, however, turn anything off when you are only drawing 14 amps. Lon > >>>Right, but your startup draw on the AC is probably between 18-22A per > >>>unit. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Lon I run both AC units without issue on 30Amps. Although I prefer 50Amps, 30Amps has work fine in my current rig for 7 years. Have you tried running the front AC alone to verified it works? Paul Just a thought, have you checked the condenser, the condenser fan blade to make sure it is not loose on the shaft. If the compressor is in fact running, then it could be cycling on high head pressure. A (Klix-on) overload would be at the wiring terminal on the compressor. Nothing you can do with it though. Just check that the condenser is getting air thru it and not plugged up with leaves or dirt. Just another area to check out. Dingopup > We've been full timing in a 1999 Forest River Windsong (going on 7 months) > while running our business and building ourselves an extensively renovated [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > anton |
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