RV A/C input

[litespeed]

Ok guys.....



I would like to hear opinions on RV air conditioners.



I currently have 2 Dometic DuoTherms in our camper. One 13,500 BTU (front) and one 15,000 BTU (rear). This is a ducted system with the electronic thermostat.



I have never really liked the units and I am currently thinking of trying a different brand. Coleman or Carrier.



It seems like the Colemans last forever. But I question their use in a high end camper with a ducted system.



The Carriers are fairly new to the RV world. So that may be a problem as well. I know they make some pretty good house A/C's. Not sure about the RV's.



I would like to hear from people who have used more than one of the above. Good or bad... ... . I need some input before I take the plunge.



Regards,



AJ

 

[TowPro]

http://www.rvpartsoutlet.com/newsto...amp;refid=FA3E59C1-019C-4490-BE3B9CE170A2755E are a couple basement units. Plus a heat pump that replaced your current furness. the 27K looks like it would do the trick.



Problem with adapting house equipment is they are all 220v.



edit: Not sure why the link is not working. If you cut and paste it into your browser it works.

 

[GaryCarter]

Ours has Coleman in a ducted system, never a problem.

You don't give any indication why you don't like what you have???



Gary

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I've had one rooftop Carrier unit that was 4 years old. It was noisy and sucked the amps. It did cool quite well though.

 

[litespeed]

Ours has Coleman in a ducted system, never a problem.

You don't give any indication why you don't like what you have???



Gary

They actually work quite well.



The problem (s) are these... . And I hear they are common problems with these units.



The front A/C is 13,500 BTU. It runs all the ducts but a couple. It cools the master bedroom, bathroom, vanity and part of the kitchen. This is the primary unit. It will run all day long with the thermostat set at 90 regardless of the outside temperature. We have been awakened in the middle of the night to temperatures of less that 60 degrees because the thing will not shut off. Likewise, in the daytime... . The thing will run all day and not shut off.



The rear A/C is 15,000 BTU and only blows air out of the vents in the rear of the camper. It runs what I would call "normal operation". In the heat of the day it will run for 20 minutes or so in the heat and then shut off (on the same thermostat). Then as soon as you think you are uncomfortable it will come back on and cool things off.



However, I still think the entire system has alot to be desired. I'm not sure what everyone knows about campers here. This is a Travel Supreme. It is on par with campers like the Royals International (I've had one, and sold it for this one)... .



I'm tired of screwing around with substandard A/C units. Our last Royals International had a Dometic system also. It was just as bad as this one.



I know the Colemans have a good reputation for reliability. But what about with a ducted system? Most Coleman units wind up on cheaper campers (no offense). But if the damn things work... ..... Who cares??? Right???



Carrier makes units like the Dometic. But I have not heard much about them. I like the idea of remote control. But, the main goal here is reliable A/C that works like it is supposed to!



I dont give a crap about amps... I just want the things to work. We are always in areas with good 50 amp service. I have no choice with a camper of this size.



I want cold, quiet A/C on demand (NOW)..... Not some POS that cycles and runs all day long or freezes up. I have heard the horror stories.....



Price is not a problem... . I just want good A/C...



Sorry for any confusion... ... ... I hope this helps some... .



Regards,



AJ

 

[CBari]

I Have A Coleman Unit On My Lq Horse Trailer It Has Ducted Air And I Have Been Quit Pleased With It, But It Come New With Only A Half Charge Of Freon.





The Dang Thing Would Freeze Up In About An Hour Of Use And Then Would Run All Day Only To Continue To Loose Ground. Finally Had It Serviced And Charged To Proper Amount Of Freon And Know It Will Keep The Trailer At What Ever Temp You Set The Thermostat For. It Runs As Good As Any Home Unit I Have Ever Had. I Spent A Week On An Asphalt Parking Lot In 95-100 Degree Temps And It Will Keep The Trailer 65 Degrees Easy While Running Off Generator Power.



I Now Of Several Folks With The Carrier Units And Have Not Heard Any Complaints Out Of Them, But I Like The Are Awlful New.



Hope This Helps



You Might Have Your Checked, But I Bet You've Already Done That.



Hope Things Cool Off For You.

 

[tgrfan2]

We have one Carrier V with remote. It does a good job and the 15K Carrier starts easier, is quieter, and uses less power than the 13. 5 Dometic we had in our 97 TT. That is important using a Honda 3000! At least with the remotes you won't have to use your old tstats. Mine has worked well so far.

 

[SHobbs]

Duotherm here and happy with it so far. Cools as good as the Coleman I had in my last 5er. Now if I am set up in the sun with no shade it will run a while, like hours at a time. In 100* degree weather with shade during the hottest part of the day it will cycle on and off and maintain the coach at 75* easily, but not in direct sunlight. I wonder how hard it is to swap out ducted units installed at the factory, anyone ever done it? I plan on dropping another unit above the bedroom soon as well as slide out covers and solar screens. Another item on the to do list is thermo pane windows.

 

[GaryCarter]

Litespeed, sounds like a problem in the control thermostat wiring. I would have a good a/c technician look your system over and see if the stat is wired correctly, and if the stat works and the control relays are all good.



Gary

 

[MCrossley]

I hate my uncles carrier it has the wireless remot and once you turn on the a/c no matter how you set it the fan runs non stop I called they said it was normal I don't think so though, it is much quieter than my duotherm but they both cool about the same

 

[litespeed]

Litespeed, sounds like a problem in the control thermostat wiring. I would have a good a/c technician look your system over and see if the stat is wired correctly, and if the stat works and the control relays are all good.



Gary

Gary,



Thanks... ... Is there anyone you can recommend down here?



I was hoping to troubleshoot the thing myself. But it is not woking out. The 15K unit finally quit working today. The 13. 5K unit cools the whole camper fine (good insulation, windows and awnings). But, now that the 15K unit has croaked... . I know something is wrong.



It is hard to find someone you can trust. I would rather they came out to work on it since we are in it for the summer now.



Regards,



AJ

 

[EricBu12]

I have a 15K coleman as the main ducted air. . it works well with the thermostat but I added another coleman 13. 5 K "regular style" where it comes out vents in the unit... I had trouble cooling because of the size of the rig so I added the other... now running both units on low cools the trailer... once the temp is down to normal temps outside, the 15 K does very well and the thermostat is fairly accurate.

 

[litespeed]

A/C Problems Figured out!

Thanks to everyone for all the input, ideas and help.



I found the problem (s). The motor on the rear A/C (15k) unit burned up.



I also found that the last moronic !@##$$$@!!! that worked on the system stuffed the thermistors into the attic??? What an idiot!! This is why the units would run for hours without turning off and freeze us out of the camper at night. I also found that the gaskets that sepatate the return air from the supply air were leaking causing cold air to be blown back into the return air.



After re-sealing the return air openings and placing the thermistor wires close to the grill. The front A/C works fantastic!! Oo. It has never worked so well! The thermostat is now accurate to within 1 degree and it is very responsive.



So... ... . I plan to order a new DuoTherm unit for the rear to replace the unit that burned up.



Regards,



AJ