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Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:04 pm
by Brent
Apparently the fan has died on the Dometic air conditioner in my coach this week end. I'm assuming, considering the age of the appliance, replacement rather than repair is the best option.
Any suggestions besides Dometic?
The coach is 23' RK. Since I live in Florida in any thoughts on going from a 13 to 15 BTU?
Brent
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:52 pm
by Roger H
Actually, they are in fact repairable and you'd be surprised at how little the repair might cost compared to installing a new unit. I'd sure have it checked out and a repair estimate done first.
If the 13k did an adequate job in your 23RK (and it did in my '01 23RK) there's not much reason to go to a 15k btu either. i'd only do that if the 13k struggles to keep up with the heat and humidity.
Roger
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:47 am
by Brent
Thanks Roger, I'll check into it
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:34 am
by Brent
Pulled the cover off the air conditioner. After checking I think it's the start capacitor. I'll put a new one in and see what happens.
It is disappointing to see all the debris in the air conditioner as I paid to have it serviced in April and it looks like the cover was never removed.
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:04 am
by Roger H
Brent wrote:Pulled the cover off the air conditioner. After checking I think it's the start capacitor. I'll put a new one in and see what happens.
It is disappointing to see all the debris in the air conditioner as I paid to have it serviced in April and it looks like the cover was never removed.
I had the starting capacitor blow out in the a/c on my Bigfoot last year... if that's all it is, you're in pretty good shape! I think I have an old bird nest in my rear A/C unit on my BF. I need to get up and pull that cover off and clean that out too. It doesn't take long to have them fill up it appears.
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:07 am
by Brent
After replacing both capicators (the parts were about $65), it seems to be functioning OK.
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:06 am
by Roger H
Brent wrote:After replacing both capicators (the parts were about $65), it seems to be functioning OK.
That's a LOT cheaper than having to buy a new unit!
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:00 pm
by Dallas Baillio
Would someone post a photo or drawing showing these capacitors? Would be helpful to me and perhaps to others.
Re: Air Conditioner Help
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 10:22 am
by Brent
Dallas here is one I have on my phone.
This is the run capacitor - the start capacitor is next to it and slightly smaller. To get access I removed the cover on the air conditioner than removed an aluminum shield (about 10 inches square). Be careful the warning says one can get a serious shock or killed in the process (even if unplugged from power).
The air conditioner would just hum when started, but if I spun the fan by hand (BE CAREFUL) it would catch and run. Checking with a multimeter indicated both capacitors were bad.
NOTE: I'm told a capacitor maintains a charge even when disconnected and can give a serious shock. I have no real experience so would suggest advice from someone knowledgeable. I shorted them with a screwdriver.
Brent