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bkahler · 04-27-2010, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwhittle

I recently replaced both units with 15000 BTU standard profile Carriers with heat strips. These are generally available at pretty good pices through the online sources (eBay,etc).

I was fortunate to pick up a new pair for a very good price, then sold my one working old unit to recoup some money and ended up only spending $650 net for both units.

No issue with running them both on my 6500 Onan or one of them on 30 Amp shore power.

Paul

Paul,

Carriers are at the top of the list. I will probably have to hold off on getting new units for a month or two. Having to replace the water heater put a dent in the budget for A/C units. I'm guessing by the middle of summer the urge to replace them will be a little stronger!

Good to know you can run both on your Onan. I still thinking 13k in the rear and 15k in the front.

Brad

bkahler · 04-27-2010, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Brad,

I just saw this thread. I think you would be great going off with the Carrier low profile units like you helped me install on my unit in Branson. Get them in the next couple of weeks and I'll help you install them at the rally

Steve

Steve,

See post above, funding is likely not going to happen for a while. However if you want to loan us your low profile unit for the time being we could do the swap at teh rally......

Brad

bkahler · 04-27-2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunner

I was in the same position you are in, my rear air conditioner would work intermittently. I was at the point of replacing both having phoned Airstream, Jackson Center for a quote and obtaining advise on this forum. I decided to have a local home airconditoner repairman look at it and he found that my original Coleman air conditioners already the fittings for adding freon, I did not need additional freon. What he found was one of the capacitors was weak, low reading. He replaced it and everything worked fine after that. This saved me a lot of work and money.

Gunner,

You may have hit on something. Our front unit has a hard time starting but once running does just fine. I think I'll climb up on the roof (when it finally stops raining that is) and check out the capacitors on both of the units. If we can squeeze a little more longevity out of these it sure would be nice!

Thanks for the tip.

Brad

pdallas · 04-27-2010, 06:55 PM

That's ditto for me too! Gunner

I just checked mine and I also have a fitting in place. I am sure I need the caps because the unit cuts in and out. When it is engaged it will freeze you outta there!

PD

kmpro · 04-29-2010, 03:12 PM

Now that I'm home I can get on the roof and check capacitors too. Aah, it's nice to have tools.
Mike

pdallas · 04-29-2010, 05:11 PM

Turns out there were three different caps. I changed all three on both units with all three part boxes being labeled motor start capacitors. I have no clue how they work. I also changed the thermostat switch inside. A/C's are cooling down to 48 deg. Both will run off 7kw kohl gen. I am so pleased I am about to cry.

PD

bkahler · 04-30-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdallas

Turns out there were three different caps. I changed all three on both units with all three part boxes being labeled motor start capacitors. I have no clue how they work. I also changed the thermostat switch inside. A/C's are cooling down to 48 deg. Both will run off 7kw kohl gen. I am so pleased I am about to cry.

PD

Which A/C units does your 310 have? If they are Coleman Mach units would you happen to remember the size of the capacitors?

Still haven't found time to climb on the roof to pull the covers on the A/C units.

Thanks!

Brad

pdallas · 04-30-2010, 06:23 PM

I have a 1984 310 It is equipped with two matching coleman units model #'s 6759a707

Start caps : Mallory 88-108mfd 250 vac

Mallory 25 uf 370 vac

aerovox 7.5 uf 370 vac

Used generic replacement parts

Hope this helps

pdallas · 06-13-2010, 07:10 PM

Generally satisfied w/ac's but ......

My 84 310 is equipped with two 13.5 colemans. It has a 7kw generator. On generator only, It will push both units for a while; then, bog down and quit. The amount of running time is inconsistent. Any suggestions?

PD

kmpro · 06-13-2010, 11:28 PM

PD:

I would have your generator checked and tuned before I replaced A/C units. If you DIY check the points, set the gap, clean or replace the plugs properly gapped first. Also, don't forget to check the hours on your Gen, as it may need de-carbonizing too along with the tune up.

Mike

bkahler · 06-14-2010, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdallas

Generally satisfied w/ac's but ......

My 84 310 is equipped with two 13.5 colemans. It has a 7kw generator. On generator only, It will push both units for a while; then, bog down and quit. The amount of running time is inconsistent. Any suggestions?

PD

It sounds to me like your unit is probably bogging down when both air conditioners kick the compressor on at the same time.

Someone pointed out to me the best way to run two air conditioners on a genset is to turn one on and set it for full cold. That should keep it from cycling the compressor on and off. Then turn the second air conditioner on and set it to a lower temperature and let it do the modulating to keep the coach cool.

Keep us posted on how you resolve the problem.

Brad

pdallas · 06-14-2010, 05:27 PM

Generator has been tuned. Carb overhauled. Probably 1000 hours on unit.

Idles OK, and then runs really smooth with one unit on for 20 min. After ten minutes this evening with second unit on, the generator bogged down and quit. Nothing changed on the a/c units prior to the gen. quitting. Gen starts right back up and runs smooth after failing.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks, PD

kmpro · 06-14-2010, 07:11 PM

PD:
My Onan 6.5 did the same thing and the condenser was bad and ruined the coil. After tuning, the gen has to be adjusted with a load bank (which I didn't have) and after adjusting with load and no-load it runs fine. The load bank thing makes all the difference. Good Kohler techs are hard to find too.

Mike

raveson · 06-15-2010, 05:58 AM

Had the same problems with my orig 13.5 colemans on my 345. Long story short, put a amp meter on the units and watch for 10 20 minutes or until they kick off. I found one of mine began to increase the suggested amps and tripped the gen braker. Finally had to replace the rear unit. Also for a piece of mind, double check the voltage comming from the gen. My got squirly - had to replace the voltage regulator. Pricey part!

pdallas · 06-16-2010, 08:23 PM

Extra Extra Read All About It!

AS owner catches a brake! Yes! It can happen.

I found a guy in town who knows what he is doing! He cleaned the commentator and also via meter determined genset was running too slow. He increased the speed and now the bad boy produces the desired 60 hz's. I ran the two a/c units for 1 hour plus. Almost started to cry!

Thanks all for the valuable input. Next, I want to re-wire so I can run both a/c's on shore power!

Any suggestions?

PD

kmpro · 06-24-2010, 01:45 PM

PD:
Look back at the thread on my 310 where the wiring was given to do thye rear a/c. It's simple, but you end up with 2 power cords when on shore power, but that's better than cooking inside the silver bus.

Mike

pdallas · 06-26-2010, 08:50 AM

Bummer: I am crying now!

Went out this am just to let things run awhile and now I can't get both a/c's to run. With genset running smooth, the only a/c that works is the one getting power from the rotary switch. I went back and forth with each a/c working very well on r/s, but then could not get the other unit to kick in at the same time!

Help! I need someone! Help!

PD

bkahler · 06-27-2010, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdallas

Bummer: I am crying now!

Went out this am just to let things run awhile and now I can't get both a/c's to run. With genset running smooth, the only a/c that works is the one getting power from the rotary switch. I went back and forth with each a/c working very well on r/s, but then could not get the other unit to kick in at the same time!

Help! I need someone! Help!

PD

Check for a tripped circuit breaker on the generator itself. It should have two circuit breakers, one for each leg of the generator power. When you're using the rotary switch you're always using the same leg. When the generator is running the isolation timer relay for the generator controls the 2nd leg.

There is also a circuit breaker near the generator isolation relay that might have tripped but I'm thinking if that one was tripped the air conditioner wouldn't run at all so I'm betting on the breaker located inside the generator compartment on the generator.

Let us know what you find out.

Brad

pdallas · 06-27-2010, 12:55 PM

Bras: I had gone through the motions of resetting all the breakers. They appear to be OK. Since the genset seems to be hitting on all cylinders, I get the feeling the relay is stuck closed. Is this possible? Where are those relays located?

Thanks,

PD

bkahler · 06-27-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdallas

Bras: I had gone through the motions of resetting all the breakers. They appear to be OK. Since the genset seems to be hitting on all cylinders, I get the feeling the relay is stuck closed. Is this possible? Where are those relays located?
PD

Since this is a mechanical relay anything is possible. The relay/transfer box for our 310 is located in the compartment next to the generator compartment. Not sure on a 345. Try and follow the wires from your generator compartment into the coach. The relay box should be located there.

I've attached some sketches on how our 310 was wired using the relay boxes.

Hope this helps.

Brad