A/C Won't Start - Any Ideas?

[myboyburt]

When we turn the A/C on it's fan starts and after about 5 seconds the fan stops and the red low voltage light flashes. This is what we've checked so far:

• Fan Only - works fine
• Fan and Heat - works fine
• Voltage at outlet, trailer panel and at AC unit is between 117 and 118, drops to about 116 when the fan starts. No change when the fan shuts down and the light flashes

Any ideas on what is wrong and what we should be checking next?

Thanks,

[john hd]

doesn't sound good, however you may have a bad starting capacitor. would try checking/replacing them before replacing the unit.

from your description the compressor may be damaged. time for some professional help with an ammeter to better judge what is going on.

you will need to find the locked rotor amperage in your manual and compare that figure with the actual current when the unit trys to start.

hope this helps.

john

[myboyburt]

Originally Posted by john hd

doesn't sound good, however you may have a bad starting capacitor. would try checking/replacing them before replacing the unit.

from your description the compressor may be damaged. time for some professional help with an ammeter to better judge what is going on.

you will need to find the locked rotor amperage in your manual and compare that figure with the actual current when the unit trys to start.

hope this helps.

john

Thanks John,

We will replace the capacitor and hope for the best. But, if this is not the problem we are faced with a decision: Repair or replace. The AC unit has been on our camper since 1993 and spent much of it's life in the southwest where it is wicked hot so it was run more times then not when "The Tube" was on the road. For years our Airstream was used often, nearly full-timing so I'm thinking we should just replace the AC unit. We'd look to source the new unit from Palomino RV as folks here on the forum have gotten good prices and great service from this company. We'd do the installation ourselves.

What do folks think? Is this a sound approach or should we go the repair route.

Thanks,

[john hd]

if you have gotten 13+ years out of it in the south west with full timing it may just be best to replace.

john