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Old 05-24-2006, 02:47 PM   #1
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1965 26' Overlander
Acworth , Georgia
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My wife shot me!

At least she said she will if I don't get the AC fixed!

I am restoring a 27' 1965 Overlander with original 11000 btu Armstrong Bay Breeze. I replaced thermostat, and both capacitors. I cleaned inside and outside coils, and ran unit on 2 Honda 2000 generators slaved together. Results of this weekend's test:
  • Outside temp 85 degrees, sunny and breezy (Atlanta GA)
  • Temp inside trailer same
  • Compressor drew 8-10 amps. Power not an issue...generator barely sweated the load. Freon lines in were hot, and oulet immediately covered with condensation
  • Temp into inside ac housing 85
  • Temp out of housing 58
  • After 2 hours, temp only dropped 5-6 degrees.
Is this normal, or do I have a problem?

I have no awning and have scrapped old tinting off all windows. Shroud in sad shape, and has been repaired several times at least.

Should I replace complete system with new unit? Which vendor and size? I was quoted $700 for new Duotherm 13.5, installed complete.

What else can be wrong?
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Old 05-24-2006, 03:24 PM   #2
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What was your Freon pressure? You might need more.
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Old 05-24-2006, 03:54 PM   #3
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Catfish Corners , Georgia
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Have you had an HVAC guy look at it? Output temp at 58 degrees sounds about right. Any difference if the camper is in the shade? At night? Are all the shades drawn on the windows? Air leaking in from many places is something I found when I tore mine apart. Let us know how it turns out.

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Old 05-24-2006, 08:07 PM   #4
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We generally consider air temp 20 degrees below ambient to be acceptable. If it was 85 outside, anything under 65 is great. Now, our 13,000 btu Coleman in our Overlander is barely enough to do the job. Much though I hate to suggest it, as Armstrongs are tough as nails, in the interest of saving you from lead poisoning, you may want to get a larger unit. You have scraped off window tinting, and have no awning, both items are good for helping an air conditioner keep its cool.
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Old 05-24-2006, 08:20 PM   #5
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Ah! Another person whose wife has been trying to kill him! My wife tried to murder me the first time about 25 years ago, when she managed to put some nice floor cleaner in a handy emtpy beer bottle and stuck it in the fridge, of all places. I came in really, really thirsty. It's been downhill ever since.

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Old 05-24-2006, 08:21 PM   #6
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Hi, Phil,

I'm 200 miles south of you, and I have a 31' with a 12,500 btu Armstrong that keeps me cool. I don't think your temperature drop is a problem. That sounds pretty good. Maybe the fan isn't distributing it as well as should?

I have a 15K Carrier in my Argosy that gave up the ghost shortly after the warrantee expired. Personally, I'd try to save the Armstrong. (Wish I had.)

The A/C should be capable of providing cool air directed to each end of the trailer, and I think AS designed the trailers so that most of living just happens to happen there.

I would be proud of a 58 degree discharge at 85. I wonder, though, is the fan getting it you?

Lamar
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Old 05-24-2006, 08:29 PM   #7
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eBay, man! i'm getting the low profile model this week, the guy said he could get it to woodstock, ga in 3-5 days. $599, and only 7 1/2" tall. very inconspicuous!

search "RV air conditioner low profile"

jp
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Old 05-25-2006, 04:21 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A-Merry-Can
eBay, man! i'm getting the low profile model this week, the guy said he could get it to woodstock, ga in 3-5 days. $599, and only 7 1/2" tall. very inconspicuous!

search "RV air conditioner low profile"

jp

Nice. Do you have a brand model number you could share? I've got a 65 GT that I am considering putting AC on and was would love to see any pics of your install. Are you going to instal it on the front or rear hatch?

Nice avatar!


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Old 05-25-2006, 08:55 AM   #9
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1965 26' Overlander
Acworth , Georgia
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How do I test fan performance?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SafeHarbor
Hi, Phil,


I would be proud of a 58 degree discharge at 85. I wonder, though, is the fan getting it you?

Lamar
Good question. How do I test fan output? In low position, fan runs. In high, fan and compressor run. Is this normal?

Also, I assume I could test electrical output to fan. What should it be?
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Old 05-25-2006, 08:58 AM   #10
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1965 26' Overlander
Acworth , Georgia
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Geeting some tinting this weekend

Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
We generally consider air temp 20 degrees below ambient to be acceptable. If it was 85 outside, anything under 65 is great. Now, our 13,000 btu Coleman in our Overlander is barely enough to do the job. Much though I hate to suggest it, as Armstrongs are tough as nails, in the interest of saving you from lead poisoning, you may want to get a larger unit. You have scraped off window tinting, and have no awning, both items are good for helping an air conditioner keep its cool.

After researching it, I think I'll go with the Gila RV tint, and see how it affects stuff.

I did find that nasty foam blowing out after I cleaned coils, and temporarily replaced it to test, so thats not the issue.
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Old 05-25-2006, 09:01 AM   #11
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1965 26' Overlander
Acworth , Georgia
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Freon Check

Quote:
Originally Posted by rseagle
What was your Freon pressure? You might need more.
I did try to get RV AC guy to look at it. He said he'd be happy to take my money to tell me the same thing he told me over the phone - replace it.

With my unit, there is no visible gauge fitting on the lines. I have 2 refrigerant lines that are crimped and soldersealed.

Will low freon reduce performance without icing coils?

Thanks
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Old 05-26-2006, 07:54 PM   #12
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1965 26' Overlander
Acworth , Georgia
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 43
I fixed it!!!!! I'm safe now.

Thanks to everyone, I did everything suggested.

I cleaned coils and checked wires, replaced capaciotrs, ran generators, etc.

Finally, today I put Gila Platinum tint on all windows, ran AC from morning to night, and it stayed very cool at 72 degrees. Success!

In fact, I ran it off house circuit, and it never worked hard. I learned a valuble less from you all.

Thanks again
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