New A/C seems to produce less condensate

[n2916s]

So, just headed home from Jackson Center where I had a second a/c installed to help me deal with summer camping in Florida.

The new unit, a base model 13.5k btu Penguin II (no reverse cycle, no heat strip) drains about 1/5th the amount of condensate that the original Penguin heat pump 15k unit produces.

I don’t see water draining anywhere else.

Am I overthinking it?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

What's the temperature out *and* what's the humidity? Put another way: what's the dew point? The numbers in August are going to be *very* different than what you see in October.

Bob

[n2916s]

80f and about 55% humidity. I have both a/c’s running. Pretty steady condensate stream from original 2008 Penguin. New unit drains a small amount every now and then.

I will say that the old unit has the solid cover and the new one has ventilation holes in three sides. I’m wondering if dometic did something to enhance evaporation in the modern units?

[jcanavera]

The other thought that the larger unit most likely presented more coils for the air to flow through. As you step up in size on most air conditioners, the units have to contend with more square footage. Therefore fan speeds tend to be slightly different and the interior coil size has to compensate for that larger square footage to be cooled and the resultant air flow throw those coils. The coils may be the same physical dimensions on width and height, but I bet there is also some difference in the depth of the coils.

Jack

[MBuck1]

Were you wired for 50amp before

[n2916s]

Originally Posted by MBuck1

Were you wired for 50amp before

Didn’t rewire for 50A. The second a/c has it’s own 30A plug and circuit breakers.

It works great. When I get home I’ll drop the distribution box and see what’s what…

[Wazbro]

The original A/C coils might be a little colder causing it to do most of the dehumidifying. Possibly same fan speed with more cooling on larger A/C. Might need to run 1 A/C at a time (in identical conditions) to find out what the real difference would be.

[n2916s]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

The original A/C coils might be a little colder causing it to do most of the dehumidifying. Possibly same fan speed with more cooling on larger A/C. Might need to run 1 A/C at a time (in identical conditions) to find out what the real difference would be.

Excellent suggestion. I’ll give that a try. Thanks.

[88Limited]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

The original A/C coils might be a little colder causing it to do most of the dehumidifying. Possibly same fan speed with more cooling on larger A/C. Might need to run 1 A/C at a time (in identical conditions) to find out what the real difference would be.

Wazbro has the right of it. The amount of condensate is a direct function of the RH, temp, dew point of the indoor environment. The air passing over the evaporator coil (that produces condensate) should only come from inside your trailer. You could also park it, open all the windows & doors and run them both and see what happens. Source: am HVAC tech.