Another AC Issue
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13904
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 2:28am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Another AC Issue
Posted By: Tibof
Subject: Another AC Issue
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2020 at 7:59pm
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Sorry for the double subforum post. I mistakenly initially posted this under "Maintenance". AC has been fine to this point. Now, when plugged into shore power (home or campground) it blows the shore breaker. Generator ran the AC just fine, but now it shuts down in overload. I have no experience with AC, so suggestions as to starting point would be much appreciated. I can check the compressor and the capacitor, but I want to consult the collective wisdom of the Forum before tearing into this. All other systems in the Pod are running fine. My son recently reported that AC attempted to start with a groan then shut down.
------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Replies:
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2020 at 6:09pm
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Got the unit to kick on and start. Fan runs but AC cycles on and off every few minutes. Local AC RV repair says in their opinion, it's a freon issue and not worth repairing. Five years old, used very little, and ready for the trash. New ones are slow in production and not available. When they are, the cost is around $1000 or so, just for the unit. Has this been a great RV or what! ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2020 at 8:33pm
When you say its cycling on and off, you mean the compressor is cycling? Is the pod getting cool when the compressor is running? If so then it sounds normal. My a/c runs pretty short cycles as well, especially if its not very hot out. Might only be on for 3-4 minutes, then off for 5-6 or so. The temp differential between compressor turn on and off is called hysteresis and is set by the thermostat not the a/c. OTOH if the compressor is running but the a/c isn't cooling the pod then that is quite likely a refrigerant leak... ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 10:31am
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Cycling without cooling anything is the issue. Cycling after just several minutes. OTOH, it is still a mystery why it was previously tripping shore source breakers at campground and back home — no breaker tripped in Pod. Now its not doing that. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 11:29am
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If the evaporator doesn't get cold at all in the short time the compressor is on then its probably the refrigerant as your service center suggests. Otherwise I'd suspect the thermostat. Both the compressor overload and freeze protection shutoffs can also cause short cycling. If you have a clamp on current meter you could see what the compressor is drawing, that might tell you something. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 2:30pm
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It does not run long enough to get cold, even if there is no problem. Couple of minutes is all. It struggles to start. Discovered fan requires a spin to start. Then runs and restarts just fine. Will take it in for a diagnosis or do one myself before tossing the unit and getting a new one. But the local shop was puzzled as to reason for breaker on shore source tripping — which it is no longer doing. That has me wondering about freon being the issue. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 5:05pm
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I think I would trust the on-site AC tech. Always good to get second opinion, before complete replacement, however his assessment seems right to me. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 5:10pm
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If both the compressor and fan motor are having problems it might be the run/fan capacitor. If its bulging leaking or shorted then its toast. Be sure to short the terminals out on it before handling it, they hold a charge. Beyond that if you don't have access to a meter that can measure capacitance you could consider just replacing it and see if that helps. Cost is around $40. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 6:26pm
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Basically, the capacitor is about all that can be reasonably replaced. Given the cost, my instinct was to throw that part at the problem. All of these opinions are helpful. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 6:37pm
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What did your AC tech say? No opinion. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2020 at 11:17pm
To be clear, the unit has not been on-site examined by a tech. They are slammed and two weeks out. But he was kind and generous enough to offer an over the phone opinion based on what I had found to that point. He guessed it was a freon issue but was mystified by the breakers tripping. What I had not found then was that the fan will start with an assist spin. And now no breakers are tripping. Even if the unit is a dead, nothing new can be gotten due to Dometic covid/hurricane interruption (I am told). So there's time to probe things. And I've found that in decision making situations where a variety of variables are involved and a wealth orf experience from others can be consulted, it pays to explore. OTOH, if a competent tech had examined the unit and concluded it was time for the junk heap, I wouldn't be wasting my time of that of anyone else. So I appreciate all the insight. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2020 at 5:10am
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Sometimes shop recommendations don't necessarily align with what an owner might do given a choice. Shop rates are high and its risky for them to turn a tech loose on something unknown which might take a few hours to troubleshoot and repair when just throwing on a new one can be done quickly for a known amount. If you have a week or two to evaluate then I'd suggest getting a DMM that can measure capacitance and ac current as well as the usual voltage and resistance and doing some testing in the meantime. Can't really go wrong investing in the proper tools, and this stuff is so inexpensive now....If you don't already have one that does clamp on dc current then I'd highly recommend that too for future use on your 12V circuits. A quick look on Amazon shows that the latest ones also include temp and non contact voltage testers, how cool is that? Almost makes we want to buy another meter but I have 5 or 6 already dang it.
 ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2020 at 7:40am
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First thing to address is the start/run capacitor since you say the fan will start if given an assist. I recently had to replace a start capacitor on a motor that also would just sit there and hum until given a push. Then it started and ran just fine. Once you get the fan fixed, you may (or may not) find that the compressor is okay. However, if you are going to try to fix it, address the fan motor first. It will likely be the most cost-effective route. If you get the fan working and then it still has issues, you won't be so financially in on it and it may make the decision to repair or replace easier.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2020 at 1:48pm
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Given the small cost involved, I am going to replace the capacitor (there's only one) as soon as I can get one. I can do all of the testing necessary, but if its not the capacitor, then the unit is toast. Clearly it is getting power. To me, the fan starting with an asset is the revealing clue pointing to capacitor. I'll eventually report back. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2020 at 2:31pm
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I look forward to reading your report.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2020 at 2:39pm
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+1 ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 6:21am
Only one? There should be 2 capacitors in there, at least that is what I've seen. What model a/c do you have? ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 10:08am
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Dometic Penguin ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 10:15am
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https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/support/dometic-penguin-ii-_-20772 - https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/support/dometic-penguin-ii-_-20772
Hmmm...Schematic on pg 11 shows a run cap for the compressor and fan and a start cap for the compressor. That's how mine is, mine is also a 2015. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 12:37pm
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I see what you mean. But you don't have the correct model. The one my kids have is 641915C751J0. It does have a hard start kit available, too. But I don't yet know if that's standard and on there.
Sorry. One number was incorrect. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2020 at 1:26pm
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And yes. Turns out the hard start is standard on it and it needs both. Thanks for your insight offgrid. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2020 at 5:48pm
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Replaced both capacitors and PTCR (which came with the hard start cap). Unit now runs fine. I should have checked to see which component was at fault, but it was my young son up on the roof in the hot sun. Total cost of less than $100 and about 30 minutes worth of work. In any case, alls well and I really do appreciate all the insight. In particular, offgrid alerted me to the fact that there were two capacitors ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2020 at 6:07pm
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Great! Glad to hear you got it fixed and didn't need a new a/c. Congrats! ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2020 at 9:01am
Congratulations on a successful repair! Well done!  
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |