Dometic Air Conditioner
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5224
Printed Date: 08 May 2024 at 2:29am
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Topic: Dometic Air Conditioner
Posted By: 3ofUs
Subject: Dometic Air Conditioner
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2014 at 9:57pm
| Just curious if any one has replaced their Dometic A/C? If so, brand and what kind of money are we looking at? We have a 2011 182G which we bought last summer. It really cools the pod sufficiently, so seems wasteful to replace it. Just trying to figure out how to live with the noise. After the past five days in extreme heat and high humidity, I thought I would lose my mind sitting in the camper. A/C too loud to watch TV. Volume on TV maxed and I can't hear a DVD. When the compressor kicks in, it gives our pod a jolt, and we found our sleep being interrupted. Any comments appreciated. Thanks. |
Replies:
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2014 at 1:06pm
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Doug will probably chime in soon, but I believe that the Coleman Polar Cub (I think that the Mach 8 model will fit the R-Pod, but I'm not positive) is one of the better ACs to replace the Dometic 13.5k BTU standard AC. To be honest, 13.5k BTU is major overkill for a small RV. Besides the noise, another problem is that you need a larger generator to run the big compressor.
The Polar Cub is 9.2k BTU, which is plenty of cooling power. The fan is much quieter than the Dometic 13.5k, and you can run it easily with a 2k watt inverter generator. The only catch is that it's about $660 to replace what is already a 'functioning' AC unit. That's a bit hard for me to swallow, but if you've got the dough and don't mind, go ahead. You might be able to sell your Dometic used on Craigslist. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2014 at 1:31pm
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Except for our former 2010 173 and current 2014 178, all of our travel trailers and motor homes (Class A, B and C) have had Coleman units. All were considerably quieter than the Dometics. All the roof-mounted A/C units use a 14" X 14" square opening, so either brand will fit your existing roof opening. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: 3ofUs
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2014 at 6:54pm
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I talked to Forest River today with a parts order and questioned the Dometic A/C. I was told to call back on Wednesday and speak with Rodney. Supposedly, no one has complained about the Dometic A/C. Amy feels there is something else going on. With regards to other A/C units, we have had motor homes prior to retirement and if we were sitting in the living space, the one in the bedroom ran. At bedtime, the A/C was turned off and living area was turned on. There are other improvements I would like to have installed, i.e. MaxAir Vent in bathroom, so we will probably have to just deal with it for now. Thanks for responding.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2014 at 8:26pm
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The Mach 8 is the one I would replace mine with, and have seriously considered it. However, as I mention on page 6 of this thread (link below) I took several steps which has helped with the sound problem. http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1433&title=possible-replacement-for-the-a-c - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1433&title=possible-replacement-for-the-a-c ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2014 at 11:45pm
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Years of sleeping in a bunk with a reefer 18 inches behind you I think that the A/C in the POD is great. Once I am out that's it till morning. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: jan demarinis
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2014 at 11:59pm
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My solution- If I really need the a/c, I read (forget the tv), earplugs and melatonin to help me sleep. just sayin'. ------------- 2014 178 HRE The Podyssey 2013 BMW X3 35i Prodigy RF Brake Controller |
Posted By: br23mat8
Date Posted: 21 May 2019 at 11:13am
Posted By: br23mat8
Date Posted: 21 May 2019 at 11:15am
| I have a 178 RPOD. My Hona 2000 will not run the AC. Has anyone installed one of those Easy Start units in their 178 AC and if so where do I order one for my unit; thanks Myrt |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 21 May 2019 at 12:35pm
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offgrid put one in and has said it works well with his Honda 2,000. I put in one of another design and it works fine when plugged into shore power, but it's not been hot enough to test it with my 3,200/2,000 Champion inverter generator. We're still getting snow in the mountains today through Thurs.
------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 21 May 2019 at 12:58pm
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Has anyone just added a "traditional" window style AC unit to the back of an R-pod? Those seem (mostly) to be whisper quiet. The only issue is that you would have to cut a pretty big hole in the back of your R-pod.. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 May 2019 at 12:58pm
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https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters/products/easystart-364-3-ton-single-phase-soft-starter-for-air-conditioners?variant=30176048267 - https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters/products/easystart-364-3-ton-single-phase-soft-starter-for-air-conditioners?variant=30176048267 I installed one in ours and it makes starting it with our Generac iX2000 much easier. Depending on the state of battery charge, if the converter is having to charge the battery, the generator might still bog down. I have had to switch the converter off a couple of times. With a more powerful generator, that would not be necessary. Fred, With the generator you have, you should not need the Easy Start. Do you have experience that your generator had problems running the AC without it?
------------- 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: offgrid
Date Posted: 21 May 2019 at 1:09pm
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The device tgat I installed that is known to work with the Honda EU2000I is the one StephenH references.
As StephenH says, don’t expect the Honda to run anything else at the same time. It might run the charger simultaneously if your batteries are pretty well charged but not if they’re low and the charger is drawing a lot of power. It’s possible that it might not run the a/c if it’s a hot day and you’re at a high altitude. In those conditions it will still start the a/c but it might trip the breaker on the Honda or bog it down which will cause the easystart to shut the a/c compressor off. StephenH, there are many reports of even 3kw genies not reliably starting the dometic a/c’s. It can draw upwards of 40A starting current without the soft start system. From what I’ve read you need to be about 3500w to be confident of starting it under worst case (hot, high) conditions. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |