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RVAC Cooling Issue
Good morning,
We are in beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine and our RVAC (basement air) unit
is barely keeping up and it is only 77 degrees outside. We’ve been in
upstate NY and Canada for last couple weeks so we haven’t really needed
much A/C. It doesn’t look good for a trip back home to Florida later
this month.Here’s what I know:
- Running RVAC on high (both compressors)
- Running 2 Cruise Airs
- Temperatures: Outside 77, Inside 75, thermostat 73, IR reading RVAC output 65, IR reading RVAC return 75
- Changed RVAC air filter
- Good air flow out of RVAC ducts
It feels like a refrigerant issue to me. Any other thoughts or ideas before I call the repairman?
Thanks,
Terry -
25 Replies
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First, verify the compressors are running and continue to run. When you turn on your AC units you should see the amperage spike up and then settle down to a normal load indicating the compressor is running. Sometimes you can hear the compressor run but the ammeter is the way I verify that.
If the compressor has not kicked on, verify the thermostat set point is below the current temps. If it has to be set to a lower temp, check to see the compressor kicks on.
A compressor in the AC unit is not likely to run if the refrigerant is low. A pressure switch prevents compressor operation. But there are other things that can also prevent compressor operation such as a failed run or start capacitor or high pressure due to a failed condenser fain for example.
If you suspect the compressor is running use a thermometer or an IR gun to get the temps of the supply air and the return air. Between the two there should be a temperature spread of 15 degrees or more. If you do have that temperature spread it is likely the AC unit is working as it should and you are trying to overcome more heat than the AC unit can handle.
An AC tech can quickly identify what is wrong. Getting it fixed might be another story. What concerns me is the list shows two units running. Have they quit simultaneously? 77 degrees is not a challenge for any AC unit so you are not likely dealing with excessive heat. Don’t head south until you get them fixed. We had the all time high temp for Knoxville yesterday, breaking records kept since 1870. 105 degrees. Whew.
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What is the temperature of the cool air it is producing? Stick a thermometer in the vent and the return. You should have about a 15 degree delta between return and supply.
Also, Sometimes I need to supplement the RCAV with one of the auxiliary Cruise Aire units. I can ususally turn it off once the coach has lost some latent heat.
Also, check the condition of the evaporator fins. When I first got my coach, the filter placed in front/over the unit was mounted with that fabulous product “HOPE-THIS-WORKS”. Well it didn’t. And, besides being incredibly dirty, large sections of the fins were bent shut. Some time with cleaner and a fin comb and life was good.
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I think I have a clearer picture. If I understand correctly the coach has a “package’ unit and 2 Cruise Airs. The “package” unit is likely to have a 26,000 BTU rating or the equal of 2 Cruise Airs or two roof units.
As I said previously and Ed reinforced the temperature difference between supply and return air needs to be at least 15 degrees. A 10 degree spread could be an indicator of low refrigerant and possibly an iced up evaporator.
The Cruise Airs should also have the same temperature spread. They are likely 13000 BTU units and with two running they should equal the package unit.
If all units are malfuncting (a technical term) you probably need an AC tech ASAP.Cruise Airs are R-22. I don’t know what the other unit uses for refrigerant.
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Thanks for the great info. Let me clarify a little.
We have 2 Cruise Air units and a 27,000 BTU RVAC unit.
I have a problem with the RVAC. The temperature differential is about 10 degrees. (65 degree supply and 75 degree return.)
The RVAC has two compressors. The electricity distribution panel shows amps usage. The side with the primary RVAC and 1 Cruise Air is drawing 14 amps. The other side with the secondary RVAC and the other Cruise Air is drawing 44 amps total.
This leads me to believe the primary compressor is not running. I will find an A/C person tomorrow and see what they can find.
Thanks for the help. I will post an update when I figure out what’s wrong.
I realize the RVAC is old and obsolete. Are there good replacement units available?
Terry
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Terry If you can’t the help you need while in Bar Harbor and are coming through Bangor call Cyr Bus.
Ask for Matt Gilman. This company has prevost buses they use for tours and may have what you need
in stock. Let them you are traveling through. They will be willing to help if they can. They are located
in Old Town, 15 miles north of Bangor. If you you need tools let me know, I’m sure I have what you would
need to do the fix if you want to repair yourself. I would be glad to help you with the repair as well.
I live in Hermon next to Bangor. Rick
Cyr Bus 207 827-2010 me 207 735-4891
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Hi Rick,
Thank you for the Cyr information and contact. We noticed several Cyr buses around Bar Harbor yesterday.
Thank you so much for the offer of tools and assistance. I appreciate it.
The campground recommended Randy at Ellsworth RV. My plan is to call him tomorrow and see if he is able to troubleshoot the RVAC or if not, ask him to refer me to someone who can. I hope to know more by tomorrow night.
Thanks again for the information and offer.
Terry
BTW – Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are fast becoming one of our favorite places to visit.
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A/C repairman on site today. Discovered a charred wire and lose wire leading to interface board and causing primary compresser to not run. Cleaned up wires and connections and we are back in business. He said it looked like several wires had been spliced, etc. and many looked like they had been hot at one time or another.
Since the RVAC is 13 years old it looks like a replacement is in our future.
Thanks for all your help.
Terry
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Terry…
We have recently totally rebuilt our our RVAC system… we replaced both of the compressors and replaced the fan. also the circuit board is repairable. The unit is great now and the expense wasn’t too bad. We replaced wiring etc… the unit is like new and working great. Also put in a new digital thermostat.
I am not sure that there is a replacement for it … but it can be fixed.
AAP has the compressors but I found mine online a lot cheaper (same ones). They will do it for you too… they are very good I hear. I have talked to Fred there and he’s very knowledgable and very nice…. his number is (804) 633-9454.
They are also Cruisair experts… they have the Cruisair compressors too should you ever need one.Hope this helps.
Diane
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Ours is set up where the secondary will not run if the primary isn’t running… so if you have a problem with the primary you are screwed… well hot for sure!! It’s as if the secondary unit is just a booster? but it has its own compressor… never figured that out !!!
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Just curious, what are the amperage readings now that things are corrected?
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Thanks Diane. I never thought about rebuilding the entire unit. I will start down that path and see how it compares.
The burned wire caused the primary to not run but the secondary still worked. It was like they were two separate systems. Of course it may not be operating correctly.
Terry
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Pirmary, battery charger and one cruise air drawing 25 amps. Secondary and water heater drawing 14 amps.
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Where is this guy that rebuilt your rvac. I thought about replacing it with roof airs but this is probably cheaper.
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Scott,
He is here in Lufkin, (East Texas) he is actually a German diesel mechanic and happens to know a lot about air conditioning.
He replaced both of the compressors with the exact same type & size compressor. ..we bought them online for around $300+ each can’t remember exactly. We also replaced a compressor in our aft cruisair unit we got that compressor at a marine wholesale place I think around $500 (this one was rebuilt by cruisair they don’t make that unit anymore). All our wiring was replaced and you can have your circuit board (for the RVAC) rebuilt in Dallas. There is a place called AAP . http://www.aap.com Jeff is a wizard if you ask for him..there’s another guy too, they are both great guys. They sell it all and are always available to talk to you.
We spent around $5K with our guy but got a long list of stuff done as well. He also repaired our aquahot. He is like Jon in a lot of ways..knows a lot about a lot of things and is very particular about the way things should be..we think he’s really sharp.
Almost forgot to mention a friend of ours took his 2002 H3-45 Vantare to Buddy Gregg in Denton (Dallas) 3 years ago and had the same thing we had done and his bill was $14K..he had a Good Sam Warranty that paid $12K of it.. I would never be so lucky !!! Also they kept it for 2 months.
Diane
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