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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: speedbird1 on August 07, 2018, 08:32:10 pm

Title: Roof AC units
Post by: speedbird1 on August 07, 2018, 08:32:10 pm
This afternoon at 99deg I cranked up the roof AC units using the Powertech generator for power and they each came on and then quit??  I was only using one at a time.

Any expert ideas please??

Speedbird1
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: bbeane on August 07, 2018, 08:40:51 pm
Tripped breakers in the panel or generator?
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: turbojack on August 07, 2018, 10:00:30 pm
Would the microwave work with generator running and invertor off when AC's stopped working?  Wondering if generator stopped making power? The generator should be able to run both AC's at the same time.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: speedbird1 on August 07, 2018, 10:37:23 pm
Thank you.  Where are the AC units CB's??  The generator was OK as I have checked them.
I wondered if I had asked too much of a temperature drop when I set them running??  ie made them work too hard.
Speedbird 1.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: bbeane on August 07, 2018, 11:01:01 pm
The breakers should be in the 120 v panel at the foot of the bed. Turn them off then back on. Mine will trip every now and then getting old I guess.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: Old phart phred on August 07, 2018, 11:32:52 pm
Dark paint fivers arrive at the campground with 110 degree or more interior temps. Did you happen to replace the 13.5 roof ac units with 15 k units.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: jcus on August 08, 2018, 12:04:59 am
Whether 13.5 or 15000 btu units, should draw less that 15 amps on a 20 amp circuit. If ac breakers tripping, you have a problem with ac, wiring or breakers. Temps should not make a difference in max. amp draw.
Your generator should supply over 80 amps, two 15 amp ac's should not make much difference in its operation.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: Caflashbob on August 08, 2018, 12:28:11 am
I popped gen breakers a few times,  put new ones in,  no popped anymore,

Looked fine,  reset every 110 breaker under bed also,
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: Pamela & Mike on August 08, 2018, 07:15:20 am
speed,

Have you checked to see if the thermostat has died?
If the old style, the on/off switch could have went bad and needs to be repaired.

Mike
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: speedbird1 on August 08, 2018, 09:36:47 am
Thanks everyone,

Just going to go out and try the CB's.  I still have the original units that have never been any trouble, but it has been standing for a while.

Speedbird 1.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: speedbird1 on August 08, 2018, 10:51:01 am
Thanks again to All,

I think I had accidentally tried to run both units together as I saw a very low voltage (107v) and both CB's had tripped.  I just reset them and the units both run, and cool, just fine individually.

Amazing what you forget (age maybe a part of it??) if you don't operate one of these coaches for a while!!!

Speedbird1.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: wolfe10 on August 08, 2018, 10:53:19 am
While you would not want to START both A/C's at the same time, your generator should have no problem running both at the same time.

And, if 107 VAC was for more than the A/C initial start (couple of seconds at most), you need to troubleshoot that low voltage issue.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: jcus on August 08, 2018, 11:01:21 am
Thanks again to All,

I think I had accidentally tried to run both units together as I saw a very low voltage (107v) and both CB's had tripped.  I just reset them and the units both run, and cool, just fine individually.

Amazing what you forget (age maybe a part of it??) if you don't operate one of these coaches for a while!!!

Speedbird1.
Think you may still have a problem, voltage dropping to 107 when two ac's on is not normal. When dry camping, I routinely run both ac's all the time without problems. As I mentioned, 2 ac's will draw 30 amps total. Your generator is capable of supplying 80 amps.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: speedbird1 on August 08, 2018, 11:14:17 am
Once again the Foretravel family comes to the rescue!!

I think I accidentally had both units starting at the same time and the voltage dropped (to be expected) and only for a few seconds. Stupid was in a hurry!!!

They are both running fine right now on the generator.

Many thanks,

Speedbird 1.
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: turbojack on August 08, 2018, 12:49:54 pm
When the generator is running I have turned both AC is on at the same time and never had a problem I think something else is going on to cause both a c's to shut down
Title: Re: Roof AC units
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 08, 2018, 01:02:56 pm
Ours run the fan for a couple of minutes and then switch on the compressor. They are also timed differently so even if I switch both on at the same time, one has a minute or two delay from the other one.

If the voltage drops for a couple of seconds, the transfer switch kills the power for several minutes. This is not as common with the generator but all the time if the shore power cord is not large enough.

Pierce