Who has replaced A/Cs

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Who has replaced A/Cs

April 10, 2011, 10:21:06 pm

Our coach is 15 years old, and so far, the two roof airs are working OK. I've had to tweak on them once in a while, but still they're working. Living in Florida, and still working, we do much of our camping down here, and in the summer to boot. Good, cold A/C is a must. When the rear A/C coughed a little this past weekend, we kind of decided that maybe we should not push our luck any longer, and replace both A/Cs with new units and thermostats. I was just wondering, who else has done this, and what are the possible pitfalls?

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #1 – April 10, 2011, 10:38:19 pm

We just replaced our front unit...not having ducted air we find it extremely noisy. Let me know if you have ducted and I will PM our cost and some other items we did at the same time.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #2 – April 10, 2011, 10:39:03 pm

We replaced two ac units with 15K BTU units. I will say that you will need to use the remote drain kit or you will find that the screws on the bottom or the bolt will vibrate against the roof in the new design. Other than that it is pretty easy swap.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #3 – April 10, 2011, 11:02:18 pm

Forgive me if this is slightly off topic, but I need to either repair or replace the shrouds (i.e., outside covers) on our AC units. Ours have developed some cracks in the front corners. Has anyone replaced theirs? If so, where did you buy them? We have the 15,000 BTU Duo-Therm models (630516.321). Thanks in advance.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #4 – April 10, 2011, 11:09:25 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – April 10, 2011, 11:02:18 pm

Forgive me if this is slightly off topic, but I need to either repair or replace the shrouds (i.e., outside covers) on our AC units. Ours have developed some cracks in the front corners. Has anyone replaced theirs? If so, where did you buy them? We have the 15,000 BTU Duo-Therm models (630516.321). Thanks in advance.

I bought mine from Camping world & 1 bought thru Dometic.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #5 – April 11, 2011, 09:07:25 am

George,
When our roof air covers cracked where the fasteners are, I took aluminum roof flashing and cut a piece to fit over crack and under lip. Siliconed to cover, flashing & cover are still holding securely. Covers will be replaced with our roof painting with paintable covers.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #6 – April 11, 2011, 09:51:46 am

Quote from: George Hatfield – April 10, 2011, 11:02:18 pm

Forgive me if this is slightly off topic, but I need to either repair or replace the shrouds (i.e., outside covers) on our AC units. Ours have developed some cracks in the front corners. Has anyone replaced theirs? If so, where did you buy them? We have the 15,000 BTU Duo-Therm models (630516.321). Thanks in advance.

I have 1 Duo-Therm and 1 Coleman. Replaced the cracked Duo-Therm shroud at a stop in El Paso. The campground store (don't remember the name) had a sale on shrouds, it hasn't leaked since. Coleman cover is original and is still good, the Duo-Therm was a replacement for the other Coleman.

Most older air conditioners have a piston compressor which make more noise than the newer rotary compressors. The piston units also make even more noise as they age and wear out. Almost any ducted installation will be quieter than non-ducted. If your RV did not come with ducts, and you want ducted AC then you would have to build it or have it built. I think FT switched to a ducted installation starting with the 98 models.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #7 – April 11, 2011, 09:56:01 am

When replacing the shroud I put a stainless steel fender washer on the screw that holds the shroud on three years later no problem.

Dave

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #8 – April 11, 2011, 10:20:47 am

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – April 11, 2011, 09:51:46 am

[... I think FT switched to a ducted installation starting with the 98 models.

Ducted air was introduced in 1997 models.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #9 – April 11, 2011, 11:41:29 am

I have to say that the new front unit that we had installed does not seem to cool as well as the original rear unit, and certainly not as well as the unit s in our last coach (which was also a replaced, newer model, not original). It is horribly noisy. Not a vibration noise, but the fan pushing the air! Barry Leavitt (of Barry & Cindy) opined that the new refrigerant that is now the industry standard necessitated using a larger fan to move the air and that the increased noise is an industry wide issue. I don't know ... I don't care. I just know that I am not very happy. I can either be hot and sticky or I can hear myself think. Not an acceptable state of affairs.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #10 – April 11, 2011, 01:08:37 pm

You good folks aren't really instilling me with confidence here about replacing my A/Cs.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #11 – April 11, 2011, 01:29:07 pm

I was just wondering, who else has done this, and what are the possible pitfalls?

Look at all the knowledge you have received...now you know what to look for and what too stay away from. We should have not left MOT before they fixed the problem. We have been in touch with Mot and they will take a look and make us happy. Just don't know when we can get back to Nac. May just be a bad unit. We shall see. We will be spending the summer in Colorado and north so we will be fine.. I am a lot anal and don't like things not being 100%.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #12 – April 11, 2011, 02:24:42 pm

I had original 92 coleman mach 13500 btu A/C units that cooled great. I was having issues where I couldn't get both to come on line while on generator without kicking out the ATS. Replaced ATS...same thing. Cummins/Onan convinced me the generator was fine but that the ancient A/C units were pulling excessive amps on compressor start (which I verified). So, prior to my trip out west last summer, I replaced the units with Coleman PS (power save) 13500 btu units. The problem was reduced greatly but it happened a time or two and I could always hear a slight change in tone to the generator especially when A/C #2 was powered up. These Coleman PS units are almost as loud and don't cool the coach down as quickly even thought the temperature of the air coming out is identical. I'm not a scientist so I can't explain it other than it seems more pronounced here in Florida with the humidity so I'm guessing the moisture is not being removed as efficiently as with the old units. IMO the new CFC free A/C units don't hold a candle to the old Ozone destroying freon ones. Big regret changing out the A/C prematurely based on Cummins. While I can't explain it and neither can anyone else...the generator recently quit working so I took it back to Cummins/Onan. This time they found a bad ignition coil and wouldn't you know it...now the A/C units can both be turned on and the generator doesn't even notice. I think I would spend a reasonable amount of money to keep old freon units operable before going CFC free.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #13 – April 11, 2011, 02:52:19 pm

Good points, Dwayne. Unfortunately, me and my big mouth have "spooked" the DW regarding these units, and I am now past the point of no return. If I didn't replace them, and we were to be without air, even momentarily, this summer, I'd be a dead man! When mama ain't happy.......you know the rest.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #14 – April 11, 2011, 05:12:36 pm

Just had both of my air conditioners replaced at FT two weeks ago. I am very satisfied with them. Went from the 13,500 to the 15000. So far, no problems at all. I also got the new thermostat as the old one will not work with the new units.
My old ones were so worn that they shook the coach and viberated on start-up and seemed to make much more noise than the new one. Mine are ducted.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #15 – April 11, 2011, 08:16:09 pm

Quote from: Jerry Steele – April 11, 2011, 05:12:36 pm

Just had both of my air conditioners replaced at FT two weeks ago. I am very satisfied with them. Went from the 13,500 to the 15000. So far, no problems at all.

Jerry,

If you have the work order handy, do you show a separate line item for the gasket, and if so, might you share the part number/vendor details? I'm curious of FT used the stock gaskets or installed a different one. I recall Kent mentioning the gasket he bought from FT parts was much higher quality than one he bought off eBay.

Thanks!

Michelle

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #16 – April 12, 2011, 09:39:21 am

Michelle,
There is no separate part number listed for the gasket, only for a bolt kit, numbered P83208.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #17 – April 12, 2011, 11:09:29 am

Michelle,
I just bought two of the gaskets from FOT and the part number is 83323301. The product is manufactured by RV Products located in Wichita, Kansas and their part number is 8332-3301. My brother picked them up for me and got them as far as Austin. We are to meet in Johnson City this week, so I'm hoping they really are better than ebay. I will have Kent help me with the replacing of the gaskets or I guess he defers to Steve for the manual labor.

Just kidding Kent.

Thanks,

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #18 – April 12, 2011, 11:20:28 am

Quote from: Brad – April 12, 2011, 11:09:29 am

I just bought two of the gaskets from FOT and the part number is 83323301. The product is manufactured by RV Products located in Wichita, Kansas and their part number is 8332-3301. My brother picked them up for me and got them as far as Austin. We are to meet in Johnson City this week, so I'm hoping they really are better than ebay. I will have Kent help me with the replacing of the gaskets or I guess he defers to Steve for the manual labor.

Interesting - so perhaps different than the stock Dometic ones....

As it happens (and I just PM'd you) we are here in Fredericksburg this week. Steve might be interested in checking them out and seeing if they seem different (and "better") than the Dometic ones.

Michelle

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #19 – April 12, 2011, 02:12:28 pm

Well, I did it. Just signed the work order to have two new Dometic 15,000 BTU heat pumps and 5-button digital thermostats installed in Old Betsy by Camping World here in Tampa. A little more than I hoped to spend, but if you're gonna run with the big dogs, ya gotta get off the porch.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #20 – April 12, 2011, 04:10:26 pm

Quote from: Brad – April 12, 2011, 11:09:29 am

Michelle,
I just bought two of the gaskets from FOT and the part number is 83323301. The product is manufactured by RV Products located in Wichita, Kansas and their part number is 8332-3301. My brother picked them up for me and got them as far as Austin. We are to meet in Johnson City this week, so I'm hoping they really are better than ebay. I will have Kent help me with the replacing of the gaskets or I guess he defers to Steve for the manual labor.

Just kidding Kent.

Thanks,

Brad, I'd be more than happy to install them for you and since my assistant and Michelle are nearby I'm sure it can be done easily. Steve, my shoulder hurts. Go put in Brads new AC seals, will ya.

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #21 – April 12, 2011, 04:41:21 pm

I wanna know how this works out - AND how much the damage was...

Re: Who has replaced A/Cs

Reply #22 – April 12, 2011, 07:13:09 pm

Someone was looking for the Dometic part# for the roof gasket, from Dometic parts book,
14X14 Gasket 310024.000

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