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Topic: Roof AC units (Read 787 times) previous topic - next topic

Roof AC units

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
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #1 –
Tripped breakers in the panel or generator?
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #2 –
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.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #3 –
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.
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #4 –
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.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #5 –
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.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #6 –
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.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #7 –
I popped gen breakers a few times,  put new ones in,  no popped anymore,

Looked fine,  reset every 110 breaker under bed also,
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #8 –
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
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #9 –
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.
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #10 –
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.
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #11 –
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.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #12 –
Quote from: speedbird1 –
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.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #13 –
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.
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #14 –
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
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Roof AC units

Reply #15 –
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
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)