HELLLP!... NEED A/C REPAIR IN SOUTH DAKOTA

That is why I never plug in anywhere even at the house without this surge unit. Beside surges it protects from low voltage and other from faulty power issues.
Meters are cheaper and work fine for low voltage as long as you are sitting in the RV looking at it. IMHO I would prefer getting out and doing things than sit in the RV watching a meter. And I do not think Gladys would stay up all night staring at a meter.

Do you have a line voltage monitor/meter and did you notice the voltage dips?
It isn't unusual for low voltage when everybody in the RV park is trying to run AC units at once. If you don't have a plug in voltage monitor they are a common item at CW/RV stores. Shut off AC when voltage goes into the red.

I agree with j-d. This community in general (RV'ers) is so very supportive and willing to help each other out.

Glad to hear you had a positive end result and are back to enjoying yourselves.

Jose

jefflaur1 wrote:
Mark at Spaders RV tools us right in before they officially opened. Turns out power dips at several RV parks had fried the compressor..it all needed to be replaced. They had an available unit and a tech was called in early to jump on it. Mark directed our group to a nearby pancake house..great breakfast. At about 11:15 they were wrapping it all up and before lunch we had a brand new DuoTherm heat pump installed and were on our way. Several other service people ha said they would have had to order the unit and it would have been two days.

So..we were rocking back on the road in less than 4 hours with a whole new system.
And parked in Sundance WY with cool passengers and a warm feeling for all of you in the forum who offered help!

Thanks.. And special thanks to Mark Thies and his awesome staff at Spaders RV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota! HIGH PRAISE!

Glad it all worked out.


You would be doing a good service to post your experience at rvservicereviews.com for future travelers.

RV Service Reviews

Sorry it wasn't a simpler/quicker/cheaper repair, but gratified there are businesses out there that do quality work and care about customer service. It's Capacitor more often than not, but the Noise you mentioned had me worried from the outset. Bad cap and all you'll hear is the compressor humming while it tries to start. Then it goes quiet till its overheat safety cools enough to let it try again. You might not hear any of that over the blower noise.

It's an honor and a pleasure to help on the forum. As just one member, I can assure you I've received far more help than I could ever repay. Pay It Forward!

Mark at Spaders RV tools us right in before they officially opened. Turns out power dips at several RV parks had fried the compressor..it all needed to be replaced. They had an available unit and a tech was called in early to jump on it. Mark directed our group to a nearby pancake house..great breakfast. At about 11:15 they were wrapping it all up and before lunch we had a brand new DuoTherm heat pump installed and were on our way. Several other service people ha said they would have had to order the unit and it would have been two days.

So..we were rocking back on the road in less than 4 hours with a whole new system.
And parked in Sundance WY with cool passengers and a warm feeling for all of you in the forum who offered help!

Thanks.. And special thanks to Mark Thies and his awesome staff at Spaders RV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota! HIGH PRAISE!

jefflaur1 wrote:
We ended up getting an early morning call from Mark at Spaders RV in Sioux Falls..like well over an hour before they opened. Went over there and he's checking on it now. Got us right in. Can't tell you how impressed I am with them! More in a few minutes

Any update ?

A buddy of mine does A/C for a living and knows MH units really well. He said it is almost never a compressor problem. I would think either capacitor or motor. Either can be repaired with parts from Grainger or some other supplier. I am almost positive you could get taken care of by any RV dealer and a half competent tech.

As a last resort, you can consider a portable A/C unit. Keep it in the bathroom area and let it exhaust out the window or through the top vent. It's not ideal, but better than nothing.

Jose
Jose

If it is the start capacitor, most RV dealers can handle it, but may have to order the part.

If it is the compressor, it is a sealed unit like modern refrigerators and window A/C, you'll be buying a new A/C if you can't do without.

We crossed the plains in summer 1961 without A/C in either car or travel trailer, the people who lived there did not yet have it in homes, stores or restaurants, so the situation should be survivable. Get the RV into the shade when you stop, if you can.

At least get the people into shade, it makes a huge difference out here. It is 91F right now on my front porch, and I can sit there just fine in the shade. But if I go out onto the patio where the sun has heated the pavement to well over 120, I'm toast.

If Spaders can't do the job or doesn't have the parts, there's a Dutchmen dealer in Worthing, SD. just 18 miles south of Sioux Falls. Great Plains RV. Exit 64.