Air Conditioner Installation DIY?

A conduit was what I suggested to the factory

pretty sure with household e-code, a junction box cannot be covered and it has to be accessible, maybe that's why they put it in the cupboard. Not sure what else they could do, I don't want to see an exposed junction box in the middle of the ceiling and if the a/c shroud covered it it still may not qualify as accessible.

It looks like in this case they forgot to do some of the rough in. I wouldn't expect the wire to be ran to the vent location but there should be a conduit to get it there easily.

Looks good!

Did something similar on our Winegard antenna plate. The back side and all the coax/wiring was exposed on overhead cab. Every time opened the door got to look at it.

I think on the "pre-wire" its so the other loose end terminates inside an electrical box. A just in case kinda thing I think, which I did. Tapped the breaker for AC to add a receptacle for electric heater. Though the breaker was dealer installed for our original AC. Maybe because variables in ACs, however I never understood why on the pre-wire it isnt terminated in a junction box at the hole instead of running a short jumper and the extra connection. Or just as likely purely cost savings-not much built like it once was (least that most could afford)

Sure glad our old camper was pre wired right to the 12v roof vent in the ceiling. Just disconnected 12v and wire nutted them, opened the 110 wires and hooked it up. Those old camper manufacturers thought ahead better than some if the newer ones I think.

Thanks for reporting back. wow, it's too bad you had to convince them that you knew what you were talking about.

I've seen the junction box in my cabinet but never been inside it. The dealer didn't mention any issues when they installed mine and they did it in the allotted time so I'm guessing mine came from the factory the way it's supposed to.

I sort of got it sorted out! Contacted the factory rep who basically told me I was looking in the wrong places and I was too stupid, therefore I should just take it to the dealer. So I sent the factory rep some pictures and a very brief resume.

Oh, that's the correct place! Well, you must be looking for the other end in the wrong place. There is a hole in the ceiling in the cabinet above the sink.

Oh, that's the correct place too, and there isn't a hole in the ceiling! I owe you an apology. So the engineer sent me drawings for the electrical in the ceiling to help me find the location. Then after asking, they sent me pictures of current 86FB models on the factory floor...with the hole. But, luckily what really worked was my son's stethoscope because the factory hole in the pictures were several inches away from where I was hearing the fishtape. I got an 1/8" drill bit just to be on the safe side and literally hit the fishtape. So then I enlarged the hole and was able to run a pull cord from the vent to the hole. I didn't like the look of the metal box and hole in the ceiling, and mine was already looking cleaner than the factory pictures. So this is how I cleaned it up even further.

I will probably order the AC unit this winter. At least now I know how to manage the factory pre-wiring for air conditioning!

So did you get it sorted? I'm interested as my brother in law has the same model.

Son is a Firefighter EMT and has a stethoscope. I am hoping that I can hear where the fishtape is hitting...and find it that way. Distance going in the the tape seems right. I am guessing that it's right there, I am sooo close. I hope! I'll find out tomorrow when I borrow the scope.

So your junction box is in cabinet.. just a further run? There generaly wouldnt be anything structual running north/south so dont know what you might be hitting. How about trying from the box toward the vent. May need to remove the box.. the "supplied hole in ceiling" I assume referring to hole in side of vent opening.

On ours theres a main bundle of wires between the junction box and cabinets- If I had to fish toward cabinet Id be hitting it. If I had to go all way from vent hole to cabinet, thats like 2', be dang near forever trying to hit. But if the box internal is removed its completely open to space above ceiling panel, feeding from vent wouldnt be as bad.
pre wire...

AnEv942 wrote:
Is there a blank elec. box cover on ceiling beside opening?, Mine is pre-wired from breaker box to the cieling box-short cord from the junction box to AC hole. I have to remove the cover and blank receptacle- kinda like like one but its where the junction between to romex cords is made.

That's kind of funny because when I contacted the camper manufacturer I said, this camper was suppose to be pre-wired for AC. They said, it is sorta! Doesn't that imply that there is wiring then? We supplied the 115 AC to the junction box in the cabinet. Then he said that there is a hole in the ceiling where the wire goes from the vent to the junction box. If only there was such a hole I would be thrilled!!

The fishtape I shoved down the hole suggests that it's near where the junction box was screwed into the ceiling. Geez, I really don't want to do exploratory cutting and drilling to find it.