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andymaan's avatar
andymaan
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013

Air Conditioner just died (I think)

I'm hoping someone can help. We just got back from a week trip to our local mountains and my 3000w generator would not run our 13.5 coleman air-conditioner. The air worked plugged in to a 30amp circuit at my house before we left. When we got home, I plugged it back in to the 30amp and the breaker went off. I opened up the panel on the RV and found the ground wire loose. I tightened and reset the breaker and everything came online (microwave display, TV light, etc.). I tested the microwave and it worked. I turned the Air on and when the compressor tried to come online, I heard a loud sound (pop, then gas escaping) and billowing white smoke came out of the roof unit (My wife said it was scary). Obviously, the compressor would not come on again. I took the cover off the roof unit and noticed oil everywhere around the compressor. Everything else looked okay.

What am I dealing with now and is it serviceable? What cost can I expect.

thanks everyone:)

Andy

12 Replies

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  • old_guy's avatar
    old_guy
    Explorer
    Jul 08, 2013
    I have never seen a tech who would work on an A/C. in fact I don't recall ever seeing a charge port on an A/C. usually they just swap them out with a new unit.
  • BobsYourUncle's avatar
    BobsYourUncle
    Nomad
    Jul 08, 2013
    Sounds like you blew a freon line in there.

    I suggest looking to see if you can see a telltale break in the lines somewhere.

    A broken line can be mended and the system recharges, however you need to determine the cause of the break. If it has corroded from the inside out then chances are it will happen again and it may be time to replace the whole unit.
    But if you can see where something abraded a line and caused the rupture, then perhaps the line repair and recharge may work.

    The "billowing white smoke" was likely the freon escaping.

    Part of the freon charge includes refrigerant oil. This is likely what you see in there. The oil circulates in the system with the freon so if there is a rupture, then oil comes out too.

    The break could be anywhere in there, in the condenser, evaporator, anywhere.

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