Forum Discussion

MSchu's avatar
MSchu
Explorer
Oct 28, 2018

Intermittent AC problem

I just returned from a month long trip in our '95 Holiday Rambler trailer, and for the first 2 weeks it was hot enough to use the AC. Twice during that time I noticed something that concerned me. the AC fan would kick on and run for about 15 seconds, then kick off without the compressor kicking on. The first time I noticed it, the fan kicked back on after a minute or so and then the compressor started a few seconds later like it usually does. The second time it tried for 3 times before the compressor finally started. Both instances were late at night in full campgrounds. After this, the AC ran normally for another 4 or 5 days until the weather cooled off and I never needed AC again.
The AC is a Duo Therm 13.5 rooftop unit, probably the original to the trailer.
So what do you think caused this? Do I have a capacitor going out? Or could it have just been a low voltage problem? (I do have a PI HW-30C EMS hard wired in to the trailer)
Would a hard start capacitor be any help?
Thanks for any help!
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Oct 28, 2018
    With a bad cap I think you would hear the compressor hum but not start. If there’s never any sound but the fan I’d suspect a starting relay.
  • MSchu's avatar
    MSchu
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2018
    I had a problem before with the starter relay sticking and keeping the compressor running all the time, and had the control panel replaced to fix it. Maybe the new one has problems too.
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2018
    Mandalay Parr wrote:
    Maybe the coil iced up.


    That's what it sounds like to me.
  • LVJJJ's avatar
    LVJJJ
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2018
    Probably starting capacitor. Last summer, camping in nice hot weather in our '05 Trail Cruiser near Wenatchee WA with the A/C running nice and cool, suddenly it smelled like electrical wiring was burning. But it went away after a little while and the A/C kept running. Thot maybe it was a neighbor's problem. Shouldn't have turned the A/C off, turned out the connections at the top of the starter capacitor shorted out, so it wouldn't start the compressor motor the next day. Luckily, a relatively cheap, easy fix.
  • campigloo's avatar
    campigloo
    Explorer
    Oct 31, 2018
    Sounds like a power source problem to me. Ran good for the next 4-5 days? It didn’t heal itself. Maybe less demand on the parks system?
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Nov 02, 2018
    Lwiddis wrote:
    At 23 years old I’d replace it.


    Heck if it works and may only need a simple cheap repair why be in a big hurry to throw it away and spend a lot of money on new ???
  • davidsons's avatar
    davidsons
    Explorer
    Nov 18, 2018
    Hey! It seems like it may be something with coil. You'd better call to some repairing service. Last summer I used my AC and then It suddenly had broken I tried to repair it by myself but nothing came out. Then I called fonko company and they repaired it they have excellent repairing service.

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