Life expectancy of AC unit?

colliehauler wrote:
.....There are cheap devices that you can

plug into a outlet that will give you a readout of the voltage.

If the voltage is low you have several options, Hughes Auto Transformer, generator, don't use it, use it with the probability of failure down the road.

When you see everyone else using the A/C is usually when low voltage occurs.....

X2
Real hot day and all RV's running a/c, some with 2 a/c's running at a CG can drop the voltage to a dangerous level for an a/c and other appliances. Keep doing it over and over again and yes the a/c gonna die way before it's time!

I keep a volt meter AND tester plugged 'inside' my RV where I can see it at all times. Because things can change after you have parked at CG's.


On a hot day as more and more run their a/c and I see the volts drop I shut it down.

EcoBullet wrote:
Thanks for all of the replies. Sounds like I've been unluckier than most. I think I'll be checking on the surge protector/EMS idea. But, what do you do if the voltage is low? I see people all around me running AC at every campground, apparently they aren't having trouble.

There are cheap devices that you can plug into a outlet that will give you a readout of the voltage. If the voltage is low you have several options, Hughes Auto Transformer, generator, don't use it, use it with the probability of failure down the road. When you see everyone else using the A/C is usually when low voltage occurs.

And it's possible that you received two defective units, or have other issues.

Our previous TT's AC, a 31' Trail Bay, never faltered for the 10 years we had it. Sure sorry to hear about your AC problems. Sounds like they installed a lemon.

I've never had a total failure of any AC on any previously-owned RV. The current one had a board failure almost immediately.

jerseyjim wrote:
You got a problem...and it is NOT the a/c. It is something BEFORE the a/c unit.

Low voltage is a prime suspect. Have the a/c fixed one more time...then go to Progressive Industries or an RV internet supplier (I've had great luck at Tweetys.com) and get their 30AMP unit. (I presume that is what you have...they also have 50 AMP units if you have 50AMP) And while you're at it....presumably at your RV dealer for the a/c, have them check out your entire electrical circuits. Make sure the CONverter is working OK...they do get "weak" but not after only 2 years, as far as I know. Mine got "weak" after 16 years...and, BTW, my 2 roof a/c units are original and work fine.

X2

Where are you staying at? Do you stay at the same CG's every year with your RV's? Check the shore station with a volt meter before you plug in.

I was staying at a CG during an extreme heat wave and the CG had to shut down all the power because they couldn't maintain/provide the correct voltage to all the units that were parked there. Since 'all' of them had their a/c on.

The CG asked everyone to shut down their a/c's to be able to keep the power on but so many refused to do so they had to shut it all off.

Most older CG's were never designed to accommodate a full park of RV's using a/c and now with many RV's having "2" a/c's it's a struggle for some of them to maintain 'consistent' power.

EcoBullet wrote:
I think I'll be checking on the surge protector/EMS idea. But, what do you do if the voltage is low?

If you frequently run into low voltage situations and just can't live without your A/C then consider a voltage regulator such as a Hughes Autoformer that will automatically step up the voltage whenever it may drop excessively. In our case we only use A/C a few times a year and in our climate can easily live without it for a few hours if need be so simply having my EMS disconnect power to the trailer until it's safe to reconnect it works just fine. For others who consider A/C an absolute necessity the best answer is an autoformer, perhaps with a genset on hand as back up.

I see people all around me running AC at every campground, apparently they aren't having trouble.

Sure, and you'll see all sorts of people towing travel trailers with minivans - doesn't make it a good idea. ;)

You got a problem...and it is NOT the a/c. It is something BEFORE the a/c unit.

Low voltage is a prime suspect. Have the a/c fixed one more time...then go to Progressive Industries or an RV internet supplier (I've had great luck at Tweetys.com) and get their 30AMP unit. (I presume that is what you have...they also have 50 AMP units if you have 50AMP) And while you're at it....presumably at your RV dealer for the a/c, have them check out your entire electrical circuits. Make sure the CONverter is working OK...they do get "weak" but not after only 2 years, as far as I know. Mine got "weak" after 16 years...and, BTW, my 2 roof a/c units are original and work fine.

Thanks for all of the replies. Sounds like I've been unluckier than most. I think I'll be checking on the surge protector/EMS idea. But, what do you do if the voltage is low? I see people all around me running AC at every campground, apparently they aren't having trouble.

4 different A/Cs since 2000 and never an issue with any of them. :B Are you using a surge protector/EMS to protect your trailer from damaging campground low voltage? Abuse any A/C repeatedly with low voltage and it's virtually guaranteed to fail sooner rather than later. ;)

My 1981 Prowler still had it's original A/C in it and was working fine when I traded it in on my current trailer in 2007 ... that's 26 years:B

My current A/C is now 11 years old and working fine.

Larry