A/C electrical requirements

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Last weekend we opened up the camper and all was good except the air conditioner.
When I set the thermostat to cool and lowered the temperature set point you could hear the unit start but it never really started to put out cold air. The campground where we have the camper is really old and the electrical system is well below par. I read the voltage and was only seeing 110 VAC. I’m wondering what the electrical requirements are for the A/C unit to work and if I have enough power at the post.
Thank you
Jim

[Learjet]

Dankenbring wrote:
The ac unit doesn't even have connections to add coolant or to check pressure. I had this happen on a new unit and the only fix was to replace condenser unit.

Because of the design...if it leaks...it's a good chance it needs to be replaced.

This isn't like a home unit.

When is the last time you re-charged a window unit?

[christopherglen]

My main AC was bad from the factory, no cold air. Other then a thermometer to measure discharge temp, there is no diagnostics or repair. Remove and Replace (R&R).

[Dankenbring]

The ac unit doesn't even have connections to add coolant or to check pressure. I had this happen on a new unit and the only fix was to replace condenser unit.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I've learned a new word!! nadir. Now to learn petard. I love forums!! Learn vocabulary and air conditioning fundamentals in the same place!
Jim

[ScottG]

Great, now I have to look up "petard".

[2oldman]

Water-Bug wrote:
I don't think that hoisting your petard in a public forum is permissible.

lol

[Water-Bug]

2oldman wrote:

Dtank wrote:
"2oldman" is tossing out a two-bit word which serves no purpose except to hoist his own petard...:S

Yeah, I forgot who my audience was. What does petard stand for?

I don't think that hoisting your petard in a public forum is permissible.

[2oldman]

Dtank wrote:
"2oldman" is tossing out a two-bit word which serves no purpose except to hoist his own petard...:S

Yeah, I forgot who my audience was. What does petard stand for?

[fla-gypsy]

I hav run my AC at 108v for a week during peak periods. I do get nervous below that.

[Dtank]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Sturgeon-Phish wrote:
what does nadir stand for?

It doesn't stand for anything. It's a word.

Full Definition of NADIR
1: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer
2: the lowest point


AS used "108 is probably the nadir of voltage to run any air."

'Lowest point' vs celestial sphere

.

Actually the nadir can be found in most AC schematics wired in series with the flux capacitor!..:W

.

S-P:
"2oldman" is tossing out a two-bit word which serves no purpose except to hoist his own petard...:S

.

[Old-Biscuit]

2oldman wrote:

Sturgeon-Phish wrote:
what does nadir stand for?

It doesn't stand for anything. It's a word.

Full Definition of NADIR
1: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer
2: the lowest point


AS used "108 is probably the nadir of voltage to run any air."

'Lowest point' vs celestial sphere

[2oldman]

Sturgeon-Phish wrote:
what does nadir stand for?

It doesn't stand for anything. It's a word.

[Coach-man]

AC unit probably has a slow leak, low pressure in system would prevent compressor for running! Since they are a sealed system, you can not add coolant. There is a dye that can be used to check for leaks, recomend an AC guy check it for leaks. Barring that the start capacitor could be bad as well, but I think you would be able to smell burnt electrical if that were the case.

[Learjet]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
With AC running......voltage at 108V is the minimum I will operate MY A/C (120V AC +/- 10%=======108 to 132)

A/C fan motor and compressor will operate at much lower voltages...just causes high amp draw and can damage motor

When you started the A/C unit did Fan AND compressor start or just Fan??

Should hear both start.

Could be bad start capacitor/run capacitor/compressor motor.

Turn Fan on manually then turn A/C unit on.......do you hear compressor start?

Air blowing out of duct should start out warm and then begin cooling down within minutes

My Dometic AC's are rated at 115 volt, so +- 10% measured at the unit would be fine.