DANG IT ! We're traveling (in amarillo now, on our way to grand canyon).My rear Air Conditioner won't turn on.The electric heat strip works, the fan will run on manual (high & low) but the AC won't kick on.When i 1st tried it the temperature display wasn't on - i pulled the cover & started to check the fuse & when i pulled on the fuse the display came on.Its a COLEMAN (mach) w/ the RV Comfort Thermostat.The AC unit was working yesterday & earlier today.Any trouble-shooting tips that anyone has would be appreciated !

Since the heat strips work I think you can rule out a problem with the wiring or thermostat. If I were troubleshooting I would climb up in the roof and remove the cover. Look for the start capacitor and see if it is swollen and/or leaking at the top where the wire connections are. You could swap the caps between the two ac's but be careful you need to power down the unit then short the terminals together with a screwdriver. Be careful if you do this as these things bite hard if not discharged.

Don't you need the generator running to run the air?

Sprink-Fitter wrote:Don't you need the generator running to run the air?hello !?!?! the fan runs & the heat strip works....so obviously I'm getting AC Current from somewhere (assume the generator)....so YES the generator is running - my FRONT air conditioner (among other things) are working fine (using ac current).

bshpilot wrote:Sprink-Fitter wrote:Don't you need the generator running to run the air?hello !?!?! the fan runs & the heat strip works....so obviously I'm getting AC Current from somewhere (assume the generator)....so YES the generator is running - my FRONT air conditioner (among other things) are working fine (using ac current).Sorry for trying to help. Did you say the front ac was working, did you say the generator was running. The fan could run on 12 volt so I thought I would ask. I don't "assume" anything, so you figure it out yourself.

bdpreece wrote:Since the heat strips work I think you can rule out a problem with the wiring or thermostat. If I were troubleshooting I would climb up in the roof and remove the cover. Look for the start capacitor and see if it is swollen and/or leaking at the top where the wire connections are. You could swap the caps between the two ac's but be careful you need to power down the unit then short the terminals together with a screwdriver. Be careful if you do this as these things bite hard if not discharged.I have a some AC Volt/Amp Panel Meters (inside the coach).If the starting cap was bad would i see an attempt or current drawl (ac current load) on my 120 VAC panel meters ?I dont see any spike or increased AC Voltage (VAC) drawl of the compressor when i switch the thermostat to Air Conditioning mode "on". I do see an AC amp draw when the fan is (manually) turned on or the heat is turned on.

SOLVED - WAS: Traveling: Air Conditioner NOT powering on

Executive45
Explorer III
Jun 07, 2015
Sounds like a double happy ending....identified the problem and had a GOOD experience with Camping World....Dennis
chuckftboy
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
I love a story with a happy ending
CT_WANDERER
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Happy to hear that you got that solved. Gary
bshpilot
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Can't say enough good things about the folks at camping world (bellemont, az) - parts are on order (no prepayment required - they felt bad that they didn't have one in stock).

They let us stay in the lot overnight - before we even knew we had a problem. ALL the staff was super nice and very friendly !
bdpreece
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2015
aztortuga wrote:
Thanks for the followup and solution to your problem a/c. Many don't followup and let us know the solution so no sharing of information occurs.

X2
aztortuga
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Thanks for the followup and solution to your problem a/c. Many don't followup and let us know the solution so no sharing of information occurs.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jun 06, 2015
Great problem solved, install a new thermostat
bshpilot
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Turns out it's the thermostat - swapping front to rear & rear to front thermostats proved out that the thermostat controlling the rear Air Conditioner (function) is bad.
1971duster340
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Every time I've had issues you describe it's been the start capacitor...Coleman, Dometic and _________! Watch your amps on your voltage monitor (it will happen fast) when the compressor tries to start. The amps will climb then either the whole system will shut down, the compressor won't start or the breaker opens. You probably don't have an inverter type genset, but if so, it will try to carry the load by revving up when the compressor kicks on, then fall back to the pre startup sound. Is the breaker for the rear A/C getting hot? You guys have had lots of lightning recently. Does that t'stat have a battery? I know a repair man in Albuquerque if you want to PM me.
bshpilot
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
rgatijnet1 wrote:
EMS systems can also malfunction, if you have one. They are just one component that is in your wiring system that exists between the generator and the AC panel.

our EMS (progressive industries EMSLCHW50) is NOT connected to our generator supply line - again if there were anything wrong w/ our power source then i cant imagine the FRONT Air Conditioner working where the REAR Air would not.

I have panel meters that monitor EACH 50a leg of our 120vac energy supply (both on the generator side as well as shore power side). I also have panel meters to monitor our DC voltage supply.

we do NOT have a power source or delivery issue - everything else in the coach works except the REAR Air Conditioning (portion) of our roof top ac/heating unit.