Don't understand my air conditioner
I have a 2016 Forest River Rockwood 5th wheel with a Coleman Mach air conditioner in the kitchen/living area. I've seen intermittent operation that concerns me. The other day we returned from dry camp...
Forum Discussion
One of the thigns you said is you had it plugged into 15 amps.. The breaker for that unit is 20 amps.. now it SHOULD run on 15, but JUST the A/C. I mean even the converter (if batteries are low) may be more than 15 amps can handle.
And even if you don't trip the breaker,, the voltage drop in the wires may be enough to shut down some things.. LIKE the converter.. If it does not charge the batteries then, unliess your A/C has "local" (Ceiling) controls as my Coleman does (more on that in a second) you loose control power so the compressor won;t start.
IF you do have Ceiling controls.. Well there is no "Freeze Up" Sensor (Frost sensor) so it can ice up on you (mine did)
Low voltage also can cause the compressor to NOT START
My first suggestion is to plug in a good volt meter, Several units exist I will describe them
MFJ makes a nice backlit analog meter (MFJenterprises dot com as I recall) it has a pass through outlet so you don't even loose a plug.. Expanded range nice meter mine was free.
I also have an expanded range plug in analog meter of the kind Camping world and other RV stores sell. Much bigger than teh MFJ. but no backlight.
I have a Kill-a-watt and it has a "Volts" mode (Digital)
CW and other RV outlets sell a digital with polarity led's. it is a combination volt meter and 3-light outlet tester.
Plug any of those in and if the voltage is droppign below 110 be worried. 106 is the code minimum and 107 the DANGER ZONE, but 110 and below is concerned.
And even if you don't trip the breaker,, the voltage drop in the wires may be enough to shut down some things.. LIKE the converter.. If it does not charge the batteries then, unliess your A/C has "local" (Ceiling) controls as my Coleman does (more on that in a second) you loose control power so the compressor won;t start.
IF you do have Ceiling controls.. Well there is no "Freeze Up" Sensor (Frost sensor) so it can ice up on you (mine did)
Low voltage also can cause the compressor to NOT START
My first suggestion is to plug in a good volt meter, Several units exist I will describe them
MFJ makes a nice backlit analog meter (MFJenterprises dot com as I recall) it has a pass through outlet so you don't even loose a plug.. Expanded range nice meter mine was free.
I also have an expanded range plug in analog meter of the kind Camping world and other RV stores sell. Much bigger than teh MFJ. but no backlight.
I have a Kill-a-watt and it has a "Volts" mode (Digital)
CW and other RV outlets sell a digital with polarity led's. it is a combination volt meter and 3-light outlet tester.
Plug any of those in and if the voltage is droppign below 110 be worried. 106 is the code minimum and 107 the DANGER ZONE, but 110 and below is concerned.
