Ac unit bad?

[Bredwagon]

Ok here is my question. I was running my ac today in my trailer. ( plugged into shore power). I noticed that the fan would slow down and then speed back up. Also when it slows down I could here a buzzing from the breaker panel. So I shut it off right away until I could get it checked out. Does it sound like ac is bad? The trailer is a 90s model and is still the orginal ac.- it was taken very good care of. Would it better to just replace the whole unit with a newer one? Thanks.

[jerb]

have had good luck with these, have put several in different campers, use for 30 or 50 amp and includes 12 volt panel as well, uses easy to find square d breakers!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WFCO-MODEL-WF-8930-50-30-50-AMP-RV-BARK-BOX-POWER-DISTRIBUTION-PANEL-BLACK-/281330275040?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item41809752e0&vxp=mtr#ht_512wt_1105

[Chris_Bryant]

Here you go-- this is not generally available any more, but this person has some new old stock. Used to be a regular item I kept.

[ksg5000]

Yeah you can buy a new panel ... suggest you give the guys at Bestconverter.com a call ... http://www.bestconverter.com/Parallax-80D-30-Amp-ACDC-Distribution-Panel_p_86.html. However. If your going to go through the trouble of switching I would probably upgrade to something that has a smart converter - if you want to camp having battery and good converter is a big plus and your old magnatek converter is pretty lousy. Bestconveter guys should be able to talk you through your alternatives. Good luck.

[Bredwagon]

Ok I did some checking into it tonight. Good call on the breakers guys! One of the posts that holds the mounting plate for the breakers is broke. Causing the breakers to be loose and wiggle around. I wired the ac direct ( just to check!) and it is fine. So I need a new load center. I have a magnetek 6300 series model 6345. Can I get just the load center? From what I have found they don't seem to make them anymore.

[time2roll]

Remove the breaker and look for pitting where it clamps onto the bus.
May need a new bus & breaker. Possibly a new load center.

[Bredwagon]

Also- not extension cord. I am plugged in at the pedestal on my garage, which is only ten feet from the main panel.

[Bredwagon]

I will answer the questions I can until I get home tonight and check it out.
The battery is not a factor. I do not have a battery on my system. It's either plugged in or nothing. The breaker was a little warm. I had to replace the main breaker last year. Do these go bad normally? I have not checked the connections yet. The unit was cooling great- you could hang a side of beef in there. I had it running all last week when my daughter was " camping out" and had no problems. I can't remember when the condenser was cleaned last, but I will check it tonight.

[wwest]

ScottG wrote:
I would take the cover off the breaker panel and tighten the connections. I would also make sure the breaker is not getting too warm.
I prefer a 20 y/o AC unit to a new one. They just seem to have more cooling ability and I would do what I could to keep it.

CB...right on!

[aruba5er]

You really need to know the voltage. Are you using an extension cord or the camper cord (10/3 cord) You say you hear a noise at the breaker. Is the breaker warm? a 20 year old breaker may be bad. Has the condenser ever been cleaned? Was it cooling? if cooling, I would not jump into spending a thousand dollars to get it replaced. Like Scott G said, check all ,ALL, conections.

[ScottG]

I would take the cover off the breaker panel and tighten the connections. I would also make sure the breaker is not getting too warm.
I prefer a 20 y/o AC unit to a new one. They just seem to have more cooling ability and I would do what I could to keep it.

[RoyB]

Another possibility may be the battery system. Perhaps your battery has boiled out all of the battery fluids and the converter is seeing a very big load from the battery which is loading down your 120VAC coming from the shore power connection.

We use our trailers connected to the garage 120VAC 15/20AMP receptacle but always keep a close watch on the 120VAC using one of those RV120VAC PLUG-IN VOLTMETERs.

If the input 120VAC power is not with-in the "GREEN SAFE ZONE" displayed on the meter face we don't use our Air Conditioner.



It is possible your converter was loading down your shore power big time trying to deal with your battery system.

I would check the fluids in the battery and see what the DC VOLTAGE is at the battery terminals when you are connected to your house shore power. This should read 13.6VDC when you have shore power connected and 12.6VDC when the shore power is OFF and the battery is fully charged...

Roy Ken

[ksg5000]

Age maybe a factor - but my AC is from 92 and it works fine albeit doesn't get used often and I clean/maintain it annually.

If your sure your getting ample shore power then take off the shroud and inspect the unit .. clean both the condenser and evaporator coils (use forum search feature for how to clean evaporator coils) .. while your up there inspect the start and run capacitors sometimes a bad one can be identified because of smell or deformation - they don't cost much to replace. Check the fan motor .. older units may have fan motor that requires periodic lubrication (mine has oil hole). Also - clean the air intake filters located inside the rig.
Those are the free/inexpensive things to check out. Compressor issues are big ticket and would usually require replacement of unit.

[Bredwagon]

I am plugged into a 30 amp plug on the side of our garage.

[Bumpyroad]

I would replace a 20 year old model rather than a rebuild myself. assuming it is a goner.
bumpy