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| [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175281] |
Mon, 02 July 2012 09:51  |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Last weekend was Montgomery, 220 miles one way. Since it's been hoty. I've been relogious about filling the coach with no alcohol gas. It runs OK in 110 degrees. However, as I pulled into Sisterinlaw's yard, the roof A/C shut off. Open breaker. When I looked, ruined breaker - won't reset. K&K RV in Prattville AL had an exact replacement. Stuffed it in, AC comes on and cools, but at the first cycle, the compressor won't restart - locked armature, hum, and trips the breaker. So, we cvame home yesterday morning starting at 5 am to best the heat. Only the last 30 miles or so going around the city were sweltering. I just left the cpach off with Frady pere and fils for repair. The word is, maybe there's a problem wioth the cap bank the cmptrssor starts from, otherwise we have an expiring compressor which they can't repair. The unit is a Coleman Mach and it's about ten years old and has seen heavy use, since the coach has lived in S
Florida.
Frady has on hand a 15K BTU Dometic low profile he ordered for a customer who then didn't want it. He says he can get close on the price. Or he can order and get another Mach if I prefer. Both in case the one I have isn't reasonably fixable. My AC guy says assuming he can get the compressor, he could replace it and braze service valves into the lines and get it going, but he points out "You'd be close to the cost of a new one" so if Frady can't demonstrate a bad cap and a working machine for a day in his lot, I lean towards the Dometic. Whatever I do has to be reliable, San Antonio next week, and I can't take a chance on no AC halfway there or back. We will see.
Interestringly, Entec Fuels in Alabama has pumps with two hoses - one being three grades, the other being no alcohol 87 octane gasoline. Filled the coach for the return trip for 2.89 a gallon, no price change with or without alcohol. www.pure-gas.org is Your Friend. Surprisingly, there are very few puregasoline outlets in Tejas. Being an oil state, I would have thought they would be a no alcohol haven. No such luck. Anyone have any idea why?
johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
--johnny
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175319 is a reply to message #175281] |
Mon, 02 July 2012 15:59  |
shawnee
Messages: 422
Registered: February 2004
Location: NC
Karma: 0
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| Johnny Bridges wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 10:51 |
Last weekend was Montgomery, 220 miles one way. Since it's been hoty. I've been relogious about filling the coach with no alcohol gas. It runs OK in 110 degrees. However, as I pulled into Sisterinlaw's yard, the roof A/C shut off. Open breaker. When I looked, ruined breaker - won't reset. K&K RV in Prattville AL had an exact replacement. Stuffed it in, AC comes on and cools, but at the first cycle, the compressor won't restart - locked armature, hum, and trips the breaker. So, we cvame home yesterday morning starting at 5 am to best the heat. Only the last 30 miles or so going around the city were sweltering. I just left the cpach off with Frady pere and fils for repair. The word is, maybe there's a problem wioth the cap bank the cmptrssor starts from, otherwise we have an expiring compressor which they can't repair. The unit is a Coleman Mach and it's about ten years old and has seen heavy use, since the coach has lived in S
Florida.
Frady has on hand a 15K BTU Dometic low profile he ordered for a customer who then didn't want it. He says he can get close on the price. Or he can order and get another Mach if I prefer. Both in case the one I have isn't reasonably fixable. My AC guy says assuming he can get the compressor, he could replace it and braze service valves into the lines and get it going, but he points out "You'd be close to the cost of a new one" so if Frady can't demonstrate a bad cap and a working machine for a day in his lot, I lean towards the Dometic. Whatever I do has to be reliable, San Antonio next week, and I can't take a chance on no AC halfway there or back. We will see.
Interestringly, Entec Fuels in Alabama has pumps with two hoses - one being three grades, the other being no alcohol 87 octane gasoline. Filled the coach for the return trip for 2.89 a gallon, no price change with or without alcohol. www.pure-gas.org is Your Friend. Surprisingly, there are very few puregasoline outlets in Tejas. Being an oil state, I would have thought they would be a no alcohol haven. No such luck. Anyone have any idea why?
johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
--johnny
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Johnny,
I have the Dometic Penquin a/c in my coach and it does a good job. It may be a little more noise than the others though.
Gene Dotson
74 Canyonlands
www.bdub.net/Motorhome_Enhancements New Windows and Aluminum Radiators
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175340 is a reply to message #175319] |
Mon, 02 July 2012 18:30 |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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[quote title=shawnee wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 13:59][quote title=Johnny Bridges wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 10:51]Last weekend was Montgomery, 220 miles one way. Since it's been hoty. I've been relogious about filling the coach with no alcohol gas. It runs OK in 110 degrees. However, as I pulled into Sisterinlaw's yard, the roof A/C shut off. Open breaker. When I looked, ruined breaker - won't reset. K&K RV in Prattville AL had an exact replacement. Stuffed it in, AC comes on and cools, but at the first cycle, the compressor won't restart - locked armature, hum, and trips the breaker. So, we cvame home yesterday morning starting at 5 am to best the heat. Only the last 30 miles or so going around the city were sweltering. I just left the cpach off with Frady pere and fils for repair. The word is, maybe there's a problem wioth the cap bank the compressor starts from, otherwise we have an expiring compressor which they can't repair. The unit is a Coleman Mach and it's about ten years old and has seen heavy use, since the coach has lived in S
Florida.
I agree replacing the compressor wouldn't be cost effective although I replaced the compressor in my front unit . It is a 1985 Dometic unit I took off a Versa-tell room. It was in warranty and it only cost me time. If the start capacitor and start relay are good in yours I would look for a low voltage problem on start up or a poor electrical connection. Is the Onan putting out 120 volts when the compressor is trying to start?? If it is down to 100 volts or less it would likely cycle off on its internal overload each time it tries to start. A new unit could have the same problem but the old piston compressors are a little harder to get going. In all my years of working on these A/C units be it small ones or large ones the problem you are describing was always a low voltage problem or with single phase systems the start capacitor and relay. Good luck.
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175346 is a reply to message #175281] |
Mon, 02 July 2012 19:02 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Johnny,
Maybe look at this ...might work, it did for me.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3615-roof-ac-modification.html
| Johnny Bridges wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 09:51 |
Last weekend was Montgomery, 220 miles one way. Since it's been hoty. I've been relogious about filling the coach with no alcohol gas. It runs OK in 110 degrees. However, as I pulled into Sisterinlaw's yard, the roof A/C shut off. Open breaker. When I looked, ruined breaker - won't reset. K&K RV in Prattville AL had an exact replacement. Stuffed it in, AC comes on and cools, but at the first cycle, the compressor won't restart - locked armature, hum, and trips the breaker. So, we cvame home yesterday morning starting at 5 am to best the heat. Only the last 30 miles or so going around the city were sweltering. I just left the cpach off with Frady pere and fils for repair. The word is, maybe there's a problem wioth the cap bank the cmptrssor starts from, otherwise we have an expiring compressor which they can't repair. The unit is a Coleman Mach and it's about ten years old and has seen heavy use, since the coach has lived in S
Florida.
Frady has on hand a 15K BTU Dometic low profile he ordered for a customer who then didn't want it. He says he can get close on the price. Or he can order and get another Mach if I prefer. Both in case the one I have isn't reasonably fixable. My AC guy says assuming he can get the compressor, he could replace it and braze service valves into the lines and get it going, but he points out "You'd be close to the cost of a new one" so if Frady can't demonstrate a bad cap and a working machine for a day in his lot, I lean towards the Dometic. Whatever I do has to be reliable, San Antonio next week, and I can't take a chance on no AC halfway there or back. We will see.
Interestringly, Entec Fuels in Alabama has pumps with two hoses - one being three grades, the other being no alcohol 87 octane gasoline. Filled the coach for the return trip for 2.89 a gallon, no price change with or without alcohol. www.pure-gas.org is Your Friend. Surprisingly, there are very few puregasoline outlets in Tejas. Being an oil state, I would have thought they would be a no alcohol haven. No such luck. Anyone have any idea why?
johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
--johnny
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Larry 
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175391 is a reply to message #175340] |
Tue, 03 July 2012 06:42 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Thanks! This one has two capacitors and a thermistor in series with one, no start relay. Which design leaves me cold (I hve had problems with positive coefficient thermistors more than once) but that's how they made it. Frady leaned towards a poor cap when I was speaking with him. No response from them yet.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: "roy@gmcnet.org" <roy@gmcnet.org>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report
[quote title=shawnee wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 13:59][quote title=Johnny Bridges wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 10:51]Last weekend was Montgomery, 220 miles one way. Since it's been hoty. I've been relogious about filling the coach with no alcohol gas. It runs OK in 110 degrees. However, as I pulled into Sisterinlaw's yard, the roof A/C shut off. Open breaker. When I looked, ruined breaker - won't reset. K&K RV in Prattville AL had an exact replacement. Stuffed it in, AC comes on and cools, but at the first cycle, the compressor won't restart - locked armature, hum, and trips the breaker. So, we cvame home yesterday morning starting at 5 am to best the heat. Only the last 30 miles or so going around the city were sweltering. I just left the cpach off with Frady pere and fils for repair. The word is, maybe there's a problem wioth the cap bank the compressor starts from, otherwise we have an expiring compressor which they can't
repair. The unit is a Coleman Mach and it's about ten years old and has seen heavy use, since the coach has lived in S
Florida.
I agree replacing the compressor wouldn't be cost effective although I replaced the compressor in my front unit . It is a 1985 Dometic unit I took off a Versa-tell room. It was in warranty and it only cost me time. If the start capacitor and start relay are good in yours I would look for a low voltage problem on start up or a poor electrical connection. Is the Onan putting out 120 volts when the compressor is trying to start?? If it is down to 100 volts or less it would likely cycle off on its internal overload each time it tries to start. A new unit could have the same problem but the old piston compressors are a little harder to get going. In all my years of working on these A/C units be it small ones or large ones the problem you are describing was always a low voltage problem or with single phase systems the start capacitor and relay. Good luck.
--
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175394 is a reply to message #175346] |
Tue, 03 July 2012 07:01 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Unfortunately, mine is a newer setup which uses a thermistor in series with a second capacitor to boost the start circuit. Wierd setup, but obviously cheper to manufacture. I am wondering about low voltage which someone (Emory?) mentioned. I had the coach on a 10ga 30 foot cord, but the house voltage might have been low, given that everyone and his brother in central Alabama surely had their A/C units on ten at the time. If this were the case, it will worrk for Frady, who has power at the service bays.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: Larry <weidnerl@wwt.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report
Johnny,
Maybe look at this ...might work, it did for me.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3615-roof-ac-modification.html
Johnny Bridges wrote on Mon, 02 July 2012 09:51
> Last weekend was Montgomery, 220 miles one way. Since it's been hoty. I've been relogious about filling the coach with no alcohol gas. It runs OK in 110 degrees. However, as I pulled into Sisterinlaw's yard, the roof A/C shut off. Open breaker. When I looked, ruined breaker - won't reset. K&K RV in Prattville AL had an exact replacement. Stuffed it in, AC comes on and cools, but at the first cycle, the compressor won't restart - locked armature, hum, and trips the breaker. So, we cvame home yesterday morning starting at 5 am to best the heat. Only the last 30 miles or so going around the city were sweltering. I just left the cpach off with Frady pere and fils for repair. The word is, maybe there's a problem wioth the cap bank the cmptrssor starts from, otherwise we have an expiring compressor which they can't repair. The unit is a Coleman Mach and it's about ten years old and has seen heavy use, since the coach has lived in S
> Florida.
>
> Frady has on hand a 15K BTU Dometic low profile he ordered for a customer who then didn't want it. He says he can get close on the price. Or he can order and get another Mach if I prefer. Both in case the one I have isn't reasonably fixable. My AC guy says assuming he can get the compressor, he could replace it and braze service valves into the lines and get it going, but he points out "You'd be close to the cost of a new one" so if Frady can't demonstrate a bad cap and a working machine for a day in his lot, I lean towards the Dometic. Whatever I do has to be reliable, San Antonio next week, and I can't take a chance on no AC halfway there or back. We will see.
>
> Interestringly, Entec Fuels in Alabama has pumps with two hoses - one being three grades, the other being no alcohol 87 octane gasoline. Filled the coach for the return trip for 2.89 a gallon, no price change with or without alcohol. http://www.pure-gas.org/ is Your Friend. Surprisingly, there are very few puregasoline outlets in Tejas. Being an oil state, I would have thought they would be a no alcohol haven. No such luck. Anyone have any idea why?
>
> johnny
> '76 23' transmode norris
> '76 palm beach
>
> --johnny
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Larry :)
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
_______________________________________________
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #175421 is a reply to message #175391] |
Tue, 03 July 2012 11:31 |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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| Johnny Bridges wrote on Tue, 03 July 2012 04:42 |
Thanks! This one has two capacitors and a thermistor in series with one, no start relay. Which design leaves me cold (I hve had problems with positive coefficient thermistors more than once) but that's how they made it. Frady leaned to wards a poor cap when I was speaking with him. No response from them yet.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: "roy@gmcnet.org" <roy@gmcnet.org>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report
Johnny I assume you are talking about a 1 size fits all hard start kit? I have used them on commercial units that only had a run capacitor. I usually added a time delay circuit also if the room thermostat didn't have one. This gives the compressor a chance to equalize internal pressure and make it easer to start. I would suggest that you make sure the start components are back to stock. As far as voltage drop in the power cord connect a voltmeter to a coach outlet and see what the voltage is when the compressor is trying to start. That will tell you if you have a low voltage problem there. 100 volts or less is way too low. The most important check is when the compressor 1 st tries to start.
[
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
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