| roof ac [message #347073] |
Thu, 29 August 2019 22:42  |
Wayne
Messages: 106
Registered: August 2004
Karma: 0
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My original roof ac draws so much current (shore power) it will melt the
motorhome to shore power line adapter. I tried the fan only on all 3 speeds
for 10 min each and no problem. Then I turned the ac on lowest setting for 5 min and the adaprer prongs were too hot to touch.
Is there a quick cheep fix or am I wasting my time?
Wayne Lawrence
76 Birchaven
Bellflower CA
w.lawrence@verizon.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] roof ac [message #347078 is a reply to message #347074] |
Thu, 29 August 2019 23:48  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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You must have firm plug contact.
Loose contact will melt the plugs.
Look at the legs and see if it is made of two piece, if so spread it so it
will make solid contact.
On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 8:56 PM Larry Davick via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I bought an Atwood unit from Jim K just before parking the coach for 4
> years!! It’s supposed to draw like a 13.5 k BTU unit while pumping out 15k
> worth of cold. The few times we used it it was great.
>
> In a separate thread I saw a link for the Amish fridge repair folks who
> also have refurbished ac units.
>
> Larry Davick
> A Mystery Machine
>
>> On Aug 29, 2019, at 8:42 PM, Wayne Lawrence via Gmclist gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> My original roof ac draws so much current (shore power) it will melt the
>> motorhome to shore power line adapter. I tried the fan only on all 3
> speeds
>> for 10 min each and no problem. Then I turned the ac on lowest setting
> for 5 min and the adaprer prongs were too hot to touch.
>>
>> Is there a quick cheep fix or am I wasting my time?
>> --
>> Wayne Lawrence
>> 76 Birchaven
>> Bellflower CA
>> w.lawrence@verizon.net
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
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>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: roof ac [message #347081 is a reply to message #347073] |
Fri, 30 August 2019 00:58 |
GatsbysCruise
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Wayne wrote on Thu, 29 August 2019 22:42My original roof ac draws so much current (shore power) it will melt the
motorhome to shore power line adapter. I tried the fan only on all 3 speeds
for 10 min each and no problem. Then I turned the ac on lowest setting for 5 min and the adaprer prongs were too hot to touch.
Is there a quick cheep fix or am I wasting my time?
----
The RV roamers are going through this now. They tend to try to run AC from their solar systems.
The roof top AC is a general PIG for POWER. Mine was the highest amp accessory that the RV had and I also
melted those plugs. One guys answer is to replace the plug every year.
There is not much you can do to an existing unit to reduce the power demand, it is built into the unit.
I think the amps are from 9 to 13amps that they DEMAND, that more than the microwave, which is my second highest
power demand.
heck my Norcold frige on 120vac is only about 3-4 amps.
You might try looking around to see if the manufacturers have smartened up and designed some more efficient
less load demanding AC roof units. It's probably not likely because there is no money in it for them.
They sell the watt busters because there is nothing else for the RVer to get.'
What the RVers in the Solar community are doing, and it won't work for us, is they are getting window AC units
that run about 4 amps, a low enough load demand that the Solar system can handle. The problem is how do you
mount that type of AC unit in an RV like the GMC??? It would be quite an effort to make one work for us, and
it can be done but most don't have the time or energy to want to do that.
GatsbysCruise. \
74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
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| Re: roof ac [message #347085 is a reply to message #347073] |
Fri, 30 August 2019 01:57 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Any time you have heat, you have a bad connection or too thin wire. I just fixed one for someone that burned up two adapters. The usual fix is to polish (clean) the connectors until they shine. Then bend in the female ones so there is heavy tension. I bead blast them when possible, except for the main power cord because I cannot get it all the way to the bead blaster.
Then reassemble them and turn in on again. Start feeling the outside of all connections and the cable itself. If there is no heat then wait for 10 minutes under load and check a second time. Any place there is heat felt, you have a poor connection. I did find one power cable once that the heat was coming from the cable itself. I cut back the cable about 2 feet and reinstalled the plug. Dissecting the cutoff piece showed that corrosion had crept down the wires itself for a foot or so.
On the female ends tarnx, or soaking in slightly watered down Catsup will usually clean them up. I have also heard, but never tried, soaking them in Coca cola.
Anyplace there is heat you have a problem.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: roof ac [message #347088 is a reply to message #347085] |
Fri, 30 August 2019 07:49 |
C Boyd
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
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Senior Member |
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sir: 15 amp extension cords and adapters are not safe for A/Cs. If you must use an extension cord it needs to be a minimum of 30 amp rated and of good quality wire and ends. 30' for 30 amps, 50' or more go with 50 amp set-up. Just my way of thinking..
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
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| Re: roof ac [message #347091 is a reply to message #347088] |
Fri, 30 August 2019 08:40 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Senior Member |
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Plus a/c systems take almost double the current at start up so your looking at upwards of 30amps then it will drop to the specified current from there.... its imperative that you have a good connection and a cord able to carry the load.....your looking at at least 12 gauge wire extention cord best would be 10 gauge for 25' or more but that gets big/bulky plus pricy.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: roof ac [message #347110 is a reply to message #347091] |
Fri, 30 August 2019 12:47 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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A good 12 gauge cord will easily carry 15 amps or even 20 amps. Keeping it as short as practical also helps reduce voltage drops. The problem is most people have 16 ga or 14 ga. extension cords, not 12 ga. I did an experiment once and with a 50 foot 12 ga. cord I saw a 2 volt drop with my AC on high. The voltage was 122 at the wall where the cord was plugged in and 120 inside the coach at full AC load. Heck I have 12 ga. circuit runs longer than that inside my house. I did once run a GMC on a 16 ga. 10 foot cord. The cord did get slightly warm.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: roof ac [message #347173 is a reply to message #347073] |
Sun, 01 September 2019 17:49 |
Wayne
Messages: 106
Registered: August 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I want to thank each and every one who replied. THANK YOU! You all reminded me of things I should have known
and saved me money and time.
I am using a 10/3 extention cord. But the end of the rv 30 amp plug is molded and was loose on the inside. replaced that and now cool.
I am kind of glad it happened as it started me checking things and I found an open in the ground wire of the dogbone.
Wayne Lawrence
76 Birchaven
Bellflower CA
w.lawrence@verizon.net
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| Re: roof ac [message #347176 is a reply to message #347073] |
Sun, 01 September 2019 19:07 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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I need to retest my amp draw but from memory the larger front DuoTherm came in around 17A and rear smaller unit around 15A. A good 12Ga cord of short length plugged into a 20A (not 15A) receptacle that is near the main panel will just run the larger unit for a short time. The continuous draw causes heating Amp draw goes up with temp and humidity (latent heat). If everything was spot on I might be able to run the smaller unit on a 20A receptacle for a continuous time.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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