main air conditioner - Page 2 - Montana Owners Club

bsmeaton · 08-21-2006, 04:55 PM

Thanks Ozz,
I'm going to give it another chance. I'll try running the dump damper at 60% (bedroom gets too cold anyway) to see if that helps the freeze issue. I still need to play with the drip issue, or maybe that too will go away if I eliminate some of the freeze.

Brad

Ozz · 08-22-2006, 02:21 AM

Brad,
I noticed that my thermostat is close to the A/C dump damper, so, keep that in mind, it may cycle off because of the cooler temperatures at that point. Keep that near by round cool air diffuser pointed away from the thermostat as well.
Ozz

'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 3,000 watt inverter, automatic transfer switch
Honda 2000 Generator, Maytag's with 220 Dryer
Stationary domed Sat. dish, LCD 12 Volt Amp gauge, LCD Tank Monitor
3 added 120 volt outlets, On Board Air; 12 Volt Viair 450C compressor
2006 Ford PSD 4x4 Off Road Lariat, Hadley Air Horns, Truck inverter with 110 volts: laptop, Color Backup Camera, Awning lock

sreigle · 08-22-2006, 07:20 AM

Not having our new one yet, these discussions raise questions for me. Is this dump damper the Quick Cool on the AC unit? Isn't that at the back on the 3400 and the thermostat up by the stairs?

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Montana Sky · 08-22-2006, 08:06 AM

Steve,
My thermostat is up by the stairs, which created a new problem for me. I had the 2nd a/c installed in the bedroom and when that baby is cranking out the cold air, it tends to trick the thermostat for the living room. I have found 3 solutions for this. 1. close the pocket door. 2. set the thermostat at 64 degrees or colder 3. open the watercloset door all the way, it will cover the thermostat and still allow the cold air to dump into the kitchen area. The joys of rv life.... =)

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

beliveauj · 08-22-2006, 09:25 AM

Mine was doing the same thing and when they replaced our beloved remote with the CCC he told me he insulated it more up there as it was leaking air from outside.It's working great now.

2003 Ford 350 Crew King Ranch.2005 Montana 3670.Buddy&Emma Silky Terriers

sreigle · 08-22-2006, 05:43 PM

Thanks, Dave. I wasn't thinking about the 2nd AC.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Driftwoodgal · 08-23-2006, 04:12 AM

Steve,

Our thermostat is in the right side of living room. It is right next to the kitchen cabinet that you can open from both sides. Maybe they moved it from Montana sky's year because of the second AC problem. We have the 3400 RL Montana.

Ozz,

Just a woman that doesn't understand all of this talk. We only have one AC and have been told that we have to run it on high to keep it from freezing up. I hate to sleep in a hot bedroom so we shut off the AC grill in the living room and send it back to the bedroom. Will this cause a problem?

We have already come back to our RV and had no AC in it with the cat panting and out of water. We are camping (testing the RV) again this weekend to see if the NEW convertor that they installed will keep the AC running. When we had a problem it flipped the convertor breaker not the AC breaker.

Any tips explained to a layman is appreciated.

Thanks,
Colleen

Montana Sky · 08-23-2006, 05:55 AM

Colleen
I run into problems when I close the grill on my main a/c and send it through the duct work. Even with it on high and in the "on" not "auto" position, it will still freeze up. The only thing I have found to keep the thing working properly is to allow it to dump the air into the living room and use a small box fan to blow it up towards the bedroom.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

Ozz · 08-23-2006, 08:06 AM

Colleen,
I posted this earlier:
Always run on high speed if your system is prone to freeze up.

We go by a 20 degree temperature drop in the A/C business, from the supply to the return, on my main ducted unit it is more like 25 to 30 degrees, that alone tells me that the duct work in the ceiling is too small, you can 'cheat' on this by opening the 'dump' damper a little, and duct 60% or so to the rest of your unit, that may be the answer.
Use a thermometer to check, 20 degrees should never freeze as long as you don't want it 60 degrees in your RV.

Basically, open the damper about half way, then check to see if you are getting air upstairs, if not, close it a little until you do, see if this helps.
The converter replacement will have no effect on the A/C unit operation.
Ozz

'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 3,000 watt inverter, automatic transfer switch
Honda 2000 Generator, Maytag's with 220 Dryer
Stationary domed Sat. dish, LCD 12 Volt Amp gauge, LCD Tank Monitor
3 added 120 volt outlets, On Board Air; 12 Volt Viair 450C compressor
2006 Ford PSD 4x4 Off Road Lariat, Hadley Air Horns, Truck inverter with 110 volts: laptop, Color Backup Camera, Awning lock

Driftwoodgal · 08-23-2006, 08:26 AM

Ozz,

I didn't think that the convertor would have anything to do with the AC but that is what they fixed. The breaker that flipped when we had AC problems was the one the was marked convertor. We are taking the Montana out for our second time this weekend and will be testing it in some really hot temperatures. It should be over 102F all weekend and there are no shade trees where we will be parked.

When you say "dump damper" are you talking about the white box in the ceiling that allows you to redirect the air to the bedroom?

Montana Sky,
Thanks for the reply I have a little fan that we could use if it is too hot. I normally use this on the dresser to blow on me, but I guess we will use that if we can't get cold air back to the bedroom. I voted for the second AC unit, but so far I am out voted. I did buy the solar reflective stuff and have made a screen for each window. Once we get parked I will take down the ones that won't have the afternoon sun. I also bought the pillows that you can put in your vents and have made a cover for the skylight in the shower.

Thanks guys,
Colleen

Montana Sky · 08-23-2006, 08:39 AM

Colleen,
I love having the 2nd a/c but I must admit, at night it freezes me out of the bedroom. I say buy yourself the 2nd a/c and call it your christmas present. =) Then it does not matter who out votes you, it is your present!

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

txkrumm · 08-23-2006, 10:08 AM

Well, as I read this post I am watching my one and only a/c drip water onto the kitchen floor. Has happened twice now in 7 seven days. I have to agree with Ozz, I think the duct work is too small. I also will be running on HIGH and opening the dump vent a little. The thermometer says 87 inside and 108 in the ADD-A-ROOM. OUCH. Gotta love southern Cal. I already miss Montana.
2nd A/C should be on the way this week, Father-in-law is a Dometic dealer now, YEEHAA. Might order two more. Steve.

P.S. IF you make it to the Camping World in San Bernardino stop by and say HI, just accepted a job as a Service Writer today. Should be fun.

Steve and Tara Krumm
2004 GMC 4X4 Duramax Allison
2003 Montana 3655 FL

Montana Sky · 08-23-2006, 10:24 AM

Congrats on your new position at Camping World, what a great place to work!! Hope you get some good discounts! I can tell you that I had temps this summer as high as 106 and w/ both a/c's running the coach stayed a cool 74 degrees. =)

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

bsmeaton · 08-23-2006, 10:24 AM

Steve,
Congrats on the CW job! All kinds of discounted stuff now + the Dometic relation.

Watch that drip! It fills the grille base, then travels in the ceiling to the low points, which happen to be the rear drapes and couch on mine.

Dustytuu · 08-23-2006, 04:52 PM

Here is an update on our freezing main AC. We had Dometic come out and install a freeze control. I ran it one day on "auto" and it did not freeze. But it still will freeze on high or low cool. We are going to have the Dometic man come back out when we get back from rally. Haven't had a chance lately with Don's brother passing last week. After all this settles down we will get it looked at again. At least it cools OK on "auto". So hoping we will be OK with that and the second AC at the rally.

Dusty & Don ... Two spoiled schnauzers and a Maine Coon cat. 2500 Dodge Diesel 2003,SLT,
Bedsaver, Doran tire pressure moniter.
2004 Montana 3295. Fireplace,Washer/dryer,2 air conditioners.

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/

bsmeaton · 08-23-2006, 04:59 PM

Don or Dusty,

Our sincerest sympathy for Don.

What is a freeze control? I couldn't understand that it ran OK on auto, but not on high or low. I've only got a high or low option, then auto and fan.

Brad & Dory

richfaa · 08-23-2006, 05:18 PM

I feel bad again..First all our guages worked just great and now our A/C does not freeze or drip and runs fine on auto..I don't understand...

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

bsmeaton · 08-23-2006, 05:22 PM

I think its all that diesel exhaust soot getting sucked into our Montana's from our stinkpots. Messin up all the equipment

sreigle · 08-23-2006, 05:41 PM

Dusty, please pass on to Don our sympathy on his and your loss.

Our AC still works fine. It keeps it about 18 to 20 degrees below ambient temperature. I will try the trick of opening the quick cool just a tad to help with the temperature downstairs on those very hot days. This time of year in this part of the country our AC runs most of the time. We have it on Auto and High Fan all the time. No freezeups here.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Dustytuu · 08-24-2006, 05:01 PM

Well another update on the AC. Today it froze up on "auto" Trying to get the Durotherm man back out here. I think they went out of town. Will not be back until Tuesday. I hope he can come back out next week. He said it may just have to have the whole AC replaced. We would have to drag it over to his house across the city because he has the hoist.

The freeze control is something that hooks onto the coils I think. He also installed new box that sits at the bottom of the AC. These wires go from that up to the coils. And there is a little thing that fastens to the coils.

Been getting the Monty ready for the trip next month. Don got the screen door finished with the Plexiglas. We also replaced the door glass with Plexiglas. With our stain glass film on it.

Thanks for the condolences. Don is doing better. I think he wants to keep busy so he doesn't think about it.

Dusty & Don ... Two spoiled schnauzers and a Maine Coon cat. 2500 Dodge Diesel 2003,SLT,
Bedsaver, Doran tire pressure moniter.
2004 Montana 3295. Fireplace,Washer/dryer,2 air conditioners.

http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dustytuu/

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