Kurt...I have the exact same year and model and had a 3rd AC installed. We also experienced the same conditions in Carlsbad a week ago. I would like to install a separate dedicated 20A line so that the 3rd AC can function separately as you have. Can you help with the following:
- Are the Power Share boxes behind the breaker panel. If so how did you access. Pulled the panel box out, from below????
- Which Power Share box has the 3rd AC. Front, rear, drivers side???
- Where did you run your connection on the RV for the shore power. Is it under the RV or inside?
- Did you include a new 20A breaker in-line somewhere or rely on the 20A breakers usually included with the shore power.
Thank you in advance for any help. Could you please reply to my email address at
roypjacobs@aol.com.
Regards...Roy
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeologyTek
Ok...Here is the Deal on the 3rd a/c
I own a 2018 3811MS. I spend most of my time in Southern New Mexico around the Carlsbad area. Camping world installed the 3rd air conditioner for me when I purchased the unit.
The Weather: The temperature where I am at routinely climbs over 100 to 110. My unit is the oyster exterior so it is about the lightest color I could find. It is parked in a shop yard on black top (yes, I know its horrible but there is no where to live here).
My Life: I live in this unit full time and work in the oil field 7 days a week. When it is hot out I follow the golden rules. No heating up ovens, I take a cold shower, keep the doors closed, and I keep the awnings down as often as possible.
My Unit: The 2018 3811MS comes standard with 2 a/c units. A 15k heat pump & a/c combo for the rear of the coach and a 13.5k a/c for the bedroom, closet, and bathroom. They both are set up to circulate cold air through the 4" central vents in the ceiling, with the Whisper Air system. I added the 3rd 13.5k BTU for the kitchen.
The 3rd a/c: This unit is a 13.5K BTU DOMETIC Penguin 2 a/c only. It is a dump unit and is what I consider rather loud. But...It is worth it if you are going to hot places. EXCEPT FOR THE POWER SHARE SYSTEM
On May the 10th 2018 in Carlsbad New Mexico my thermostat was reading an outside temp of 110 degrees and with the 2 a/c's running the inside temp was 82. I sleep during the day and cant live like this.
The 3rd a/c is set up on a power share system that shares a circuit with the front unit. Heat rises and with the 3810ms having a black front window it causes the front cap to heat up quite a bit. This causes the the power share system to not work very well. To cool off the back you can turn the bedroom a/c off and turn the 3rd unit on. This leaves you with 28.5k BTU of cooling power at any one time. This was not cooling the trailer to a livable level. I added a 2nd circut to the camper to run all 3 a/c's at one time for a total of 70 amps and 42k BTU of cooling power. IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
The Power Share System: It is located behind the breaker panel/power converter box below my coat rack. It is a standard grey plastic 4" square electrical box that says Power Share System with a wiring diagram printed on the cover. It was pretty easy to locate. In my rig there are 2 Power Share boxes, the unit that controls the a/c's was to the right. I disconnected the 3rd a/c which is on the secondary line, the primary line that has control of the power share system is the front bedroom unit. I ran a 12awg 20amp line to the side of the trailer and added a shore power connector. I have a regular 12awg 75' extension cord that I plug in to an 20 amp circuit at my hook up. Now I have the standard 50amp hook up for the rig and a 20amp for the 3rd a/c. DOMETIC states that the 13.5k unit only uses 1731W and 15amps @ 115V. But, I ran a 20amp system for starting load...etc.
This has made a HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!! My rig went from 82 degrees to 72 degrees that day. I totally recommend this if you want to keep it cool!!
PLEASE PLEASE message me if you have any questions or would like any info on this!!
STAY COOL!
Kurt
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