Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > MOC Technical Forums > Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-24-2021, 09:13 AM   #61
GHallof
Montana Fan
 
GHallof's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Louisville
Posts: 126
M.O.C. #25098
AC Freeze Up

Hi Scottz,

I have been plauged by AC issues for a while. My living room unit has always been an issue. Made the switch to Micro Air Units and I think they are great. FREEZE UP WAS CONSTANT

Right off the bat this season the unit started doing it more frequently. Last year I opened all my ducted work as it had collapsed. 1 1/4" PVC Pipe slipped into both sides of the duct work. Made a huge difference.

When it started this year I was puzzled a bit. So I went up on the roof, removed the unit cover and then the styrofoam plenum. Look down inside the return air duct and found two things. PVC pipe did not open the collapsed duct as far as I thought and the sliver duct tape holding/sealing the return duct to the structure of the RV roof had completely separated allowing an opening that appeared to allow the cold air supply side to bleed into the return system. So I reworked the opening to maximize the return air flow and resealed the entire cut opening with silver duct tape. Put the plenum back on and ensured the seams were well sealed but yet serviceable. Put the plastic cover back on and not a problem running on AUTO since.
 
__________________
Gordon & Victoria Hallof
Louisville, Ohio
2020 Ram 3500 HO Cummins Aisin 6 Spd
2017 3661RL
GHallof is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2021, 03:38 PM   #62
scottz
Site Team
 
scottz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 1,910
M.O.C. #19755
I received this information from MicroAir tech support. I don't think they will mind me passing it on.

Dometic single zone systems suffer from a problem when operating cooling in automatic fan. The fan turns off with the compressor by design and this leads to frost formation on the coils. Eventually the coil temperature drops below 27° and the control board goes into freeze lockout. It remains there until the coil temperature rises above 55° where it will allow cooling again. Several users have reported they always ran the fan on continuous mode while cooling for that reason.



Older revisions of the 351 thermostat did not report this freeze lockout condition but the current version does. We are contemplating adding a software function to remedy this condition to bypass the lockout and run the fan if it occurs in a future update. For now, please be aware of this possibility and the solution. This is an inherent flaw in the control board logic and we will release a future update to compensate for it. Until then, make sure you are up to date and run the fan in low or high if freezing up occurs.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy, Onan 5.5Kw, Solar
2022 F-450 Lariat Ultimate
scottz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2021, 04:03 PM   #63
RMcNeal
Montana Master
 
RMcNeal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,109
M.O.C. #25165
That sounds exactly like what they told me. I hope the update comes soon.
__________________
Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
RMcNeal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2021, 05:47 PM   #64
Bob and Jeannette
Montana Fan
 
Bob and Jeannette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Orlando
Posts: 338
M.O.C. #22589
My rear unit works fine but my front unit worked on powering up but not on thermostat calls to lower the temperature.

I relentlessly (lazy) used my in command remote to turn off the air conditioner and after several seconds turn it back on. And this works. Just before I was going to spend some time and money on a real solution everything started to work just fine and has continued working perfectly for 6 weeks or so.

I am sure that there is a relay in the gateway or on the control board in the Dometic Air conditioner that had oxidized contacts that are now clean enough to function from repeated start ups.

Some people had success using different thermostats and I am willing to bet that they are putting a higher power (VA) across the relay coil causing the relay to function fine. The initial power on with the in command system must also be providing more power to the relay coil. This has bad relay contacts or not enough coil power on a relay written all over it.

It’s a pain in the butt to turn it off and then on again to make it function but in my case enough usage led to it working normally now.
__________________
2020 Montana 3813ms legacy w/Paint
2017 Ram 3500 4X4 DRW Aisin Curt Q-25
Bob and Jeannette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2021, 06:20 PM   #65
BuckandTeresa
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Monument
Posts: 95
M.O.C. #24683
Me too

I put in the MicroAir 351 for my Dometic living room one-zone. Works far better than the Dometic, but I noticed in auto it would turn itself off and not restart, even though the set temperature had not been reached. I am currently approaching one week camping with the new thermostat. Outside temps from 85-96 this week. Running on FAN-LOW or FAN-HIGH it works, cools,and does not stop, works great. Guess Tech Support is right.
BuckandTeresa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2021, 02:29 PM   #66
scottz
Site Team
 
scottz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 1,910
M.O.C. #19755
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz View Post
I received this information from MicroAir tech support. I don't think they will mind me passing it on.

Dometic single zone systems suffer from a problem when operating cooling in automatic fan. The fan turns off with the compressor by design and this leads to frost formation on the coils. Eventually the coil temperature drops below 27° and the control board goes into freeze lockout. It remains there until the coil temperature rises above 55° where it will allow cooling again. Several users have reported they always ran the fan on continuous mode while cooling for that reason.



Older revisions of the 351 thermostat did not report this freeze lockout condition but the current version does. We are contemplating adding a software function to remedy this condition to bypass the lockout and run the fan if it occurs in a future update. For now, please be aware of this possibility and the solution. This is an inherent flaw in the control board logic and we will release a future update to compensate for it. Until then, make sure you are up to date and run the fan in low or high if freezing up occurs.
The only difference I have from this description is that, once they lock out, mine never start again. I have to turn them off then on to get them going again.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy, Onan 5.5Kw, Solar
2022 F-450 Lariat Ultimate
scottz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2021, 06:46 PM   #67
Bob and Jeannette
Montana Fan
 
Bob and Jeannette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Orlando
Posts: 338
M.O.C. #22589
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz View Post
The only difference I have from this description is that, once they lock out, mine never start again. I have to turn them off then on to get them going again.
That was my problem, but it went away after months of turning air off, then on, feels like a dirty relay contact.
__________________
2020 Montana 3813ms legacy w/Paint
2017 Ram 3500 4X4 DRW Aisin Curt Q-25
Bob and Jeannette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 08:01 AM   #68
Chrissy15
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: CAPE CORAL
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #28923
Montana 3855br AC issues

Hi! While I do not have issues with the thermostat, I do have issues with leaking from the A/C vent inside the living room. Had an RV service tech take a look and he said that it appears that the Dometic cover does not fit correctly on either of the 2 A/C units. Apparently, they newer units were not made with UV protection, therefore, they are shrinking and causing water leaks. My problem now is locating 2 new A/C covers that will fit and are UV protected. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Chrissy15 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 10:07 AM   #69
AZ Traveler
Site Team
 
AZ Traveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,891
M.O.C. #20477
Chrissy,

It sounds more like the a/c just needs to be pulled off and resealed. Its not a hard job. The covers may get sun bleached but they should be good for many years.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL

"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
AZ Traveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dometic ac, thermostat

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.