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Old 06-22-2021, 06:56 PM   #1
Bob0128
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Default Air Conditioner Issues

I own a 2021 Gulfstream 323 TBR, and our first trip of the season was last weekend. I turned on the A/C to high and set it at 56 degrees. It ran well for a few hours then began to blow warmer air and didn't sound right. I shut down the unit and tried it again the next day. Appeared to run well for 6 hours, water appeared to be draining ok off the roof. When I turned it on a few hours later, it ran ok for a couple of hours and repeated the same issue as the first time. I also felt what appeared to be spits of water coming out of the unit inside the camper. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 06-22-2021, 07:48 PM   #2
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Sounds like the evaporator coil (the section that cools the air into the coach) is icing up a bit. I had this happen on my coach just once...look for a blocked drain or a partially blocked air passage. Does your rig have ceilings ducts, or just the vent at the AC unit?


When you rested the unit for a few hours, the ice melted away and then the AC worked as it should when you ran it again later.



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Old 06-22-2021, 07:55 PM   #3
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It has ceiling ducts
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Old 06-22-2021, 08:03 PM   #4
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OK, next time when/if it acts up, take down the AC cover grill and look/feel up on the coils to see if ice is forming (turn it off first, of course...) If you find ice, you need to determine why it happens -- blocked air, or something more serious.


Let us know what you find...


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Old 06-23-2021, 12:11 AM   #5
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What was the outside temperature ? Trying to cool down more than about 20 degrees more than outside temperature will cause unit to ice up. Try it at about 70 degrees and see what happens
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Old 06-27-2021, 09:40 AM   #6
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Turn thermostat up to a reasonable 70+; it is ICING the Coil which is NORMAL, set FAN= HIGH (vs Low) and ON vs AUTO (and compressor will cycle off when it ices too much), fan= ON (vs Auto/OFF during defrost) will help defrost FASTER. The water spray is due to the coil icing also, as coil ices, partially blocking coil, Velocity increases in area NOT iced and it carries water with air instead of water draining down fins. The change in sound is also due to the coil icing/ velocity increase. LUCK
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Old 06-27-2021, 10:09 AM   #7
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All good suggestions from TH above...!!



Another thing to try about limiting annoying air conditioner noise if you have two units with duct work between the two like on my Tour Master -- run the rear unit when in the front salon during the day, and the front unit when you are trying to sleep in the bedroom at night. This puts the noise away from the occupants...but if you have very hot weather you likely will want to run both units at once (needs a 50 amp park connection or the 7.5 generator running...)


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Old 06-27-2021, 06:43 PM   #8
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Yep - all good suggestions. Not a one is incorrect above.
- definitely get that thermostat setting up into the 72-74 range.
- if the daytime temps are up in the 90s, put the AC(s) on high vice auto still with the temp setting in the 70s. Wear on the AC really happens when it cycles.

If these don't work, have you replaced your thermostat at all? I did - to a digital MicroAir version. The front AC fan would shut off before the compressor so I'd get a humm. Weird. Removed it and replaced with the old 5-button setup which you don't have with a 2021 and the problem went away. My point is, if you did any mods, something to consider!

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Old 07-05-2021, 11:32 AM   #9
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Thank you everyone for all the helpful tips. I brought it to the dealership almost 2 weeks ago and am picking it up this week (I had other issues with my brand new camper: Leak, bump out blowing fuses, broken outdoor kitchen). They claim to have tested it for 5 hours one day (When it was mid 90's and humid) and 2 hours the next day (Also hot and humid weather). They claim the A/C was running fine and couldn't repeat the problem (Not even sure if they went on the roof and took the cover off to see if something was clogging the unit). When I had it giving me problems, the temp outside was mid 80's. I set it at 56 degrees and on high. I'm heading out this weekend and hoping for the best. Maybe I'll try not setting it so cold (Maybe 65 degrees and see what happens). Thanks again
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Old 07-05-2021, 12:26 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob0128 View Post
I own a 2021 Gulfstream 323 TBR, and our first trip of the season was last weekend. I turned on the A/C to high and set it at 56 degrees. It ran well for a few hours then began to blow warmer air and didn't sound right. I shut down the unit and tried it again the next day. Appeared to run well for 6 hours, water appeared to be draining ok off the roof. When I turned it on a few hours later, it ran ok for a couple of hours and repeated the same issue as the first time. I also felt what appeared to be spits of water coming out of the unit inside the camper. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
FIRST, you have to understand how it (should/ is designed to) operate? When running, COIL TEMP is often BELOW freezing and supply air temp coming out can be 30s-40s-50s-60s, (MAYBE EVEN 70S-80S at first, depending on air temp entering coil). With COIL that cold, it often ices some or sometimes MUCH, and as it ices, FREEZESTAT mounted to coil senses the ice, and at some point, the icing/ sensor shut off the compressor. IF Fan switch set to (ON vs Auto), the coil will defrst faster w/ fan running and compressor off. 2) THERMOSTAT should never be set below about 68-70 degrees, it simply determines when the unit shuts off; but should you be so lucky/(unlucky?) as to get temp to 68 or lower, windows and walls will be SWEATING AND CREATING WATER DAMAGE, EVEN UNSEEN WATER DAMAGE. 3) When AC starts in a rig that is 80-120-degrees, RETURN AIR hitting COIL will be that temp, AIR TEMP LEAVING coil will be 20-40-degrees LOWER (usually in the 25-deg lower range); it takes TIME to reduce temp of a rig/ your rig, and the heat load of the BTUs of all the furnishings of that rig. If you are blowing 40-60 deg air after running 1-2 hours, it is below DEWPOINT, and items that cold air hits can/ do sweat. The change in sound was most likely coil ICE, and as coil ices, area decreases and VELOCITY INCREASES, (change in sound) which can cause it to also carry the water/ condensate off the coil, into the airstream. This is where FREEZESTAT COMES IN, but it must be mounted (not hanging loose) and mounted to proper spot to shut down compressor at correct time. YOUR mistake, (I suspect) is shutting unit (and FAN) down, which increased the DEFROST time. I can be wrong for your unit/ rig, but I suspect not.. "Your mileage may vary" HOPE this helps. LUCK to ya
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Old 07-26-2021, 08:21 AM   #11
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Coil icing is not normal. Keep investigating.
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Old 07-26-2021, 08:37 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bhinson View Post
Coil icing is not normal. Keep investigating.
Sorry, but coil icing is NORMAL for a RV Air Conditioner, and this is WHY they install a FREEZESTAT w/ sensor probe mounted on the coil. If probe comes loose from coil, excess icing will be experienced, AS IT WILL NOT AUTO-DEICE. Designed this way, they blow COLD air required in this environment. Hope this helps?
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Old 07-26-2021, 12:47 PM   #13
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Just came back from a week long vacation and had the A/C freeze up on me 3 different times. The outside temperature was about 75 degrees and I had set the thermostat to high at 67 degrees. When I got the camper from the dealership prior to my vacation they said they were unable to find any problems and it ran without any issues. I have a camping weekend coming up and it's going back to the shop (NOT Campers Inn where I purchased it) for other repairs. Hopefully they can find the problem.
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Old 07-26-2021, 07:58 PM   #14
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A few settings that can help control freezing coil, which is normal, but ... 1) FAN AUTO/ON= ON; FAN LOW/HIGH=HIGH; THERMOSTAT SET = 70 OR ABOVE
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Old 08-02-2021, 12:24 PM   #15
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These new A/C units must be more likely to freeze up. I say that because I owned a 2003 Dutchman and a 2017 Cherokee Grey Wolf and was able to set the A/C in both campers to low 60's and had no issue with them freezing up. They were both Dometic units like my current A/C. My Gulfstream 323 TBR is a 13, 500 BTU unit, it appears as though there was a 15K BTU A/C that was an option from the factory. Am I having these problems because my currect A/C is too small to cool down the 32' camper? It just doesn't make sense to me that I can't drop the A/C below 70 degrees. While trying to sleep, this is too warm.
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Old 08-02-2021, 01:29 PM   #16
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Are you saying it reaches set point and shuts OFF at 70 setting.
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Old 08-03-2021, 12:20 PM   #17
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It does not shut off at 70 degrees. What I am trying to do is set the temperature cooler that 70 (For me, 70 degrees is too warm and I want the camper to be cooler) but most every time I do, the unit freezes up. Still don't know why I cant set the thermostat to 61 or 62 degrees. Think I am having some kind of drainage problem as well. It's going back in the shop this week and hope they can see what's going on with the A/C as well as repair several other issues with my brand new camper which has had problems from day one.
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Old 08-11-2021, 10:28 AM   #18
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"Why ...not 61-62...?"= because DESIGNED AS AN RV AIR CONDITIONER, NOT designed as FLOWER COOLER OR REFRIGERATOR?... BEcause 99.999% do NOT WANT 61-62?
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Old 08-15-2021, 10:41 AM   #19
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I agree it's icing up.How humid is it where you are? That has a lot to do with icing.Do you use any oscillating fan's inside,they help stir the air and make it more comfortable at a little warmer temperatures.
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Old 08-15-2021, 01:30 PM   #20
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Icing is NOT normal. Mostly caused by inadequate air flow across evaporator coil, worse case, low Freon (caused by a leak), or plugged capillary tubes.

Regardless, it needs attention if icing.
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