John Stephens
Well-known member
I have followed and contributed to many of the threads on this forum regarding basement air conditioner units on Winnebagos since I have one in my 2005 Adventurer. I am now running across something I have never seen before and have no idea what to do about it.
While exercising the generator in storage earlier this week, I turned on the a/c as usual so I can run the generator at about half load. I do this every two to four weeks for about 60-90 minutes at a time. This time, as I stood watching the EMS amp output, it read 25 amps for just a second as the first compressor kicked on and then immediately dropped to 12-14 as it should. About 30 seconds later, it jumped up to 30 amps as the #2 compressor kicked on, and then settled on 23-24 amps, again as it should.
But then, it began climbing a few extra amps at a time until it reached 45 amps. At that point, it dropped in one fell swoop to 25 amps and I could hear the #2 compressor kicking off. About a minute later, it dropped all the way to 3 amps and I could hear the #1 compressor kicking off, leaving only the blower running. For the entire time I was standing there, which was a total of probably 3 minutes, the air coming out of the vents was cool, but not as cold as it should be, telling me that probably only one compressor was functioning.
I called a mechanic that I know works on a/c units and not my usual mechanic because he recently retired. The new guy said I had better hope it wasn't a compressor going bad or anything else internal to the a/c unit other than maybe the compressor capacitors because Coleman Mach no longer is manufacturing these basement units or the parts for them, and the parts are becoming harder and harder to find, meaning there is a possibility that if there is anything seriously wrong with the unit, I may have to go to roof air. That will cost an extra $3-4,000 that I don't have at this time.
So my questions to the forum are these:
1) Does anyone have any idea what could cause this activity on the EMS amp monitor? Can it be pinned down to one thing more likely than anything else? Could it be start and/or run capacitors, or is it more likely something more sinister?
2) Does anyone have information that can either confirm or deny what this mechanic told me about Coleman Mach units no longer being made, including the parts for them? If so, is there a reliable source where parts can be obtained, either new or used but still usable?
3) If I have to go to roof a/c, is there a way to connect the new roof unit(s) to the venting already in the ceiling that is used for the basement a/c? At this point, it is assumed that I will need two roof units: one to go in the electric fan vent in the living room area and another to go in the bedroom. Unfortunately, that one will be costly because a hole will have to be cut in the roof for it. The new mechanic told me I should go with the latest Coleman Mach roof units rather than going with an inferior brand or one that may be outdated in short order. I'm not sure if this can be believed and wonder if there are other units on the market just as good and lesser expensive.
4) If I have to install roof a/c, can the compartment where the basement a/c currently is located be converted into another storage compartment?
I am really hoping the fix to this problem will be nothing more than a bit of electronics gone bad and won't set me back the cost of a used car. Thanks in advance for your help and answers.
edit by staff - changed message icon to topic solved
While exercising the generator in storage earlier this week, I turned on the a/c as usual so I can run the generator at about half load. I do this every two to four weeks for about 60-90 minutes at a time. This time, as I stood watching the EMS amp output, it read 25 amps for just a second as the first compressor kicked on and then immediately dropped to 12-14 as it should. About 30 seconds later, it jumped up to 30 amps as the #2 compressor kicked on, and then settled on 23-24 amps, again as it should.
But then, it began climbing a few extra amps at a time until it reached 45 amps. At that point, it dropped in one fell swoop to 25 amps and I could hear the #2 compressor kicking off. About a minute later, it dropped all the way to 3 amps and I could hear the #1 compressor kicking off, leaving only the blower running. For the entire time I was standing there, which was a total of probably 3 minutes, the air coming out of the vents was cool, but not as cold as it should be, telling me that probably only one compressor was functioning.
I called a mechanic that I know works on a/c units and not my usual mechanic because he recently retired. The new guy said I had better hope it wasn't a compressor going bad or anything else internal to the a/c unit other than maybe the compressor capacitors because Coleman Mach no longer is manufacturing these basement units or the parts for them, and the parts are becoming harder and harder to find, meaning there is a possibility that if there is anything seriously wrong with the unit, I may have to go to roof air. That will cost an extra $3-4,000 that I don't have at this time.
So my questions to the forum are these:
1) Does anyone have any idea what could cause this activity on the EMS amp monitor? Can it be pinned down to one thing more likely than anything else? Could it be start and/or run capacitors, or is it more likely something more sinister?
2) Does anyone have information that can either confirm or deny what this mechanic told me about Coleman Mach units no longer being made, including the parts for them? If so, is there a reliable source where parts can be obtained, either new or used but still usable?
3) If I have to go to roof a/c, is there a way to connect the new roof unit(s) to the venting already in the ceiling that is used for the basement a/c? At this point, it is assumed that I will need two roof units: one to go in the electric fan vent in the living room area and another to go in the bedroom. Unfortunately, that one will be costly because a hole will have to be cut in the roof for it. The new mechanic told me I should go with the latest Coleman Mach roof units rather than going with an inferior brand or one that may be outdated in short order. I'm not sure if this can be believed and wonder if there are other units on the market just as good and lesser expensive.
4) If I have to install roof a/c, can the compartment where the basement a/c currently is located be converted into another storage compartment?
I am really hoping the fix to this problem will be nothing more than a bit of electronics gone bad and won't set me back the cost of a used car. Thanks in advance for your help and answers.
edit by staff - changed message icon to topic solved