A/C Low on Freon or bad fan? - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

taterbug23 · 08-12-2017, 08:20 PM

We just purchased our 1st ever camper and it is a 1999 24ft hi-lo. During our 1st trip the a/c worked pretty good all day(probably 75 degrees outside so not allot of load). When the late evening came I thought I heard it making a slightly different noise so I checked and the unit was barley blowing out any air and it was not cold. I turned it off and the next morning it started to drip water inside the camper.

I removed the filters and removed the water with a towel.

I was told the coils probably froze and when the outside temp rose, it melted the ice and that caused my water.

At 1st I thought it was low on freon. Although now I suspect it could be the fan. Could the fan work fine all day then act up like that and freeze the coils?

The next morning the a/c worked fine, although I didn't leave it on.

Also the compressor has a number on it lr52236. I assumed that was the compressor model number but I don't see any information for it on the net.

sam · 08-12-2017, 09:44 PM

Carefully get up on the roof and remove the AC shroud. Gently blow out the unit with compressed air or a leaf blower. Then reassemble. Go on the inside and remove the cover and snug up the bolts with a socket set. Be very careful to not over tighten them. The seal loosens up due to road travel/vibration. Run your Ac for a while and see how it behaves. AC units can freeze up. After a rest they make function as designed.

Treeclimber · 08-13-2017, 07:51 AM

tater, do as sam suggests, with the top DOWN. Double check the squirrel cage fan. Mud daubers like that area, as well as other critters, but if it was working normal prior then it's probably okay. After raising the top, ensure you are plugged into a 30 amp circuit and check out the unit.
Note: When the shroud is off, check out the TWO drains. They are white plastic and usually well sealed with some black sealant. Sounds like they may be partly blocked.
The water from melting coil ice should not be getting inside. The tray for the drain is UNDER the coils and goes right to the drains. One drain on each side of the drain pan.
Tree

taterbug23 · 08-13-2017, 04:07 PM

Okay thanks for the suggestions.
While camping I did have water coming out the non awning side. I had to change the tires and when I lowered the camper water did come out the awning side, so if the plugs are stopped up. It happened while camping.
I read somewhere where someone mentioned problems with the cage and it rusted and cause a problem with the plastic.
Hopefully I'll get to take it out again during thanks giving (to a 30amp service) and try it out.

In the mean time I'll make sure the top is cleared out, grease the cage, and tighten the bolts.

Also can I climb ontop when the unit is risen? Or is that not preferred?

Thanks again.

Treeclimber · 08-13-2017, 04:45 PM

Don't get on top when raised! Your added weight stresses the cables. I'm sure it would hold your weight, but it can also damage the guide blocks. The top WILL wiggle. It's safe to climb on top with it down.
I just recently changed the seal on my A/C and have done a few others. After removing the A/C from the top, I did all the maintenance that could be done, installed the seal and with a "volunteer", put it back on top for the install finish. Once in close proximity, raise the top and center the A/C from the inside, complete the hook-up, install the bolts and compress the seal to 1/2". Not hard but bulky.

KnottyRig · 08-14-2017, 10:59 AM

There should be a fan on the condenser side (hot side,outside) and a blower ("squirrel cage") on the evaporator (cold) side (inside).

Anything that causes a reduction of airflow across the evaporator coils could cause moisture to condense and then freeze on those coils. Low refrigereant can cause this (I think because it gets sudden surges of refrigerant through the system which drops the temp below freezing momentarily).

Make sure the motor is working right, there are no obstructions, them run the unit and test outlet air temp. It should be in the low to mid 40's.

RichR · 08-14-2017, 02:33 PM

I have read that during hot humid conditions the fan must be run on high to keep ahead of freeze-up conditions.

RichR · 08-14-2017, 02:41 PM

I have read that during hot humid conditions the fan must be run on high to keep ahead of freeze-up conditions.

JackandJanet · 08-14-2017, 03:34 PM

Hot humid conditions also increase the likelihood of freeze up too. I had it one day on my trip to Carlsbad. I turned the AC off for five minutes, then back on and everything was fine.

I think once ice starts to form, it becomes a self-increasing feedback cycle that simply gets worse. The evaporator simply has to get warm to break this cycle.

- Jack

taterbug23 · 08-15-2017, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnottyRig

There should be a fan on the condenser side (hot side,outside) and a blower ("squirrel cage") on the evaporator (cold) side (inside).

Anything that causes a reduction of airflow across the evaporator coils could cause moisture to condense and then freeze on those coils. Low refrigereant can cause this (I think because it gets sudden surges of refrigerant through the system which drops the temp below freezing momentarily).

Make sure the motor is working right, there are no obstructions, them run the unit and test outlet air temp. It should be in the low to mid 40's.

So is what I have pictured the "Squirrel Cage"(Bottom Left)? It's outside.

KnottyRig · 08-15-2017, 01:26 PM

Well that's interesting - I've never seen a blower (the "squirrel cage" is the actual compressor wheel inside - looks like a hamster wheel) on the condenser coils. Though I can see how it would be useful, given the space constraints.

Typically the condenser doesn't need a blower (which can create a pressure differential, while a fan only moves air). Apparently the engineers thought it useful here.

It all looks pretty clean. How do the coils look? Is the blower packed full of leaves or a mouse nest?

taterbug23 · 08-15-2017, 05:36 PM

I'm not sure where the coils are. Could it be under the thin metal box to the right? I'll have to take a couple bolts off to get to it.

KnottyRig · 08-15-2017, 05:50 PM

I can't tell from photo. Does the shaft on that electric motor extend out both sides? Quite often there's a single motor driving both fan/blower for both sets of coils. If thats the case I would expect one set of coils under that sheetmetal.

With the blower on the left, can you see inside it from the motor side? I'm trying to determine where it's pulling air from. Thats where the condenser coils will be. Evap coils will be located with the fan for the interior.

taterbug23 · 08-19-2017, 09:23 AM

So the drain plugs were filled with dead bugs. Also the vent pictured looks pretty dirty. The motor does have a cage on each side.