Air Conditioner advice

[shark24]

2013 21bhs
Air conditioner freezes up on inside total ice. We were in FL on vacation very hot. We had gone to the beach and when we returned no air and frozen over. Any thoughts on what we need to do? I want it cold no matter where we are. We took the top off and used a vac to make sure there was nothing to keep air flow from occuring.Made sure all coils were not bent or damaged. Looks good but freezing up still except at night when the sun is gone there are no issues with it. Just during direct sunlight hours.
Thanks 

[Steve Sanders]

That's a common symptom of being slightly low on freon. Get a little added and it should be fine.

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[Diversteve]

Also a symptom of a dirty evaporator coil.
The filters on these units are not very efficient.

[djsamuel]

Both of the above options are correct.  Clean the coils and see if that helps.  Unfortunately, these air conditioners do not have valves on them so adding freon is not an option.  Some places will add the port to them, but the tubing is so thin it can be difficult.  They've basically become throw away units which is a shame.

[Merlin]

If by "top" you mean the outside, that was a good idea, but the most important place to clean is inside. Take the inside cover off, Replce the filters in the intake, make sure the flexible duct that connects the inside fan output to the vents is intact, and always run the fan on high when in high humidity. Those are the easy things! RV air conditioners don't have access taps for the refrigerant, so it's difficult and expensive to even check the charge, let alone recharge. And, if it's low there is a leak that can also be difficulty and expensive to fix. It does happen and at least one person on the forum had an A/C unit replaced under warranty due to a crimped tube causing a leak. It's also possible the thermostat has failed so the compressor doesn't cycle off correctly, but if the unit operates ok at night that's propably not it. A clean A/C unit should not freeze up with the fan on high. I see your camper is 5 years old so you may want to check into getting the A/C replaced if cleaning doesn't fix it.

[shark24]

Thanks everyone!

[gbpack]

Ours has had problems freezing up from the very beginning (right from the factory). Doesn't happen all the time but I think the amount of humidity in the air has something to do with it as well (doesn't seem to freeze up as much in the more humid conditions). I think it just might be one of those things that you have to put up with with these types of AC's. But running it on high seems to help and setting the thermostat back a little so that the compressor cycles on & off periodically helps as well.

[Steve Sanders]

The evaporator coil of a propery charged A/C unit should be slightly above freezing temperature to prevent this problem. If it is slightly low on freon, it will actually be below freezing. Blowing more air through the coil can blow the condensation water away before it freezes, and cycling the compressor will create a defrost cycle. Either could conceal the real problem of inadequate freon in the system.

Since freon can not be consumed, the only ways to have inadequate freon is that it was never properly filled or it has a leak.

It's very unfortunate that there are no service ports on the unit.

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[Diversteve]

I had a problem with the 13500 btu AC in our 14DBS.
The unit was so over sized that it would not run long enough to dehumidify the air.
This left us sitting in a cold and clammy environment.
My solution was to replace the rooftop unit with a Mini Split system.
This turned out to be the best decision ever.
The Mini Split uses inverter technology and runs only at the speed required to achieve the thermostat set point.
Starting current for this unit is 400 watts!
Includes a setting for dehumidifying as well as the unit being a heat pump.
JMHO.

[Paul]

I had a problem with the 13500 btu AC in our 14DBS.
The unit was so over sized that it would not run long enough to dehumidify the air.
This left us sitting in a cold and clammy environment.
My solution was to replace the rooftop unit with a Mini Split system.
This turned out to be the best decision ever.
The Mini Split uses inverter technology and runs only at the speed required to achieve the thermostat set point.
Starting current for this unit is 400 watts!
Includes a setting for dehumidifying as well as the unit being a heat pump.
JMHO.

I'd be curious to see pictures of that mini split!

[nhlakes]

Had never heard of a mini split, but after 30 seconds of googling it seems they have potential in RVs.   I think @Gary M should definitely take on this challenge.

[Gary M]

Had never heard of a mini split, but after 30 seconds of googling it seems they have potential in RVs.   I think @Gary M should definitely take on this challenge.

I think Gary M still has enough to do for this year 

I still have 43 items left on my "Camplite" reminder list on my iPhone filled with mods I plan on doing, and parts to order. I'm thinking indoor and exterior speaker upgrades are probably next. Heated/massaging theater seats after that

[Merlin]

I had a problem with the 13500 btu AC in our 14DBS.
The unit was so over sized that it would not run long enough to dehumidify the air.
This left us sitting in a cold and clammy environment.
My solution was to replace the rooftop unit with a Mini Split system.
This turned out to be the best decision ever.
The Mini Split uses inverter technology and runs only at the speed required to achieve the thermostat set point.
Starting current for this unit is 400 watts!
Includes a setting for dehumidifying as well as the unit being a heat pump.
JMHO.

Have you posted the details somewhere yet? I'd be very interested in what you have and in the install.

[Diversteve]

This is the unit I bought.
The installation was not difficult.
Everything needed was included with the exception of a wall mount that I built with aluminum angle and rivets from Home Depot

https://www.amazon.com/PIONEER-Air-Conditioner-Inverter-Ductless/dp/B01DVW6G42/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529760071&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=Pioneer+Ductless+Wall+Mount+Mini+Split+INVERTER+Air+Conditioner+with+Heat+Pump%2C+12000+BTU+%281+Ton%29%2C+15+SEER%2C+110~120+VAC%2C+Full

[DavidM]

That iis an interesting instalation. With a high efficiency minisplit (and some use inverter technology), it should start easily with most portable generators.

David