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Old 03-20-2017, 10:26 PM   #1
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Dometic Air Conditioner Capacitor?

My 16 year old Penguin 15k BTU in my bedroom is causing my Onan generator to go into an overvoltage fault when it starts. It starts and cools perfectly on shore power. I spoke with Onan who informed me this problem is likely caused by a bad capacitor in the Penguin. Has anyone dealt with this? I have found the original capacitor. I also see these "hard start" capacitors. Which should I get?

Rich 2002 Magna
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Old 03-20-2017, 10:47 PM   #2
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If it starts and runs normally when on shore power, the capacitor is OK. You may wish to investigate installing a "Hard Start Capacitor" in your Penquin, though. It's an additional capacitor that adds capacitance for starting the compressor, then cuts itself back out of the circuit in a few tenths of a second. Pop
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Old 03-21-2017, 10:57 PM   #3
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If it starts and runs normally when on shore power, the capacitor is OK. You may wish to investigate installing a "Hard Start Capacitor" in your Penquin, though. It's an additional capacitor that adds capacitance for starting the compressor, then cuts itself back out of the circuit in a few tenths of a second. Pop
Thanks I will order one of them. Sounds like a little Viagra for my old penguin.
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Old 03-22-2017, 06:22 AM   #4
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Good info on the capacitors here

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f112/dome...ml#post3333323
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Old 03-22-2017, 10:25 PM   #5
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Thanks that is very helpful. I was advised that given that my air conditioner runs perfectly other than on Shore power, the capacitor was probably okay and to get the hard start kit and added in. I have ordered one it's on the way. I have not been up there yet but I will see what the condition of the original capacitor looks like when I do get up there. If it looks like the one of the picture I guess I'll be getting another one.

Rich 2002 Magna
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Old 03-22-2017, 10:26 PM   #6
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Thanks that is very helpful. I was advised that given that my air conditioner runs perfectly other than on Shore power, the capacitor was probably okay and to get the hard start kit and added in. I have ordered one it's on the way. I have not been up there yet but I will see what the condition of the original capacitor looks like when I do get up there. If it looks like the one of the picture I guess I'll be getting another one.

Rich 2002 Magna
I meant other than on generator power.
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Old 03-22-2017, 11:46 PM   #7
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I agree if it functions ok on shore power the capacitors are ok. Adding a hard start capacitor across the existing start capacitor shouldn't make the unit run any better if the existing start capacitor is ok.
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Old 03-23-2017, 12:48 AM   #8
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The thing I don't like about hard start caps is they generally are controlled by a ptc thermistor element which operates like a thermal switch. The AC is turned on, the hard start cap is enabled until the ptc element gets hot. This draws extra power even if the compressor is started. I removed my hard start caps and installed a potential relay with a start cap. Once the motor is up to speed the start boost is disabled. It also instantly resets, something a ptc won't do, they take about 3 minutes to cool down.

Looky here for theory.

10.3 Potential Relays - 10.4 Solid-State Starting Relays and Devices - 10.5 Motor Bearings - 10.6 Motor Drives (Components for Electric Motors)
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Old 03-23-2017, 10:46 PM   #9
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I agree if it functions ok on shore power the capacitors are ok. Adding a hard start capacitor across the existing start capacitor shouldn't make the unit run any better if the existing start capacitor is ok.
It runs fine. The only problem is that its causing an overcurrent fault on the generator on startup. Supposedly the hard start kit will prevent the generator from sensing an overcurrent situation when the AC starts. At least that's what I've been told. Supposedly ,as these units age the compressors wear and can cause more than the usual start-up draw. I don't know if any of this is true but that's what I was told.

Rich 2002 Magna.
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Old 03-23-2017, 10:49 PM   #10
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You mean something like this?

Rich 2002 Magna
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Old 03-25-2017, 06:57 PM   #11
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I don't think your compressor is getting harder to get started due to age. I'm just saying if your unit has an existing start capacitor and a matching potential relay adding a second hard start kit probably won't help. If it has a thermistor unit instead of the start capacitor and relay that is another story. Also if you turn up the thermostat then turn it down does it take a few minutes or more for the compressor to try to restart? It should try to start after a few minutes rather then right away as the differential pressures need to equalize for less startup amps. Good luck it is a bummer on a hot day with no a/c. Did you check and make sure your generator is running at around 120-125 volts at 60 hertz ? If the voltage is low the compressor will be hard to start.
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Old 03-25-2017, 07:35 PM   #12
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I don't think your compressor is getting harder to get started due to age. I'm just saying if your unit has an existing start capacitor and a matching potential relay adding a second hard start kit probably won't help. If it has a thermistor unit instead of the start capacitor and relay that is another story. Also if you turn up the thermostat then turn it down does it take a few minutes or more for the compressor to try to restart? It should not try to start after a few minutes rather then right away as the differential pressures need to equalize for less startup amps. Good luck it is a bummer on a hot day with no a/c.
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Old 03-25-2017, 11:15 PM   #13
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Roy I have no idea if I have a thermister. It has a start capacitor, that I know. It is an older penguin 15K BTU heat pump circa 2001. I was told by Dometic that the additional hard start capacitor came standard on the later units like this but not on mine. What I have purchased is a factory Dometic add-in hard start kit. It does use a PTC. Tomorrow I go up on the roof so we will see what happens and what I find. I will try to wire in the hard start kit and test things with the generator. If it doesn't solve the problem I will remove it. I am plugged into Shore power so I do have air conditioning. In the summer though I am not and I need it to run off the generator at times as it always has.
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Old 03-27-2017, 12:12 AM   #14
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Roy I am afraid that my time on the roof revealed not good news: upon closer examination it's not just a starting problem. On Cooling it starts up onshore power and I said it cools beautifully but after a while say 10 minutes or more the compressor cuts out the fan stays on for some minutes it then shuts down completely for some minutes and the cycle then starts all over again. It appears to be drawing about 12 to 14 amps when the compressor is running which I believe is normal. On the heat pump mode, it Heats like hell for up to about 20 minutes, the compressor shuts down fan stays on for a little while it then shuts down completely. During the heat pump cycle when the compressor is running it can cause much as 25 amps, which I do not believe is normal. I do not know what is causing this but something tells me it's not a capacitor. The capacitors look physically okay. Any suggestions are welcome.
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