Community Forums

stuartbell · 06-10-2019, 08:35 AM

Hi, Our new Coachmen Freedom Express is fitted with a 13.5 KBtu/hour room noise generator that doubles as an air conditioner. I don't think it is broken, just poorly designed.

We can not use a Wacko hush kit because there are no ducts.

Can anyone suggest a replacement make/model?

This unit is overpowered for our travel trailer - we are in Grand Canyon/Zion area about as hot as it gets and the unit runs under 20%.

Ideally, we would like either to put in a variable speed fan or replace the uit with a 12 kBtu/Hr inverter unit with a variable speed compressor and fan so we can make it cool without losing our hearing.

Thanks

Kahoona · 06-10-2019, 09:22 AM

It sure is! We had one in our Coachmen Mirada. There were 2 things that helped. If you can set the fan to low do so. If the outlets are ducted you will find that most of the noise still comes from the return vent. You will have the outlet closed anyway so that the air comes out of the ducts. I built a sound reducer using a piece of fiberboard 2' on a side. I covered one side with some vinyl that matched the vinyl fabric in the coach. I covered the other side with a towel. I made 6 standoffs with pine molding or dowels and drilled a hole through each. I covered them with the vinyl also. I got some cream colored three inch screws and ran them through the fiberboard corners, the standoffs and into the ceiling around the AC. 2 of them are along the sides. The inch 1 1/2 clearance was calculated to allow full flow of air but not hit me in the head. It helps a lot. The AC worked fine for a year so far.

stuartbell · 06-10-2019, 10:28 PM

Kahona, Thanks for the suggestions. We always run our unit on LOW - in fact, I'm hoping someone tells me how to slow the fan down even more.

the unit has no ducts - so I can't silence them, and can't use the Wacko kit people mentioned.

The compressor just cycled off - I can barely tell the difference in noise. We can't converse with the a/c on and can't eat inside when it is on.

I'll try baffling the inlet with a filter - maybe a HEPA filter might help?

I think the only thing to do is replace the unit - when I find the right kind - with a variable speed compressor and variable fan. Our home unit is so quiet you can't tell it is on - max 56 db.

/Stul

Harry B · 06-11-2019, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartbell

Kahona, Thanks for the suggestions. We always run our unit on LOW - in fact, I'm hoping someone tells me how to slow the fan down even more.

the unit has no ducts - so I can't silence them, and can't use the Wacko kit people mentioned.

The compressor just cycled off - I can barely tell the difference in noise. We can't converse with the a/c on and can't eat inside when it is on.

I'll try baffling the inlet with a filter - maybe a HEPA filter might help?

I think the only thing to do is replace the unit - when I find the right kind - with a variable speed compressor and variable fan. Our home unit is so quiet you can't tell it is on - max 56 db.

/Stul

The Atwood ACs are supposed to be much quieter. I have seen several post where people installed them and were impressed with the reduction in noise. You might want to check into them. The only drawback that I see with them is that they are not available in a low profile.

Spoonsize · 06-12-2019, 07:55 AM

We removed the inside cover and noticed the path the blown air takes is no where near smooth. We used rigid foam and DUCT (not ducK) tape to fill in the areas to make the path somewhat smooth. It did reduce the noise enough we can hear each other talk but not near quiet enough.