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Dan DeBruin · 08-02-2014, 03:22 PM

Have a 2005 Dutch star. The front roof air conditioner has begun shut off every ten minutes for 2-3 minutes. Cools while it is running but constantly shuts off. Shop says the only thing they can think is low freon, which you can't charge.

I know there must be someone out there who has had the same thing. Thanks for your help in advance.

Dan

adonh · 08-02-2014, 03:36 PM

I replaced both of my Dometic penguin 13.5K AC's in my 2005 Airstream with new Dometic Brisk II 15K AC's last year. What a difference they made, cold air and quite. Although there are some things that maybe can be done to get yours working, after 8 to 9 years I think the best fix is to replace them.

TechWriter · 08-02-2014, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adonh

I replaced both of my Dometic penguin 13.5K AC's in my 2005 Airstream with new Dometic Brisk II 15K AC's last year. What a difference they made, cold air and quite.

I replaced my two Dometic 13.5k Penguins in my 2001 MADP with 13.5k Penguin IIs -- oh, what a difference.

MSHappyCampers · 08-02-2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan DeBruin

Have a 2005 Dutch star. The front roof air conditioner has begun shut off every ten minutes for 2-3 minutes. Cools while it is running but constantly shuts off. Shop says the only thing they can think is low freon, which you can't charge.

I know there must be someone out there who has had the same thing. Thanks for your help in advance.

Dan

Dan, my front A/C was doing the exact same thing. I traced the problem down to the control board. Replacing the board stopped that, but I later had a problem with it not being cold enough. I had a local independent tech install a valve in the tubing and recharge the unit. That worked for a while but it did the same thing again and I ended up replacing it!

jesilvas · 08-03-2014, 01:47 PM

They can't test freon, BUT they can test temperature drop of the unit and amp draw of the compressor, and find out if it is low or good. They don't know a whole lot apparently.

Next thing, it could definitely be temp sensor, t-stat, or control boards.

TQ60 · 08-03-2014, 06:13 PM

Get a non contact thermometer and check temperature drop across both units.

Be sure to use same run time on each.

Test bad one first...quickly measure the area at in and out to see temperature drop until it quits.

Next repeat for other unit for same amount of time.

If close to other one thrn gas may be okay and you have a voltage or control issue.

Cap not issue since it is running but stuck relay could cause this.

Measure the voltage either at the breaker or better st the unit to see what it does.

Anything below 110 not good.

If you can measure ac amps via clamp on meter then you can repeat the test while monitoring the current.

If it is constant after starting then just quits or rises before quits makes difference.

If current and voltage are same on both likely issue is control or connection.

Verify everything clean and tight.

Check signal from thermostat too.

Swap control boards too to see it problem follows the controller.

Take your time and only make one change or measurement at a time.

Compare same point on working unit yo broken unit and determine why any reading that is different does not match.

Take notes and do not take risks...check in here as you go with tests performed and results.