Problem Air conditioner kaput (Dometic 15K BTU A/C + Heat pump)

[Neal]

Can you wire it back to original without the soft start to see if it will run?

I didn't keep the original parts. I have another soft start on the way and I'll check the components tomorrow to see if there are more capacitors and get numbers off of them to order and make sure the fan motor spins freely which I believe it does.

 

[TheLooks]

Can you wire it back to original without the soft start to see if it will run?

Easier to just get a multimeter that will test microfarads and test the capacitor.

 

[TheLooks]

ITs really easy.

 

[Chuggs]

I had one go, years back. If you go up in the roof, take the cover off…and use the EasyTouch to turn the unit on. Carefully give the fan a spin by hand. If it runs with the hand prop… then the capacitor is almost certainly failed.

 

[Neal]

then the capacitor is almost certainly failed

Which capacitor? How many are there? Is this the soft start or some other?

 

[DennisT]

Which capacitor? How many are there? Is this the soft start or some other?

I believe there are two, if I remember from the Newmar Academy correctly.

Let me see if I still have my notes and will post the numbers for them.

 

[DennisT]

Here is what I put in my notes from the Academy class...

• No compressor – check start and run capacitors
  • Start – 50 to 55 micro-farads
  • Run – 15 to 20 micro-farads Fan
    • 25 to 30 micro-farads Compressor

 

[Neal]

Watched some YouTube (university) last night to learn about discharging and testing capacitors.

 

[Neal]

When it rains it pours, toad (Chevy Colorado) AC died today! Ugh!!!

 

[Holdmybeer]

You can pull the fan capacitor, take it to most an A/C parts house and they’ll match you up with one. They’re relatively crazy cheap. Just discharge the old one before disconnecting. It carries enough residual juice to knock you on your tail.

 

[rvkev]

Call Glenn at National RV Refrigeration. You can make the drive, stay at a camp near by. Make an appointment to get your refrigeration problems fixed before you leave home. My Norcold refrigerator was replaced for less than a coach buck ($1000).

 

[Neal]

If you go up in the roof, take the cover off…and use the EasyTouch to turn the unit on. Carefully give the fan a spin by hand. If it runs with the hand prop… then the capacitor is almost certainly failed.

You sir are a genius!!! It works! I did exactly as you said, nudged the bird cage to spin once it came on and the AC spun right up!

So this is the soft start I'm assuming? A replacement is enroute, I will order another for my spares kit as the other one is a year behind this one which was installed in 2018. I just need to know which capacitor, if there is more than one, that's the culprit.

Winter trip may be back on! Now to find someone to fix or replace my slide toppers down south such as in AL and I'm back in business!

 

[Chuggs]

No the Microair easystart regulates. It has you remove one capacitor and ptcr...this allows it to regulate locked rotor amperage. You still have an original capacitor in the unit. Has three ports. Common, Hermetic, Fan. It is a dual value capacitor, one mF for Fan, another mF for Herm (compressor). Look on the label... 15mF/50mF ??? Can't recall exactly. It will be listed in the Parts List for the unit of you download it.

I noticed the value had increased a bit with the freshjet series.

Sorry didn't see your post earlier. Been driving all day.

 

[osuallen]

You sir are a genius!!! It works! I did exactly as you said, nudged the bird cage to spin once it came on and the AC spun right up!

So this is the soft start I'm assuming? A replacement is enroute, I will order another for my spares kit as the other one is a year behind this one which was installed in 2018. I just need to know which capacitor, if there is more than one, that's the culprit.

Winter trip may be back on! Now to find someone to fix or replace my slide toppers down south such as in AL and I'm back in business!

@Neal - I am pretty sure that the easy start only replaces the compressor capacitor. The fan capacitor remains and continues to function. So sounds like the fan capacitor is bad.