[Maybel]

The air conditioning unit on our motorhome has decided to just stop working. It is a separate unit that is attached to the roof of the motorhome. Running from the battery or 240v when connected up. We cannot, for love nor money, find someone to even look at it. My husband is a mechanic by trade, but this is out of his range.

We live in Suffolk but are prepared to take the unit, within reason, to someone who can have a look and hopefully fix it.

Any suggestions/contacts gratefully received.

Thank you.

 

[Penquin]

It MIGHT be worth contacting Outdood Bits at Exmouth, I know it is a large distance but they are usually happy to assist or advise;

https://www.outdoorbits.com/

Dave used to own and run this forum, if you mention me, Dave, one of his Moderators he will probably charge you double......😂

I hope that you can get it sorted,

Dave

 

[eurajohn]

You don't mention which make or type of AC unit you have, but if a conventional compressor unit I would have thought any air con specialist will help.

Possibly someone like this company https://acautoworks.co.uk/

.

 

[Maybel]

Thank you Penguin, you're right, it's a long way, will certainly mention your name if I call for advice 😉


eurajohn - it isn't a conventional compressor unit, think that's why we're having trouble finding anyone. Am going down the auto electrician route, maybe should have done that in the beginning?

 

[eurajohn]

Is it an evaporator unit then?


.

 

[bognormike]

What make is it? Dometic is most common

 

[Maybel]

It's a separate air con/heating unit the type that is fixed on to the roof of the campervan. WAECO EC1500 EC2000. It's an old camper, we don't have cab air con. Will call acautoworks shortly and report back, thank you.

Edit, not open Saturdays.
Edit again, have just seen that Dometic has taken over Waeco.

 

[eurajohn]

According to the manual I found for it here http://multiorg.ru/system/files/kondishn/sdmc_waeco_otm_2007_ac.pdf it is a standard compressor refrigeration unit, which is the technology most small industrial, commercial and domestic units use.

So the actual workings will be well within any good refrigeration engineers capability, the problem may be finding one prepared to work on it whilst attached to the van.

If you or someone you know could detach it from the roof I'd have thought you would then find a repairer, although something to bear in mind is that often small bespoke units will be uneconomical to repair.

The most common cause of failure of air con, refrigeration units is a lack of gas caused by a leak.

.

 

[Maybel]

Thank you..... I think the compressor part got a bit lost in translation, or something.

Anyway...... the unit is off of the van and we thought, exactly as you say, that getting a refrigeration engineer out to look at it would be, if not easy, then not a problem. But as I said before, each one we have called is just not interested.

Agree with the economics of it all, it is an old van (26 years), an oldie but goody! If we mainly travelled around UK we could do without the air con probably, but we regularly travel to Corfu and it's really welcome then!

We did think about testing for a leak, but not sure how we can do that without it running. We are hoping to have an auto electrician look next week, at least we can perhaps eliminate an electrical fault.

Your input is very much appreciated.

 

[Penquin]

We had a leak in the compressor operated air conditioning in our C1, it took three attempts before the Citroen garage found it, in the end they used a coloured liquid that showed where the leak was.

It did not require a specialist autoelectrician just a normal garage that services air conditioning units. That might be easier to locate as virtually every car now has air conditioning.

 

[erneboy]

There are many discussions on RV rooftop AC on American and UK RVing forums., and some how to videos on youTube.

I know because our AC was getting very clanky a couple of years ago and not working well. Firstly it seemed likely that if it could be repaired it would need to be regassed afterwards. Apparently that is not considered worthwhile and most units do not have a connection to allow it. Connections can be fitted, at a cost, but most of the threads I read said that it wasn't worth doing because even if regassed the unit would not last long.

I was lucky and got a new unit from the US at a very good price.

I suggest you search the RV forums and ask questions there.

I'm not sure if you've told us where you are?

 

[Maybel]

Thank you, that is interesting, we're in Sudbury, Suffolk.