CaptSailor
Canada
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Howdy,
We purchased a used 5th wheel this winter, and have finally needed to use the Air Conditioner. The trailer has ducts in the roof to the bedroom, bath, and kitchen but it also has a large output right below the AC unit.
The large "direct" vent does have a damper, so I'm wondering if this means it's ok to completely close this vent. It has a VERY large amount of airflow. I assume by closing this, it will increase the flow to the other vents? Just worried about the amount of pressure by closing the large vent.
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John Bridge
Houston
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I used to have one like that, and I ran it with the down draft closed most of the time. Won't hurt anything. The system I have now has no down draft. Same result. 
Semi-"retarred" in 2006. :-) 2008 Newmar Cypress 5th wheel, 2008 Dodge diesel dually to pull it with.
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lowfly
Argyle, Texas
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Won't hurt a thing. That's what's it's designed for. Here in Texas I dump a lot of cold air straight down when it's been off for awhile and once it cools where we are sitting I close it off and it forces more flow to the vented areas. It's a great design.
Jayco 2010 321RLMS 36feet with Monster Slide
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korbe
Northern California
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My manual indicated that the damper was to be able to quickly cool down the area directly below the AC unit. Then to close the damper later on for equal distribution throughout.
2004 F250 SD PSD
2004 Crossroads Cruiser CF25RS
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fordsooperdooty
Southern California
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It's called a "chill grill" and dumps cold air directly into the main living space.
Sometimes when cold air from the A/C goes thru the ceiling ducts, it warms up due to the sun beating down on the roof (where the ducts are located and insulation ain't that good!) and losing some efficiency. If you close off the rooms you are not in...bathroom, bedroom, etc...and open the Chill Grill you'll get more efficient cooling in the room you're actully in!
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen. 
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bluck
Silver City, NM 88061 USA
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I open the dump vent and place a portable fan to push cool air back to the bedroom during the day. At night I turn off the portable,. close the dump vent and use the roof ducts. It's the only way I can cool my trailer when its 114 degrees in Mesa AZ in the summer.
2004 Chevy.
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scotthas
Redcliff, Alberta
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I would check up in the return and I have had the last to trailers freeze up on me and both of them were very poorly installed. There was cold air leaking into the attic and also back in the the warm air return which caused it to loose air flow through the vents. I always had to run with the quick cool open all the time when it was anywhere near 100 otherwise it would freeze up. Since I have replaced my original intake grill with a genesis return air grill and fix everything up so there were no leaks and it is 100 times better. I have way more flow to the vents and I have only used the quick cool feature for what it was meant for, to cool down the living area quick and then closed it up. This past weekend we were in 114+ in the with no shade and it was perfect, set at 71-72 and very humid compared to what it has been normally. Considering what I have read on here and we have a HE Brisk Air 15000 BTU AC unit that works great for our 38.7 foot fifth wheel.
Hope this helps you.
Happy campers
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CaptSailor
Canada
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Thanks so much for the quick replies! Answers my questions perfectly. It's not often the temperature gets close to 100 here, but when it does that AC is a real treat.
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Granted
Northern Illinois
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We only have 1 ac so leave the quick chill one quarter open all the time. Seems too work best when only having 1 ac unit.
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Mile High
Denver, CO
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Dometic calls it the "Quick Cool" I think. When setting up we open the dump and start the 2nd AC in the bedroom and let them rip until the rig cools down, then we shut of the 2nd AC and close that damper to let it circulate as a central system.
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"Comparison is the thief of joy! - Theodore Roosevelt"
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