jfleming
Oxford Michigan
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Can they be recharged?
What brand on the market is the best replacement?
Is the carrier brand a good unit?
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ozman
Ma.
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Joined: 06/16/2001
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No,typically.Some will say you can tap the sytem and recharge,but I wouldnt advise this. Carrier is a good brand.I have 2 rvp product.13,500 btu.They work as they should.Its hard to keep a tin can cool in 100 degree weather but they do okay.
Frankie
Karen
3 boys and Amber and Capt. Jack our JRT's
2006 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE 34N F-53
2003 SUZUKI XL-7
2000 WRANGLER
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Thor and Fourwinds hurricane forum
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MI Director
Michigan
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They're all pretty much the same. The big thing is to get one big enough to cool your rig. If the old one was not doing the job go the next size up if possible.
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ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
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Joined: 02/26/2007
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Our Phoenix Cruiser has a low profile roof top a/c unit that is only 9-1/2" tall as seen here.
Low Profile Dometic 9.5" Tall Duo-Therm Penguin
It has a full plastic cap that covers the entire exterior with exception to the bottom 1/3 as seen on their website. It resembles a large rectangular version of a power roof vent you would have for your house attic. Inside, hanging down maybe 2", all the cold air blows directly from the ceiling unit, in opposing directions. The website says it can be ducted and can be as big as 15,000 BTU. They claim it's a quiet running a/c unit. Maybe that is from the outside. Inside it would drown out someone snoring.
It seems there are two general styles of a/c units. The taller standard version with the evaporator portion facing rearward, and the low profile unit we have.
In your case, I would first attempt installing a cheap bolt-on piercing valve to provide a means of charging your old a/c unit. If it won't hold a charge, then buy a new a/c unit.
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
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jfleming
Oxford Michigan
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If one were to buy a new unit would people recomend buying one with the heater strip or with out the heater strip. It seems like a cool feature but that does not always mean that it is....
anyone have feed back on the heater strip?
Also it looks like my choices are between a colman or a carrier...
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Cool Mike
Mendocino. Calif.
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Yes they can be recharged, the question is, is it worth it, valves would have to be installed, and if in fact it does require recharging, then it has a leak. Requiring locating and repairing and this may make it not an economical option, when you consider its age, overall condition and cost to repair.
Someone who pays $300. or $400 for an AC repair will expect it to last like it were new, when in fact its the same old unit with valves added, a leak fixed and recharged, and a short warranty.
If you replace it, I do not recomend adding the 120V 1500 watt strip heat option, there are cheaper and quieter ways of using electric resistance heat.
2001 27' Four Winds Class-C E-450 V-10.
Buick Park Ave Ultra, Ford Ranger PU, JD 500 backhoe.
1941 Farm All "A"
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ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
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My Advice.....Spend the extra money and get the heat strip.
We use the heat strip all the time on cool nights when we have 110v hook-up. It's much better than running the furnace off propane. The heat strip can only do so much under more colder conditions. Then we'll pull out our small portable electric space heater to suppliment. This way we sharply limit our propane usage.
If we don't have 110v plug-in, then we'll fire up the furnace, running off propane.
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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Take a look at these.http://www.rvcomfort.com/I would rather have a heat pump than a heat strip. Have had both. heat pump way better.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008
Class C passed Class A owner
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Cool Mike
Mendocino. Calif.
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A heat pump will also put out a lot more heat than the 5100 BTU/HR from a 1500 Watt heat strip, so if your going to have to listen to the blower of the AC system, you might as well get some heat out of it.
The noise and blower motor size is why I dont recomend the heat strip, the blower is a 1/4 hp, and is 5 times bigger and noisier than what you need for only 1500 watts of heat, a small space heater puts out the same amount of heat (5100 btu/hr), is cheaper, quieter and can be put where you want it. JMO.
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