If you've spent enough time in a good older Class The motorhome, you likely already know that will the coleman mach basement air conditioner is a bit of the legend in the RV world. As opposed to the standard roof units that sit down like giant plastic material humps on top of your rig, these units are usually tucked away down low, usually in one of the storage bays. It's a design option that has its devoted fans and its frustrated critics, yet one thing is perfect for sure: when they're working right, they provide a level associated with comfort that's difficult to beat.
I've talked in order to plenty of folks who specifically seek out older Winnebagos or even Itascas just since they came factory-equipped with these basement units. There's something to be said for that "residential" sense of having your cooling system hidden aside. But, like any piece of vintage or even specialized machinery, maintaining a Coleman Mach basement unit whistling along requires a little more than just flipping a switch plus wishing for the greatest.
Why the Basement Design Still Wins People More than
The very first thing you notice when you take on a trainer having a coleman mach basement air conditioner is just how quiet it is. Since the air compressors and fans can be found under the ground instead of right over the head on the thin fiberglass roofing, you don't obtain that "jet engine" roar each time the thermostat requires cooling. You can actually hold a discussion or watch TELEVISION without cranking the particular volume up to max.
Over and above the noise, there's the center of gravity issue. Heavy AC units on the roofing create a motorhome more top-heavy, which isn't great for handling on windy highways. Shifting those 150-plus pounds right down to the chassis level helps along with stability. Plus, you don't have to snagging a low-hanging shrub branch and ripping your cooling system off the roof—a problem scenario for anybody who likes camping in the woods.
The Two-Stage Miracle
Most associated with these basement devices are actually two air conditioners within one box. These people typically feature 2 separate compressors. Whenever you first change the system on and it's sweltering within, both compressors kick in to dump as much cool air as achievable to the cabin. As soon as the temperature begins to drop plus gets close to your target, the system is smart good enough to drop down to just one air compressor.
This two-stage approach is great for power administration. If you're connected to a 30-amp base, running two air compressors plus your microwave and water heater is a recipe for a tripped breaker. But as soon as that first air compressor shuts down, your power draw drops significantly, giving a person a bit more breathing room for other appliances.
Keeping Up with Maintenance
If you would like your coleman mach basement air conditioner to last another twenty years, you can't ignore it. The biggest enemy of those units is restricted airflow. Since they sit down near the road, they have a tendency to suck up more dust, road grime, and cottonwood seeds than the rooftop unit ever would.
Cleaning the Coils
You've got 2 sets of coils to worry regarding: the evaporator (which gets cold) plus the condenser (which gets rid associated with the heat). The condenser coils are usually usually accessible through a vent on the side of the RV. I've seen units which were barely throwing out cool air merely because the condenser was packed strong with dirt. The gentle spray along with a garden hose (avoid high-pressure washers! ) and some foaming coil cleanser can work wonders. Just be careful not to bend the delicate aluminum fins.
Don't Forget the Filters
Inside the RV, usually under the bed or within a lower cabinet, there's a big come back air grill. Behind that grill will be a filter. If you haven't checked your own in a while, do it today. The clogged filter makes the unit function twice as tough, which leads in order to frozen coils and, eventually, a dead compressor. Most individuals replace the flimsy stock filters with something a bit more substantial, but don't proceed too "high-efficiency" or even you might actually restrict the airflow too much.
Normal Problems and Fast Fixes
Also with the best care, things eventually proceed wrong. If you hear a whistling sound but the fan won't spin, or when the enthusiast starts but the compressor won't kick in, you're likely taking a look at the failed capacitor.
Capacitors are those little metallic cylinders that provide the motors a good extra "kick" in order to get started. They're cheap, easy to find, and relatively simple to replace if you're comfortable operating with electricity. Just remember that capacitors holds a charge even if the strength is off, so you've have got to release them safely just before touching the ports.
Another strange issue folks operate into is "short cycling, " in which the unit turns upon and off each couple of minutes. This is usually often caused by a dirty temperature control system or a messfühler that's getting hit by a direct blast of frosty air from the nearby vent. In the event that the unit believes it's reached the prospective temperature when this hasn't, it'll close down prematurely.
The Ductwork Problem
Among the special aspects of the particular coleman mach basement air conditioner setup is the ductwork. Since the particular unit is within the basement, the cool air has to travel up a "riser" duct, usually located in the back cap of the motorhome, to reach the ceiling vents.
Over time, the particular tape sealing these types of ducts can dry out and peel off away. I've seen cases where half the cold air was being dumped into the rear fiberglass cap instead of going into the particular living area. If your AC is running great but you aren't feeling very much air coming away of the vents, it's worth sticking a flashlight (or a borescope camera) up into that will ducting to see if there are usually any major leaks. A little bit of high-quality foil tape can produce an enormous difference in how cool your rig stays.
When It's Time in order to Replace
Generally there comes a day in every MOTORHOME owner's life once the old unit lastly gives up the particular ghost. Maybe some sort of compressor has grounded out, or the refrigerant has leaked out there of a corroded line. Because these types of units are "sealed systems, " these people aren't technically developed to be charged up again with freon like a car's AC.
If you find yourself needing an overall replacement, don't stress. Although some people believe they're obsolete, Airxcel (the company that will makes Coleman Mach) still produces contemporary versions of those basement packages. They've up-to-date the components to be more efficient, yet the footprint is usually designed to fit in the same space as the older models.
It's a big job—you usually require a floor jack port or a specific lift to get the old 200-pound box out and the new 1 in—but it's frequently much cheaper and easier than attempting to retro-fit 2 rooftop units onto a coach that will wasn't created for them.
Final Thoughts
The particular coleman mach basement air conditioner is a little bit of a throwback to an period when RV manufacturers were really attempting to push the particular boundaries of comfort. It feels more like a home HEATING AND COOLING system than the piece of camping equipment.
Is it perfect? No. It's heavy, it takes up a storage bay, plus it can be a discomfort to service because of where it's tucked away. But if you value a quiet vacation cabin and a rig that handles nicely on the road, it's a method that's well worth the effort to preserve. Keep those coils clean, swap your filters regularly, plus keep an vision on your capacitors, plus that basement device will keep you frosty even when you're parked within the middle associated with a desert in July.
There's nothing quite like the sensation associated with stepping out of the midday heat right into a whisper-quiet, ice-cold motorhome. It makes all that will crawling around in the dirt regarding maintenance totally worth it.