Don & Christi's 6 x 10 Cargo Conversion

[pete42]

Don on the AC's I've had the thermostat was on the AC unit it's self.
I'm guessing that you have one that came from a trailer that had AC and a Furnace with a wall mounted control.
I'll look up the model you gave and see if I understand it others may have answers.
look here to see if wires match yours http://www.rvcomfort.com/pdf_documents/1976136_copy3.pdf
after looking at drawing it may not help much I'll keep looking

pete

[Engineer Guy]

It's my nature to 'Reverse Engineer' things in similar situations. With that in mind, here's what one Website says about the Thermostat recommended for your AC Model:

Description: Coleman 60277 T-Stat

The Coleman 60277 Thermostat is simplicity at its best, providing complete control of your air conditioner, heat pump, gas, hydronic or electric strip heating and fans from one convenient wall thermostat. Simply set the temperature using the easy-to-use slide selection switch, and the RVComfort thermistor air temperature sensor will activate heating or cooling as needed to maintain your ideal environment. Switches also let you set cooling, heating and fan speed settings individually, if you desire.

With 'all' these Functions coming out and 'expecting' to be controlled by a Thermostat, I can see where the wiring wouldn't be as straightforward as first thought. Perhaps this Company can supply the 'Stat wiring, and you can 'back wire' to the A/C after digesting and understanding the functions and what might be wire color codes assigned somewhat-'arbitrarily' for AC functions. Especially features like Heat Tape and Fan Speeds, whether used or not... Sheesh, this kinda reminds of actually being able to work on our Cars in HS vs. now! So much for a Hamster holding a Mercury Switch in order to control AC operation, eh?

American RV Company

[Pyrofish]

I didn't know how mine was going to work either. Turned out, I needed a controller, then the wires from the controller go out to the Thermostat. A legend with wire colors to terminal came with my thermostat. That was a Dometic not a Coleman, so ymmv.

I didn't know the units came as a separate top piece needing a controller, an inside vent, and a thermostat, so I was kind of mad when I first saw it. Then I realized, I was going to try to remote the Thermostat anyway, it was a happy mistake You just may have some more pieces to buy, that's all.

Now, if you have all of that stuff, you'll want an AC man to figure it out. My AC guy figured it out pretty quickly without the instructions. He even figured out, after some head scratching, that the controller needed 12v power to work. Think they sent me a digital instead of an analog.

[pete42]

Don I found this thermostat manusl http://www.rvcomfort.com/pdf_documents/1976376.pdf.

I hope this helps

pete

[d30gaijin]

It's my nature to 'Reverse Engineer' things in similar situations. With that in mind, here's what one Website says about the Thermostat recommended for your AC Model:

Description: Coleman 60277 T-Stat

The Coleman 60277 Thermostat is simplicity at its best, providing complete control of your air conditioner, heat pump, gas, hydronic or electric strip heating and fans from one convenient wall thermostat. Simply set the temperature using the easy-to-use slide selection switch, and the RVComfort thermistor air temperature sensor will activate heating or cooling as needed to maintain your ideal environment. Switches also let you set cooling, heating and fan speed settings individually, if you desire.

With 'all' these Functions coming out and 'expecting' to be controlled by a Thermostat, I can see where the wiring wouldn't be as straightforward as first thought. Perhaps this Company can supply the 'Stat wiring, and you can 'back wire' to the A/C after digesting and understanding the functions and what might be wire color codes assigned somewhat-'arbitrarily' for AC functions. Especially features like Heat Tape and Fan Speeds, whether used or not... Sheesh, this kinda reminds of actually being able to work on our Cars in HS vs. now! So much for a Hamster holding a Mercury Switch in order to control AC operation, eh?

American RV Company

Dennis,

I think you are correct about the multi function of the thermostat the A/C unit came out of. I believe it had the Coleman Mach A/C unit, a furnace, and a heat tape strip on the 50 gallon plastic water tank that was thrown in with the deal because the guy said the heat tape on the plastic 50 gal. tank burnt three small holes in the top of the tank (stupid because to me the heat tape should have been applied to the bottom of the tank so that there would always be water against it to prevent the heat tape from burning through the plastic tank). Obviously I need to repair the three small burn holes in the tank to make use of it but that should be fairly simple to do, and since they are on the top center of the tank perfect patches are't quite as critical as if the holes were on the bottom... the gravity thing.

I think I'll first get the A/C unit installed upon the roof and get the 120v wiring connected then figure out the thermostat wiring. It's a big unit and my main problem is how to get it up there atop the CT i.e., not something one person can easily move around by himself.

Don

[d30gaijin]

Don I found this thermostat manusl http://www.rvcomfort.com/pdf_documents/1976376.pdf.

I hope this helps

pete

Pete,

Thank you for the link but I actually found it myself yesterday before I posted here. I haven't digested it all yet but am not sure how much help the instructions will be because the wiring colors off my unit do not match anything in the instructions. I emailed the factory about my dilemma so am waiting to hear back (if they respond) what advice they may offer.

Again, thank you.

Don

[d30gaijin]

I didn't know how mine was going to work either. Turned out, I needed a controller, then the wires from the controller go out to the Thermostat. A legend with wire colors to terminal came with my thermostat. That was a Dometic not a Coleman, so ymmv.

I didn't know the units came as a separate top piece needing a controller, an inside vent, and a thermostat, so I was kind of mad when I first saw it. Then I realized, I was going to try to remote the Thermostat anyway, it was a happy mistake You just may have some more pieces to buy, that's all.

Now, if you have all of that stuff, you'll want an AC man to figure it out. My AC guy figured it out pretty quickly without the instructions. He even figured out, after some head scratching, that the controller needed 12v power to work. Think they sent me a digital instead of an analog.

Pyrofish,

Thanks for the heads up on the controller. My web searching turned up some info on that being needed, along with a thermostat, but wasn't very clear about just what the controller's function is. If I can't figure it out eventually what I will do is instal the A/C unit, wire the 120v connection, extend the thermo/controller wires to where an A/C tech can get to them and finish the wiring for me.

It's a nice A/C unit, though a bit of overkill for a 6x10 CT, but one way or another I'll get it figured out, or have someone do it for me as you did.

Thank you for your help!

Don

[Pyrofish]

The controller has all of the relays and contactors in it. Without it, you'd have to make up something with those parts, and my AC guy said it would all be guess work, and would be large and expensive. He said if I could get the controller, that would be the way to go.

[d30gaijin]

The controller has all of the relays and contactors in it. Without it, you'd have to make up something with those parts, and my AC guy said it would all be guess work, and would be large and expensive. He said if I could get the controller, that would be the way to go.

Pyrofish,

Thank you for the additional info. I'll get it figured out one way or another.

I note via your avtar that it is likely a pic of you, and I presume the missus, that shows you holding an M4 carbine (civilian version). Bravo to you! I have a couple of those myself... I guess we, those of the middle class, that cling to our religion and guns are something the CIC finds unacceptable/weird. Imagine that. Bravo to you and me.
Don

[Pyrofish]

Yessir, that's my iron-sighted nail-driver. It's a colt pre-ban lower.

Just built an AR-10 this year too. Mounted the scope yesterday. I'm headed out one day this week to sight the scope in, and play with my new slide fire stock

I'm looking at building a light weight carbine for my girl. She's a regular Annie Oakley shooting from a table Gotta get some pink furniture for it though... whatever gets her shooting right?

[d30gaijin]

Yessir, that's my iron-sighted nail-driver. It's a colt pre-ban lower.

Just built an AR-10 this year too. Mounted the scope yesterday. I'm headed out one day this week to sight the scope in, and play with my new slide fire stock

I'm looking at building a light weight carbine for my girl. She's a regular Annie Oakley shooting from a table Gotta get some pink furniture for it though... whatever gets her shooting right?

Pyrofish,

Bravo on the AR10 build. It's nice to have a heavy duty semi in 7.62 NATO, or as my friend calls it, "God's own cartridge."

Over the past two years I have built four M4's (or should I say M4 style AR's). One in 5.45x39, one in 5.56, one mid-length in 5.56, and a 9mm (the 9mm is a very sweet little CQB carbine). The 5.45 is a S&W upper, the 9mm is a Rock Island upper, and the two 5.56 are BCM uppers, each on various lowers but most parts cam from BCM and Magpul. Heavy duty wise i.e., 7.62, I prefer my pre-ban Springfield FN-FAL.

The wife and I lived on and managed the local 60 acre public shooting range for 11 years. We quit that in 2009 because I was getting too old to work two jobs (each of also worked a full time day job), but shooting has been in my blood since joining the Army in 1966 (US ARMY, 20 years... 3 years active 17 reserves).

Don

Don

[d30gaijin]

Today I received a reply to my request for wiring info from Eric Botts at Airxcel (Airxcel being the actual maker/manufacturer of the Coleman series of Mach A/C units). He sent me a wiring diagram, and I appreciate that he took the time to respond, but he offered nothing I haven't already searched for and found on-line i.e., he failed to address the wiring discrepancy colors coming off my A/C unit. I responded back to him and asked for more specifics so will take a wait and see as to what, if anything, he comes back with but I have this feeling I am pretty much on my own to figure the thermostat wiring out. I will do so eventually.

We have reservations, prepaid, for the Labor Day weekend at a State Park here in Idaho. After nearly a year of no camping we are going... but not in the CT. We're taking the Jayco TT for this one since we will have full hook-ups and I haven't installed the new (to me) A/C in the CT. Can't wait to get out and away for a few days.

Happy Trails!

Don

Don

[GPW]

Don , can you trace the wires down and see where they go (maybe on a PC board with identifying letters /numbers ) ... can't be all that difficult , just a thermostat eh ???

[pete42]

Glad he got back to you at least you know he's trying.
pictures would be helpful some on here are good at things like that.

pete

[d30gaijin]

Glad he got back to you at least you know he's trying.
pictures would be helpful some on here are good at things like that.

pete

Pete,

Eric got back to me again. He seems like a nice and helpful gent. Basically he said they don't supply the wires because they don't do the installation. It is up to the installer to select wire colors so it doesn't matter what the wire colors are, it just a matter of hooking the Y connector on the controller (built into the A/C unit) to the Y connector on the thermostat, same with the other controller leads shown on the wiring schematic he sent me. He was very patient dealing with what he probably thinks of as, "Why is this idiot taking up my time if he can't figure out where the controller is?"

We're off to camp for the Labor Day Weekend in our 16.5' Jayco so the Coleman Mach install on the CT is on hold until we get back. Amazingly, or maybe not so amazingly considering all that has happened since March 28th and Dad's passing, this is our first camping trip of the year. Hopefully it won't be the last...

I'll post pics as I get the chance.

Don