HALLMARK 6X12 CONVERSION

[McDave]

Hey Tommy,
I'd be glad to help you all I can. I'm gonna be asking a lot of questions, so we'll have to be patient with each other. Also, I'm sure we are on different schedules and we both have lives and wives and such... but we can get through this, I'm sure of it.
OK then, Here we go.. I'm gonna need some background info.
Did you purchase this unit new?
When was it installed? By who?
I seem to remember there was some "funky" wiring originally in your trailer and that is now corrected and you are fully functional now, correct?
Do you have a multi meter/VOM ? How about an ac ampmeter?
I'd like to see trailer shore power set up. Start at the house circuit breaker, then outlet, cord, 30amp inlet at trailer, Power center or circuit breaker in trailer, Air cond. breaker and wires leading to air cond. Also air cond. controls.
Couple more questions and we'll be done for now.
Will fan run at all speeds in the fan only mode?
Does the unit actually cool at all in any speed?
Can you hear the compressor start? and run?
What is the fail mode? example, low cool or hi cool, fan only hi or low?
Ok, I think that's a good start. I found some info on your Model. Here's a PDF http://www.cleggind.com/postal_tech/pdf ... 5D.025.pdf

I'll check ya soon,

McDave


Edit:
I just saw Don's post to you. He could be exactly right, and may have more of the background info than I have. If we all team up on this thing, shouldn't be too tough. If it gets hairy we'll just ask Martin for some help. Since all you guy's are getting together at some point, you can all help each other out with whatever skills each brings to the table.
But still try to get that info for me. I have a feeling we may have a fan motor problem, possibly from that original wiring set up. But that's just a gut feeling, we'll know more soon.

[Tommy B]

Thank You Everybody!
I know this much.
It happens when the compressor kicks in. It doesn't happen every time it kicks in but that's when it happens. You can here the strain on the compressor as it starts to turn. A low heavy hum. The cooler the setting the more strain and heavy hum. I feel it must be drawing a very good amount of power by the sound.

I never really used the thing as I did not camp in the summer months but I would like to now that the C.T Is converted. Plus I felt it was defective and did not want to damage it further.

Don I would like to try what you said please. Seems very likely as it did this from day one. A good place to start I think.

[McDave]

Hey Tommy,
I didn't mean to overwhelm you with all the questions. Troubleshooting and diagnosing is like Dick Tracey work. Once you have some facts, you can eliminate a lot of the systems or parts. That leaves fewer suspects and you can focus in on them and narrow it down to one, then prove it. The other approach is called the Shotgun method. That's where you just start throwing parts and money and time at it till you get lucky or run out of ammo. If you just spray a cloud of lead out there you might hit something, but it may not be what you wanted. Now you just have more problems and the original bad guy is likely to get away while you deal with everything else you pissed off. I'm sure willing to go through this with you, but at this point in my career, it's accuracy and precision and knowledge that keeps us from looking stupid, and possibly doing a lot more harm and zero good. Unless you work for the Govt., results matter. Since it sounds like you have never really had the use of this unit, it's probably not imperative to just do something, anything, and run around half cocked...and I DO mean half...cocked. If we approach it like PROFESSIONALS, we can walk around fully cocked. Ask your wife which is more impressive...just sayin'.
You are very lucky to have men as skilled and talented as Don and Martin around, there's not many of them left. But they weren't just lucky and born that way, they had to work at it, and earn it, and prove it, everyday. That makes answering a few questions and taking a few pics. seem pretty damn easy. Try fixing something that's 3000 miles away from you.
Here's some of the stuff the pro's use to make good decisions and keep from stepping on their dicks. Don will know what to do with it.

http://www.nwrvsupply.com/manuals/duoth ... lation.pdf

http://www.cleggind.com/postal_tech/pdf ... 5D.025.pdf

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/ccc.pdf

McDave

[Tommy B]

Absolutely McDAVE,

The more I read about this problem the less I think I can diagnose it. It should not have thrown a 30 amp breaker. Now that I am serious about resolving this I will experiment with settings and take notes and report back here.

It blows 15,20 and 30amp breakers in the house, in RV style camp grounds with hook ups, and on the generator. I purchased it new and had it installed by the people who sold me the C.T. It has done this from day one. It may run a few hours without kicking the breaker, or it may only run a few minutes.

I will try to give you absolute info as best I can. May take a little while. This Saturday I will be loading it up and will try a few things to isolate the problem before Throwing $$ at it. I think it may be a lemon from the factory or trailer sales place. But we shell see. I saw something about switches in the control board. Little white ones that must be set right upon installation. I removed the heating element a while back. Maybe I can turn that switch off? I will see.


Thank You for your help. I'm going to need it some more as we work through this.

[Tommy B]

By the way McDAVE,
Those links are going to be a BIG help.

Thanks Again.

[flboy]

Thank You Everybody!
I know this much.
It happens when the compressor kicks in. It doesn't happen every time it kicks in but that's when it happens. You can here the strain on the compressor as it starts to turn. A low heavy hum. The cooler the setting the more strain and heavy hum. I feel it must be drawing a very good amount of power by the sound.

I never really used the thing as I did not camp in the summer months but I would like to now that the C.T Is converted. Plus I felt it was defective and did not want to damage it further.

Don I would like to try what you said please. Seems very likely as it did this from day one. A good place to start I think.

Classic signs of a hard start.. That is what the hard start capacitor does and for $11.00 I wouldn't waste any time until I eliminated that.

Most new air conditioners they advertise width a lower current startup have these built in. It takes 15 minutes to put in. Remove the cover and find the starter capacitor. This goes in parallel. If there are not terminals on the cap for this, the Supco has piggy back terminals built in. Easy as pie and I'm willing to bet it fixes your problem. I'll come put it in for you if you are concerned about the wiring part.

[pchast]

I didn't read the whole thread yet. I'd get a new capacitor anyway.... But.

Also I would pull every fuse not for the compressor and see if it changes the startup.

[McDave]

Take a look at the schematic before you install that hard start. Better yet, take a look at the troubleshooting guide.
I'm trying to remember, how did that hard start work out for you on the window air/genny set up? Maybe I'll go back and check that, but I seem to remember it wasn't the panacea hoped for. But then again, I've probably only sold and installed a couple hundred of those. Maybe another look at the schematic...

McDave

[flboy]

Take a look at the schematic before you install that hard start. Better yet, take a look at the troubleshooting guide.
I'm trying to remember, how did that hard start work out for you on the window air/genny set up? Maybe I'll go back and check that, but I seem to remember it wasn't the panacea hoped for. But then again, I've probably only sold and installed a couple hundred of those. Maybe another look at the schematic...

McDave

McDave, I was trying to solve a different problem with my Honda in ECO mode with the hard start cap. The Generator would cause the AC to fault when it came on because the generator couldn't spool up fast enough from the idle in ECO mode. It all works fine when the Gen. is in normal mode. I wish the Hard Start cap did help that. I kinda gave up on that. There are some ways to solve it, but all cost more and are more trouble than they are worth to me.

[Tommy B]

I am ordering this in a minute or two.

Supco SPP6, Relay Start Capacitor 120-288V.

Man that compressor draws a huge amount of juice when it kicks in and when its on its coldest it REALLY draws a lot but blows REALLY cold air when it works.


There it is done. 21.00 with shipping so it would be here Friday so I can install Saturday. will report back with results.

[flboy]

Tommy, I am off Friday but have an appointment to get my permanent tags for the bike in the morning. I'll be glad tp drop by and help install if you need it. Just let me know.

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[flboy]

I also have an inductive pickup on my DVM. We can measure the peak AC current to see what it really is on startup vs running.

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[Tommy B]

Saturday anytime please. Thank You. Do I need to pull the shroud? If so I will have it ready.

It would be incredible if that AC unit actually worked right for once.

Just let me know when. I would tow it over it that would help you.

Thanks again.

[Tommy B]

on second thought I would like to try my generac 30 amp outlet also. may be easier if you can pop in. But let me know. I will do what ever it takes.

[flboy]

Tommy, I have a commitment Saturday morning until early afternoon. I'll give you a call and we can try after. The Saturday thing is why I couldn't camp this weekend. The shroud does need to come off.

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