Heat pump starting takes over 60amps

[macnut]

My rear AC stopped working last May and a new one has been on order. Last week, I was running the generator and thought I’d try starting it up. To my surprise the condenser started to work, but the amps spiked to over 60 and the energy management system shut the rear AC off. Does that mean the rear AC still works or does that just prove is beyond help and needs replacing? Hopefully one of experts will have some insight into this.

[SalE]

Most likely the compressor is toast.

[creativepart]

Wow, Al. You’re still waiting on that replacement A/C? That’s terrible.

I agree that it’s likely the compressor causing the huge load spike. That’s certainly not a usual load number for that heat pump.

We’re in Tucson for the month and we have 70 degree days and 40 degree nights. To keep from needing to break camp to refill the propane tank here we use the living room heat pump each night to keep the RV from dropping into the 50’s at night while sleeping. I think we see high 20+ amp readings momentarily when the compressor kicks in.

Hopefully you’ll get that new A/C unit soon.

[tim myers]

I am assuming this an over head HP, and I agree that 60 amps sounds more like the locked rotor amps than starting amps.

[macnut]

Finally some good news…the new AC is in and I have an appointment 3/29 to get it installed. It was on backorder for 10 months!! It will be great being ready for hot weather again with both ACs working. Otherwise, our Adventurer is in great shape.

[Ray,IN]

What is the outcome?

[RonW58]

Have you tried a hard start kit, I used to install one before replacing a compressor and made a lot people happy not having to pay for a new compressor, it’s just an additional start capacitor, might be worth a try. Ron

[DavidM]

Originally Posted by RonW58

Have you tried a hard start kit, I used to install one before replacing a compressor and made a lot people happy not having to pay for a new compressor, it’s just an additional start capacitor, might be worth a try. Ron

If the compressor is pulling excessive current when it tries to start, something is wrong, either electrical- bad starting capacitor or mechanical- wear causing high power requirements. Installing a hard (well soft) start kit just delays the inevitable. And I suspect that the compressor will continue to draw higher than rated current when it is running if it is a mechanical problem.

And there are cheap kits like a Supco capacitor for $10 and expensive ones like SoftStartRV for $349.

David

[macnut]

Thanks for the advice. My dealer finally got a replacement unit that is now installed and is working great. As a side benefit, only a 15K unit was available instead of the 13.5K unit that was there, so we’ll have a little extra heating and cooling power.