AC Unit comes on for short time and clicks off and then back on and then off again.
by Mary
(Iowa)
Question: AC Unit comes on for short time and clicks off and then back on and then off again. It continues to do this until I shut it off. We are camped at a commercial campground and it is very hot. The AC unit has been running a lot. I thought maybe it was freezing up and ice was forming on condenser coils as it is also very humid. However, when I left it off for 3 or 4 hours and turned it back on it ran OK for a short period of time and then started the on again off again thing.
Robbie: I STRONGLY suggest you have a tech look at your unit. I think you might have a burned, loose connection in your 110V supply that is arking and getting hot. It will run the fan, but when the compressor comes on it will shut everything off and mimic the symptoms you have explained. I suggest you have it checked ASAP to prevent the possibility of damage or fire. Please let me know what you find so I can post the results for our other readers.
Robbie, When AC unit has been off for a while and you turn it on, it runs ok for a while until trailer is cooled then when it needs to come back on is when the problem starts of on again, off again. Sometimes is sounds like the compressor tries to come on and cannot and then clicks off. Sometimes the compressor does come on, runs for a minute or two and kicks off then in a minute or so comes back on and then off again. Thank you for answering. We have not moved the trailer since I wrote the first blog. We are not even sure where to take the trailer as we do not know of service places around this area. Thanks again for your advice.
Jul 27, 2011
AC Compressor has a short? by: Robbie
There is always a possibilty the pressure switch on the compressor is going bad, or a start capasitor is getting hot. Either way I would advise a tech look at the AC. Parts in the upper area of the AC carry voltage even after you unplug your unit and if touched can knock you on your butt and seriously hurt you.
Jul 13, 2012
update.... by: Heather
I was just informed that the ynit cycles back and forth from a/c to heat pump. Sorry for the confusion.
Aug 18, 2015
same issue by: john
I am having the exact same issue with my a/c. I am not able to bring the camper to a tech. Someone please tell me what needs repair. I have been a mechanic my whole life. I just dont know camper a/c units.
Sep 27, 2015
AC kicks on kicks off by: Ronny
John,
Have you had any luck finding out what is wrong with your AC? I have one doing the same thing, I have a new thermostat ordered hoping that fixes mine. We use the RV for lake trips, I noticed a few months ago my AC would run until it was well colder than the thermostat was set for and it was not long until it started cutting on and off, I would have to set the temp selector either cooler or warmer to make it stop. I was hoping you had found the problem and would pass the info on.
Jun 29, 2016
Tried a lot w AC unit, still flakey by: Anonymous
I have had this problem on a 2013 Puma w Brisk Air 2. I replaced the thermostat, logic card, and I retaped duct areas. The cycle on and off problems continue. This occurs when outside temp is close to inside temp (example inside is 75 and outside is 77 range. There is a flaw in these units and Dometic is not supporting customers. Dometic gave me BS about position of Thermostat and such nonsense. A dealer had the camper for a day and never could duplicate the problem. The dealers don't have a quick fix. Dometic needs to step up. Also, with the way this thing cycles on and off it won't last long and I'll be stuck buying a new one.
Disappointed in PA
Jul 14, 2016
sun making it difficult for a/c by: Anonymous
My camper a/c would come on shut off come on shut off.it would blow cold while it was on but wouldn't stay on long enough to do any good.I put a ¼in ply wood on the a/c to block the sun and it helped a whole lot
Jul 25, 2016
2004 DUCTED 15000 DOMETIC A/C NOT COMING ON UNLESS I LOW TSTAT TO 50-60 by: JOHN
YESTERDAY MY A/C TURNED OFF, I HAD IT SET AT 75. I MOVED THE TSTAT DOWN TO 72,THEN 68,THEN 60 AND THE AIR THEN TURNED BACK ON. IT STAYS RUNNING AT THAT TEMP. NUT WILL TURN OFF IF I MOVE IT TO 75. IT'S A 108 OUT SIDE. I THINK IT'S THE TSTAT?
Dec 06, 2017
ptacNEW by: Anonymous
my ptac comes on for a short while then turns itself off
Aug 12, 2018
ac cyclesNEW by: lynnmoser
mine constantly short cycles when its hot outside and i have it ducted during the day it cycles correctly at night ;;;; try letting it dump in the coach and vent it at night and see what happens it drives me crazy
Oct 09, 2018
This fixed my analog Dometic unit freeNEW by: Anonymous
My analog Dometic A/C would initially cool just fine. When the selected temperature was reached the unit would shut down as it should then restart again with-in 5-10 seconds and continue with this on/off/on/off cycling until I either raised or lowered the temp. When the selected temp was reached again the on/off/on/off would start anew. I removed the cover and gently cleaned the temp sensor with a rag and rubbing alcohol. It's very small so just a drop or two is all that's needed. It is located just to the left of the temp slider at the very bottom of the board. It's blue with a white dot. My A/C has worked fine ever since. Apparently the sensor was dirty.
Nov 05, 2018
Dometic acNEW by: Anonymous
My ac. has been doing the same thing for a couple years, come on And shuts right back on off on off . I did what anonymous said and it's working great for now. Cleaned the temp. Slider and the little temp controller blue thing with white dot on top, was about to get it worked on but working great. Must try.
May 03, 2019
A/c turning on and offNEW by: Trey
My 2013 puma was doing the same thing. Cycling on and off. It has a dometic unit.
I will try to clean the sensor and see what that does.
May 11, 2019
Dometic Brisk Air 2 by: Anonymous
Mine is doing the same thing, kicking off, then back on. But, I cant find the sensor to clean. Please help! Our thermostat is digital, is that why? Also, I've noticed the compressor seems to keep running when fan kicks off, but the fan comes right back on within 5 seconds or so. Seems like it just does this when the temp inside and out are close to the same.
Jul 11, 2019
Same issue new Jayco by: Anonymous
I have the Coleman AC with the same issue. Did anyone solve this?
Jul 27, 2019
A/C cycling on and off by: Anonymous
My a/c rooftop unit cycles on and off randomly. The fan stops and I can hear the unit trying to restart. When it does, the fan comes back on and the a/c cools again. Any ideas what may be the problem?
Aug 06, 2019
Fan cycling by: T Ferris
I have a 2019 Jayco 28 BHS with a Demetic AC unit.The problem I have is the fan will cycling on and off before compressor engages. This happens most at night when we are trying to sleep. Thermostat is set to cool 72 and fan on auto function. Thermostat and control board replaced by dealer.
Aug 27, 2019
A/C constantly cycling by: Anonymous
Just bought a 2018 Jayco 242BHS. Love it. First night out, once A/C reached desired temp, the constant cycling began. I have the digital thermostat and would like to try cleaning the temperature sensor as suggested in previous posts. Is the process different on the digital as compared to the analog?
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