A/C performance on 369RL. Engineering Help Needed!

[chris-TMO]

I just had my 369RL in it's first 100 degree day, and I'm kind of disappointed with the performance. There are a couple if issues that need to be addressed, and I would like Engineering to help.

1. Who tested the bedroom A/C in the 369RL? Did they not lay in the bed and hear the drone and reverberation that everyone else hears? It's AWFUL. You certainly can't sleep with it...but you need it because:
2. The rear A/C is overwhelmed trying to cool the rig down. The unit sounds like it is desperately trying to push air, but it doesn't make it to the vents in the living room. The vents in the bedroom work well when only the back A/C is working, but the living room is HOT. What can be done?
3. It doesn't seem that there is a great "system" concept to the overall HVAC system. The heater boils the bedroom, but the living room hardly seems to heat. The A/C does well in the bedroom, but the living room is always warm. The vents near the entry door, and the stairway to the bedroom don't seem to have any air coming out of them. Overall, I'm really disappointed in this.

I would like to understand what my dealer can do to alleviate the drone for the bedroom A/C, and to understand what can be done overall to improve the performance of the A/C, and the overall noise of the A/C. The rear A/C is quite loud too. Are we running the Brisk II and the Penguin II A/C's? Are these units multispeed? I can't find anything on their literature either.

Thanks!
Ct..

 

[huntr70]

The "vents" near the steps and entry door are heat returns, not output ducts.

The heat comes out from under the island.

The A/C units have a high and low speed, and that is controlled in through the Dometic multi zone thermostat. If you read the book on the stat, it will tell you how to set the different zones for different A/C cooloing. The heat is single zone only.

The bedroom A/C is noisy, it is the nature of the beast. Mine is the same way, as is everyone's that have it. We all know that these A/C units are loud, now put it in a room with a 6 1/2 foot ceiling...

 

[Mr Lucky]

There's a posting by TucsonJim about poor air coming out of the air conditioner. He's shows a picture showing the inside cover off and then taping the flaps from inside with the cover off. I think it was posted on June 1st. Many people had this problem and know they are getting lots of cold air. Good luck! Posting titled : I think the AC is no good now

 

[chris-TMO]

Hi Huntr,
I am referring to the ceiling vents above the stairway and entryway. When I change the speed on the thermostat, it does not change the speed of the fan motor. And I agree that there is noisy as in fan noisy, and then there is the drone. The drone is only heard in the slide out and is a resonance in tune with the compressor. It's different than the regular noise of the fan.
Ct..

The "vents" near the steps and entry door are heat returns, not output ducts.

The heat comes out from under the island.

The A/C units have a high and low speed, and that is controlled in through the Dometic multi zone thermostat. If you read the book on the stat, it will tell you how to set the different zones for different A/C cooloing. The heat is single zone only.

The bedroom A/C is noisy, it is the nature of the beast. Mine is the same way, as is everyone's that have it. We all know that these A/C units are loud, now put it in a room with a 6 1/2 foot ceiling...

 

[chris-TMO]

Awesome, thanks! I'll go look into it.
Ct..

There's a posting by TucsonJim about poor air coming out of the air conditioner. He's shows a picture showing the inside cover off and then taping the flaps from inside with the cover off. I think it was posted on June 1st. Many people had this problem and know they are getting lots of cold air. Good luck! Posting titled : I think the AC is no good now

 

[CentralMichBo]

What Tucson Jim and I had was a baffle that had slipped to a 45 degree angle in the air conditioner unit. The compressor would cycle on, mix the intake air with the out-take air (since the baffle was allowing the two to combine) and then cycle off. It really was an easy fix. This past weekend, we had 87 degree weather with about 75% humidity and the air was keeping up fine.

 

[chris-TMO]

I read through the thread, and it's a different system than what is in the 369RL. The 369 uses Dometic Brisk II and Penguin II units. Good find though! I wonder why they came out of the factory that way? Goes back to my blog post on Quality. LOL.
Thanks!
Ct..

What Tucson Jim and I had was a baffle that had slipped to a 45 degree angle in the air conditioner unit. The compressor would cycle on, mix the intake air with the out-take air (since the baffle was allowing the two to combine) and then cycle off. It really was an easy fix. This past weekend, we had 87 degree weather with about 75% humidity and the air was keeping up fine.

 

[Marc Hauser]

Chris,

Just emailed you as well, I was left a message that you needed assistance with AC, please email/call me when you get a chance and we will get on it right away...

Marc Hauser
General Manager
Grand Design RV
Office: 574.825.800 X2010
[email protected]

 

[Renee]

Marc! Welcome to the Forums
It's really great to see more of the Grand Design people on the forums.

 

[Gsport]

What Renee said... Welcome to the forum Marc. You were the one that sold me on my Solitude at last years Portland RV show. Do you remember promising my wife a new toaster?

 

[Marc Hauser]

Hey Everyone,

Catching a break in travel right now (in Tampa for Florida Dealer swing), wanted to say "hi" and let everyone know that I do enjoy reading the forum daily and truly do respect the fact that this is a "owner's forum" and not a "manufacturer's forum" (which is why you have not seen me active on the site)... I want you all to know that we are truly striving to build you all GREAT products, and when there may be an issue, to be there for you to get them corrected immediately! I have had the pleasure of working with many of you directly, and cannot thank you enough for your trust in our Company/Products! Please feel free to call/email me if you need anything at all, sometimes me "shaking the trees" seems to work a little quicker when needed ;-)

Jim & Kerry, I do remember working with you in Portland and hope is good!!! Also, I hope you raise a slice and "toast" me when you are camping in the Solitude (haha

Again, please feel free to call/email should you need anything at all!!!

Marc Hauser
General Manager
Grand Design RV
Office: 574.825.8000 X2010
[email protected]

 

[chris-TMO]

Marc,
From the beginning when we discussed the forum's creation, through today you guys have always been great. I don't know of a company who participates at the level that you guys do in the forums. The insight that you guys provide and the direct link to the feedback is outstanding.
Thank you.
Ct..

 

[Bill Fenech]

Hi everyone

I want to "ditto" Marc's post.

I have noticed that we have not always replied to the Manufacturer's Corner questions on a daily basis, although that is our goal. Sometimes research is required and sometimes the question seems to be answered by other members. Regardless, we are trying to respond on a daily basis.

Take care and happy travels,

Bill Fenech