Furrion AC??

ryno23NV

Senior Member
RV LIFE Pro
Joined
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101
Location
Nevada
So I know this has been discussed, but I am confused.
I posted this on the Grand Designs Customer Support page:

I have a 2024 Imagine XLS 22RBE. Not sure the AC is working properly when in Auto Mode. The thermostat is located in the bedroom and has a bump on the bottom which I assume is a temp sensor? I have read that bump is a sensor for the furnace only? If not for the furnace then, how does the AC regulate temp if the thermostat is in the bedroom and the temp sensor for the AC is located up in the return duct of the AC? I have tried pulling the temp sensor down through the foam filter and it didn't make a difference? Only works on low or high speed. Also, why is the thermostat behind the bedroom door that is closed at night to block light from the main door thus creating a different temp than whats being read in the AC unit?

So I opted to phone into Customer Service and all the lady who answered would say to my write up is that I have the latest equipment on my trailer and it shouldn't cycle in Auto Mode. If it doesn't work as advertised I need to take it in to a Grand Designs Dealer for repair.

So my confusion is do the thermostat and temp sensor inside the AC unit work together?

Thanks.
Mark.
 
I have a Imagine but different model. I run in "Auto" mode all the time. The A/C in "living" space does NOT travel very well into sleeping area so we used a tower fan to move cool air there. In Northern climates I don't think 2nd A/C is needed but if you're in Florida keys for any length of time then . . . yeah, you gonna want and need a second A/C there. (note you need 50amp electric service to run 2 A/C)
 
First, the lady you talked to doesn’t know anything.
It should cycle on and off on auto.
The nub on the “thermostat” is a sensor for the heater only.
The a/c sensor is in the air intake plenum.
On ours, I had to set the “thermostat” at 60* in order to have the trailer at 73* in 100* heat.
Search the forum for furrion a/c issues and you’ll find more information.
I’m trying a MicroAir thermostat and so far it’s looking promising (testing not complete yet).
Good luck. The Furrion a/c system leaves a lot to be desired.
If I had the $$, I’d replace it with a Dometic.
Had them on all our other RVs and they worked great.
For now, I’m just trying to make the Furrion work the best I can.
Rich
 
Now that makes sense that the nub is for the heater and the AC sensor is the one up inside the unit.
Pleas let me know how the micro air thermostat works out.
Thanks Rich.
 
Since the thermostat is not tied into the AC unit as far as temp sensing the thermostat placement is irrelevant?
 
Got a reply from GD on the AC issue.

"With the Furrion a/c the way it is designed to work is you need to have the fan on low or high all the time. Not on Auto. The reason for this is the a/c temp sensor is up in the a/c and the fan needs to run on low or high so that it blows the room temp air over the sensor and then your wall thermostat will read the correct temperature."

Why do they give us the auto option on the thermostat?
My thermostat still doesn't read the correct temperature either.
 
Got a reply from GD on the AC issue.

"With the Furrion a/c the way it is designed to work is you need to have the fan on low or high all the time. Not on Auto. The reason for this is the a/c temp sensor is up in the a/c and the fan needs to run on low or high so that it blows the room temp air over the sensor and then your wall thermostat will read the correct temperature."

Why do they give us the auto option on the thermostat?
My thermostat still doesn't read the correct temperature either.

The way it works on my camper is that on auto the temperature swing is much higher(4-5*) due to the air just having to percolate up into the plenum.
On high or low, air is constantly moving across the sensor so the temperature swing is lower (1-2*). I have a MicroAir thermostat and adjust it accordingly.
Rich
 
Got a reply from GD on the AC issue.

"With the Furrion a/c the way it is designed to work is you need to have the fan on low or high all the time. Not on Auto. The reason for this is the a/c temp sensor is up in the a/c and the fan needs to run on low or high so that it blows the room temp air over the sensor and then your wall thermostat will read the correct temperature."

Why do they give us the auto option on the thermostat?
My thermostat still doesn't read the correct temperature either.
I have the same issue with my 2024 Refection. I contacted Furion which was a waste of time. I sent an email to GD, and also called GD. GD acknowledged there is a problem with the AC units with the thermostat sensor located in cooling unit. Note: what idiot puts the sensor in the ac unit. As soon as it turns on, it will ‘feel’ the cool air and shut off. GD provided me a work order number to provide to the dealer for the repair. There is a repair kit that I assume will move the sensor to the thermostat. You need to contact GD and let them know there is a repair work order out there for Furion AC units. If your contact is unaware of the repair order ask to speak to a supervisor.
 
First, the lady you talked to doesn’t know anything.
It should cycle on and off on auto.
The nub on the “thermostat” is a sensor for the heater only.
The a/c sensor is in the air intake plenum.
On ours, I had to set the “thermostat” at 60* in order to have the trailer at 73* in 100* heat.
Search the forum for furrion a/c issues and you’ll find more information.
I’m trying a MicroAir thermostat and so far it’s looking promising (testing not complete yet).
Good luck. The Furrion a/c system leaves a lot to be desired.
If I had the $$, I’d replace it with a Dometic.
Had them on all our other RVs and they worked great.
For now, I’m just trying to make the Furrion work the best I can.
Rich
OMG. I can’t believe everyone is setting thermostats lower than necessary, or turning their fans on manually. This is NOT how these units are supposed to work!!! Furion blew it on the design, and GD accepted it. There should be an operational / control specification provided to Furion by Grand Design which shouldn’t include setting the thermostat 20 degrees lower than desired temp, or running the fan full time. Hold GD accountable, and GD should hold Furion accountable.
 
We have a 2023 22MLE, and last summer I felt that it was short cycling all the time and could not reach the desired temp of 75 or 76, not that hard to do (you wouldn't think) if it's in the upper 80's at the time. I contacted GD CS and they agreed to pay for a tech to come and check it out. He did, thankfully a mobile tech - Lippert certified, and it pretty much checked out ok....surprisingly. So since then I switched out to the MicroAire smart thermostat, added the ArticRV ducting in the plenum, and have the sensor sticking down through the foam filter (which is kinda mickey mouse, I know). This seems to work fairly well. We were in the Smokies/Nashville (about a week before Helene!) and it was pretty warm. Had to run the A/C more than I would have liked, but it was ok. But, I agree, the Furrion system design is flawed. Curiously, at the park in Nashville, a Brinkley was set up next to us and was sporting two Furrion A/C units on it's roof.....:p.
 
Got a reply from GD on the AC issue.

"With the Furrion a/c the way it is designed to work is you need to have the fan on low or high all the time. Not on Auto. The reason for this is the a/c temp sensor is up in the a/c and the fan needs to run on low or high so that it blows the room temp air over the sensor and then your wall thermostat will read the correct temperature."

Why do they give us the auto option on the thermostat?
My thermostat still doesn't read the correct temperature either.
I have a 2024 Reflection w/ AC issues as well. GD acknowledged there is a design issue with Furion AC units. The sensor should NEVER be where the treated air is discharged. GD has a repair kit and paid to have both of my AC units retro-fitted.
 
I have a 2024 Reflection w/ AC issues as well. GD acknowledged there is a design issue with Furion AC units. The sensor should NEVER be where the treated air is discharged. GD has a repair kit and paid to have both of my AC units retro-fitted.
When did you get the repair kit? Do you know what it did?
 
I contacted GD via email and then called. I can’t remember the phone call, but I think when there was no resolution with the customer service rep, I asked for a supervisor. The person I spoke to said that GD was aware of the problem and provided me a work order number to take to my dealer to have it fixed. If GD pushes back, don’t give up. They know there is a problem. As far as I’m concerned, GD needs to go after Furrion.

The repair kit moves the sensor (thermistor / thermocouple) to the wall thermostat. I’ve seen where people move the sensor themselves. Caution: if you move it yourself, thermocouples are dependent on the length of the wire to the resistive connection. It should work, but the temperature reading may not be accurate.
 
I have a 2024 Reflection w/ AC issues as well. GD acknowledged there is a design issue with Furion AC units. The sensor should NEVER be where the treated air is discharged. GD has a repair kit and paid to have both of my AC units retro-fitted.
The kit does not relocate the air conditioner sensor btw at least according to what I was told
The issue from the beginning was that you had to run the fan for the furnace to work, which I do btw
The relocation kit addresses only that
 
I just picked up my 2024 22bhe from the shop with the supposed fix for the AC short cycling. They put in a new thermostat and controller which now moves the AC room sensor into the thermostat. I haven't fully checked it out to confirm and won't be able to fully test until next year since it's cold out now. You have to fight with grand design to get this approved but they know this is an issue. I'm the second one my dealer has done and they said GD has denied a few others.
 
Also I forgot to note in my previous reply that the thermostat i previously had had the sensor for the furnace only in the thermostat. AC sensor was in the return vent.
 
Also I forgot to note in my previous reply that the thermostat i previously had had the sensor for the furnace only in the thermostat. AC sensor was in the return vent.
So you are saying they have come out with a replacement for the replacement?

The original thermostat didn’t have any sensors. The a/c and heater read from the sensor in the a/c unit
The replacement,which I have but have yet to change, has a bump on the bottom of the thermostat which is a sensor only for the furnace. The a/c sensor is still in the roof unit
So if I understand you correctly they have changed this again and now it includes both at the thermostat?
 
So you are saying they have come out with a replacement for the replacement?

The original thermostat didn’t have any sensors. The a/c and heater read from the sensor in the a/c unit
The replacement,which I have but have yet to change, has a bump on the bottom of the thermostat which is a sensor only for the furnace. The a/c sensor is still in the roof unit
So if I understand you correctly they have changed this again and now it includes both at the thermostat?
From my understanding that is the case because my old thermostat had the bump on the bottom as well. I'll try and get some photos to see if it looks different.
 

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