A/C Issue- Coachmen Clipper 12.0 TD Express

[emschelin721]

Hello! I’m definitely a newbie to trailers and campers and we bought a Coachmen Clipper 12.0 TD Express. Our AC unit will not turn on unless it’s plugged in to a hookup with the 120v plug. If it’s just running on the batteries, it won’t turn on at all. We can get all the lights to turn on, the fuses all look fine and the breakers are all on, but the AC is the only thing that won’t work. What am I missing or is there something else I need to check?

A second issue we are having is there is a switch close to the AC that doesn’t appear to do anything? Whether it’s on or off, it doesn’t control anything. We have a switch for the water heater, the lights, etc. in the trailer, but there is one unlabeled switch that we don’t know what it does? Any idea what this might control?

[6speed]

The air conditioning needs 120 volts to operate.
You must be plugged in to 120 volt shore power or a generator that supplies the same 120 volts.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by emschelin721

Hello! I’m definitely a newbie to trailers and campers and we bought a Coachmen Clipper 12.0 TD Express. Our AC unit will not turn on unless it’s plugged in to a hookup with the 120v plug. If it’s just running on the batteries, it won’t turn on at all. We can get all the lights to turn on, the fuses all look fine and the breakers are all on, but the AC is the only thing that won’t work. What am I missing or is there something else I need to check?

A second issue we are having is there is a switch close to the AC that doesn’t appear to do anything? Whether it’s on or off, it doesn’t control anything. We have a switch for the water heater, the lights, etc. in the trailer, but there is one unlabeled switch that we don’t know what it does? Any idea what this might control?

Suggest that you Google "the 12 Volt Side of Life". It's a good primer on how the two different electrical systems work in RVs.
No RV air conditioner runs on battery power. Only on shore power or generator power.
That unlabeled switch may be for an outside light. Depending on your WH model, you may have an electric switch on the WH itself, accessed from the outside hatch door. That turns on the WH electric element to heat the water when you have shore power. It will NOT heat by 12v battery power.

[emschelin721]

This makes more sense and boy do I feel silly for thinking the AC would run on the battery!

The switch doesn’t control the outside lights, there is a separate switch for that that will turn the outside lights on and off. The switch for the WH is right next to the unlabeled switch. Are you stating that both would be needed to be on to work the WH?

Thanks for your help!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by emschelin721

This makes more sense and boy do I feel silly for thinking the AC would run on the battery!

The switch doesn’t control the outside lights, there is a separate switch for that that will turn the outside lights on and off. The switch for the WH is right next to the unlabeled switch. Are you stating that both would be needed to be on to work the WH?

Thanks for your help!

Most WHs are propane and electric, for heating. You have a Suburban WH, based on your pic. That inside switch is for the propane side. If yours has an electric side, you have to turn on the rocker switch located in the outside compartment where the WH is.
If you have both, you can run them separately or together for faster recovery.
Have you looked at the manual for the WH? Or you can look in our Library for instructions.

[jb2341]

I believe the unmarked switch is for your Water Pump. At least it is on my Viking Express 12.0TD