Upgrading AC Unit from 13,500 BTU to 15,000 BTU

[tcbrady]

Unfortunately our AC has stopped working on our Flagstaff MAC 228. Noticed the evaporator started to freeze up and now it's just not cooling like it used to. The unit is Dometic 13,500 BTU Brisk Air 2. After some research found out that the 2013-2015 models weren't the most reliable. After a lot of discussions with Dometic and a local RV dealer it's come to a discision that the unit just needs replaced. With that said, Dometic is of no help since we're not the original owners of the PUP. So we're leaning towards upgrading to the Dometic 15,000 BTU Brisk Air 2. Has anyone else on here done this? Does anyone know if the new unit will come with a freeze control adapter? Install looks pretty straight forward - four bolts and plugging the unit in since everything else will match up from the previous unit.

[youroo]

Clean roof/base area,and install a NEW Base gasket! Youroo!!

[jd50i]

Freeze control adapter? The only freeze control I have heard of is on a heat pump to reverse it if it detects freezing. Does this shut the unit off if it freezes up?

[tcbrady]

Originally Posted by jd50i

Freeze control adapter? The only freeze control I have heard of is on a heat pump to reverse it if it detects freezing. Does this shut the unit off if it freezes up?

Sorry, I meant sensor. To be completely honest, I'm not sure how it works. Just noticed on the installation directions it mentions a freeze control sensor...

[ScottBrownstein]

Heat pumps can freeze up but AC units should never do this with proper flow. I do not know why any AC unit would have such a sensor, and the docs don't seem to mention it as it is not a heat pump.

[myxkp]

Originally Posted by tcbrady

Unfortunately our AC has stopped working on our Flagstaff MAC 228. Noticed the evaporator started to freeze up and now it's just not cooling like it used to. The unit is Dometic 13,500 BTU Brisk Air 2. After some research found out that the 2013-2015 models weren't the most reliable. After a lot of discussions with Dometic and a local RV dealer it's come to a discision that the unit just needs replaced. With that said, Dometic is of no help since we're not the original owners of the PUP. So we're leaning towards upgrading to the Dometic 15,000 BTU Brisk Air 2. Has anyone else on here done this? Does anyone know if the new unit will come with a freeze control adapter? Install looks pretty straight forward - four bolts and plugging the unit in since everything else will match up from the previous unit.

Freezing up is almost always lack of air flow.
Clean the blower wheel, buy a new air filter, check for duct obstructions and you should be fine.
An increased unit size needs more power - haven't seen any Mfr. oversize their wiring, usually marginal at best.

[beavertrap]

well air flow would be a big issue but there is one more. Low refrigerant in unit, less likely in small unit but disposable.

[beavertrap]

I know a newbie but Ac is AC\

[rlh1957]

Freeze control? Never heard of it. When an AC unit begins to freeze up it is because the pressure in compressor low side is too low and it freezes. Low on Coolant (Freon). Sometimes fixing the leak and recharging is the cheapest and easiest. But AC's don't freeze up and need to be thawed when operating normally.

[Bob Vaughn]

Do not buy into the Atwood hype that their 15000 BTU Heat Pump will put out 18000 BTU......they are Garbage and Atwood/Dometic will be of no assistance in getting them to work right ......Mine never shuts off and when in HP mode the compressor will only run for 2 minutes then shuts off .....Atwood says it is designed to work that way. If you want to freeze to death in 50 degree weather bring lots of blankets.....

[padave2]

I just had my Dometic 13,500 AC unit replaced. It was still under warranty our travel trailer id 18 months old and it started to freeze up last winter in Florida, then just stopped cooling. I contacted Dometic and was told these AC units are throw away. I was surprised to hear that. Dometic replaced the united cost me nothing. I was thinking about up grading to a 15,000 but unit, but Dometic said the 13,500 was perfect for our Forrest Hemisphere 24RLS. I did think about up grading to the 15,000 and was willing to pay the difference. New unit works great and cools with no problem here in NJ when temps are in the high 90's

[rvpezzano]

I replaced our front ac. It was a Brisk Air 13500. I got a Brisk Air 2 from RV Parts Country. Simple installation, the freeze sensor just clips on the evaporator fins. The other plugs are straight forward. I forgot, we upgraded to the 15000, no problems. We have a 2008 Georgetown 350 SE

[Rdeejr]

You can never have too much A/C. Upgrading from 13500 to 15000 is a no brainer for me.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

Heat pumps can freeze up but AC units should never do this with proper flow. I do not know why any AC unit would have such a sensor, and the docs don't seem to mention it as it is not a heat pump.

See top right paragraph on page 3. Airxcel (Coleman-Mach) AC.

[Bluepill]

Dometic has been having quality issues for years now. Most are related to loss of refrigerant. I discussed this recently with a dealer Service Manager while waiting for my new trailer to be prepped. He said that Dometic has him check current draw, inlet and outlet temperatures to confirm loss of charge.

A decent shop should be able to do this in less than half an hour if you desire a proper diagnosis of that particular problem.

[myxkp]

Originally Posted by Rdeejr

You can never have too much A/C. Upgrading from 13500 to 15000 is a no brainer for me.

Too many BTU,s is not good. Removes sensible heat faster than latent heat leaving high moisture behind. Look at the psychometric chart - this is the science behind sizing a/c units.

[myxkp]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

See top right paragraph on page 3. Airxcel (Coleman-Mach) AC.

Freezestats are good protection for the compressor; would have saved a lot of my customers money over the 25 years I repaired units.

[eddy53]

Originally Posted by tcbrady

Unfortunately our AC has stopped working on our Flagstaff MAC 228. Noticed the evaporator started to freeze up and now it's just not cooling like it used to. The unit is Dometic 13,500 BTU Brisk Air 2. After some research found out that the 2013-2015 models weren't the most reliable. After a lot of discussions with Dometic and a local RV dealer it's come to a discision that the unit just needs replaced. With that said, Dometic is of no help since we're not the original owners of the PUP. So we're leaning towards upgrading to the Dometic 15,000 BTU Brisk Air 2. Has anyone else on here done this? Does anyone know if the new unit will come with a freeze control adapter? Install looks pretty straight forward - four bolts and plugging the unit in since everything else will match up from the previous unit.

What ever you do Don't buy dometic, it will let you down in a few months, the new one's are Rubbish, had 2 new unit's the blizzard and the brisk air 2 lasted 2hrs, all the soldering is so poor that all the gas leaked out. If you can source another make, Do it!! save the stress and hassle. You nav been warned.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by myxkp

Too many BTU,s is not good. Removes sensible heat faster than latent heat leaving high moisture behind. Look at the psychometric chart - this is the science behind sizing a/c units.

Unfortunately, most people don't know what a psychometric chart is.

But then, many people think running their furnace adds moisture, too.

[myxkp]

Apologies for the misspelling. Auto complete got the better of me. It is properly spelled Psychrometric.