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RV problems do not always come with an obvious answer. Sometimes an air conditioner suddenly stops cooling. Other times an alarm starts sounding when an appliance turns on. You may even find yourself wondering whether a new component can replace something already installed in your RV.
In this edition of Todd’s Two Minute Tech Tip Tuesday, Todd Henson from the National RV Training Academy answers three questions submitted by RV owners. He covers an RV air conditioner that appears to be short cycling, an LP and CO detector that alarms when a propane water heater operates, and replacing an RV converter with a Victron IP22 lithium battery charger.
Why Does My RV Air Conditioner Short Cycle?
The first question comes from an RV owner with a 2020 Starcraft 212RB. The air conditioner blows cold and then unexpectedly turns off. The thermostat remains on. When the owner removes the 15 amp fuse and reinstalls it, the air conditioner begins running again.
Todd explains that the first thing he would consider is whether cold air from the air conditioner is reaching the thermostat.
If cold air is blowing directly onto the thermostat, the thermostat could sense that the RV has reached the desired temperature and tell the air conditioner to shut down. This can involve a wall mounted thermostat or a remote thermostat.
The 15 amp fuse provides another clue.
Roof mounted RV air conditioners that use a wall thermostat rely on 12 volt power for the thermostat. Pulling the appropriate fuse removes that power. Reinstalling the fuse restores the path that allows the thermostat to send a signal to the air conditioner’s control board.
That does not necessarily mean the compressor will immediately begin producing cold air.
After a compressor shuts down, there can be a time delay before it restarts. Todd explains that this allows pressure to subside before the compressor comes back on.
Based on the information provided, Todd does not immediately suspect that the previous owner’s refrigerator replacement created an electrical wiring problem. Instead, he says more information is needed to determine whether the entire air conditioner is short cycling or whether just the compressor is shutting off.
Why Does My RV LP and CO Detector Alarm When the Water Heater Runs?
The second question involves a recently replaced LP and CO detector. The detector does not normally alarm, but it sounds whenever the RV’s water heater is turned on. The owner has already tried a second detector and experienced the same problem.
Todd assumes the water heater is being operated on propane.
When the water heater calls for propane, propane begins flowing and ignition should occur. Todd says it is possible the detector is sensing LP before ignition. Because the device also detects carbon monoxide, another possibility is that it is reacting to exhaust from the water heater.
Proximity and airflow could also play a role.
Most importantly, Todd does not recommend simply ignoring the alarm.
The detector is there for protection. Todd recommends using a propane sniffer as another method of testing around the area where the LP and CO detector is located when the alarm occurs.
This is an important part of RV propane safety. An alarm should be investigated rather than dismissed simply because the detector has been replaced.
Can a Victron IP22 Replace an RV Converter?
The final question comes from a viewer asking about the Victron IP22 lithium battery charger that Todd discussed in an earlier video.
Can it directly replace the converter already installed in an RV?
Todd’s answer is yes when discussing the lithium battery setup in the viewer’s question.
In the setup Todd describes, the existing converter has a power cord connected to an outlet, while the other side connects to the batteries. After cutting power, the old converter can be removed and the IP22 installed in its place.
There is, however, an important difference to understand.
Todd explains that the Victron IP22 is limited to 30 amps. The converter being removed may be rated for 55 amps or another higher amperage.
With the setup Todd describes, the lithium battery handles demands such as the RV’s landing gear and slides, while the 30 amp IP22 serves as the charger.
Todd has this arrangement in his own RV. He removed the previous converter, installed a lithium battery, and uses an IP22 to charge it. He says he has not experienced an issue with that configuration.
Learn How Your RV Systems Actually Work
These three questions involve very different parts of an RV, but they demonstrate why understanding how the systems work together can make troubleshooting much easier.
The RV electrical system, thermostat, air conditioner, propane appliances, safety detectors, converter, charger, and batteries all perform different jobs. Knowing what each component is supposed to do can help you better understand what you are seeing when something behaves unexpectedly.
Todd answers RV owner questions through Tech Tip Tuesday, but there is another way to learn.
At the end of this week’s video, Todd invites RV owners to spend a week at the National RV Training Academy and get to know their RV through hands-on training.
If you want to build your knowledge and become more confident understanding the systems in your RV, explore NRVTA training programs and see what you can learn at the National RV Training Academy in Athens, Texas.
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