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Ya know, sometimes you just have to use AC. Especially with pets. Even we needed it one evening in San Felipe, Baja. We don’t use it often, but in recent travels we wound up being in Baja California longer than we expected and it gets hot down there.
We have a Coleman Mach 11k AC that uses a knob to control low or high cooling. It’s on till you turn it off. No thermostat that works like your normal house AC.
Does anyone make a thermostat that I could install that would controll the AC by turning it off when it reaches desirable temps?Okay Bryan,
I am really confused. The part on the ceiling where the air comes out (called an air distribution box), does it note have 2 knobs that looks something like the one in this link https://www.reese-hitches.com/products/Coleman_Mach_A_C_Air_Distribution_Box,RV-64521.
Depending on the year it may vary, but I have never seen one with just one knob.
Steve
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCI don’t have any hands on knowledge about this, but my buddy has the same 11k Mach with the same knobs. He inquired about converting to a wall type t-stat and was told that he could but would also need to swap out an electrical component beneath the cover. So it’s doable but will require more than just adding a t-stat.
Phil,
The OP said his unit didn’t have a t-stat so I was first trying to clarify since if he has two knobs, he has a t-stat; one selector chooses fan or AC high and low, the other sets the temperature. I haven’t worked on any Coleman air distribution boxes that aren’t set up like that, but maybe it is something new I haven’t seen.
As to the issue of regular wall thermostat, there are two issues that have to be addressed. The first is how to run the wires from where ever the t-stat is going to mount up to the AC unit. Getting across the ceiling in full size RVs when a lead breaks is Hell and in a truck camper it is not something I would want to attempt. That would mean an eye-sore of running the wires exposed.
Coleman used to have a remote system but it was long since discontinued and was an ongoing problem. Maybe they have reintroduced it, but I haven’t seen it on anything I am currently working on. I haven’t tried wiring in a remote box from the new Atwoods, but that should be doable in theory.
On to the second issue. There has to be a box of some kind that goes under the air distribution cover on the ceiling. That box normally goes up in the roof rafters in full size RVs. I don’t see any way to do this with the units in truck camper ACs unless it is prepped at the factory as Lance and some others likely do.
Those are the two biggest issues. That brings it into the anything is possible with enough thought and effort, but it is not as simple. Going with a remote would, i think be the way to go. 🙂
Steve
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCOne more thought I had is if there is room in the air distribution cover on the ceiling for a standard board (about 1″ thick and 12″ long) that would take care of module board the t-stat attaches too. That leaves the wires from the wall up to the board. I’m going to drop my inside cover and see if there is space. Other models of AC units which sit taller on the roof have plenty of space under the cover for the board.
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCThanks for the relies. To clarify, our AC has two knobs. One for AC high and low, fan high and low. The other is to adjust the amount of cold to outside(?) air.
As far as routing wires in our Adventurer 910, with all of the wiring of solar, USB outlets, lithium batteries and associated accessories, wireless back up off-road lights, back up camera, I’ve got the wire routing down. It takes a little contortionism to make it all work, but there are plenty of places to run wires. Yes, the wire across the ceiling would have to be surface mount inside or outside.
It really is stupid that this unit doesn’t have a thermostat.
I haven’t had to chance to throughly research it all yet. Figured I take the easy route and start here since you guys have helped me so much in the past.Tom,
That second knob is the thermostat on the air conditioner, it cycle according to the knob setting. I am not sure which model AC unit you have, but I just dropped the air distribution box on mine and it looks there is room for a standard module board and the roof top unit just plugs into that board. That means you have to pick up a ground and four more leads all very light gauge. Your AC power is already there.
On my Northstar I tried to figure out routing and it is possible, but will really be a challenge, all hidden. If you run on the ceiling surface mount it should be pretty simple although not pretty. For the Norcolds (Airxcel) the standard board for sale on Amazon should work, it comes with a freeze control that inserts into the evaporator coil.
I am saying this after a quick look, but other than the wiring, it looks like it should be pretty standard.
Steve
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCHmmmm….maybe I should have RTFM. So, the fan runs all of the time. The “thermostat” knob controls the sensor to detect warm air and then it kicks on the compressor till it sensed the desired temp has been reached and turns the compressor off.
OK, I get it. Not as nice as a wall thermostat. Since we really don’t use the AC much, we’ll probably just deal.Well if it’s any consolation, even with a t-stat’s ability to cycle both the compressor & fan off and on, for the most part we prefer and set the fan to stay on. The downside is the noise, but the comfort level (during compressor shutdown intervals) seems more constant and improved thanks to the continued air movement. JMO.
This post is getting kind of old, but I have continued to ponder this topic and discovered recently that Coleman has released a new kit which will connect your Phone to the AC unit using blue tooth. There are several videos on YouTube about doing it and the kit looks complete including a new air distribution box (the piece the goes on the ceiling). Cost is about $240 through the cheapest vendors although some are asking over $300 so you have to shop it for price. It also has a manual thermostat on the air box so you don’t have to use your phone every time you want to change the temperature. Might be handy from bed. 🙂
I haven’t done it yet, but intend to just because I am curious and am out of things to modify on our Northstar. 🙂
Ardvark
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC
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