jodeb720
Denver
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Joined: 11/19/2010
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My 12 year old coleman Mach 3 is getting long in the tooth. I'm exploring options - because eventually it'll fail. everything does.
I'm trying to wrap my head around this...
I've been looking at replacing the ac unit, and Furrion has two units - a 14,500 btu and 15,500 btu units. both claim to use the same number of amps 15.4 - but the 15,500 unit has a higher efficiency rating.
Why wouldn't you buy hte bigger unit - especially since it has the same energy consumption.
I spent some time up on the site, and it's full of marketing swill - and not a lot of good details.
Anybody have any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Josh
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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Coleman is built in The USA
Dometic is built in Mexico
Furrion is built in China and has less than 5 years in the RV industry
I have 50 years in the RV industry, 43 as a Tech. I would NEVER buy a Furrion, when RVP(Coleman) has a more than 50 year solid history. The extra 500 BTU's IMO, is a marketing gimmick. You can install a 13.5 or 15 k RVP replacement unit. I would not worry about amp draws. You may also have to buy an adapter harness kit to use the Furrion in place of the RVP. Depends on your AC control system and wall Tstat. Doug
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wanderingaimlessly
Kerr Reservoir
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What's hard to believe is that none of these companies has come out with a 15+ SEER heat pump replacement unit. The mini splits show they can be built, and will surpass the current units in efficiency at similar cost.
But we seem to be getting the same 20 year old designs.
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Roger10378
Goodrich, MI.
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Joined: 05/29/2008
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Simple physics. The reason they both have the same amp draw is because they use the same compressor and fan. The difference in the BTU ratings is that the condenser and evaporator are different size.
2005 Cardinal 30TS
2007 Chevy 2500HD D/A
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TurnThePage
North ID
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I guess research is good, but my Coleman Mach III is 18 years old and works great. I'm not worrying about it until it makes me.
2015 Ram 1500
2004 Pioneer 18T6
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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wanderingaimlessly wrote:What's hard to believe is that none of these companies has come out with a 15+ SEER heat pump replacement unit. The mini splits show they can be built, and will surpass the current units in efficiency at similar cost.
But we seem to be getting the same 20 year old designs.
Comes down to cost.
It costs more to manufacture higher SEER A/C units.
Price compare Low to high SEER ratings and you will find a big difference in price.
It costs more to make heat pumps.
Heat pumps use a more complicated system of special valves which switch the flow direction in the coils. That adds mechanical complexity along with electric control complexity. Special design considerations for optimizing the coils for dual use may also add in cost to the design.
Price compare normal A/C vs a heat pump.. Big difference between the two for the same BTU rating.
Very few RV buyers care about A/C efficiency, they are more concerned about price point or what is it going to cost them to buy the RV.
If you want more efficiency, consider a higher efficiency window air unit, many now days are using variable speed compressors plus they reuse the condensate (which on RV A/C units is just allowed to drip off your roof) by splashing/slinging it on the outside coils which increases the over all cooling efficiency.
Not to mention, most RV A/Cs are placed exactly where you don't want them for high efficiency, right smack dab in the middle of the roof on a hot sweltering sun drenched day.. That roof can be at blistering high temps and the A/C efficiency goes down the hotter the outdoor coils get..
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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TurnThePage wrote:I guess research is good, but my Coleman Mach III is 18 years old and works great. I'm not worrying about it until it makes me.
Yep, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
As far as which unit, if the cost difference is negligible, go for the higher BTU unit. Of course, not heard good things about furrion in general.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Skibane
San Antonio, TX
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TurnThePage wrote:I guess research is good, but my Coleman Mach III is 18 years old and works great. I'm not worrying about it until it makes me.
I'm not sure how they did it - but somehow, they managed to make my new Mach III Plus even noisier than the Mach II was in my previous RV.
The compressor design is still pretty much the same as it was back in the 1950's - One speed, drawing enough startup current to dim all the lights in the entire RV park.
Airxcel was selling every A/C unit they could make while COVID and the RV boom was in full swing - so no incentive to improve.
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Fisherman
Angus, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 09/28/2002
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Furion is not known to have the best quality by any stretch of the imagination.
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Fisherman wrote:Furion is not known to have the best quality by any stretch of the imagination.
X2!
Wise words uttered many yrs ago..
"
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
- Benjamin Franklin "
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