Coleman pop ups and air conditioning...

[trumpet87]

Has anyone here ever installed a new air unit on a coleman pop up themselves? Wanting to know how long it took and/or difficulty. Are the Colemans already wired for air? Ours is a 2001 model year. We just purchased a new air unit to put on it (it has never had air before). Any inputs on this would be great! Thanks!

[wernstriumph]

A couple of questions first.
1. Does your PUP have an ABS roof?
2. If it does, does it have an air conditioner roof brace? My 99 had one and I didn't have AC, but my neigbor's 98 did not have one. It is a curved square bar that bolts to the inside of the roof from one side to the other and is positioned dead center on the ceiling.
If it is not an ABS roof, the roof should have internal bracing from the factory... I think. Maybe someone else can confirm this?

[trumpet87]

A couple of questions first.
1. Does your PUP have an ABS roof?
2. If it does, does it have an air conditioner roof brace? My 99 had one and I didn't have AC, but my neigbor's 98 did not have one. It is a curved square bar that bolts to the inside of the roof from one side to the other and is positioned dead center on the ceiling.
If it is not an ABS roof, the roof should have internal bracing from the factory... I think. Maybe someone else can confirm this?

It does have the ABS roof and the brace.

[AustinBoston]

Has anyone here ever installed a new air unit on a coleman pop up themselves? Wanting to know how long it took and/or difficulty. Are the Colemans already wired for air? Ours is a 2001 model year. We just purchased a new air unit to put on it (it has never had air before). Any inputs on this would be great! Thanks!

I don't know if there is 120V to the roof, but there should be four "buttons" on the inside of the roof.  These define the hole you would cut.

There was an article a few years ago in Pop-Up-Times about someone adding a roof vent.  The procedure is very similar, but instead of installing a vent, you would be installing an a/c.  If you could find that article, I think you would find it VERY useful.

Austin

[trumpet87]

I don't know if there is 120V to the roof, but there should be four "buttons" on the inside of the roof.  These define the hole you would cut.

There was an article a few years ago in Pop-Up-Times about someone adding a roof vent.  The procedure is very similar, but instead of installing a vent, you would be installing an a/c.  If you could find that article, I think you would find it VERY useful.

Austin

there are 4 buttons. Does this usually mean it is wired for air also though? :confused:

[tlhdoc]

You will cut where the buttons are, but no your unit is not prewired.  You will run a cord from the AC unit to the location of your 20 amp outlet.  It has a T shaped hole on one side of the receptacle.  You plug the AC in when you want to run it and unplug it when you pop down.  The cord is usually run in a conduit over to the side of the camper and then behind the valance to the area near the 20 amp circuit.  You will need 2 people to move the unit so that you don't cause any damage.  The inside and outside AC units bolt together and there is a seal that you put around the edge of the hole.  Make sure you tighten the bolts, but don't over tighten them.  If the seal is compressed too much it will allow water to enter.  What brand AC did you get?  I had AC installed on my camper in 2002.  Good luck with the project.

[trumpet87]

You will cut where the buttons are, but no your unit is not prewired.  You will run a cord from the AC unit to the location of your 20 amp outlet.  It has a T shaped hole on one side of the receptacle.  You plug the AC in when you want to run it and unplug it when you pop down.  The cord is usually run in a conduit over to the side of the camper and then behind the valance to the area near the 20 amp circuit.  You will need 2 people to move the unit so that you don't cause any damage.  The inside and outside AC units bolt together and there is a seal that you put around the edge of the hole.  Make sure you tighten the bolts, but don't over tighten them.  If the seal is compressed too much it will allow water to enter.  What brand AC did you get?  I had AC installed on my camper in 2002.  Good luck with the project.

Thanks, we got a duotherm, got a really good price on one (factory reconditioned) that we couldn't pass up.

[trumpet87]

You will cut where the buttons are, but no your unit is not prewired.  You will run a cord from the AC unit to the location of your 20 amp outlet.  It has a T shaped hole on one side of the receptacle.  You plug the AC in when you want to run it and unplug it when you pop down.  The cord is usually run in a conduit over to the side of the camper and then behind the valance to the area near the 20 amp circuit.  You will need 2 people to move the unit so that you don't cause any damage.  The inside and outside AC units bolt together and there is a seal that you put around the edge of the hole.  Make sure you tighten the bolts, but don't over tighten them.  If the seal is compressed too much it will allow water to enter.  What brand AC did you get?  I had AC installed on my camper in 2002.  Good luck with the project.

While camping last weekend, my DH and his buddy asked another camper to see his Coleman w/air; DH said they had actually plugged it into the same receptacle that the fridge is plugged into (it has it's own plug in behind the little outside door to the back of fridge). He thought that was a good idea and would simplify the process...we'll see, our best camping buddies got one too at the same time and the guys will be helping each other install them.

[AustinBoston]

While camping last weekend, my DH and his buddy asked another camper to see his Coleman w/air; DH said they had actually plugged it into the same receptacle that the fridge is plugged into (it has it's own plug in behind the little outside door to the back of fridge). He thought that was a good idea and would simplify the process...we'll see, our best camping buddies got one too at the same time and the guys will be helping each other install them.

Do not try to copy them, regardless of whether it works.  The refridgerator outlet is on a single circuit breaker that includes not only the fridge, but the power converter and outlets in the camper (with one exception) and the outside outlet.

Your camper (like mine) has exactly one outlet designed specifically for air conditoning.  It has it's own 20 amp circuit breaker, and will handle the load without risking tripping the circuit breaker or sharing it's capacity with the rest of the camper.

The outlet looks like an ordinary outlet except that the larger prong is T-shaped instead of I-shaped.  Normal plugs fit without an issue.  It is usually located near the power converter.  This is by far the outlet to use of an A/C.

Austin

[trumpet87]

Do not try to copy them, regardless of whether it works.  The refridgerator outlet is on a single circuit breaker that includes not only the fridge, but the power converter and outlets in the camper (with one exception) and the outside outlet.

Your camper (like mine) has exactly one outlet designed specifically for air conditoning.  It has it's own 20 amp circuit breaker, and will handle the load without risking tripping the circuit breaker or sharing it's capacity with the rest of the camper.

The outlet looks like an ordinary outlet except that the larger prong is T-shaped instead of I-shaped.  Normal plugs fit without an issue.  It is usually located near the power converter.  This is by far the outlet to use of an A/C.

Austin

I cannot figure out what outlet you are talking about that is for the air conditioner only? We only have 2 outlets in our camper - one by the front door over a cabinet and one under the table at one end of the camper, which is close to the fuse box. If you can give me any more thoughts on this that would be great! Thanks!

[AustinBoston]

I cannot figure out what outlet you are talking about that is for the air conditioner only? We only have 2 outlets in our camper - one by the front door over a cabinet and one under the table at one end of the camper, which is close to the fuse box. If you can give me any more thoughts on this that would be great! Thanks!

OK, maybe I'm thinking you have a better model than you do.  What model Coleman camper do you have?

Austin

[trumpet87]

OK, maybe I'm thinking you have a better model than you do.  What model Coleman camper do you have?

Austin

We have a 2001 Coleman Seapine, 10' box. It is not in the "cheaper" series, which I think was called "destiny" back then, if that is what you are referring to...

[AustinBoston]

We have a 2001 Coleman Seapine, 10' box. It is not in the "cheaper" series, which I think was called "destiny" back then, if that is what you are referring to...

In that case, take anothr look at the outlet near the "fuse box."  That is where I would expect the A/C outlet to be.  See if it looks exactly like a regular outlet, EXCEPT the left-side prongs are shaped like a T (on it's side).  If so, this is a 20-amp outlet, and is intended for use with an air conditioner.  (Even though the A/C goes on the roof, the outlet is near the floor.)

UNLESS...your camper only has a 15A main cord.  Coleman units designed for the Canadian market would not have the heavier 30A cord and would not have the "dedicated" 20A outlet.  I just thought of this possibility.

Austin

[Kelly]

There was an article a few years ago in Pop-Up-Times about someone adding a roof vent.  The procedure is very similar, but instead of installing a vent, you would be installing an a/c.  If you could find that article, I think you would find it VERY useful.

Austin

There was also an article about installing an AC unit on a Coleman PU ... I might still have it around here someplace.  Email me if you want me to look for it.

[trumpet87]

Austin, AHHA! the outlet located right next to the front door is that way so it must be the one! It is not anywhere near the "fusebox" that is under the table where the couch is, though...
And Kelly, yes, I would love to have those directions you were referring to. I will email you...thanks!