What should I expect from my Keystone Alpine AC?

[afilipinolife]

I have a front and back AC on my keystone Alpine. The back says it operates on gas or electricity; the front I guess is electricity only.

I have a both running right now; it’s very sunny out, 65° outside, the sun is heating up the inside through the windows and the AC flow out. Those little vents in the ceiling is very anti-climatic.

There’s not much cold there at all. Doesn’t seem to be much colder than the current temperature inside the unit

This RV is a 2018; has literally never been powered up, after a death in the original owners family. I’m just getting everything online right now.

 

[flybouy]

I don't know of any "gas" air conditioners. Perhaps your confusing the heater? Often rooftop units will have heat pumps that provide heat by referring the flow of refrigerant. Do you have incommand to operate the AC units?

 

[Viper02]

Both roof AC units are 120 VAC only.. the furance , as previously stated operates from LP only with 12 VDC powering the components ..

If your unit uses In Command for HVAC control the option for Zone 1 showing has means for the furnace..

** Zone 1 AC unit is also a Heat Pump and again uses 120 VAC for operation .. it will provide heat from the ceiling ducts and only works down to an outside temp of around 38 degrees


Both Ac roof 8nots are Dometic NXT Blizzard series ( one being a HP also )

 

[afilipinolife]

Correct

Just reading what it says on the in command. So now I’ve had it going for about an hour and it seems decently cold, but doesn’t provide a lot of fan power.

 

[nosnow]

I had the same issue with my 2017 Avalanche 310RE. Search YouTube for videos showing how you can increase the efficiency of the ACs by properly sealing (removing the poorly applied foil tape from the factory and applying new tape) in the plenum of each unit.

After that, I installed an RV Airflow RV Airflow in the living room/kitchen AC, which I highly recommend. By closing the 'dump' vents of both ACs, the RV Airflow insert dramatically increases the efficiency of the ducting.

Here's a youtube.com video about the RV Airflow.

Best of luck!

 

[Viper02]

Also since the unit is used I recommend getting on the roof and remove each AC cover, inside you will see a styrofoam cover.. remove that and you are now looking at the EVAP coil section area .. clean out the fins on both units AC DVAP coils

Also the ceiling ducts may have tears in the tape used from the factory that attach the plastic vent to the actual duct work inside the ceiling .

If these are torn then a good deal of your actual cold air is blowing up onside the attic instead of down through the ceiling vents

I’ve added a couple of videos from my alpine showing how to measure the overhead AC duct cooling air versus the temp of the inside air being drawn into the AC return duct … referred to as Differentail temperature test

 

[workinonit]

What you are seeing for "Electric" or "Gas" is for the heat mode. On electric the heat pump runs. If it can't keep up the gas furnace kicks in. Even after you go through and repair all of the obstructions and blade vent issues you still are not going to be satisfied with the level of comfort in that Alpine unit. I had to add a 3rd AC unit to mine. I can chill it down now, even on 90 and 100 degree days.

 

[Viper02]

I dont have a third AC and dont need one... I can easily cool my Alpine down to the high 60's in 100 degree weather... have stayed in Vegas quite a few times during June and Aug.... My unit is the smallest Alpine at 34 feet ... the larger ones may indeed need three....

I block off the furnace return stairwell vents, have reworked the overhead duct vents as well as removing ever other fin from each vent... This still maintains some "back pressure" so that all vents get decent cold air output.

I also opened up both AC unit return ducts ( slightly collapsed inside ) as well as removed both over AC units and resealed the entire plenum area which was poorly sealed...

Video of what you typically will find underneath each AC unit when you lift it up off the roof

 

[Gamma]

So I had the same feeling with our Alpine. After many google searches and as mentioned in previous posts I started pulling my air vents and having a look around. Disgusted with what I saw I started sealing the ductwork around the vents with aluminum tape. All of them were so poorly done. After that I had a look at the air returns (the ones with filters installed). They were basically collapsed and I used the pvc pipe trick I saw in one of the videos. Those repairs made a big difference. This year I intended to pull the a/c units and see how bad the plenum box work was done. I still plan on doing this but the weather in the northeast has been uncooperative with day after day of rain. From everything I have seen online I am expecting the same and am pretty sure I will be much happier with my a/c performance when the plenum box is done. I felt my unit was poorly assembled due to it being a covid year build yet from other posts and videos I now think it’s standard operating procedure from Keystone. Too bad as most materials are of a good quality but slapped together.

I see other answers to your heat question but let me clarify, when you select gas, the heat pump feature is turned off and your unit will heat using the gas furnace only. The furnace is located under the steps to your bedroom. There mods that can be done to make it quieter, a google search will help. I only use gas when the temps are or expected to be below 40.