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Old 07-23-2020, 08:25 AM   #1
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Dometic AC dissection for Noise reduction

Apologies up front as I realize this topic has been well covered but I hope to perhaps add a twist.


QUESTION: Has anyone dismantled the standard air conditioning units to see why they are so loud?



I am amazed at how loud the fan is without the compressor running which leads me to believe that a different fan/set of blades could be quieter. I suspect the fan was specified not for the noise signature but for some other reason like cost, simplicity, durability etc. In general, the fan doesn't seem to have a problem with moving enough volume of air and perhaps moves a bit much for the smaller trailers. My hope is that perhaps a replacement fan disc could be found that significantly reduces the noise signature without significantly degrading performance while being a fairly simple modification. Thoughts?


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Old 07-23-2020, 08:59 AM   #2
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I installed sound absorbing sheets on the interior and exterior housings along with some silicone vibration absorbers on the compressor mounts.
Still looking for mounts for the fan to reduce it's vibration.
Everything is much quieter than stock.
I'll post pix next week when we get home if anyone is interested.
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Old 07-23-2020, 09:39 AM   #3
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What annoys a noise?

Hi: All... We had to resort to the A/C one evening this past driveway camping trip. For sound deadning I simply stuffed my earplugs in and slumbered away in cool comfort. My big bugaboo now is that I have "Swimmers ear" and can't hear what's being said about me. Sometimes it opens and WOW the world is N O I S Y!!! Alf
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Old 07-23-2020, 12:48 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rotorbudd View Post
I installed sound absorbing sheets on the interior and exterior housings along with some silicone vibration absorbers on the compressor mounts.
Still looking for mounts for the fan to reduce it's vibration.
Everything is much quieter than stock.
I'll post pix next week when we get home if anyone is interested.
Would love some pictures ! Pat
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Old 07-23-2020, 01:17 PM   #5
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I would love ideas and instructions on how to reduce A/C noise. Thanks.

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Old 07-23-2020, 01:29 PM   #6
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There is a fan control switch on the thermostat for a lower speed setting.
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Old 07-23-2020, 01:42 PM   #7
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To get a rooftop A/C quiet you need to start with some of the engineering that Houghton Belaire does. One of the big differences is there is a separate evaporator and condenser fan. Dometic uses a single dual shaft motor to run both fans. Sound deadening with acoustic treatments and vibration isolation is also helpful. Messing with the Dometic is putting lipstick on a pig.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post271225
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Old 07-23-2020, 01:54 PM   #8
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Check the Casita forum . Several people there changed out the fan blade to a different style and reduced the fan noise considerably .
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Old 07-23-2020, 03:53 PM   #9
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Check the Casita forum . Several people there changed out the fan blade to a different style and reduced the fan noise considerably .
Steve I for one do not want to subscribe to a new forum. If possible can you post what replacement blade they used.
Tks
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Old 07-23-2020, 04:05 PM   #10
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I would like to help you but you have to be a member of the Casita forum to access the forum and I am no longer a member
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Old 07-23-2020, 04:05 PM   #11
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Steve I for one do not want to subscribe to a new forum. If possible can you post what replacement blade they used.
Tks
David
It wouldn't matter - the A/C Casita forum is working on is the Coleman Mach 8 which has different fan blades than the Dometic. If you wish to see it - here are some links:
Mach 8 hush kits
Mach 8 Hush Kit – The Handy Camper

BTW, the Dometic is much quieter than the Mach 8 - the Mach 8 sounds like a jet engine taking off.
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Old 07-23-2020, 04:13 PM   #12
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Ok then won’t worry about tks
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Old 07-23-2020, 09:05 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
It wouldn't matter - the A/C Casita forum is working on is the Coleman Mach 8 which has different fan blades than the Dometic. If you wish to see it - here are some links:
Mach 8 hush kits
Mach 8 Hush Kit – The Handy Camper

BTW, the Dometic is much quieter than the Mach 8 - the Mach 8 sounds like a jet engine taking off.
First time I heard that new Mach 8 was a few years ago at the Bluebonnet Casita rally, and we were about 3 rows over!
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Old 07-24-2020, 07:12 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
To get a rooftop A/C quiet you need to start with some of the engineering that Houghton Belaire does. One of the big differences is there is a separate evaporator and condenser fan. Dometic uses a single dual shaft motor to run both fans. Sound deadening with acoustic treatments and vibration isolation is also helpful. Messing with the Dometic is putting lipstick on a pig.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post271225
I agree it's kind of a pig. But it's the only pig I've got!
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Old 07-24-2020, 11:37 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by rotorbudd View Post
I'll post pix next week when we get home if anyone is interested.
Yes, yes, yes, please!
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Old 07-26-2020, 08:33 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
There is a fan control switch on the thermostat for a lower speed setting.
On our new E21C “High” is 747 on takeoff and “low” is like a 737 on takeoff. It seems like a simple thing the factory could offer wd be an optional third, lower speed . IMHO THESE SMALLER TRAILERS WD BE SRRVED JUST FINE W A LOWER SPEED OPTION
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Old 07-26-2020, 08:38 AM   #17
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I'm surprise none of the electrical engineers have not come up with a "dimmer" type rheostat that could slow down the fan speed and make it variable.......
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Old 07-26-2020, 09:40 AM   #18
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Quote:
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I'm surprise none of the electrical engineers have not come up with a "dimmer" type rheostat that could slow down the fan speed and make it variable.......
If the fan runs too slow, the AC will ice. There is a balance between the amount of BTUs produced & the air flow getting them out of the AC.

There are quieter solutions such as the mini splits some have installed. There are ACs designed for the boating industry that are quiet, but are not roof mounted.

I rarely use mine, and almost always shut it off at night, but have had the good luck to be in locations where it cools enough at night to use the Maxx Fan.

I did add a Micro Air Easy Start to my 2017 21's Dometic AC even though it has the Dometic idea of soft start (separate fan & compressor starts). I don't have an amp meter capable of reading start up current, but it definitely has gone down. No more loud thump or temporary voltage drop when the compressor starts. It starts fine on my 2200 watt Sportsman generator (a 276' above sea level) running on propane, although it also started before the Easy Start addition.
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Old 07-26-2020, 12:09 PM   #19
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What model Dometic AC?

I have a 2016 19' "classic". No manuals came with this used rig. What is the model of AC installed at that time?


Thnaks
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Old 07-26-2020, 12:44 PM   #20
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My 2016 E19 and 2019 E21 have the same a/c and thermostat
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