Just wasted some time on You Tube by Advanced RV in Ohio rating quietest, most efficient a/c. Of course they didn't say which "won", but I think they are trying to sell a unit that they charge $2800 for??!!!
What is the best, low profile a/c out there?
Can I do the switch myself? Do I get a " ducted" one for my coach?
Need quiet units!!
OK. I'll answer my own question. I found some old posts regarding this issue, and it seems Atwood is "THE" unit. If Rudy likes 'em.....I like 'em.
There have been several Forum threads in the past on swapping out A/C units. From what I have read, it is not complicated, but it does require two people (to manhandle the unit) and some logistical support.
Disconnect wires, unbolt/remove the old unit, replace the mounting gasket, and drop the new one in place. Bolt it down, connect wires. Done.
You need to arrange some way to
safely get the new unit up on the roof, and
safely get the old unit down. Not sure what they weigh.
The Carrier 'Air V' that Brett put in our coach is about the quietest we've had. Dometics are a good second. The COOLEST was the old Colmans, but noisy, as expected. We've been in 115 degree temps down here and running just the rear Carrier and a small fan in front, have been fairly comfy at 82 degrees! ^.^d Would I be planning to spend time up north, I'd get a AC with a heat strip; handy first thing before the furnaces warm up.
Seems like people were raving about the Atwood Air Command units recently. Wonder how they are working out over time?
Have ours for two years now and they work great. Love the remotes ^.^d .
Quietest and coldest may not come in the same unit.
Any one installed the Atwood's on ducted 98-2001 270-295? Does the old thermostat still work for the furnace and such. OR do you have to redo the whole mess.
Turned on the rear Carrier an hour ago; it's now 100 degrees outside, 80 inside. 20 degrees difference is about the best we get, which is fine! Have never fired the front & rear at the same time, but, if this heat continues, will try, in spite of the noise. OR, HEAD FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY!
You will be ok with just a fan Mike "it's just a dry heat"..
Sort of like a microwave
I installed (2 ) Atwood Air Command 15000 btu units with the heat pump myself with no problems.
I'm very happy with the units and have found the heat pumps work very well.
The remote control or the flip down controls are very easy to use, I do not miss having to use the wall mounted thermostat.
I found that if you strip the carton, except the bottom, and lay it on a ladder at a LOW angle to the roof , one person can easily push it up the ladder alone.
Make sure you buy the inner housing(unless you have a ducted sytem), it does not come with the unit.
I found the inner housing with the best price on Amazon(prime member).
The A/C unit I bought from the 12 VOLT Store. I was lucky enough that the 12 VOLT stores warehouse is only a few miles from me. I was able to go pick the unit up and avoid the S&H charges.
Ya, Carrier has been in the A/C business a LONG time. Their RV roof A/C were "state of the art"-- quiet, efficient and very easy to service. Sadly, Carrier is a huge corporation and suspect not willing to put up with the huge cycles the RV industry experiences. So, they quit the business.
Still some excellent units.
If I were to order the Atwood A/C, and I have a ducted system, do I leave the existing ceiling diffuser and the t-stat that controls the A/C AND Aqua Hot??? I don't see how the existing unit distributes the air into the ceiling ducts. Looks like some type of baffle is in the back of the chute. I would appreciate some feedback on a DUCTED system installation. Thanks
I think the remote is the thermostat if I recall correctly.. Dont think any of the inside pieces are going to fit (brand specific).
David is correct, the remotes and the drop down panel control the units. At least on mine not sure on the ducted units , Glenn just call the 12 volt store and ask. They will tell you
I recommend a mini-split system because existing RV AC design is too noisy because:
- Fans too small
- Ducts too small
- Motor hum
- AC equipment too close to user
- Lack of noise insulation
That said, I installed two Dometic Brisk Air 2 overhead units. Noisy as hell, even on low speed.
Mini-splits sound like a great idea especially having an inverter compressor. There is a cassette design that might fit in the existing A/C opening. But where do you mount the compressor?
Too bad no one makes a combined cassette + compressor drop in unit.
I installed a Atwood 15k heatpump in the front of my 91 I like it. Quiet compared to original coleman. They are taller than the old coleman.
This was last June in Ajo. Only the rear was running: after the pic, we did fire the front Carrier for a while!
Mike, if you feel like 87 degrees inside your coach is bearable, then you have lived in the desert WAY too long. 8)
It's not that bad AFTER you've spent some time down here to get your blood to thin out. We are now sitting at a cool 82 degrees, watching NASCAR! ^.^d
And, if I am reading the thermometer correctly that is a VERY low 14% humidity. Probably feels a good 10 degrees cooler than if it were down here in the humid areas.
Same for temperature drop across the evaporator. Removing water takes a LOT of BTU's. So in the desert, air out the vents is/should be cooler.
Ya, our humidity gauge blanks out at 10%, which happens a lot this time of year. I DO like your Carrier AC units! I also believe the great insulation of the coach is a monster help, as well. I did not believe the old saw about 'blood thinning', but when we first came down from the PNW, the kind of heat we have was nigh-on intolerable; but after eight years down here, our bodies seem to have adapted. I guess why we are called 'Desert Rats' ! ^.^d
Getting BACK to the original question, I called Advanced RV in Ohio, to see if there was a follow up video telling us what unit they found to be best. Of course, it is one that they can only sell. It is a Houghton Belaire from Australia, and they charge around $2800 EACH to install a 13,500 btu unit. They will NOW send you one, for about the same money. When I Googled the unit, it seems a lot less expensive if one could buy direct. It seemed to be available in 15,000 btu.
I STILL don't know if I were to install an Atwood, do I leave the existing t stat on the wall to control the Aqua Hot?
There seems to be some type of wiring adapter needed, also....but it is not clear. There is a wall mounted t stat available. Is it necessary?
I am sure someone has installed these in a DUCTED system.
Thought I read it was 220v? Somehwere
Glenn,
You will need a wall mount thermostat for the ducted unit only. I have the non ducted and it's in the ceiling cover. Here is a link with all the specs you will need. I have found it to be the quietest unit available.
Atwood Air Command Rooftop RV Air Conditioner w/ Heat Pump - 15,000 Btu -... (https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Air-Conditioners/Atwood/AT15028-22.html)
Keith
Thanks
Will the wall unit "talk" to the Aqua Hot for heat??
Since Atwood is no longer going to make RV a/c, where does that leave the consumer down the road?
Somebody will step up to the plate, heck for $2800 I could parts shop a custom 13.5 k unit that uses less than 900 watts. Interior noise is a form factor problem squeezing that much air thru the standard tiny opening.
Where did you find this information? Do you have a link to the source?
Maybe the Houghton units from Australia will be the " future". Pretty expensive, though.
I think it is most likely a given that Dometic will terminate products that compete directly with its core business since Dometic acquired Atwood... Dometic already killed Atwood's helium absorption fridge. It seems it is easier to nix a product than integrate it.
Don
Looks like, for the moment anyway, they are still selling the Atwood air conditioner line. Hope that continues for a while, until we are forced to buy new units to replace our OEM Penguins (which are still working just fine...knock wood).
ᐅ RV Air Conditioners - Find the best AC unit | Dometic (https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/products/climate/air-conditioners/rv-air-conditioners)
It's kind of sad the state of affairs in the innovation/small business area that we've come to. Gone are the small and independent companies that make innovative products. Consolidation by the money changers and finance gurus has not helped the consumer.
Check out that Furrion company,they have a tv also.