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Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: WBates on June 14, 2020, 07:22:50 pm

Title: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: WBates on June 14, 2020, 07:22:50 pm
Wanting to install SoftStarts on my AC units but have no idea what I have... Photos attached. Dometic Penguin?
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: John Morales on June 14, 2020, 07:36:07 pm
If you open the ceiling register by removing the filter, you should be able to see the model and serial number in there on a label.
My 99 320 had the 13.5K BTU Duo Term Penguins. Yours should be the same unless someone replaced them with something else.
John M.

Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: DavidS on June 14, 2020, 07:38:50 pm
I can get you a pic of the diagram tomorrow. I just left the shop and I have 2 sitting in there.

Let me know and I will take a pic.. I think it has a dwg on it
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: John Morales on June 14, 2020, 07:45:32 pm
Here is a copy of the service Dometic Duo Therm service manual.
John M.

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/operating/bairducted.pdf
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: WBates on June 14, 2020, 08:11:38 pm
Thanks Gentlemen. I removed the inside filter cover and cut back the thin insulation sealing the duct but covering the label. John, looks like I have the Duo Therms like you had originally. Thanks guys for your help! Now to continue the installation....
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: amos.harrison on June 15, 2020, 09:25:36 am
Where are you sourcing your SoftStart units?
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: OSIN on June 15, 2020, 03:16:43 pm
Buy EasyStart™ Soft Starters Direct from the Manufacturer – Micro-Air, Inc. (https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters)

These are the most common ones, I have not done it yet, but know many who have, and they had good things to say
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: craneman on June 15, 2020, 03:29:02 pm
Quote from: amos.harrison –
Where are you sourcing your SoftStart units?
Time Fiedler sells them check out his link at the bottom of his posts.
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: WBates on July 04, 2020, 02:47:49 am
New SoftStarts and run capacitors are installed and working well. Flipped the switch and no smoke. It was a good day!
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: kenhat on July 04, 2020, 11:04:44 pm
Walt which soft starts did you go with?

see ya
ken
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: WBates on July 17, 2020, 03:20:50 pm
Hi Ken,
Purchased SoftStartRV units via RVTravel (an online RV newsletter that Dawn & I enjoy reading & supporting). *https://www.softstartusa.com/products/

*https://www.rvtravel.com/soft-start-mike-949/  (review by Mike Sokol).
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: Tommy D on July 17, 2020, 03:30:20 pm
Question, if you have 2 roof airs that you want to run on 30amp, do you need to use a softstart for both units?  Or could you start 1 AC 1st all the time without a soft-start and only need a Soft-start for the 2nd unit?
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on July 17, 2020, 04:21:52 pm
Quote from: Tommy D –
Question, if you have 2 roof airs that you want to run on 30amp, do you need to use a softstart for both units?  Or could you start 1 AC 1st all the time without a soft-start and only need a Soft-start for the 2nd unit?
According to the video below, you would need 2 soft-start modules, one on each A/C unit.

I bought one module from Micro-Air.  I got the 364 Soft Starter plus the 364 Installation kit.  They get good reviews.

Came to $300 shipped (after $25 off from RVGeeks) see video link below.

Haven't installed it yet, so no first-hand experience to report.

Buy EasyStart™ Soft Starters Direct from the Manufacturer – Micro-Air, Inc. (https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mCeNRODDxc
Title: Re: Help Identifying AC Units - No Labels or Wiring Diagrams on units
Post by: WBates on July 17, 2020, 04:34:10 pm
As I understand, the SoftStartRV product (per Mike Sokol's review) reduces compressor startup peak amps by 50% (17.7amps/AC approx), runtime amps stays the same at 11amps/AC approx).  Therefore, two AC units would need 28.7amps to "start" one AC compressor while the other AC is "running" (plus amps required from whatever else electrically you are using...) in the Dometic Penguin II example below. Mr. Sokol also goes into greater detail but below is the snapshot of peak & runtime current load per his review. I paid $538.00 for 2 SoftStartRV's using discount code RVTRAVEL30 ($60.00 total discount).
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