We have the original roof air conditioners that are working fine for now. Being 24 years old, we can't count on them to not stop when we are away from our coach with the pooches inside. We are researching the Easy Touch thermostat and are considering getting two new Dometic roof units rather than do things piecemeal. I would appreciate any recommendations on model numbers, etc. and what others have paid to have this done. I am thinking about ordering the units and doing the install myself with a helper - has anyone else done this? Thanks.
If you get the newer units the only issue will be with the thermostat dip switches.
Craneman, Kristi asked me a silly question: "How did he get it up there?" :))
I really like my ACs with the electric heat strips. Even with the aqua-hot, it gives you another option for keeping warm. With the right prep, we can stay warm down to 0 degrees using just electric. Pretty cheap backup capability.
Rich
She "got it" when I repeated your online "handle".
Looks like it was a little bit of an over kill, but if you've got it....
At a little over 100#, I can just slide it ahead of me on a ladder - not a big deal since it weighs a lot less than a FF (used in training). I'll secure it with a rope and strap using a truss in the garage.
We are looking at the Penguin II (13.K BTU) and the Blizzard (15k BTU). Does anyone have any opinions or experience with either? Our current ones are 13.5k and I'm sure they will do fine. Would we get any better circulation while driving with the larger model? Because it is larger, would we be able to use just the front one while sleeping (quieter)? Is it a quieter unit? I should probably give Dometic a call regarding this.
I put a Penguin II 15k on the front and a 13.5k on the rear. Seems to work for us
Swen,if you can hold out till Jan.head to Quartzite,all the brands have booths and you may get a free install.
Wonder if your new ones will also last 24+ years? Im in the same boat and almost think replacing the capacitors and adding service ports for Freon may allow another 24 year service of the old ones? Looking forward to your progress
I have tried the push up the ladder trick and it was not very successful. I finally got smart and rented an air conditioner lift. It is a small fork lift mechanism that uses a hand crank winch. Much safer and easier.
Gone are the days of doing too much with too little. I use my little Toyota every week for something. And my back still hurts
Yep. My mind keeps writing checks that my body can't cash.
Sven, wrote this a couple years ago, nothing has changed.
A/C recommendations (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=43063.msg432890#msg432890)
It's a lot easier to install myself than to go to Quartzite. I drove through there and it was a mad house! It was crowded and ATVs were kicking up a lot of dust. A better option for us would be to go to the FMCA event in Tucson.
I got the ladder idea from a video posted by an installer. The rope, pulley and straps are integral to the process. I would have an anchor with friction devise (carabiner or "eight plate") as insurance if things go "side ways". Mostly, it would help take weight off and stabilize as it moved up the ladder. An installer might be cheaper than renting a lift. I might also use the Kubota but it might be a trick to get it off the bucket at the roof (riskier than ladder).
If you decide to do it yourself label and take photos of the wires and take the old one down first. Don't do the second one until the first one is complete. I had to go back and forth a few times to verify wires. Only 3 bolts actually hold the unit down. Also while the unit is off is a good time to use some hvac foil tape to seal the area off in the air box where intake and discharge air can mix.
I am going to add a question to this topic, and it may have been covered but can't find it.
I THINK I have original AC units (620315) on this coach and they seem to work ok although the rear one does not push as much cold air as the front one. I have new control boards in them because I went to a 5 button thermostat. I too am considering replacing both of them with either 13.5 or 15 units. If so do I have to upgrade to a 10 button thermostat AND can I reuse the soft start units I installed in both AC unit?
The soft starts will work on the new units and they come with the later control boards so you might be able to sell the new boards. The 10 button Dometic thermostat is great.
We were thinking the same thing regarding BTUs and I was going to ask you about the getting the Easy Touch thermostat so that we can control them remotely because of the dogs. The Dometic thermostat in my opinion looks nicer against the wood background, but it doesn't work remotely, apparently.
We have dogs too but work with the weather issue as internet is not available in many of our camping locations.
The lift was like 60 dollars. That is very cheap compared to damaging yourself or an air conditioner. Think safety is most important v
When I learned about the lift I checked them out at HD. Around here it is $83 for the day and well worth not having the aggravation. We'll dispense with the ladder.
We moved the coach half way out of the garage yesterday so that the A/C was directly under the bottom of the roll up door. With 11" tall Penguins, I have about 3.5" of clearance. With this restriction, we are pretty much limited to the low profile Penguin II. They seem like a good unit, but more expensive than the Furrion, for example. Are there any other recommendations?
You might want to check out the furrion instal video on YouTube by the AZ RV Expert. He has had trouble with the location of the OEM temperature probe providing inaccurate temperature readings between thermostat on wall and the units. Might make the Dometic unit look more attractive with two units.
I understand that there is a portable hotspot available so you don't have to use your phone. I believe the subscription is $20 a month.
If you are referring to the Mobley, that is what we use but where there is no signal for any of the services except sat. tv. no wifi. Star Link is above our pay grade we don't full time.
We don't full time but bit the bullet and went with starlink have been satisfied so far used inArizona in jan feb mar, and now in connecticut only time it hann't worked is when it is raining really hard. The Dish sat quits long before the starlink
satisfied customer!!!
chris
My question is why would you go with a 13.5k? From what I remember the 15k was not that much more and if you do have an issue with one you may need the 15k.. also if you come to texas in august it may take 2 15k's to keep up...Alway better to have more than not enough.. also I would definitely get a heat pump just for backup to the aquahot.
It was a pretty easy job once I got the new unit on the roof. After you get the inside cover off it's some wire connections and 4 long bolts.....
At nite we typically run the front ac and just run the fan on low on the back ac. The fan helps with the back airflow thru the ducts and you don't hear an ac cutting on and off all night. Works for us.
Keith
If you are in a high humidity area, like Houston, you want an AC to run longer then shorter time to take more humidity out of the air. I am also a believer of more Btu of AC the better. What we do is stager the temperature where 1 AC will run most of the time and the others come on if the one can't hold the temperature. If units only run for a short time you have problems of temperature swing and coach feels clammy because humidity is not remove.
Keith, we are considering two 15k's and my only concern was if they are louder than the smaller unit. They might be quieter if the motor doesn't have to work as hard (like a 4cyl car vs a 6). Adventure RV advertises a significantly lower price but I will have to look at total cost with delivery.
Sven
For my reference where is adventure rv?
The one I bought from Adventure RV had a bad board, when I contacted them there is no customer service they are a third party seller. I had to purchase the board on my dime and when I contacted Dometic they offered me my money back on the board but too much hassle as i was not a dealer so I ate the cost of the board. The 15k was not louder
We upgraded to the MicroAir Easy Touch, w/ 2 Easystart Blootooth and replaced the control boards for compatibility as we had both original Duotherm at the time. Don't regret it for a second. This was 3 years ago and am very happy with the remote control that the Easytouch offers. Also have a wyzecam system in the couch, which has remote thermostats available to monitor inside and basement temperatures. Pretty inexpensive setup and we have confidence in temps in both the cabin and in the basement.
Dave
I just found them on line; I don't know where they are located. They have great prices on A/C but none in stock with no info on getting them.
I have had difficultly finding the Penguin High Capacity (15K) and am starting to to conclude that I should wait until fall. The middle of a recording breaking summer probably isn't the best time to look for air conditioners.
In 2019 I purchased two of the Atwood Air command 15,000 BTU with heat pump. I think I paid $550 each. I could not get him to work with the aqua hot for some reason the thermostat that is so I had to put in some manual thermostats for my heating needs. The price was right they were easy to install and they are pretty quiet. And they do a pretty good job most of the time.
Atwood was bought out by dometic. I do like the dometic low profile look. The atwoods are large and bulky looking on the roof and they didn't use stainless steel on the metal in the back so it rusts easily.
I also installed 2 Atwood 15,000btu units with heat pump. I'm very happy with there performance. Easy to operate off the drop down control or the remotes.
I believe they, like many, are an online store that doesn't maintain inventory of large/expensive items themselves, but rather does fulfillment direct from manufacturer (drop shipping to you) and offers order aggregation services for smaller parts places.
RV Upgrade Store is another such business. eTrailer likely is as well (although for towing equipment they appear to handle their own stock)
Kind of like the Rock Auto model.
Check PPL in Houston.