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Topic: New Air Conditioners (Read 2199 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Chuck Van Tassel –
How much higher are the new AC on the roof?
The Atwoods are about 14" tall, which is 4" taller than the original Penguins that came on our coach.

From the spec sheet:  Dimensions: 39" L x 26.5" W x 13.6" H

The taller height allows more direct flow of air through the condenser coils.  Air comes straight in the aft end of the housing, straight through the condenser, and out the side grills.  Comparing this to the convoluted air flow in the old Penguins, it is obvious that this is more efficient.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
Campground is the Shady Pines RV Park in Texarkana, TX.

I KNEW IT!!  I KNEW IT!!  :D  :D  :D  I absolutely identified that park immediately when I looked at the photo, and thought about mentioning it, but didn't want to derail the thread.  I am tickled that such a nice park makes such a great impression in photos that it is easily identifiable.  ^.^d  ^.^d  ^.^d  My signature line photo of our coach was taken at Shady Pines.  ^.^d
The selected media item is not currently available.Amanda and Douglas
Lily *meow* (RIP 7/19/23) and B.T. *meow* (RIP 9/12/18)
1997 U320 40' - "Brawley"
Motorcade #17266
Escapee #113692

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #27 –
I am going to have to replace the front a/c on my coach.  Can an Atwood ducted be used in conjunction with the older Dometric unit?  Old unit being controlled with wall mounted thermostat, and the Atwood using it's self contained controller?
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Yetch –
I am going to have to replace the front a/c on my coach.  Can an Atwood ducted be used in conjunction with the older Dometric unit?  Old unit being controlled with wall mounted thermostat, and the Atwood using it's self contained controller?
Mike
I can't see any problem with that combination.

The ducted Atwood is a stand-alone unit with its own wall mounted thermostat and a wireless remote control.  It seems like it would replace your old unit without causing any "control" conflict.

I don't know how easily it will physically integrate into your existing duct work, because we don't have the ducted system on our coach.

Atwood 15,000 BTU Ducted AC
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #29 –
Revived this thread to give a longer term user report on our new Atwood 15,000 BTU Non Ducted A/C units.

Atwood 15,000 BTU Non Ducted AC with Heat Pump

It has been exactly 3 weeks since we had the units installed.  They have been running almost continuously during that time.  After the install, we spent some time in Texarkana, NAC, Killeen and San Angelo.  it was HOT and HUMID in all those places.

The new A/C units have performed flawlessly.  They are a BIG improvement over our old Penguins.  From a "dead" start in a hot coach, we set them on "auto" fan speed, and they cool it down a lot faster than the old ones.  Once cooled down to the desired temp, we turn them down to "manual low" fan speed.  On this setting they are just loafing as they maintain the temperature throughout the whole coach.  The constant fan noise is not bothersome (to us) at all.  The DW thinks it is the perfect "white noise" volume and frequency for sleeping, so we are able to run the bedroom unit all night if desired.  (Nothing bothers me when I am sleeping)

Vibration level, with and without the compressor running, is very low.  If I put my hand on the ceiling unit when the compressor is running, there is no discernible vibration.  The fans and pump must be balanced pretty well.

All in all, we feel it was a excellent upgrade for our old coach. 
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #30 –
I agree with you 100%. I have spent the last month cruising down the Texas coast. Just left South Padre Island. My Atwood ACs are working great. Much better than my old penguins also. One of the best upgrades I've made to my coach. The other was a SamSung residential refrigerator.
2006 Nimbus 340'
Build #6353
Aug 2005
Motorcader #17139

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #31 –
Chuck thanks for the update. I need to replace my front unit, and might as well do the rear as I am at it. Texas is tough on AC.
Any issues with buying off my12voltstore.com? This one is $680 vs this one whic is $1010. Now I like Etrailer, great company, and they have price matching, but it works like this. First you buy at that price, then you ask them nicely to price match. And if they do....  ^.^d  happy dance. If they don't...  :facepalm:
Also what about shipping, did it arrive in time, box undamaged and all that, or was it a issue. Mixed reviews on that.
Last, how hard was it to install?
Thanks
Bob
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #32 –
Quote from: Bob and Julie –
1.  Any issues with buying off my12voltstore.com?
2.  Also what about shipping, did it arrive in time, box undamaged and all that, or was it a issue. Mixed reviews on that.
3.  Last, how hard was it to install?
1.  No issues and zero problems.  I picked my12voltstore.com because they advertised the cheapest price, and because they received several good reviews from Forum members in past threads on this subject.  I called first, to verify the items I wanted were actually in stock, then I placed my order online.  Paid with PayPal, as is my wont.  Had the units dropped shipped to the service shop in NAC where I had them installed.

2.  The units were shipped from a warehouse outside Dallas, so only a short trip by a local trucking company, first down to Lufkin and then back up to NAC.  Not much time or opportunity to do damage to the boxes, so they arrived in perfect condition.  No guarantee that this would be the case for every shipment - perhaps I was just lucky.  The boxes (4 of them in my case) did all arrive exactly on time.

3.  Installation was easy - for me.  I just stood around and watched as David and Seth (Nacogdoches Motorhome Service) did all the heavy lifting.  Technically, not very challenging, but the devil is in the details.  They followed the instructions, and said it was, for them, a "typical" A/C installation job.  In other words, no surprises.  Took slightly less than 4 hours, start to finish.  I was totally satisfied with all aspects of the installation, and I highly recommend this shop.

Nacogdoches Motorhome I RV Service and Repair
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #33 –
Thanks Chuck. Sounds like a plan then. I will of course be installing them myself as 1,  I am cheap, and 2 don't have the time or extra cash to drive up there, and 3 could use that cash for something else, like new flooring. But I am convinced that buying from them now is the way to go. They do charge 100 bucks or so to ship it but still is less, and I would rather go with the company that prices it right the first time. Not sure why there is such a disparity between the two, but since domentic owns them now, maybe they are getting rid of them?
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired
 

Re: New Air Conditioners

Reply #34 –
I just replaced my front a/c with the Atwood and ditto with every ones previous posts. I did not replace the rear a/c as there is nothing wrong with it yet. I am very pleased with the Atwood.
Rick Barna
St. Petersburg FL.
1998 U270 36'
Build # 5232
1972 CJ 5 Jeep