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Topic: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps (Read 987 times) previous topic - next topic

Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

It appears that Dometic has changed their AC's one more time.  The most recent requires a "12 button"  climate control system. Of course any newer coach has the 5 button climate control.

We have one AC failing or failed so we will purchase a new AC/Heat pump combo.  The question to Dometic was, do we buy an older AC for a 5 button or do we buy the newer AC that requires the 12 button.  After a call to Dometic and Foretravel, I think our decision will be to buy the newer AC that requires the 12 button but also purchase the "5 button conversion kit" that allows the new AC to run with the older 5 button climate control center. 

Foretravel service was not aware of this but the parts dept is aware.  The key is your product number and serial number of your current AC's. 

The net of all this is that yes, you can buy a new Dometic Penguin AC with heat pump and a conversion kit to work with the 5 button Climate control. 

FYI...
Tom & Bill

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #1 –
Quote from: txforetravel –
I think our decision will be to buy the newer AC that requires the 12 button but also purchase the "5 button conversion kit" that allows the new AC to run with the older 5 button climate control center. 

Foretravel service was not aware of this but the parts dept is aware.  The key is your product number and serial number of your current AC's. 

Did FOT parts suggest ordering a different gasket as well?  air conditioner "splashdown"

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #2 –
Well Mike at FOT parts didn't mention the gasket but I did as I know we need that.  Mike did agree once I brought it up. 

Ok for you IH-45 folks, what climate control system do you all have?  I think FOT is using Coleman's on the IH-45's now and not Dometic.  Correct?

Tom & Bill

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #3 –
I would ask one more question before buying any new Dometic AC unit. "How noisy is it?" Three of our neighbors in our RV development bought new custom made 37-44 ft 2010 New Horizons 5th wheels with Dometic AC units. All made so much noise, you could not even watch-hear the TV. Two of the three owners had New Horizons replace their ACs. My immediate neighbor's still has issues with his new Dometic AC. (FYI - New Horizons is supposed to be the best 5th wheel made.)
Bob
2000 U270 40 CAI
Winter: Texas Rio Grande Valley or Foley, AL
Summer: The Gardens RV Community of Crossville, TN
2000 40 FT U270, Xtreme FBP
2017 C-Max Towed

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #4 –
My front a/c was replaced with the newer unit and it is LOUD!  As in can't hear the TV very well on low.  I am still fighting with Dometic over it.  MOT tried to shut it up by various means but it just blows too hard.  Dometic's attitude seems that I should live with it as the new units have a high fan speed to allow for a ducted installation/newer coolant needs higher fan speed (they say - huh?).  If your installation is not ducted you might not like the newer units.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #5 –
Well, I do know that the newer units are louder and we do have ducted AC.  Michelle has also mentioned that a larger gasket that FOT has helps a great deal as well.  We are not replacing our unit(s) until after the first of the year so I'll for sure send an update.  I'm keeping our old AC just in case! 

So I guess one is either cold with no TV or sweating with TV!  Yikes! 

Tom & Bill

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #6 –
Quote from: txforetravel –
So I guess one is either cold with no TV or sweating with TV!  Yikes!

Or you could just come up to the Puget Sound area in the summer. Almost never warmer than about 80F and the evenings get downright cold... and that's in July!  :P

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #7 –
Guess I'm in the minority here, but if the coils from the existing unit are in good shape there's no way in hedoublehockeysticks I'd replace it until I was sure it couldn't be fixed.  Fan bad-replace.  Compressor dragging on startup-try a hard start kit.  Worst case slap in a new compressor.  Too many horror stories about four button to five button conversion, now 12 button? thermostat replacement, add in boards to achieve compatibility plus the new refrigerant is inferior, requiring a higher fan speed to approach efficiency of old.  Any decent AC guy can diagnose.  The heat pump option will be even less desirable than resistance heating, both of which are trumped by turning on your forced air which gives you genuine heat. 

Plus, it's the green thing to do.  (green being that stuff in your wallet plus all those discarded components.)

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #8 –
Wonder if you could replace all the control and thermostat units with a residential control system?  AC control is not rocket science.  Thermostat,  control compressor & fan, freeze-stat,, switch to heat strips (also in residential units), timer control (not in the 4 or 5 button), dual controls, etc...  Might have to rewire the roof AC units, but that shouldn't be too hard.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #9 –
I had a 93, U225 and it had Coleman A/C units. They were still working great the last time I talked with Dave Cobb. My 93, U300 has Dometics and the rear a/c is now on its number three and the front has already been replaced once.  I had read on several other forums that Dometic's reputation is going down fast. I replaced my rear Dometic unit last July and it is louder and I hate the Comfort Control System (thermostat) I hope it is a bad one so it can be replaced but the Dometic electronic thermostats aren't near as reliable at the analog ones were.

Consider replacing with a Coleman or Carrier.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #10 –
Quote
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295 36'

Hi Chuck,
Quote

Speakling of the trouble with the 4 button thermostats, I've found a way to replace those intermitant switches with new ones, thus eliminating that frustration. If you are plagued by that problem, let me know.
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #11 –
I have two Dometic Penguins in my U225. The bedroom unit works as a heater but the forward unit doesn't (just blows hot air - edit: make that "cold air"). Is this just a matter of replacing a heat strip or are they unrepairable?

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #12 –
+1 from me on this issue. I have been wondering the same thing... That 4 button control with a double button press to switch AC's is a royal PITA! I would even rather have seperate controls.
Don

Quote from: Dave Katsuki –
Wonder if you could replace all the control and thermostat units with a residential control system?  AC control is not rocket science.  Thermostat,  control compressor & fan, freeze-stat,, switch to heat strips (also in residential units), timer control (not in the 4 or 5 button), dual controls, etc...  Might have to rewire the roof AC units, but that shouldn't be too hard.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #13 –
We replaced both units on our 1996 U295 last year with the Dometic heat pumps (non-ducted), and the 5-button thermostat, and I agree, they are quite loud. Knock on wood, they have performed well in all other areas, so far.
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #14 –
Quote
I have two Dometic Penguins in my U225. The bedroom unit works as a heater but the forward unit doesn't (just blows hot air - edit: make that "cold air"). Is this just a matter of replacing a heat strip or are they unrepairable?

Craig
Craig, Look to see if the unit does indeed have a heat strip.  If not and one can be added I have one that I took from my Penguin when it failed and was replaced.  If it will fit yours you are welcome to it,  It is a loop of heater with fins on it that plugs into the box inside the cover.  Look in the other one first and compare the two.
Gary B

Added on edit, look in the unit after your remove the inside cover, if no heater bars then look for electrical box and check for 110 VAC at romex in box.

Re: Dometic - Penguin AC with Heat Pumps

Reply #15 –
Hi Gary....

Thanks for the offer. :)  I'll go check it out today. Too cold to put siding up on the shop anyway. My fingers go on strike when the temperatures get below 40 and if we get to 32 today we'll be lucky.

The thermostat on the wall has a setting for "heat" and the identical thermostat in the rear puts out heat when it's selected. I'll go over today and take the cover off and see what it looks like and let you know.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."