Duo therm roof unit

Topic: Duo therm roof unit (Read 1403 times) previous topic - next topic

Duo therm roof unit

October 08, 2014, 04:55:34 pm

Our front duo therm has given up and boy it's hot , has anybody come up with a good replacement and approx cost .
Thanks

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #1 – October 08, 2014, 05:34:38 pm

Air Conditioner updating

Jimmy, here is a recent discussion, hope it helps

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #2 – October 08, 2014, 05:48:12 pm

Thanks , busy reading through all the older threads .
I have managed to get the front unit working although it doesn't sound very healthy , if I set fan speed to auto on 5 button control unit it will only run slow , if I reset to high then fan does run at high .
Just thinking I should bite the bullit and replace both units before they die on a super hot day .
Looking for a direct ( easy ) replacement and approx cost

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #3 – October 08, 2014, 06:26:48 pm

Just received a call back from James at FT and he talked me through re sync control unit to roof units and we now have cool air .
Still going to look at replacements .

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #4 – October 08, 2014, 08:02:10 pm

Jimmy,
I also thought new units were needed, but took to a proper shop where they cleaned out both the upper and lower units, they now are very quiet and move a lot of air volume/CFM.
Cost about $145.00 plus needed new cover as old one blew away, cost $50.00 for like new used cover, now it needs paint to match. All

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #5 – October 10, 2014, 11:49:24 am

Update , the front unit has stopped working , so now looking for replacement and shop to fit it .

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #6 – October 10, 2014, 12:20:32 pm

No doubt you guys have been through this and can advise .
Replacement unit is dometic 651816 ( ppl. $1095)
I also need to replace thermostat ( $131)
And circuit board in old rear unit. ( $116)

Is it an easy job to do my self ?
Is this a good price ?

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #7 – October 10, 2014, 12:56:16 pm

If the unit works and blows cold air at some point, then mechanically it sounds fine. Why not just fix the control problem? The new units are likely r410a and louder.

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #8 – October 10, 2014, 12:59:41 pm

Hands up , I am a dim wit .
Just climbed up on roof and found front AC unit cover missing ?
Can't see any damage to unit , fan is running and the cooling fins are hot hot !
The sun is blazing here so that's not helping the unit , could this really be causing low fan etc ?

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #9 – October 10, 2014, 01:01:19 pm

Don't have my invoice for our two new Dometic units in front of me, but from memory your prices sound in line with ours - from two years ago.

And I don't notice our new units being any louder than the old ones. But, we don't have ducted a/c, so maybe that's why.

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #10 – October 10, 2014, 01:11:06 pm

Jimmy,

Your cover is highly important for the unit to operate properly. It directs air from your fan through the condenser coil which turns your Freon from a hot gas back to a liquid. Without this you have no cooling.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #11 – October 10, 2014, 01:18:06 pm

Yes

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #12 – October 10, 2014, 01:38:42 pm

Thought need for units, had noise, banging and smell of hot wire/insulation, poor cooling, had both cleaned, replaced cover on front unit, tech laughed when mentioned about the hot smell of wire, he sez when the dirt builds up, things get real hot making the smell. Wuz lucky, now operate better than I ever remembered. Not bad for those old 2001 units still doing their job.

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #13 – October 10, 2014, 02:00:10 pm

Big thanks to you guys , more information than the dometic tech line !
I have sourced a new cover $87 & shipping
Much research and I found a guy with great prices and information on dometic units .
Mark 704 378 8591 , fast call back and really helpful

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #14 – October 12, 2014, 02:10:57 pm

Has anybody changed a roof unit themselves .
Just noticed the unit weighs 120lb , unsure what's involved

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #15 – October 12, 2014, 02:35:13 pm

Jimmy, Tech used a forklift to change mine out. Other than the heavy lifting it was not that complicated. Remove inner shroud, remove bolts ( 3 on mine ), lift unit off roof. Replace gasket, reset unit.
THEN, since old thermostats are not compatible, replace thermostat and program using installations instructions with it. Two guys took a little over an hour with ,most time getting thermostat to work ( usual Chinese instructions translated by who knows what ) .
Gary B

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #16 – October 12, 2014, 02:46:37 pm

Thanks gary , I thought the pros may use a folk lift , pleased to hear that the installation is not too complicated . If I can figure a way to get new units up there and old units down .
I am thinking units are 11 years old and don't want to wait untill they give up ! Am I being parinoid

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #17 – October 12, 2014, 03:04:15 pm

Jimmy, Good old boy engineering might work.
Park your pickup close to RV wall, stack old pallets in steps til you can get to roof level, then lift last foot or so to roof. Use an old blanket over a piece of plywood to slide unit over the opening.

Do this in a closed space so neighbors don't think you are crazy and as a last resort call on some forum members, one to assist and at least one to criticize.

SERIOUSLY, be careful on the roof and from experience I can suggest that you leave the new unit in its shipping package til you get it on the roof, then unpack it.

Gary B

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #18 – October 12, 2014, 03:30:11 pm

In case you don't have a fork lift in your garage, to get roof A/C up on roof, I have heard of winching new roof air up under a tree branch and then back under tree branch.

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #19 – October 12, 2014, 04:06:48 pm

Possibly another option... rent a material lift from a Home Depot (or other tool rental place).
Material Lift
Don

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #20 – October 12, 2014, 07:21:26 pm

Rented a material lift like Don suggests to get my old refrig out and the new one in. It had forks, 450 lb capacity, 16' lift, $45/day. Easy to use, very stable, folds up and fit into my VW station wagon.

Roger

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #21 – October 12, 2014, 09:44:34 pm

Thanks for the advice , I like the idea of the Home Depot lift but the web site states 12ft lift .
Also like use a blanket and leave it in the packing .
Have any of you guys changed units before the originals died , am I wasting money ? Best price so far 2 new units and new controller $2000 delivered

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #22 – October 13, 2014, 12:38:16 am

LIFTS, LADDERS, SCAFFOLD::
HIGH LIFT 400LB CAP 12FT.
Where to find High Lift 400lb Cap 12ft. in Burnsville
Image for reference only
Actual item may look different
Click on image for larger view

Jimmy,

This one has longer forks, probably works better than the one at HD.

Manufacturer: SUMNER
Model: 2412

Daily: $35.00

A Super compact 12' Lift
400 lb lifting capacity

12' should be enough. Work on level driveway.

Roger

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #23 – October 13, 2014, 06:17:13 am

Quote from: Jimmyjnr – October 12, 2014, 09:44:34 pm

Have any of you guys changed units before the originals died , am I wasting money ?

We had to have our originals replaced in 2010 due to physical damage, not unit failure. We HATED the replacements. Nothing but noise and vibration for 3 1/2 years, despite multiple efforts to isolate them and add dampening. Second best day of owning them was when the rear unit failed catastrophically while on heat pump. If we didn't need something to cover the hole in the roof, Steve would have pulled it, tossed it off the roof, and driven over it. Best day was having them removed and the newest Penguin II model installed. Much better (and what we would choose again), but we still think the originals were more quiet, efficient, and more robustly-made and wouldn't give them up if they were still working fine.

BTW if we HAD to replace due to failure, we believe the best option (and what we chose) is the Penguin II High Capacity (heat pump version). Should be model 651816C (multi-zone CCC), which I see is the model you mention getting from PPL. Goes with CCCII thermostat 33114082 (white, there's a different p/n for black). The regular Penguin is likely the same as the ones we hated. Our cost at MOT (after our 10% MOT-buyer discount) was $2382 for 2 units plus thermostat, $582 labor. Note the thermostat isn't a direct swap-out; a mounting had to be fabricated for it.

Re: Duo therm roof unit

Reply #24 – October 13, 2014, 08:39:10 am

Thanks Michele
One last question , dometic and penquin , are they same company but different factory's , different units ??
Same help desk and cross reference on product numbers etc

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