Replacing Air Conditioners

Topic: Replacing Air Conditioners (Read 3222 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #25 – June 20, 2015, 09:01:20 am

After watching this thread I finally bought (2) 15000 BTU Atwood ducted Air Command units to replace my noisy and marginal Dometic units. Install was not bad, used a chain fall to get them on the roof. They work great with separate thermostats. The front Thermostat replaced the CC thermostat unit and Runs cooling, heat pump and the Atwood Furnace with no problem. I spliced the cable ends with new cable ends to the old CC cable ends and it works perfect without having to pull new cable. Had to pull cables on rear unit for 12 volt Plus , 12 volt neg, and the thermostat cable to the rear television cabinet and mounted thermostat to the outside of television cabinet. I am very please with the way they work and they are very quiet. Remote controls also work great. Total cost from my12volt store was $1489.28 delivered to my door in Texas in three days from purchase date.
Bill

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #26 – June 20, 2015, 11:00:27 am

Quote from: fredsmotorhome – June 20, 2015, 09:01:20 am

Total cost from my12volt store was $1489.28 delivered to my door in Texas in three days from purchase date.

Bill,

You did better than I did. When I looked at eBay, my12volt store only had one 15028 rooftop units listed for $587.99 + $99.99 for shipping. He had none of the 15022 ceiling units listed. I sent him a "question to seller" and told him I wanted two of each and asked him if he had them. I did not hear from him right away, so I went with PPL. (BTW, I did get an eBay message from my12volt store, giving me a phone number; I called to let him know I no longer needed the units.)

The PPL charge was $568 for the ducted rooftop and $95 for the ducted ceiling unit. Total was $1586, including $260 for freight. I placed the order late Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning, I got an email from PPL with tracking information. The two rooftop units and one ceiling unit arrived Wednesday and the other ceiling unit Thursday, via FedEx! I had assumed "freight" meant a couple of weeks.

I checked with a local RV dealer, and scheduled the earliest appointment for installation, on 7/8/15. I told him I may try to install them myself and would call him if I needed to cancel the appointment. Now that the rains seem to have stopped, I will take a large load of scrap lumber to the dump. Then I will move the scaffolding (/wood rack) to the RV and get serious about our travel preparations. I think with the scaffolding and a very long ladder (/ramp) I can get the units to the roof. What I am able to do after that remains to be seen, but I am optimistic.

I had thought I would be the first one to report on a ducted Atwood Air Command installation,, but you beat me to it. I sure like your report, though. I am going to look at putting the rear thermostat where the existing remote temperature sensor is, but I will leave the wiring in place.

Thanks,

Trent

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #27 – June 20, 2015, 12:15:49 pm

We went with Atwood's non-ducted 15k unit to replace the 2008 Penquin (who knew Penguins could roar?) MOT provided the unit, muscle and talent. Very straight-forward swap. My unit shipped w/o remote control--but I'm headed back to Nac tomorrow for a facelift at Xtreme and remote/base pickup at MOT.

Two months with the Atwood in the summer rains and sunshine: nice unit, very quiet and comfortable. I plan to swap out the old bedroom unit with another Atwood soon. Great experience so far! P

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #28 – April 29, 2019, 08:52:24 pm

Older thread but I figured I would check on the reviews of you guys who installed your Atwood AC... Still happy?

ANyone actually figure out the ducted? Totally? Does the ducted unit come with the remote? or do you have to run a separate wire to add their thermostat? IS the remote the thermostat? If you were to replace both front and rear units what needs to be done to get them to work ? By thermostat or remote or both?

Had a slight misshap with mine and board is bad and I can not find a replacement with the same number anywhere online now..

Questions questions..

Second part of the equation... any penguin 2 users...Happy ? Kinda like the low profile as it looks nicer ... I am stuck...

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #29 – April 29, 2019, 09:12:21 pm

Furrion CHILL 15.5K Rooftop Air Conditioner - Black – furrion-global

Anyone see or hear of this one?

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #30 – April 29, 2019, 09:17:31 pm

David, if the screw compressors are as good as screw air compressors they should wear very good with no vibration
Keep us posted on what you decide ----inquireing minds!
Chris

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #31 – April 29, 2019, 09:18:34 pm

David, I can not see the pretty low profile from inside where I am a bunch. But I can hear the low noise level especially in bed at night all the time. I choose the Attwood for me and am most pleased.

All the best as you decide what works for you.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #32 – April 29, 2019, 09:21:40 pm

David, I talked today to one of my RV fixit guys who said the Furrion is the latest and greatest A/C on the market. Their ad claims the dual motor tech is what makes it quieter. Well, my Attwood dual motor is living proof they are quieter.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #33 – April 29, 2019, 10:17:42 pm

It looks like it's good,still isn't out yet so the RV guy doesn't know any more or less then we do.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #34 – April 29, 2019, 10:31:42 pm

Anyone have a ducted atwood? Big questions are on the thermostat really.. I like the remote function..

Thinking of removing the fan in the bedroom and adding a smaller unit their and having the thermostat in the living room run both A/C from there so when its real hot I can use the bedroom one on its own

Just thinking at this point but I really need to figure out the other 2 units.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #35 – April 30, 2019, 02:39:26 am

DavidS,

I am not sure what you have asked in your two recent messages about the Atwood Air Command air conditioner/heat pump systems. They each have their own thermostats and their own remotes. I would not think you could combine the thermostats, because each unit's sensor could be sensing different temperatures at each unit. I don't know if the system will be able to resolve those differences and sent the proper commands.

If this does not answer your questions, please try rewording your question.

Hope this helps,

Trent

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #36 – April 30, 2019, 06:04:55 am

Still happy with my 2 Atwood, non ducted, 15000 btu units.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #37 – April 30, 2019, 09:34:53 am

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – April 30, 2019, 06:04:55 am

Still happy with my 2 Atwood, non ducted, 15000 btu units.

Does 1 thermostat run both ac? Are the 2 ac separate and have there own thermostat?

Did you feel better cooling after the install? Any noticeable difference at the ducts?

How is the Aquahot controlled?

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #38 – April 30, 2019, 09:49:24 am

I thought I had asked the same question,,,
On a DUCTED unit, how is the Aqua Hot turned on ? Perhaps you will get a response.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #39 – April 30, 2019, 10:04:54 am

Quote from: GleamB – April 30, 2019, 09:49:24 am

I thought I had asked the same question,,,
On a DUCTED unit, how is the Aqua Hot turned on ? Perhaps you will get a response.

Working on it

Thinking maybe I keep the old 5 button? everything else might be separate?

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #40 – April 30, 2019, 07:50:14 pm

Quote from: DavidS – April 30, 2019, 09:34:53 am

Does 1 thermostat run both ac? Are the 2 ac separate and have there own thermostat?

Did you feel better cooling after the install? Any noticeable difference at the ducts?

How is the Aquahot controlled?

I do not have ducted units.
each A/C unit has its own thermostat, flip down control panel, and wireless remote.
Both units cool great, are relatively quite, and heat well.
No regrets.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #41 – April 30, 2019, 11:33:48 pm

How hard is it to fish the thermostat wire to the Dometic thermostat location? Using the atwood.. Would I need to add another thermostat to the bedroom also? Its ducted so one would assume it would need its own thermostat too? Atwood doesnt have dual zone?

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #42 – May 01, 2019, 04:08:09 pm

Apx 7 months ago I replaced my Dometic ACs with Atwood Heat pumps. I ordered two Atwood 15000 BTU ducted heat pumps and the ducted thermostat & air returns.
Yes the Atwood's have a higher profile but I'm more interested in quality, performance, & quietness. Upon their delivery I was really impressed with the design & quality. I installed these in a 2006 Nimbus. Sadly the Dometic Comfort Zone Thermostat & com cable will not work on the Atwood's. You have to replace the Dometic thermostat with the Atwood. Atwood does provides plenty of com cable to reach the new thermostat location. The remote control that comes with the Atwood works through the Atwood thermostat. In my coach the old living room Dometic com cable ran from the front AC inside a small plastic pipe to the front of the coach to behind the tv. It then was routed to the drivers side of the coach, down the side through the cabinets to the old thermostat location. It looks like a telephone cable. To run the new Atwood cable I had to remove the new com cable connector end as it was to wide to go through the plastic pipe. I then reattached the connector, & connected it to the Atwood thermostat. The two connectors on the Atwood cable are different so be sure to remove the right connector.
The old Dometic Comfort Zone thermostat would control two zones, Living Room & Bed Room. There is a second Dometic com cable connecting both Dometic ACs. This cable runs through a small plastic pipe connecting the front AC to the back AC. This is how the Dometic thermostat communicated with the rear AC & rear furnace (AqhaHot). The wires for the bed room AqhaHot are located in the bedroom AC box in the ceiling. The Atwood thermostat will only control one Zone so you will need a 2nd thermostat for the BR. You will also need to run a 12volt wire (+&-) connection to the bedroom AC box. Dometic had used their com cable to supply voltage to the rear AC from the front AC. It doesn't matter what 12v wire you tap into. I ran a wire to the front AC 12v through the center plastic pipe to the rear AC.
The LR thermostat was the easiest to install as I followed the old Dometic com cable routing. The Living room AC hooks into a 12 volt Pos & Neg battery connection, a Pos & Neg furnace or Aqua Hot connection, & of course a 120 volt connection. All these connections are already available in the Living Room AC box location.
The Bed Room Aqua Hot / furnace connections are already in the BR AC box as is the 120v. The hardest part in the BR install was running the Atwood thermostat cable to the location I wanted. I used the previous old Dometic Comfort Zone temperature sensor location to install the Atwood thermostat control.
Now all I can say is Wow!!! Unbelievably Quite

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #43 – May 01, 2019, 09:26:37 pm

Did you notice better cooling? More air flow at the vents?

Perfect explanation .. I might attempt this.. Think these will be a good update to the old ones I have now.. Desert heat at 110 plus ... needs all the help it can get to cool.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #44 – May 02, 2019, 12:45:11 am

I think I will, too. Please be sure to post any info/pics/You Tube video of your install. Where will you get 12v for the back unit? How will you get the units up on top? dick told me he sold his old units on Craigslist!!

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #45 – May 02, 2019, 12:59:28 am

What needs done with the aquahot? How is it connected if the ac is removed? How will it communicate after the ac is removed

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #46 – May 02, 2019, 10:22:08 am

David,
STILL don't know the answer to that!!??? Our existing system has BOTH heat strip AND AH heating. IF you find out, please share the answer.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #47 – May 02, 2019, 05:34:38 pm

Well the Atwood top units weigh apx. 85 lbs. I was lucky enough to borrow a tractor with a front end loader to lift the new units & lower the old units. Otherwise you have to be pretty inventive. They fit on top exactly like the old units did. Before installing the Atwood's I made sure the AC box in the roof was sealed (silicone) to keep any water from making its way under the fiberglass roofing which would cause Delam. I then used foil tape around the opening to make it look pretty.

The front AC coach wiring (located in the front AC roof box) also has a 12v wire that was wired into the old AC unit. The rear AC roof box does not have a 12v wire. Thats because the old rear AC unit was connected to the old front AC unit via a com cable. It got is 12v power through the com cable from the old front AC. The Atwood's are a stand alone AC unit. They do not connect or talk to one another. Therefore the rear Atwood needs a 12v connection. I ran a 12v wire from the front AC 12v connection to the rear AC box.

The Aquahot (furnace) wires are already located with the coach wiring in the front & rear AC box. At least mine were. I just wired them to the Atwood AC wiring (2 blue wires labeled furnace). To use the AqhaHot for heat you must press the furnace button. Otherwise you are using the heat pump for heat.

Running the rear thermostat cable took some work as I had to make a path to where I wanted the thermostat to be located.

Running the thermostat cable from the front AC to the old thermostat location took a little work but it was not to bad. Just follow the route of the old cable. You have to take the thermostat connector off one end of the Atwood cable to get the cable
small enough to follow the path of the old cable. Make sure to pick the right connector end as they are different.

ATWOOD AC-1361 INSTALLATION & SERVICE MANUAL Pdf Download.

The above link is for the Atwood AC ducted unit service & trouble shooting Manuel.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #48 – May 02, 2019, 06:10:19 pm

Found a board for mine finally.. Will tackle this after memorial weekend sometime.

Re: Replacing Air Conditioners

Reply #49 – May 02, 2019, 06:48:48 pm

This thread is extremely timely, as our front unit died this morning. What stands out (either good or bad) for our 1993 coach? Also, any suggestions for in installer? We're between Emporia and Topeka, KS.

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