Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install (Read 1198 times) previous topic - next topic

Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

2002 U320 36'

So i ordered the atwood 15 Ac units about a month ago from My12vstore.com ... 1 had a little damage.. I still was able to install it but I will contact them mon and see what hey say.

Removal of the old units was pretty straight forward. My concern before we started was separating the the 2 duo therms from the Aquahot and how to get everything to tie back in.

No to difficult and easier than I thought.. after removal we had to fin out what wire went where and then rewire so that the new thermostat was working with the aquahot in zone 1 and zone 2.

after I find my phone cord I will add some pics.

so there is a wire for each zone in the openings front and back. Actually pretty simple install for the most part. I had to leave my guy to install as I was meeting my daughter 140 miles away to drop my grandbaby off..

zone wires are on the aquahot as livingroom and bedroom.. Their is a white wire in the cieling with the matching numbers on the wire so you really cant mess it up (for the most part). I wasnt their but I think we (will verify) used the phone cord from the livingroom to thermostat and changed the plugs on both ends for the new connectors... Used the back ac to living room ac phone line for the 12v needed and pulled 12v from under the tv stand from one of the constant 12v hot wires off the switches in the bedroom. Going to mount the bedroom thermostat at the door above the tv shelf to the right a little... Living room thermostat will be mounted in the old location.

The thermostats come with a furnace connection on them so we connected the aquahot wires into it for aquahot functionality..

I will go their tomorrow to take some updated pics and verify what we did (in case I missed something)

Also added the Hard starts from the old ones so I can run these off the inverter and while I am driving

I have been driving for the last 4 or so hrs so might have missed something.. ask any questions now as I might sleep the answer away tonight :))

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #1 –
Didnt make it back over their until this am.. little update

for some reason the ac doesnt convert any 12v power. So for the new thermostats to work you will need some 12v power. I found it easier to put that from the rear switches in the bedroom and use the existing wires in the bathroom opening to the front room (instead of running the front room wires to the rear).

The aquahot I am still working on but I think I have it figured out. Front has a ground to the aquahot (activates the switch to turn it on) and it also get live power from the front ac. I am going to connect both aquahot to the same Hot lead and then ground them to each thermostat to their respective wires (zone 1 and zone 2 .. 1 zone per thermostat).

Its just a matter of finishing up the wires and installing the vents.. I took all the ac reflective tape off and redid the ducting tape again so its new and up to par as the old stuff had some leaks into the roof.

SO far they are very quite and you cant hear them running outside at all.. wow .. Also seems cooler than the old one.. so far I am happy and I think I will be more happy after I use them for a bit.

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #2 –
Quote from: DavidS –
SO far they are very quite and you cant hear them running outside at all.. wow .. Also seems cooler than the old one...
You can change that temp readout on the control to 'Merican (degrees F) if you (like me) get confused by Celsius.
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: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
You can change that temp readout on the control to 'Merican (degrees F) if you (like me) get confused by Celsius.
Havnt gotten that far yet.. what do I need to do to swap it? didnt bring the paperwork home.

Ran into a problem... Cant get the aquahot to kick on... The ac board has 2 blue wires connected the aquahot to one and positive to the other and tried both ways.. No go... will need to call Dometic tomorrow so I can finish this up.. any ideas?

Says both blue wires do the same thing on the board (more or less) .. tried every scenario I can think up but no fire.

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #4 –
Anyone understand how the aquahot thermostat works? Does it just finish a circuit? or does it need a positive and negative?

What tells zone one and two to activate? Kinda the question.. This Atwood has 2 blue wires into a relay that just activates by the thermostat..

Im no electrician and I am guessing here.. last need before I can close this thing up..

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #5 –
David,

Dick Henry did a similar install a while back and posted about his wiring.  Here is a link to the thread to look at to see if there is anything that will help you out in the wiring.  Look at reply 42 and 47 for sure.
Replacing Air Conditioners

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
David,

Dick Henry did a similar install a while back and posted about his wiring.  Here is a link to the thread to look at to see if there is anything that will help you out in the wiring.  Look at reply 42 and 47 for sure.
Replacing Air Conditioners

Mike
Sent him a PM last night.. Thanks.. hope to have this tidy up today

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #7 –
Ok SOOooooo simple.. Again I am no electrician.. but.. made sense to me that if their is a relay in the AC that it will continue the circuit... So..

Put one  blue from the AC to the aquahot white wire and the other blue wire to ground... Put the thermostat on heat and hit furnace.. BOOOOM it works as advertised now.. so I can finish up..

pics to follow of the complete job ^.^d

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #8 –
David, can you post a pic of what the units look like now outside from the ground? I have the low profile AC units from Dometic I think, and both need replacing, but like the low profile look.
Thanks for the tip on merging it with the aqua hot.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #9 –
OK I am not one for a change or modifying for the most part. But I have to say this has been the best upgrade so far. Inside is quiet even when, ON high, I believe it's less noise on high then my duo therm's were on low. More air is being pushed to the vents and overall they work great.

One issue I did run into is on my year and model the vent in the bathroom was a little thicker so the closet door hit as it opened. I shaved it down to clear but other than that everything looks awesome

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #10 –
Inside is quiet even when I'm high..... :o  :o
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #11 –
It all depends on what he is using to get high.😂
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Hans&Marjet –
Inside is quiet even when I'm high..... :o  :o

Blah blah blah...fixed it for the hippies.. don't want anyone visiting my trailer to eat all my snacks🙄

Talk to text.. did it 3 times .. was having an issue posting so I didn't proof read lol

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #13 –
I got 2 Atwoods coming on wednesday....yippeee
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Hans&Marjet –
I got 2 Atwoods coming on wednesday....yippeee

You wont believe the difference.. I am a believer

103 today.. had them set at 68 in front and 70 in the rear... So quiet  and productive.. next test will be on the batteries with the inverter and see how they do.

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #15 –
Quote from: DavidS –
You wont believe the difference.. I am a believer

103 today.. had them set at 68 in front and 70 in the rear... So quiet  and productive.. next test will be on the batteries with the inverter and see how they do.

Individual thermostat for each unit?  Hard to tell from your install photos, are these ducted or not ducted units?  It looks like you have installed the aluminum tape over the entrance to the duct cavity in the ceiling?  I've made it through the summer with one operational Penguin II dometic unit.  Good to hear real world feedback on the different options out there to help make an educated decision on replacement.  Thanks for taking the time to share.
2000 U320 4010

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #16 –
Great job David. They look great. Not that hard to install, just takes a little time. One of the best upgrades I've made also . Yes they are not as low a profile as the Penguin's but the lower noise level & better cooling mattered more to me than looks. My rig use to be 11'6" tall and now I'm a hair under 12'.  I also added a custom aluminum box for more storage area on top. It's the same height as the Atwood's. Worked out great. I wanted to be able to store a gallon bottle upright. This holds items like filters, tools, etc. that I don't use often. I realize most people don't need this extra room but when you full time it comes in handy. I went to Extreme Paint & Graphics and they painted the Atwood covers, aluminum box, & fridge vent to match coach. Every thing blends right in.
2006 Nimbus 340'
Build #6353
Aug 2005
Motorcader #17139

Re: Duo Therm removal Atwood 15k install

Reply #17 –
Quote from: evantwheeler –
Individual thermostat for each unit?  Hard to tell from your install photos, are these ducted or not ducted units?  It looks like you have installed the aluminum tape over the entrance to the duct cavity in the ceiling?  I've made it through the summer with one operational Penguin II dometic unit.  Good to hear real world feedback on the different options out there to help make an educated decision on replacement.  Thanks for taking the time to share.

1) individual thermostats ..1 in the living room and 1 in the bedroom
2) Ducted
3) no tape over the ducting just around it. Old stuff actually was blowing in the ceiling on the living room duct.. Re taped all the ducting entrances as I was in their.