Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K (Read 6356 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #25 –
Hi- Sorry for the delay, headed South a bit on Sunday for the next several weeks enjoying the beach at at the Red Cocunut RV Park.

Klaus, John -  Interesting, never knew that phrase to be of German decent, however I believe I picked that up from my German Grandfather, who was a Machinist by trade. Now it all makes sense!  Your definition is exactly as I remember John...

Barry - That's a nice trick switching AC thermo-coupler sensors. Yes, the rear AC has a small two wire connector, (white wires) you will find up in the air distribution box, coming from the bedroom sensor. The 1/2" plastic conduits in the ceiling make running wire easy between front and rear.

Since arriving here at the beach Sunday afternoon we've had a couple hot days to try these units out.  They work well, they are quieter than the old Domoetics. You can barely perceive the compressor switching on or off. We kinda like the constant fan. It does move air, as well as provide a "white noise effect", not objectionable.

Found we like the front AC on during the day, cools the coach well. At night switch to the rear, the Furrion Air Distribution box has North/ South vents. On the rear AC we close the front vent, the majority of air flows strongly and directly into the bedroom door plus via the ceiling vents. Cools the.bedroom nice. We also noticed that the air volume is much stronger than the Dometics, so in the evening watching TV, we get cool air from the front ceiling vents up front pushed from the rear AC, with no overhead noise. We definately like that operation a lot!

I will likely replace the Furrion Air Distribution Box thermo-couple and move it to the bedroom location, see if it makes any difference. So, far, no issues with the sensing of temp or comfort, just curious...

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Jeff & Kristen

Jeff

Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #26 –
Hi Jeff,

just fyi. I followed your outline on this post and just completed this project on my coach.  The temp sensors are NTC (negative temp coefficient) thermistors. Thermistors work off resistance. I checked the resistance of the Furrion thermistor and the old Dometic thermistor in the bedroom. At 77f the Dometic thermistor is reading 7k ohms while the Furrion was 10k. I considered adding a resistor to the Dometic thermistor to match the Furrion resistance.

In the end, I just removed the Furrion thermistor at the control box and spliced in the old Dometic plug. Then I spliced the Furrion thermistor in place of the old Demotic thermistor in the bedroom. It works really well.

Due to a short cycling (compressor continuously engaging and disengaging) in the front unit, I had to play with the placement of the thermistor on the front unit. Eventually I found a spot that stopped the unit from short cycling. I wish furrion used the thermostat for the sensing point on one of the zones or at least gave you the option.

This was a great write up and I appreciate you blazing the trail. I am still trying to get my Aquahot blowers to engage when the wire is grounded, but I will get that sorted out eventually. I also have to take about 1/8" off the bathroom door to clear the ceiling distribution box. I have all summer. :-).
Rex and Lari Stutchman
1998 U320 CAI Build # 5259
2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #27 –
Hi Rex, Glad it worked out. We like the Furions too.

We've noticed an added benefit in that the Furion's have much stronger air velocity output than the origanal Dometics. So, we've gotten into the habit of running the front AC only at night with the front vents closed. This pushes cool air out the rear ceiling vents in the bedroom.

I also removed the lamp fixture on the wall in the bedroom where the mirored cabinet is and installed two 12v boat fans, (Carfano Sirocco II swivel fans) in its place.  They can be infinitely adjusted, then tucked away against the wall when not in use. Works great, adds a little better airflow, and very comfortable and quiet... Note, unfortunately we don't have a ceiling fan in the bedroom.

The Auqua hot connection should be easy, each AC opening has the Aquahot "turn-on wire" up there. Simply touch it, (ground it) to the aluminum frame rail up in the roof cavity. This should turn on your Aquahot blowers. Rudy gave me that tip,, (thanks again Rudy!). Then simply find the Furrion control wire to the Normally Open relay. Connect to AH, ground the other side and done. When the thermostatstat "calls" for heat, the Furion Control unit in each  AC unit close that NO contact and turns on your AH. There's two contact points in that control unit card, use the NO one...

Yeah, I had similar cycling issues, but moving the thermistor around cured it. Also had the closet door issues, a minor problem...

Two issues I want to fix this summer:  I want to see if I can find a paint that will adhere to the air defusers which matches a little better to our ceiling verses the stark white... Also, I want to try to somehow backlight the thermostat, or I'll add a small LED to illuminate it, at night it's hard to read...

Best, Jeff
Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #28 –
So just to understand the ducted version also has vents on the inside cover?  You just keep these vents closed in order for the air to be sent through the ducts?
For the Aquahot are you using the Furrion thermostat to control that temp?  Or a different thermostat for the front and bedroom?
Thanks!
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Beeman –
The Auqua hot connection should be easy, each AC opening has the Aquahot "turn-on wire" up there. Simply touch it, (ground it) to the aluminum frame rail up in the roof cavity. This should turn on your Aquahot blowers. Rudy gave me that tip,, (thanks again Rudy!). Then simply find the Furrion control wire to the Normally Open relay. Connect to AH, ground the other side and done. When the thermostatstat "calls" for heat, the Furion Control unit in each  AC unit close that NO contact and turns on your AH. There's two contact points in that control unit card, use the NO one..

Best, Jeff


Jeff great write up.
2019 I installed 2 Atwood's in my coach. I could not get the aqua hot to work with them. Both Rudy and David in Las Vegas tried to help but couldn't make it work. Tried calling their tech support but no bueno. So what I finally did was get a couple of the Atwood manual thermostats ran wires down to the aqua hot relays. Now I have three manual thermostats one in the bedroom one in the living room and one in the bathroom. Well it can be a bit inconvenient I can have heat in one or the other both are all three depending on how I want it. I also run the rear AC independent of the front with a separate thermostat that I installed in the bedroom. I like it that way. Also my friend AC unit has a soft start on it and can run off my lithium battery setup and solar great for going down the road when you have an issues with the generator LOL but only in full sun. I did not put a soft start on the rear but I'm either hooked up to shore power or the generator and it's not an issue. I tried everything to get the thermostat to work with the aqua hot but didn't try the ice cube trick maybe that was it. But I like the way it is now in I can sit on a jackknife sofa and control the heat without really even moving. I think also that the atwoods are quieter than the old dometics, push more air, they do have the heat pump function which I like when the temperature is between 45 and 60° outside. Under 45 it doesn't work as well and then I use the aqua hot. Well I did like the low profile of the dometics it's not a big deal.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #30 –
Quote from: folivier –
So just to understand the ducted version also has vents on the inside cover?  You just keep these vents closed in order for the air to be sent through the ducts?
For the Aquahot are you using the Furrion thermostat to control that temp?  Or a different thermostat for the front and bedroom?
Thanks!
That's correct forest. The ducts distributed to cold air throughout the coach but you can still open at least on the atwoods two slides that will blast air right down from the inside unit.
And from what I read on his original post he is using the furry-on thermostat to control the temperatures with the rear temperature being controlled or monitored by the temp probe in the bedroom.
At least that's how I read it.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #31 –
Hi, sorry for the delay here. been real busy this week trying to get packed for our 2021 adventures... Heading North tomorrow afternoon, to New England for Mothers Day to spend some time "driveway surfing" with the kids and grand kids. Then on to Lake Champlain, Vermont for the summer... Also, trying to get all my Solar upgrades completed before I don't have access to my big tools...Think I'm done, as of tonight ! Horay!

About the Furrion AC's:
They operate very similar to the Dometic AC's as far as control logic. You obviously need to change to a Furrion thermostat, simple transition. The Furrion AC units have thermo-couple sensors up in the air box to measure the temperature. They also have a control card in the AC unit that communicates to the thermostat, over by the drives seat. That thermostat simply sets up the conditions for the control card, (in each AC) to react to the settings. In the front AC, I simply used the Furrion thermo-couple to detect and control the cooling and control the Aquahot. In the rear, I wired in (removed / replaced) Furrion thermo-couple and used the bedroom Dometic temp sensor below the TV. Yes, the resistant/impedance is  a little off... It still works fine,

The Aquahot fans are controlled by a simple "grounding" of the Aquahot control wire found up in the AC opening. Furrion supplies both a normally open, and a normally closed relay in their control card. wire the Aquahot line to the NO relay, ground the other side, simple!   

Airflow: Indeed, you CAN get decent COOL air front or back from one AC if you have a good powerful blower and unobstructed ducts! It was a welcome surprise for us !!!  The Furrion's do have more air flow power than our original Dometics, IMO. However the 14" x 14" ducts were a mess... Lots of obstructions, wires, junk. I cleaned these up during retrofit and made the air ducts as streamlined as possible. It does make a huge difference! I think I posted before and after pics in my original post. YES. the Furrion air-distribution box has "shutters" that you can completely close to force air strictly into the ducts.

I purchased the Furrion's simply because we could not get the Dometics at the time. We already had a "broke" front AC, didn't want to risk chance last year leaving with only one 19 year old AC working... I Iiked the low profile of the Dometic's a lot. I also like the price point and operation since owning/installing the Furrion's.

Best, Jeff 
Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #32 –
I just completed the Furrion upgrade, two air conditioners and thermostat, and I have some notes to add.  This seems the best place for me to post it.  I offer this in addition to Jeff's excellent procedure, and I submit any different opinions with respect.

The torque value for the four bolts that hold the AC units down is inch-pounds, not foot-pounds.  Threading the bolts in slightly, without the inside plate, makes moving the unit around to proper position from the inside of the coach much easier.

I chose to use RJ-11 jacks for connecting the "phone" cables, rather than cutting off the ends.  Cheap off Amazon.  I had a bad experience with tiny telecom wires long ago!

Unlike Jeff's FT, our FT has a wire present for providing 12 volts to the rear controller.  It exits the front cavity on the passenger side, and enters the rear cavity on the passenger side.

Regarding the wires for the Aqua Hot call for heat... 
Our coach is different from Jeff's and apparently others as well.  Instead of the call for heat wire having 12 volts, it leads (from the AC cavity) to a relay  that completes the ground.  I attached one of the brown wires to the 12 volt power in the cavity, same connection as the AC controller box.  I added a fuse holder and a 5 ampere fuse, the smallest I had on hand.  The second brown wire attaches to the call for heat wire.  What is different is that my coach has relays for the living room and the bedroom thermostat circuits.  (The bathroom does not.)  There are two relays, above the Aqua Hot unit, on the back side of a rafter where they are hard to see.  I did not have to make any changes in the AH box, though I had it open for testing.

The relays are shown on my wiring diagram A-6204.  (Maybe your wiring diagram is different?)  Two "Bosch" relays convert the +12 VDC on the wire to a ground of the wire A7A.  This produces the "ground the wire" that is described in Jeff's procedure, and in other people's comments.  It will be easy to determine what configuration you have.  If you ground the "call for heat" wire and the blower runs, you don't have the relays.  If this does not work, look for the relays in the AH box.

Rather than have a closet door that won't open completely, or cut the top of the door, I installed the old ceiling cover on the rear AC.  The openings roughly line up, and I will block off the non-duct cool air outlet anyway.  It may be slightly less efficient – I will let you know if it causes problems.  The closet door, of course, opens like it did before.

The heaters work like they should.  I have the ACs on and I will let them run for a few days to give them an exercise.  At the moment, it is too cold inside for the compressors to kick.  The new thermostat has a large screen, big buttons, and is backlit.  It is a joy!

I will be pleased to answer any questions you have, now or in the future.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #33 –
I was under the impression the dometic ac units and the thermostat use 4 wire reverse phone cables.  Am I wrong?
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #34 –
I think that is correct Peter but they might be 6 wire cables and plugs. I wanted to use then so I made connectors with pigtail wires to connect to the Furrion control wires and thermostat.  I also added remote temperature sensors for each AC unit.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #35 –
That is true. Though many of those older systems have couplers inline at just before the a/c jack. So one wonders if the coupler is reverse or straight through? Guess it might depend on the RV manufacturer and the cables on hand. However, the Dometic 4 button thermostat and circuit board are designed for data (reverse) cables with 6p4c RJ11 plugs.
Jim

2002 U320

Frerichs Electronics
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #36 –
Quote from: oldmattb –
I just completed the Furrion upgrade, two air conditioners and thermostat, and I have some notes to add.  This seems the best place for me to post it.  I offer this in addition to Jeff's excellent procedure, and I submit any different opinions with respect.

The torque value for the four bolts that hold the AC units down is inch-pounds, not foot-pounds.  Threading the bolts in slightly, without the inside plate, makes moving the unit around to proper position from the inside of the coach much easier.

I chose to use RJ-11 jacks for connecting the "phone" cables, rather than cutting off the ends.  Cheap off Amazon.  I had a bad experience with tiny telecom wires long ago!

Unlike Jeff's FT, our FT has a wire present for providing 12 volts to the rear controller.  It exits the front cavity on the passenger side, and enters the rear cavity on the passenger side.

Regarding the wires for the Aqua Hot call for heat... 
Our coach is different from Jeff's and apparently others as well.  Instead of the call for heat wire having 12 volts, it leads (from the AC cavity) to a relay  that completes the ground.  I attached one of the brown wires to the 12 volt power in the cavity, same connection as the AC controller box.  I added a fuse holder and a 5 ampere fuse, the smallest I had on hand.  The second brown wire attaches to the call for heat wire.  What is different is that my coach has relays for the living room and the bedroom thermostat circuits.  (The bathroom does not.)  There are two relays, above the Aqua Hot unit, on the back side of a rafter where they are hard to see.  I did not have to make any changes in the AH box, though I had it open for testing.

The relays are shown on my wiring diagram A-6204.  (Maybe your wiring diagram is different?)  Two "Bosch" relays convert the +12 VDC on the wire to a ground of the wire A7A.  This produces the "ground the wire" that is described in Jeff's procedure, and in other people's comments.  It will be easy to determine what configuration you have.  If you ground the "call for heat" wire and the blower runs, you don't have the relays.  If this does not work, look for the relays in the AH box.

Rather than have a closet door that won't open completely, or cut the top of the door, I installed the old ceiling cover on the rear AC.  The openings roughly line up, and I will block off the non-duct cool air outlet anyway.  It may be slightly less efficient – I will let you know if it causes problems.  The closet door, of course, opens like it did before.

The heaters work like they should.  I have the ACs on and I will let them run for a few days to give them an exercise.  At the moment, it is too cold inside for the compressors to kick.  The new thermostat has a large screen, big buttons, and is backlit.  It is a joy!

I will be pleased to answer any questions you have, now or in the future.


Thanks for posting this. I installed my Chill's in the spring and everything was great, but when I grounded the Aquahot lead, my fans and pump would not run.  After reading your post, I spent 20 minutes in my units putting 12v to one brown furnace wire and one brown wire to the aquahot lead. now everything is working great.
Rex and Lari Stutchman
1998 U320 CAI Build # 5259
2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited

Re: AC Renovations -Furrion Chill 15K

Reply #37 –
Quote from: madmaxx –
Thanks for posting this. I installed my Chill's in the spring and everything was great, but when I grounded the Aquahot lead, my fans and pump would not run.  After reading your post, I spent 20 minutes in my units putting 12v to one brown furnace wire and one brown wire to the aquahot lead. now everything is working great.
I am pleased!
Matt B
1998 u-320

SPLIT: [Which model Dometic A/C replaces the original in a 2002?] - split from Re: AC Renovations

Reply #38 –
One or more of the messages of this topic have been moved to Foretravel Renovations - https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=49298.0 since it's a somewhat different question.
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