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Topic: Ceiling airduct flow (Read 365 times) previous topic - next topic

Ceiling airduct flow

The ceiling air ducts in our 2002 U320 4020 have very low air flow with a/c. The air just blasts out of the bottom grills on both and trickles out the ducts.  I'm not finding much on complaints about this.  I don't see any diverter door or lever so nothing to adjust. Other than an internal mod is there anything I can do?
Andy & Sue (and Sofie dog) + Lucy dog
2002 U320 4020
# 5959
TOAD 2014 CRV

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #1 –
Close the bottom Gills on the air conditioners  so it won't blow straight down and you should have good air flow from the vents down and up stream from the air conditioners
Rick & Hilda looking forward to full- timing one day for now couple of months at a time
1999 U270 3602
Built number  5530.  Feb 1999            Motorcade  number 18438
8.3 Cummins Allison six speed with brake  retarder
Purchased Nov 28 2019

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #2 –
That would be great but I don't have that.  It's a plain grill.
Andy & Sue (and Sofie dog) + Lucy dog
2002 U320 4020
# 5959
TOAD 2014 CRV

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #3 –
What brand and model A/C do you have?

Picture?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #4 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
What brand and model A/C do you have?

Picture?

A 2002 U320 is going to have a ducted Dometic Penguin with heat pump if OEM, most likely replacement is a Penguin II.  Actually, 2 of them for 40' and under, 3 for 42'.

There is a dump lever on those model a/c's.  It closes the openings in the grille so the air is forced into the duct plenums.  Look closely at the dump part of the grille (not the filtered intake).  You should see something that will close the openings.  Trying to find a photo....

Found one - the lever is hard to see:
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: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #5 –
It took me a little while to get the photos.  They are the Dometic Duo-Therm Air Conditioner 630516.321.    The louver tab on the front one is broken off.  >:(
Found the back one.  Yea!  Took me a bit to figure out attachments for these photos.
Andy & Sue (and Sofie dog) + Lucy dog
2002 U320 4020
# 5959
TOAD 2014 CRV

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #6 –
Quote from: AdventureSofie –
The louver tab on the front one is broken off.  >:(

Found the back one.  Yea! 

I don't know if you can still find the ivory bezels/interior trim, but white should still be available and there's always Krylon paint ;-)

You can try FOT parts and see if they happen to still stock the ivory/off white ones.
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: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #7 –
Looks like you have to buy the assembly.

Dometic Duo Therm Brisk Air Ducted Ceiling Assembly
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #8 –
Thanks.  That one is superseded but maybe it's still available.  Pocket knife works pretty good too for now.
Andy & Sue (and Sofie dog) + Lucy dog
2002 U320 4020
# 5959
TOAD 2014 CRV

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #9 –
Original p/n is discontinued:

Dometic Duo Therm Brisk Air Ducted Ceiling Assembly

"Important:
This item number is no longer produced/manufactured by Dometic. They have superseded it to a new version of the ducted assembly, item # 3317404.000. If you purchase this listing, you will receive the new version, item # 3317404.000. The functionality, dimensions, and purpose of the new version are all the same as item # 3105935.047. It may look minor cosmetically different."

I think that's the full assembly, including the distribution box itself, which hopefully you wouldn't need (as in, the screw holes would line up).

Another option (if FOT doesn't have any) might be to try a place like Visone that pulls parts from totaled RVs.

Also try eBay.  We've found discontinued components for some RV things there.
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: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #10 –
The problem with the ceiling duct work is the dramatic angles that the air must make (turbulence, noise, and loss of energy), and the lack of flow aids to the rectangular ducts.  There is an aftermarket grill available, and several "cheats" to more freely maneuver the air from the Penguin into the ducts.

RV airflow systems supplies a complete system.  RV Airflow Systems www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXFQJKKh3jY

Here's the DIY I copied.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TusVLTNm7_s

The increased airflow and decrease in air noise is significant.  The loss of the direct down air from the blocked off grill has not been missed one second.  I love this mod.  Woody.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #11 –
It just occurred to me - if anyone replaces their Penguin/DuoTherm units with options that also replace the interior trim (like RecPro, perhaps?), please consider hanging onto those interior trim pieces.  They may come in handy for folks like AdventureSofie.
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: Ceiling airduct flow

Reply #12 –
Fortunately this is a low priority item right now.  At least i have the ducts blowing.  Thanks all.
Andy & Sue (and Sofie dog) + Lucy dog
2002 U320 4020
# 5959
TOAD 2014 CRV