Replacing Air Conditioners

[tntom]

I need to replace my 13500 BTU Air Conditioner/Heat Pump on my 28 foot 99 Excella and, after doing some research, very close to deciding on the Dometic Penguin Lo Profile 15000 BTU AC/HP system. Has anyone had any experience with this system and will there be a problem with increasing the BTU's? Also looking for a good source. I plan to install myself.

[perryg114]

You won't have any problems with too much current. I just put in a Dometic Briskair 15,000 BTU. What is wrong with the old unit.

Perry

[Silver Otter]

tntom - Out of Doors Mart replaced our 13.5 with a 15 a few weeks ago, on a unit just about like yours, same year. We *love* the new, quiet Penguin. She really cools and no additional strain on the system so far as we can see. Go For It.

[BAB]

My 2012 28' Intl came with the 15,000 BTU model. I can tell you from personal experience that even in the intense heat this summer it kept the interior more than comfortable. It's also quiet and I had no trouble sleeping with it cycling on and off.

[FC7039]

I just installed the Penguin II 15,000 BTU. I did, but now wish I did more research on the differences between the 13.5 and 15. Dometic is ambiguous in whether they have a 15K BTU. They list it as 15K in places but not in others. Below is from their own doc. (which by the way you cannot find on their site). The specs for the HC (aka 15K BTU) are the same or lower than the 13.5. Maybe someone can explain what makes it 15 vs 13.5? I do not have a picture of the label from the bottom of the AC, but it to list 13.5. (forgive me for not having the exact verbage from the label)

My point is, is the 15K really worth the price over a 13.5K?

http://www.hill-family.us/serrano/Ma...tionManual.pdf

[Mike Leary]

No one told me about Dometic making different size roof airs when our old Colemans were replaced in 05. We have the 13.5 BTUs, I like the low profile, but they WANT for cooling after it get's into the ninties. If I'd known a 15 btu was available at that time, I'd been on it like a cheap suit.

[perryg114]

Their specs are wrong for the Penquin. The other models that are 15K have a higher amp rating for the bigger units but the Penquin is showing less amps. See page 7

http://www.dometic.com/FileOrganizer...AC_catalog.pdf

Perry

[Tater]

I have an 11 25' with 13.5 Dometic. I have wished several times that I had gotten a 15k when I was ordering the unit. On the 90 degree plus days in open sun, the 13.5 can't get it done. I let the dealer talk me out of ordering the 15 because I was told the 13.5 is sized for the 25' and the 15k will cause it to cycle on and off too frequently. On the hot days it never comes close to cycling. Go with the 15.

[ZoominC6]

Do it. You'll never regret it. We had ours done some years ago and what a difference!

[Mike Leary]

We have both roof airs going as I type, it's in the mid nineties here, after a half hour, we're down to the eighties and getting cooler inside. Yes, the gennie is powering both of them.

[FC7039]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Their specs are wrong for the Penquin. The other models that are 15K have a higher amp rating for the bigger units but the Penquin is showing less amps. See page 7

http://www.dometic.com/FileOrganizer...AC_catalog.pdf

Perry

The doc I linked is from Dometic and is for the model number of the Penguin II I bought. What I got with the air handler did not match my AC. This is kind of my point about just what is Dometic selling? The doc does not match the catalog.

I should add that we stayed in the trailer with it well above 100 degrees and the AC performed well in cooling the trailer. It is loud. It does shake the trailer when the compressor kicks in.

[tntom]

Thanks to everyone for your inputs. After a summer like 2012, guess it should be a no brainer about the 15,000 BTU. Your inputs verify the larger unit. Now to sort out the exact Dometic model: Duo Therm, Brisk Air or Penguin -- all heat pumps but specs not clear on Penguin. Hopefully I can talk to someone that can clarify. If anyone knows a good supplier please let me know. Camping World may order what I need for pickup. Thanks again.

[Ridgerunner3]

A few weeks ago I had the 11,000 btu penguin AC on my Safari 25 replaced with a 15,000 btu penguin heat pump. I had it done at Jackson Center. The heat pump is the same one going in the new AS. The thermostat is the digital thermostat also used on the new AS. You can set the heat pump to auto and it will switch from AC to heat to furnace as necessary to maintain the thermostat set point. The install took more time than a straight AC swap because of the complexity of the conversion from a manual AC to the more complex thermostat. The refrigerator had to be removed in order to get to the wiring for the thermostat. The wiring for hooking the heat pump and furnace to the new thermostat was actually already in place from when the trailer was built. Labor hours were 6.5. There would have been much less labor hours if the install had been a swap to another manual AC unit.

The new heat pump, so far, does a very good job of cooling my Safari 25. The 11,000 btu unit just could not cool down the trailer during this hot summer. The air coming out of the old unit was 20 degrees F lower than the ambient temperature of the trailer. I guess there just was not enough cool air volume to handle all of that heat coming through the walls.

The fan on the heat pump blows more air on low fan than the old unit did on high fan. You can set the thermostat to cycle the fan off with the compressor or let the fan run constant. Frequent cycling of the unit has not been a problem that I have experienced. It is great to be able to cool the trailer down fairly quickly when you pull in to camp after a long day on the road.

It will be a plus in the winter to be able to heat without the use of propane until the outside temp gets fairly low.

[tntom]

All your posts have made me continue to dig deeper in the replacement of my 13.5K rooftop Heat Pump with a 15K. Especially the part about the Penguin drawing less current than other 15K units. Tonight that spec table is not coming up but I think I remember the Penguin not being listed as a 15K but called high powered (or something simular). Today I talked with Dometic support and they confirmed it not to be 15K but a 13.5K unit that has been tweaked and upgraded to be more efficient. More than 13.5K output but not 15. It probably is a more efficient unit providing more cooling but I am now leaning toward the Brisk Air heat pump (459186) that is truly rated 15K. It is not considered a low profile but I can live with another one and one half inch. I am going to wait another week or so before ordering just in case something else surfaces. If not I will go with the Brisk Air unit.

[sierrafun]

tntom,

Something to consider that I was reading in another thread (sorry but I can't remember the thread) is this:

• Remove the Drain Pan on the roof A/C and Replace it with the Dometic Auxiliary Drip Kit

WHY:
Because the drain pan is totally unnecessary, is plastic and cracks, raises the A/C unit 2" higher than needed and needs tons of sealant to fit properly. Dometic makes the auxiliary drip kit for a reason; it is designed to work with their A/C roof units and is far simpler to install.

Just thought you might be interested in knowing this while you're changing units out.

[Aviator]

Tntom,

I replaced my original Penguin 13.5 with the new Penguin II 15K. It was a bear to get up onto the roof by myself (110# or so), but I'd has done a good job of cooling our 34'. I am glad I made the upgrade after te old A/C died.

[Lumatic]

With a 28 footer 15k is a good idea. We have a Dometic Penquin low profile 13k on our 25' tradewind and it just does the job.

One downside is if you boondock you will need a big gererator. For my 13.5 I use 2 Honda eu20001 gennys. Some people say you can use one, but it did not work for me. From what I read 2 eu20001 gennys will not run a 15K.

[herrick51]

You should take the time to research the sound level between low profile and regular height. The more you compress the air in the supply plenum ,the more restriction and noise will occur. I have the new 15,000 btu unit in my 2012 FC and the air delivery sound level is much higher than the units in my 2004 classic. The design problems with a/c are always the same regardless of application and finding a system that cools during 95 degree days without high noise levels is difficult. So ask the eng.dept what they have done to achieve acceptable sound levels while suppling the required air changes per hour to maintain temp.If you are persistant,you can usually contact the right people at all the major suppliers. Good research will make you a cool customer. Sorry!

Originally Posted by tntom

All your posts have made me continue to dig deeper in the replacement of my 13.5K rooftop Heat Pump with a 15K. Especially the part about the Penguin drawing less current than other 15K units. Tonight that spec table is not coming up but I think I remember the Penguin not being listed as a 15K but called high powered (or something simular). Today I talked with Dometic support and they confirmed it not to be 15K but a 13.5K unit that has been tweaked and upgraded to be more efficient. More than 13.5K output but not 15. It probably is a more efficient unit providing more cooling but I am now leaning toward the Brisk Air heat pump (459186) that is truly rated 15K. It is not considered a low profile but I can live with another one and one half inch. I am going to wait another week or so before ordering just in case something else surfaces. If not I will go with the Brisk Air unit.

[kcrockett]

I have a 2005 30 ft Classic with the Penquin 15000 BTU model Air Conditioner/heat pump and bought a Brisk unit with manual controls can I wire to the thermostat?