The "new" Dometic Penguin LoPro died last weekend. I bought it 3 years ago as a new takeout, but it's over 5 years old because the camper it came out of was a leftover. This AC has annoyed me from the start. It's loud. It's "low" fan speed isn't low. It will ice up. It will dump freezing cold water on you every several hours. I have to keep towels under it!
I know it can be fixed, I'm sure it just lost the freon because it started cold and over an hour it stopped cooling and then the compressor shut off. Fan runs but compressor won't. I will likely fix it and sell it, or install it in my car trailer, or whatever.
I know we've all beaten this dead horse a hundred times, but I need a real solution for AC in my bus. Can anyone suggest a good quality roof unit that is quiet and reliable? Can anyone suggest a good basement AC solution? I have read everything there is to read on Mini Splits, I'm not opposed to them, just don't have the interior wall space to mount the units but have considered floor mounting the air handlers.
I'm also considering TomC's solution of using two house AC units ducting them up into the bus.
Edit: I have a 4106 and I don't like the looks of roof units, original insulation, all the OEM windows, and 70amps 120VAC diesel generator. I figure I need 30k btu at a minimum. I don't need it 70 inside when it's 100, just livable. I'm usually in the North East part of the country.
Thanks
I'm no expert, but two thoughts:
1. Coleman roof a/c units (Mach models) in my opinion and experience are the most reliable roof units out there. But if you don't want roof units, proceed to thought number 2:
2. If you want to try a mini split, you don't have to use the large interior unit. They make ductable units. They are smaller and you just need to create a way to duct them :) if your compressor on your current broken roof unit isn't working, it might just be your capacitor. I would check that first. You can remove the shroud and swap capacitors with your other roof unit and that will immediately tell you if its the capacitor
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The easiest to replace, and is most effective are roof airs that are not ducted. Course, they are noisy. My converted Penguins are nearly silent from the vent.
I would suggest just getting another Penguin since you already have the ceiling fixture. On my 40ft'r, I have three Coleman's that have been great-but are noisy. Personally, I would have at least two on a 35ft'r. Good luck, TomC
Scott, I'll look into a ducted mini split. I know that Sean eventually gave up on his, but others have made them work and last.
Tom, I thought you were using a house AC unit. I really don't want to give Dometic any of my business. I can't really explain, but this unit has left a bad taste in my mouth from day one. I have an old Coleman Mach ?? that works fine. When both units are running, it's usually enough cooling in the bus except while going over the road.
The two 15,000btu Penguins I converted have metal fans and plastic fan shrouds. I understand (like many of the A/C's) that they have been cheapened up to have plastic fans and styrofoam fan shrouds. I don't know if there are any real quality roof airs still made. Good Luck, TomC
Mark,the mini splits still require air movement me personally I would prefer the ugly roof tops over holes and screens on the bay doors and floors.
I have a friend he didn't cut the doors he opens his doors to run the AC units to me it is can of tacky but it works for him when parked.
I would check out the package unit made for mobile homes and duct it from the floor either way you are going to lose bay space.
Quote from: luvrbus on July 10, 2015, 08:28:28 AM
Mark,the mini splits still require air movement me personally I would prefer the ugly roof tops over holes and screens on the bay doors and floors.
I have a friend he didn't cut the doors he opens his doors to run the AC units to me it is can of tacky but it works for him when parked.
I would check out the package unit made for mobile homes and duct it from the floor either way you are going to lose bay space.
Hi Clifford! Got your package, btw. Again, thank you very much!
I will look into the mobile home units. I don't mind cutting a hole or two into the bay floor, but I'm not willing to cut into the siding. I may have no choice on going with roof mounts, I just hate them.
Inside measurement on newest 9,000 mini-split is 25 inches wide by 9 inches tall and deep. I do believe a 9,000 is equal to a 13,5 roof top or even more. My front condenser unit is behind front bumper and exits out floor. It is sitting (the bus) with bags down now about 6 inches off ground. I will not tell anyone to use them! Will however share experiences plus my friend who has a mci8 has been using them well before I tried. he is a Hvac professional Mostly heavy factory/industry. His condenser is in a bay that he added a box fan to to get adequate air flow. I use existing bus condenser bay for my condenser unit/have removed bus air. A point of intrest many cruise-air units I have seen have evaporators under couch/cabinets. Just paid 640$ delivered for a 9thousand unit ,inverter type ,heat and air,only pulls 6.5 amps @120 Volt. That about it.
That must be the evaporator measurements the condensers I see on the minis are a lot larger than that.I think the BTU's rating are all calculated the same way I have a hard time figuring out how a 9,000 btu could be more than 13,500. The btu's can be made more by a simple upgrade in the HP of the condenser motor most of the time you can add 1500 btu to 13,500 btu roof by a simple motor change
For what it's worth, I've got a new Coleman 13,500 and an old Coleman 13,500. The old unit is a 1996 model. I've had to replace the capacitor and the fan motor on the old unit. The old unit is a little quieter than the new one. They seem to cool about the same. I don't like either one of them because they are both too noisy. These are non ducted units. If someone would make a quiet roof mount I'd pull both of them out and replace them.
Duct the units and you cannot hear them I am still a big fan of Cruise Air units if installed right
Quote from: robertglines1 on July 10, 2015, 09:40:26 AM
Just paid 640$ delivered for a 9thousand unit ,inverter type ,heat and air,only pulls 6.5 amps @120 Volt. That about it.
What make and model is it?
John
Anything can have capacity(roof top) but lack efficiency. I have not seen a seer on a roof top. That said I have had good service from several brands of Mini-split. I look for Toshiba compressor, Inverter technology,410 refrigerant,120 volt,and seer above 15. Again do not as I do but make your own mind up. The roof top is simple install. Pretty well straight up. I wish The rv industry Air Conditioners had a more modern solution. No need for them to upgrade as demand is not there. This is for info only..Outside box. Bob
Rooftops are loud due to the high air volume needed to throw the air a distance in open space. Ducted Rooftops are quieter.
Coleman just came out with a super low profile completely redesigned unit around 15k btu with or without heat pump. After reading up about it, I'm going to give it a try to replace my older 13,500 Mini Mach which has a leak. Clifford mentioned it a couple of weeks back on another post.
I am impressed with my new Coleman chessie4905 a lot better unit the Penquin 11 was.Bob the Chinese are making their way into the RV market.
I looked at the Gree RV roof top and was impressed with the features plus it was low amp (13) but could not bring myself to buy it and Gree is the largest manufacture of mini splits AC's in the world they make the splits under dozen of different brands so the technology is there but they choose not to use it on RV roof tops
going to check it out. I know they are building the inverter roof tops overseas for the caravan market there. 50hz instead of 60 though. Glad to hear Coleman has come out with a new product. Maybe Nick can give us some more info on it. Bob
I've got 3 Coleman Mach low profiles installed in 2001. Still running strong. They are ducted. I only run them on low as the high speed just isn't needed. They work really well, and I hope when they die I can get another that is similar as I would hate to tear out all my ductwork.
David
David, Could you provide some info on the duct work? Thinking of replacing both of our rooftops and like the thought of quiet.
Thanks,
Dennis
This is what Penguin did to raise their 13,500btu unit to 15,000btu. Same everything, except higher capacity fan motor. Good Luck, TomC
http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/products/rooftop/mach8.php (http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/products/rooftop/mach8.php)
Is anyone using the Coleman Roughneck AC units?
http://www.adventurerv.net/coleman-roughneck-13500-btu-roof-air-conditioner-ceiling-assembly-p-29025.html (http://www.adventurerv.net/coleman-roughneck-13500-btu-roof-air-conditioner-ceiling-assembly-p-29025.html)
I have 2 of those on my Eagle, it was over 100 deg here today and I had them on low, I was in and out of the bus all day and it still stayed nice and cool.
Wes
Mark,
I have 2 Coleman units now. 1 is the Mach 8 15k with heat pump and it does a good job. The other is a Mach 3 13.5k unit and it does good as well although I think the armature for the fan is either slightly bent or off balance and while it works great it sometimes needs a little love to get started.
If I can come visit you around the 21st I'd be glad to help you get your AC straightened out. My 15k dumped water in the bus and I had to take it apart and found that one drain tube was run incorrectly and one of the drainholes in the unit was not drilled out. Easy fix. Then I found that a couple of the rivets were loose on the plate that covers the cutout on the bus and some runoff water was leaking in (also when it rained).
I think I'm going to order a new AC unit for the bedroom and I'd be glad to give you my 13.5 if you want to take a look at it. It works as well as the 15k unit up front.
Coleman Mach website
http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/?site=full (http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/?site=full)
They have pretty good support
-Sean
Stumbled on this
http://www.toyhauleradventures.com/2011/06/buyer-beware-look-alike-rv-rooftop-air-conditioners-hit-market/ (http://www.toyhauleradventures.com/2011/06/buyer-beware-look-alike-rv-rooftop-air-conditioners-hit-market/)
The Advent seems to be a decent AC you see a lot of those on new RV's fwiw
Bought two new Atwood 's last month. Haven't got them installed yet, replacing my 12 year old Carrier 's. Have saw way too many of the new Domestics and Coleman 's die running 24/7 when the temperature get into the teens..rdw
Quote from: Seangie on July 11, 2015, 07:18:42 PM
Mark,
I have 2 Coleman units now. 1 is the Mach 8 15k with heat pump and it does a good job. The other is a Mach 3 13.5k unit and it does good as well although I think the armature for the fan is either slightly bent or off balance and while it works great it sometimes needs a little love to get started.
If I can come visit you around the 21st I'd be glad to help you get your AC straightened out. My 15k dumped water in the bus and I had to take it apart and found that one drain tube was run incorrectly and one of the drainholes in the unit was not drilled out. Easy fix. Then I found that a couple of the rivets were loose on the plate that covers the cutout on the bus and some runoff water was leaking in (also when it rained).
I think I'm going to order a new AC unit for the bedroom and I'd be glad to give you my 13.5 if you want to take a look at it. It works as well as the 15k unit up front.
Coleman Mach website
http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/?site=full (http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/?site=full)
They have pretty good support
-Sean
Thanks Sean! I know we've talked about your mini-split dilemmas and that you eventually gave up on them and went to roof tops. Would be good to see you again, and have an AC chat! I have a meeting on the 21st, but I'm free all day on Sunday the 20th and can come out to see you.