Atwood Air Command Cormorant Roof Air Review

Scott & Heather · August 01, 2016, 04:25:17 AM

So we have our Air Command installed and running now. I have a second unit in the box ready for install as well. These are 15,000 BTU heat pump units and I purchased their digital proprietary wall thermostats too. Actually I purchased one and Atwood sent me one free of charge as well (long story). So we have two thermostats controlling two different roof units. Initial impression is excellent. The wall thermostat lets you control between heat mode (which will bake you out if it's in the 40's or 50's) cool mode, dehumidify mode or fan only mode. Dehumidify will just kick the compressor on and off at 6 minute intervals. It does this really well. Cooling is very effective keeping the coach comfy so far this summer with just one unit installed and no windshield curtain and temps hovering 95 here in Michigan. Two will freeze us out I have no doubt. We are spray foam insulated and floor as well (2"). We also bought the wireless remotes so we can turn them on or off from bed. Nice little touch. Here's the biggest deal of all: these units are QUIET. Seriously, amazingly quiet. I can hardly hear it right now and it's just bowling straight down. When it's ducted it will be so quiet it will not disturb conversation or peace at all. They use something they call "v flow" technology which I think is just the shape of the styrofoam air duct. Anyway, I am very impressed so far. These units are new and have been on back order so if you order one be patient. I paid $588 for the unit plus shipping. This is the rooftop unit only. No interior panel or tstat. Purchased those separately.

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chessie4905 · August 01, 2016, 05:08:25 AM

FYI for those interested

http://www.rvbusiness.com/2013/03/atwood-air-command-ac-units-are-available/

Looks to be a good alternative to the present brands, esp with the issues people have had with the newer versions of them.

You should check some of the customer reviews on Amazon though.

DoubleEagle · August 01, 2016, 06:23:55 AM

I hope the heat pump function works better than the Dometic units I had back in the nineties. I had three heat pump combo units from Camping World, two failed within a few months. I got free replacements under guarantee, and then one of the replacements failed quickly. Camping World had a satisfaction guarantee, so I returned all three (at their expense) and got a full refund. I bought three Penquins with heat strips, and they have worked ever since without problems. The heat pumps (then) would not work at all when it got to 40 degrees. It looks like the Atwood units are tall and are going to reduce roof clearance a bit, I hope they are dependable for you.

luvrbus · August 01, 2016, 06:30:04 AM

Atwoods are Dometic now, they are quite and seem to do a good our neighbor has 3 in his 42 ft Alegro

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · August 01, 2016, 10:44:41 AM

I bought the same unit for my Eagle last year and l love it. I plan to buy another one just like it very soon. The greatest thing about these units is the wireless remote as Scott mentioned. I frequently ride without a co-pilot so it is nice to be able to turn these units on and off and adjust the thermostat while driving down the interstate at 70 MPH. It was always such a hassle before with the non-remote type having to lock in the cruise control and run back to bump the temp up or down a couple of degrees before the State Troopers notice there was no one in the drivers seat, especially on the curvy mountainous roads.

Just kidding. But it was a hassle having to pull over and stop the bus to start the unit or having to adjust the temperature when it started getting hotter or cooler outside especially when in the mountains where the temperature seems to change every mile. It seemed that I was never completely comfortable.

I bought my unit at Pacific RV Parts in Garden Grove, CA. They can ship these units anywhere, and because they maintain low overhead and are a family owned business, they can beat most anyone else's prices. Call them first and check them out. www.prvparts.com/. Ask for the "Hatt Good Guy" discount and see their ad in our magazine.

Oonrahnjay · August 02, 2016, 06:22:08 AM

It would be interesting to see the current consumption on this model. The Penguin II draws 1550 watts (15K Btu model) or 12.9 Amp.

luvrbus · August 02, 2016, 06:30:06 AM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on August 02, 2016, 06:22:08 AM
It would be interesting to see the current consumption on this model. The Penguin II draws 1550 watts (15K Btu model) or 12.9 Amp.

Bruce don't buy into the 12.9 amp mine will draw 16+ amps any day of the week @ 100F

Oonrahnjay · August 02, 2016, 06:43:43 AM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on August 02, 2016, 06:22:08 AM
It would be interesting to see the current consumption on this model. The Penguin II draws 1550 watts (15K Btu model) or 12.9 Amp.

Quote from: luvrbus on August 02, 2016, 06:30:06 AM
Bruce don't buy into the 12.9 amp mine will draw 16+ amps any day of the week @ 100F

That's an interesting piece of info, Clifford, thanks. The Penguin fact sheet says use a 20A fuse/breaker on the circuit. I think that I can make very good use of a rooftop mounted under the sofa in my upstairs living room and ducted into the driver's compartment -- much like that good setup that Tom C did, but I'm having a hard time in my head getting around the idea of a lot more power consumption than mini-splits. Off to look at more comparisons ----->

luvrbus · August 02, 2016, 07:05:47 AM

I don't know if they changed their sheet on the ll now or not but they were listed as 3 speed and they are only 2 speeds,we went around and round on that

Oonrahnjay · August 02, 2016, 07:15:52 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on August 02, 2016, 07:05:47 AMI don't know is they changed their sheet now or not but they were listed as 3 speed and they are only 2 speeds,we went around and round on that

You mean for the Penguin II, Clifford? Thanks. (I just picked that as a guess at what might be a representative comparison to the Atwood Air Command - I didn't have much time but I couldn't find a website with specs for the Atwood Air Command A/C. If the Penguin isn't a good, power-efficient roof top, what would be? I sorta guessed that the low-profile units lose a little efficiency by being repackaged but I'm not sure of that.)

Scott & Heather · August 02, 2016, 09:42:35 AM

They aren't any taller than a Coleman Mach unit. But I do need to measure my total coach height now. I have a 102C3 with an 8" roof raise, 24.5" 11r tires and Atwood roof airs. I hope I'm not pushing height limitations.

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thomasinnv · August 02, 2016, 09:55:05 AM

Scott you might want to measure your height. Stock height on the D is 11'10". With 13.5 inches of my coleman mach I am sitting at 12'11.5" i beleive your C is the same height, so with your 8" raise you may be over 13'6.

thomasinnv · August 02, 2016, 10:01:16 AM

According to the specs i found for the 102C stock height is 11'5" so you should be fine. Somewhere around 13'2 maybe?

luvrbus · August 02, 2016, 10:16:40 AM

I have a 8 inch raise with the Penguins I am close,don't worry about the 24.5's there is not that much difference in height between the 12r/22.5 that were OEM when new

eagle19952 · August 02, 2016, 02:00:54 PM

Quote from: thomasinnv on August 02, 2016, 10:01:16 AM
According to the specs i found for the 102C stock height is 11'5" so you should be fine. Somewhere around 13'2 maybe?

...On his tires ? just to be sure