Need Hep AC replacement???

[Pete Masterson]

I have a damaged unit (thanks to a large tree branch -- it apparently
was pushed up by the King Dome at the very front of the coach, then
rebounded onto the front AC unit ... and my rear AC unit vibrates
like crazy (although it still cools). The center AC runs pretty much
as expected.

I was thinking of replacing two of the units with high efficiency
units. Both Coleman and Dometic make a 13500 btu 10 amp AC --
compared to the 15.5 amps (each) of the current units on my 'bird.

See further comments below...

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Bluebird Wanderlodge WBDA 4203
El Sobrante, CA




On Jul 19, 2006, at 8:16 AM, burthum wrote:

> 1. My Air Conditioners are all broken and I would like to replace
> them.
> a. 1991 BlueBird WLWB
>
> 2. Current Air Conditioner
> a. Dometic
> b. Penguin
> c. 13,500 btu
> d. ducted
> e. remote thermostat ( analog )
> f. no heat strip
> e. part number - 620015.405

Mine are "penguin" -- model 600315.221 -- othwise similar.

>
> 3. Problem
> a. I have called Bluebird, Dometic, Camping World, and a couple
> of local distributers, and with each phone call have received a
> different part number for replacement of my old ac unit. The best
> part is that Dometic has even given me different part number
> replacements with successive phone calls.
>
I contacted Dometic by email through their web site had had several
exchanges with them at customersupportcenter@...

They were able to answer my questions...

> 4. Has anyone replaced their AC units and if so
> a. what part numbers for the AC unit and the thermostat
> b. analog or digital
> c. how much rewiring was required.?
> d. do all newer dometic ac units have the same mounting hole
> locations relative to the hole in the roof of the coach?

I am told that the DuoTherm High Efficiency Brisk Air AC (10 amps)
can be used on my coach. Model number 59530. That it will work with
the ducted system. And, finally that the thermostat (with "Assy #
3105356.024 on the circuit board) will work with the new AC.


> 5. Dometics Customer Service is one of the worst.
> a. near to impossible to get anyone on the phone.
> b. absolutely no idea of their own products.
> c. if I already did not have a Dometic, then I would shop for
> something else.
>

My experience via email was quite different --- answers were prompt
(within 24 hours) and they asked for additional info which I provided
and again responded promptly. They also provided a PDF with
installation instructions so that I could examine the current
installation and see how the new unit would compare.

It is important to note that the Penguin units are a low profile
design and the 10 amp unit is about 3.5 inches taller. On my coach
this will not present a problem as the King Dome already is about
that much taller (so I'm not losing any clearance). The swap on other
coaches may present a loss of height clearance.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]