Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bangorbob on May 02, 2022, 10:17:09 am
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Another year - another problem. Gotta love RV's. Anyway, my 14/15 yr old dometic penquin, noisy thing is probably on it's last legs (as I am). Anyway, worked fine until in didn't. Compressor won't come on. Will go up topside and check wiring.
Anyway, probably time for a new one. I see the new ones are around $1500-1800. If anyone has changed theirs, what brand, model did you change it with?
Thanks, Bob
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Definitely recommend the Houghton unit from RecPro. They are very, very quiet compared to the Dometic units. You can go to RecPro direct or through Amazon. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089N826FY/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=A1V7TJOE3FVDYM&psc=1).
I replaced both of my Dometic's with these heat pump units.
Kevin
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If you find the situation to be a wiring problem and you get the unit working again, make sure it remains bolted tight to the roof.
My brother with a small 21 foot Starflyte motorhome, his roof a/c unit was always loose, making even more noise until an RV technician noticed it loose and tightened it to the roof. My brother said is has never been less noisy. He bought the rig used with 60,000 miles. He thinks it was loose the day he bought the rig.
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Houghton A/C's, have 2 of them and they work great, I bought mine before heat-pumps were available in the states. Quiet inside and out of the coach, there is also another advantage, you don't need a soft start as its already built in to the start up sequence.
Very Respectfully
Lance
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Another year - another problem. Gotta love RV's. Anyway, my 14/15 yr old dometic penquin, noisy thing is probably on it's last legs (as I am). Anyway, worked fine until in didn't. Compressor won't come on. Will go up topside and check wiring.
Anyway, probably time for a new one. I see the new ones are around $1500-1800. If anyone has changed theirs, what brand, model did you change it with?
Thanks, Bob
Compressor not coming on is probably the start capacitor. Any decent RV a/c shop can test it and tell you if you need a $100 capacitor or a $1,500 new unit.
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Thanks for the replies. I have a mobile tech coming over around 4 today. I do have the micro air softstart 364 installed. Last time the comp wouldn't start I messed with the wiring. Not so this time. I'm hoping it is a cap. I prefer maybe $200 vs 2k. Will keep the forum updated.
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What thermostat did you use to run it all, meaning the a/c, heat, and furnace? I read that it does not work with other brand thermostats.
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Hello Bangorbob
I use the thermostat in the A/C's to control them and the heater is controlled by a 2 wire thermostat (easy set-up).
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-TH1100DV1000-Pro-Digital-2-Wire-Heat/dp/B00H6ARNXO/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1DSDK5LZ1YMG2&keywords=heating+thermostat&qid=1651575110&sprefix=Heating+thermostat%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-8
If you are asking about how the Houghton A/C's are controlled.
Very Respectfully
Lance
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Hello Bangorbob
I use the thermostat in the A/C's to control them and the heater is controlled by a 2 wire thermostat (easy set-up).
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-TH1100DV1000-Pro-Digital-2-Wire-Heat/dp/B00H6ARNXO/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1DSDK5LZ1YMG2&keywords=heating+thermostat&qid=1651575110&sprefix=Heating+thermostat%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-8
If you are asking about how the Houghton A/C's are controlled.
Very Respectfully
Lance
Yes sir, I was asking about the Houghton A/C's. I just spell it out like I should have. I really don't need nor want the heat pump/strip or whatever the AC is used for heating. The furnace and small portable electric heater works great.
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Can I assume the Houghton is the A3800? My next question is: The Dometic Brisk II Rooftop Air Conditioner, 13,500 BTU - Polar White (B57915.XX1C0) is picked the quietest AC on the web and the Houghton is not even listed in the top 10. The Brisk is only 1.7 inches taller and 13 inches shorter than the penquin ii. Just asking.
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Everyone has their own idea about thermostats.
Our 2007 2350 has the old conventional one pictured. We love its simplistic operation and location next to me in the 2350 bed. If we are too hot or too cold during the night, in the dark, without lifting my head off the pillow, I slide the adjustment up or down a little as needed. That makes it my winner.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8528/8463544778_279e6caa75_w.jpg)
On colder nights when the furnace is in operation, we always close the pleated room divider. This retains the heat in the bedroom, not only furnace heat, but also our body heat. Doing so greatly reduces furnace on/off cycling.
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Ron, I currently have the same thermostat in my 08. I really meant to inquire about the thermostat used with the Houghton.
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The thermostat with the Houghton is internal and remote controlled. If you lose power and then the power is restored the Houghton AC will come back to its setting. I have the Houghton Belaire 3400'S See attached video. This is Advanced RV, they installed the first A/C I installed the second https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPosCbwRw1g This is what the air discharge grill looks like. Picture is the second A/C I installed on my PC.
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The thermostat with the Houghton is internal and remote controlled. If you lose power and then the power is restored the Houghton AC will come back to its setting. I have the Houghton Belaire 3400'S See attached video. This is Advanced RV, they installed the first A/C I installed the second https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPosCbwRw1g This is what the air discharge grill looks like. Picture is the second A/C I installed on my PC.
That YouTube video is from the same couple that did the Hoosier Custom Cruiser video at the Tampa RV show. They sure do get around roflol
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Can I assume the Houghton is the A3800? My next question is: The Dometic Brisk II Rooftop Air Conditioner, 13,500 BTU - Polar White (B57915.XX1C0) is picked the quietest AC on the web and the Houghton is not even listed in the top 10. The Brisk is only 1.7 inches taller and 13 inches shorter than the penquin ii. Just asking.
The one's I have are RP-AC3400. The "RP" is RecPro's number add in to the Houghton AC3400 model number. The AC3400 profile is 4 and a half inches lower than the AC3800 and is lower than the Penguin by an inch or so.
Kevin
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Watching that video makes me say..... "I can't wait until our Penguin A/C unit needs to be replaced".
We usually avoid camping in the heat of summer, one reason because I really don't like hiking all day in "heat". We also love to boondock and don't want to be running both the generator and noisy A/C unit at the time. Where and when we travel, the A/C unit does not get worked very often, so our Penguin just might outlast us.
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Verdict in: Dead A/C unit. Will be replacing with the taller, lighter dometic brisk unit. The penquin was soooooooooooo noisy.
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Hopefully the Brisk is much quieter. I would like to compare that to the Hougton A/C I have. One good thing about the Brisk, its sold in a lot more locations then the Houghton and I imagine parts are easier to get if you need them. Good luck on your new AC, I hope its quiet and you can hear yourself think, not like the Penguin..
Very Respectfully
Lance
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Hopefully the Brisk is much quieter. I would like to compare that to the Hougton A/C I have. One good thing about the Brisk, its sold in a lot more locations then the Houghton and I imagine parts are easier to get if you need them. Good luck on your new AC, I hope its quiet and you can hear yourself think, not like the Penguin..
Very Respectfully
Lance
Lance thanks. Having hearing loss of hearing to begin with and then loud noise of the penquin, my wife almost had to use ear muffs cus the TV was always do loud. I am hoping the brisk is quieter. Will keep all posted.
Bob