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Jones1

Birmingham, Al

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Posted: 06/01/12 09:53am

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Good Morning
I know this subject has been discussed before and I have searched but am unable to find it.
I have a '99 Dutch Star DP with two 13,500 btu Penguin ac/heat pump units and I need to replace the front unit.
The existing system uses the four button Comfort Control thermo.
I believe I read that when replacing one unit you have to go with the five button thermo and add/replace a control board in the old unit you are not replacing.
I have called Camping World and PPL and neither knew what was required to replace this unit. They were going to check with Dometic and advise. This was 3/4 weeks ago so maybe some one on this forum has replaced one of their units and would be so kind to tell me what was involved.
Thanks for your help
Roy Jones

Ames

South Central Florida

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Posted: 06/01/12 10:30am

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We replaced two Penguin 13500 AC only units on our 1997 Patriot with two 15,000 btu Heat Pumps in our 1997 Patriot about 4 years ago. We had to change to digital thermostats. Work was done by an RV service point in Punta Gorda, FL. One of the thermostats is in a slide and they also control the Aqua Hot Heating System. They did not as far as I know replace any theromstat wiring.

Richard and Babs and a Bob Tail Cat
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330 HP Member FMCA, BAC, Good Sam, CAT RV Club
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MountainAir05

New Mexico

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Posted: 06/01/12 10:36am

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That is the way I understand it also. You also can leave the old unit on the back unit and heater and run the new unit on the new theromstat. Just change the back dip switch to a single unit.

lfeather

Titusville, FL

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Posted: 06/01/12 10:38am

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Jones1 wrote:

Call Dometic. You might have to hold a while, but when the technical folks finally answer, I have found them to be very helpfull for fridge questions..

Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi
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2oldman

Winchester WA

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Posted: 06/01/12 11:02am

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Try this post

dougrainer

Carrolton, Texas

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Posted: 06/01/12 04:50pm

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If you can afford it, I would replace BOTH Penguins with new ones. The new ones come with the 12 button control board. ALL you have to replace other than the HP units is the wall tstat with ba 12 button. Your Units have outlived their usefulness. So, replacing both is not a bad decision. Your original HP on the 4 button on a Newmar DSDP has and you do have a freeze up problem,. Newmar was well aware of this problem from 98 to 2001 when Dometic came out with the 5 button CCC control and THAT 5 button had Freeze Thermisters for the Heat Pumps that stopped the Freeze Ups on the 4 button Newmars. Newmar's froze up (units that had HP only) because Dometic did not have a Freeze Thermister system to work on 4 button HP's(For AC's only they had a Freeze control). Newmar's design of their roof ducting system contributed to the freeze ups on Heat Pumps in Cold mode. So, replace BOTH units with the NEW and purchase and install the 12 button wall tstat and it all just plugs in no special wiring at all. The 12 button has timer control capabilities and auto ON and OFF and you can program almost anything you want. Read about the tstat here. To answer your original question, you have NO choice but to purchase a 12 button Penguin as that is ALL they have. IF you had a 5 button, they make a 12 to 5 button module kit to work with a 5 button. But, there is NO KIT to make your OLD 4 button work with the NEW 12 button Penguin. You really have NO choice but to replace BOTH Penguins at this time. IF you can find an OLDER Penguin built for 5 button, then you can install IT and then install the upgrade 5 button module board on the other 4 button penguin and still have to purchase a 5 button wall CCC. Doug

http://www.earthboundrv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Comfort-Control-Center-1.pdf

robatthelake

Vancouver Island

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Posted: 06/01/12 07:57pm

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Or You can have a really Handy Old school Type person to actually repair what You already have! The question is How do You know that the Front Unit is shot?

They Told Me that Story 2 Years ago . I was able to repair it with a 49 Cent Part . It works Today as well as it did when the rig was New!

Rob & Jean
98 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..92 Tracker 4X2

Jones1

Birmingham, Al

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Posted: 06/01/12 08:15pm

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The unit has lost its freon charge. I had a service co. add a valve and recharge the unit in March this year when we were in Fl. Worked great. After storing the unit couple mo. it was out of freon again. We were at NASCAR race in N.C. couple weeks ago had the unit recharged but the service co. could not find a leak.
I have not checked to see if the unit still cools after returning home. I am going to check next week.
Thanks