Air conditioner replacement

[Just4play]

I have a 2019 Newmar London Aire. I’m told that one of my a/c’s is in need of replacement. It is a Dometic Pinguin II 15k with heat pump. I’m told Dometic has discontinued this unit. Has anyone else ran into this and what did you replace it with? Your input is appreciated.

[flyboy013]

I was speaking to someone the other day who eluded to the same thing. He indicated that there was a replacement model (he didn't mention the model info) and that the thermostat interface to the unit was different. The old version used a 10 button thermostat and the new one uses a 12 button thermostat. He indicated that they are incompatible and you could not continue to daisy chain the communications cable from the thermostat and then to old and new systems. The Silverleaf TM510 module is the thermostat for these units. I was informed that if one unit failed, you would need to replace all of them. Of course you may also need to change-out or reflash the TM510 to work with the new units.

This was all based on a single conversation that I had and I have not confirmed any of this with Newmar, Dometic, or Silverleaf.

[palehorse89]

Here is something interesting I just came across after reading this thread, from back in 2016.........does this apply Mark?
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/a-l...ge-279989.html

[richpatty]

I don’t have a LA, but I had my Penguin heat pump replaced last December at NIRVC and nothing was said about availability….

[shepardmike]

I ran into this problem with my 2019 Berkshire. I had a Penguin II fail and it was manufactured in 2018 and the controller was analog. At some point in time Penguin went digital. Had I know that I would have pulled the old controller out before I took it to the dump. I scoured the salvage yards but no luck. I purchased a couple "so called" analog controllers from Amazon and none were compatible, like you said, the number of wires didn't match up. I found a RV service place in Tampa that specializes in restoring old Prevost's and a mechanic knew how to get around it. I didn't bother to ask what the fix was because I was getting rid of it. Good luck.

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by Just4play

I have a 2019 Newmar London Aire. I’m told that one of my a/c’s is in need of replacement. It is a Dometic Pinguin II 15k with heat pump. I’m told Dometic has discontinued this unit. Has anyone else ran into this and what did you replace it with? Your input is appreciated.

There is a shop in Shipshewanna, Ind. that is really a good source.
It is:
https://fixyourfridge.com/

[Just4play]

Originally Posted by Just4play

I have a 2019 Newmar London Aire. I’m told that one of my a/c’s is in need of replacement. It is a Dometic Pinguin II 15k with heat pump. I’m told Dometic has discontinued this unit. Has anyone else ran into this and what did you replace it with? Your input is appreciated.

Thank you everyone for your responses, it gives me some things to think about and look into.

[PanJH]

Originally Posted by Just4play

I have a 2019 Newmar London Aire. I’m told that one of my a/c’s is in need of replacement. It is a Dometic Pinguin II 15k with heat pump. I’m told Dometic has discontinued this unit. Has anyone else ran into this and what did you replace it with? Your input is appreciated.

I had an AC unit replaced about a year ago. I was told the newest ones were not compatable with the old ones. The shop was able to find one that would work, but warned me that they were in short supply and that in the future they would not be available- that seems to be the situation you are in. They told me that in the future, I'd need to get a different thermostat and change the control boards on the old units if I were to keep them.

[LeslieGary]

Add us to the AC replacement crowd. Our front unit failed, tech looked at it this afternoon and we need a new one.

He ordered a unit without a heat pump (we seldom use the heat pumps) and pending shipping will install it in the next week.

The tech seems very experienced but there does seem to be some uncertainty in compatibility. I’ll report back once complete. Glad we still have the other two AC units keeping us cool!

[Dutch Star Don]

I think you can find a replacement of some, BUT.....you need to make sire itw ill play well with your thermostat.

[Tony Ramirez]

Doesn't make me feel very confident hearing hearing '19s are having their Acs go out. My '92 I had from '92-'06, both Acs were running great when I sold it. My '04 I had from '06-'23, same thing, AC ran great till I got rid of it.

I guess new stuff just doesn't last anymore, another thing to worry about.

[TheRod]

Is there a common reason these units are failing?

[Suburbazine]

Originally Posted by TheRod

Is there a common reason these units are failing?

Penguins are built cheap and sold expensive. The entire design including the single motor drive is about cost not about reliability. And they're loud as a result, in fact they are the loudest unit on the market today. Dometic had the opportunity to bring true high efficiency units to market 10 years ago, they shelved it instead in pursuit of bottom line. It's why you have so many competitors you haven't heard of popping out of the woodwork with much higher efficiency, better modularized units.


If you want to see some ugly numbers:


Dometic Penguin II, 15,000btu, heat pump. Draws 17 amps on average at full load and startup spikes higher to around 23 amps. Heat pump needs 14 amps on average. Can run 1 unit on 2000 watt source if you plug it in just right. Unbuffered plenum sound level, 78dB. Average cost, $2400 depending on controls configuration. Warranty, 1 year labor, 2 years parts.


Furrion Chill Cube, 18,000btu, no heat pump (will have heat strip). Draws ~10 amps at full load and startup load is about 3 amps. (Unreleased) heat strip is ~14 amps. Can run 2 units on a 2000 watt source. Has full variable speed operation and will only run fans and compressor as fast as needed for demand. Unbuffered plenum sound level, 60dB. Average cost depending on accessories, $1250. Warranty, 2 years parts and labor.

[Tony Ramirez]

"Penguins are built cheap and sold expensive", GREAT, since I have 3 of them on my roof.