Community Forums

nutcker · 04-29-2018, 01:34 AM

I have two Dometic Penquin A/C units and one of them has the heat pump, the heat pump is on the front unit so I can select on my thermostat for zone 1,,furnace or heat pump, not both. Is it normal to install the heat pump on the front, If it was on the rear I could select furnace on zone 1 and heat pump on zone 2 and heat the inside a lot quicker. Not a big deal but wondering if this is done for a reason.

RJShiflet · 04-29-2018, 04:28 AM

Our Cardinal has three A/C units - one of which is a heat pump. The heat pump is located on the back of the trailer. Not sure why they put yours in front.

vsheetz · 04-29-2018, 06:28 AM

We have three units. Front and rear are heat pumps. 2011 Tiffin Phaeton.

Luv2go · 04-29-2018, 12:13 PM

Newmar normally wires the furnace to zone 1. It's physically wired to the front unit. I have added wiring so I can control the furnace from zone 2 and changed the DIP switches on the rear heat pump so furnace can be selected. I just went out and tried and I can use heat pump on zone 1 and furnace on zone 2!

The way I did this is to wire from the furnace connection on the front board to the furnace connection on the rear control board. I ran the wires on the roof, it would be better to run them through the ducts, but this would require removing and replacing the units which I had not done at the time. You'll need two wires as there are two furnace connections. The Penguin manuals are available on the internet, also probably in 007's "Quick Tips", I'd point you to one except I don't know what models you have.

"007" · 04-29-2018, 01:05 PM

Your ceiling duck system goes from front to back of coach so all AC/HP will be feeding the whole coach for heat or air.
More information for Newmar Owners.
All links below in my signature have info also.

bruceisla · 04-29-2018, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutcker

I have two Dometic Penquin A/C units and one of them has the heat pump, the heat pump is on the front unit so I can select on my thermostat for zone 1,,furnace or heat pump, not both. Is it normal to install the heat pump on the front, If it was on the rear I could select furnace on zone 1 and heat pump on zone 2 and heat the inside a lot quicker. Not a big deal but wondering if this is done for a reason.

As mentioned, you could reroute the furnace wiring from front A/C to rear A/C and change the dipswitches.

There is no particular reason for front or rear having the heatpump. However, the heatpump is a bit noisy and less annoying to sleepers when it is the front unit. Typically, sleepers prefer a slightly cooler room anyway. A heatpump only works to about 34 degrees outside temp so, if you are trying to get fast heat on a cold day, the furnace alone will probably be your best bet. Not sure I'd bother with the wiring change.

One other thing ... if you are on a 30 amp pedestal, the rear unit may not function.

Tetonchief · 04-29-2018, 09:20 PM

My Canyon Star has two units, both ac/hp and are controlled by a duotherm thermostat. I can choose from cool, auto, hp, furnace, fan and off for both zones. I do have the ducts that run full length of coach so if only one unit is operating the opposite zone still receives air flow (although reduced) if on cool or hp. The dual furnaces are controlled by the thermostat but the ducting for those are on the floor and in the basement.
My point is, your coach may have been ordered with only one unit having a hp, or maybe when a unit needed replacement the owner decided just ac was a cheaper alternative.

Mr_D · 04-29-2018, 09:27 PM

Our 2000 DSDP had two heat pumps, our 2002 DSDP had two heat pumps, present CC has three 15k heat pumps.

nutcker · 04-30-2018, 01:15 PM

A lot of good information here, thanks for all the replies to my question. I like the idea of moving my furnace control to zone 2 and think I will look into doing that. This is my first heat pump and I was amazed at how much heat those things put out, even if they don't work at really low temps. In Alaska we tend to focus more on heat and less on A/C. Thanks again everyone.

bruceisla · 04-30-2018, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutcker

A lot of good information here, thanks for all the replies to my question. I like the idea of moving my furnace control to zone 2 and think I will look into doing that. This is my first heat pump and I was amazed at how much heat those things put out, even if they don't work at really low temps. In Alaska we tend to focus more on heat and less on A/C. Thanks again everyone.

The furnace control lines are normally 2 blue wires. One is 12vdc FROM the furnace and the other is the RETURN to the furnace. The board in the A/C acts as a switch and connects the 2 wires together to enable the furnace. Be aware that shorting the 12vdc furnace wire will blow a fuse somewhere.