RevKev5064 Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I am going to replace my three Penguin AC units with Penguin II's. I also have an Aquahot 450D. I think that I have made the decision to upgrade to the CCC2 10 button thermostats. Do I need to do anything with the Aquahot? I know that setting for zones happens in the AC units but am unsure if I need to do anything with the Aquahot. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank McElroy Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 If you have 3 AC zones plus an additional heat only zone you will likely need a new controller that is compatible with the 3 new AC units for the heat only zone. On my coach this 4th aquahot heat only zone has the control box hidden in the wall behind the thermostat but if can be hidden almost anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevKev5064 Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Frank, thank you for getting back to me so quickly. A fourth zone is an interesting question. How would I know? My thermostats only control zones 1 thru 3. I have one thermostat in the front that controls zone 1. I have a second thermostat in the bedroom that controls zones 2 and 3. I am unaware of a fourth zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank McElroy Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 OK, then you basically only have 3 zones with each zone able to have AC and aquahot heat. In my case I have 4 separate zones on a single thermostat with 4 separate temperature sensors. The first 3 zones have AC and aquahot heat. On mine there is a 4th zone for just the bath with only Aquahot heat and it has it's own controller and thermostat temp sensor. It looks like you coach doesn't have that feature. Wiring for the aquahot control should already be connected to your old Penquin units. They would just connect to the new units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinH Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 When I replaced my front AC unit. I installed a new thermostat everything hooked up the same. At first furnace did not show up. I had to flip the switch on the board that said furnace. Then everything worked perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank McElroy Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Kevin - good point. The existing units would have the furnace switch already selected for the aquahot to work. The new units need to have the setup in the same configuration with the furnace option selected. The wires going to the aquahot from that control board would be the same as having a separate wall thermostat making contact calling for heat. Nothing special except that the furnace option setting needs to be selected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vito.a Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Each of your new Penguin II units will have a control board with several dip switches that require setting. You will have to set the zone number, heat pump or heat strip, plus one will need the FURNACE dip switch set. To access the control board remove the plastic shroud, then there is a small metal cover on the right front of the unit. The metal cover is held on by two small screws. Inside is the control board with an entire row of dip switches. Some technicians are not very good at this so it's in your best interest to understand them yourself. Look at how your original units are set and copy these to your new units. Look at page 13 (Fig 23) of the attachment. Dometic installation_manual_62857.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan K Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 15 hours ago, RevKev5064 said: I am going to replace my three Penguin AC units with Penguin II's. I also have an Aquahot 450D. I think that I have made the decision to upgrade to the CCC2 10 button thermostats. Do I need to do anything with the Aquahot? I know that setting for zones happens in the AC units but am unsure if I need to do anything with the Aquahot. Thank you! Have you also considered a MicroAir thermostat option? I like to control things from driver seat while on the move, besides the wireless temp alerts feature while parked. Works wit AH just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Holt Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I replaced my penguins last year and have the new thermostats. You will be very happy with how they work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevKev5064 Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Thank you all for the valuable input. This is what I have concluded based on all of the advice: I am going to purchase three Penguin II 15k with Heat Pumps and two MicroAir thermostats (I already have two on the current AC units - I will make a heck of a deal). I am going to set the dip switches to match what I currently have, which is three zones. I should not have to replace the current wiring - plug and play. Also, I should not have to mess with the intake vents or the distribution box on the inside, just use what I already have. On my coach, there is a beautiful wood trim ring around the vent in the front and the one in the back with a much less beautiful distribution box in the center. It should be a relatively simple install with no cutting, welding, wiring, etc. - Correct? Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
granvillebarker Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 2 minutes ago, RevKev5064 said: Thank you all for the valuable input. This is what I have concluded based on all of the advice: I am going to purchase three Penguin II 15k with Heat Pumps and two MicroAir thermostats (I already have two on the current AC units - I will make a heck of a deal). I am going to set the dip switches to match what I currently have, which is three zones. I should not have to replace the current wiring - plug and play. Also, I should not have to mess with the intake vents or the distribution box on the inside, just use what I already have. On my coach, there is a beautiful wood trim ring around the vent in the front and the one in the back with a much less beautiful distribution box in the center. It should be a relatively simple install with no cutting, welding, wiring, etc. - Correct? Thanks again. Yes, they should fit in the same spot and use the same wires. Just out of curiosity, why are you replacing all three units? Did they all fail? Personally I don’t think new ones are as reliable as the old ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevKev5064 Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Granville, Two of them have failed already. They work but they do not cool or heat. I am headed into the summer in North and South Carolina and I am afraid to trust just one unit that is the same age as the other two failed ones. Also, I am concerned about having different thermostats and all of that. If there is a better way, I am all about it. I am not excited to spend $5,000. Honestly, I am kind of disappointed in the whole experience. This is the newest and most expensive RV I have ever owned (by a LONG ways) and it is the first one that I have ever had a failed AC on. I expected better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan K Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I'm sure that you know that you could leave the working unit on an existing thermostat with single zone and only replace the 2 broken ones along with one new thermostat. In my case, the center unit is on rear thermostat but I could easily swing it to the front control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank McElroy Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 I'm very disappointed to hear about the higher failure rates of the newer units. However, that actually matches my experience with home basement dehumidifiers. 3 years ago we bought two 70 pint dehumidifiers. One for our basement and one for our insulated pole barn. Each had a 5 year warranty on the sealed system. After the first year, both failed and were replaced under warranty - no cost. After the second year both failed again and were replaced again under warranty - no cost. Interesting that the same model I bought with a 5 year warranty on the refrigeration system is now sold new with only a one year warranty - hmm, I wonder why... I think as soon as these fail outside the warranty period I'll be looking at commercial units. Hopefully commercial units will be more reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
granvillebarker Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 4 hours ago, RevKev5064 said: Granville, Two of them have failed already. They work but they do not cool or heat. I am headed into the summer in North and South Carolina and I am afraid to trust just one unit that is the same age as the other two failed ones. Also, I am concerned about having different thermostats and all of that. If there is a better way, I am all about it. I am not excited to spend $5,000. Honestly, I am kind of disappointed in the whole experience. This is the newest and most expensive RV I have ever owned (by a LONG ways) and it is the first one that I have ever had a failed AC on. I expected better. I would look for a good ac guy that will add charge ports, charge them, and check for leaks. Assuming the compressors aren’t blown apart or shorted. Your coach isn’t really that old, you would think you could get a few more years out of them. My brother-in-law has had three or four new ac’s on his rv in the past few years. All warranty, but it doesn’t make new ac’s appealing to me. — Granville Barker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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