Forum Discussion

farmer_boots's avatar
farmer_boots
Explorer
Apr 27, 2014

AC units

I have two Duo-Therm 15k heat pump penguin AC units on our camper. One is down to 10 deg differential temperature suggesting it is loosing Freon. Compressor currents are nominal or maybe a little low. In any case it looks like I need to replace. Never been very happy with them, they are very noisy. So I am thinking about just replacing both. I understand the Brisk II unit is more efficient and less noisy?

Any suggestions? I am curious if Colman has something that is much better than the Duo-Therm line?
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    I will say this: IF it is loosing freon the odds are you have a tiny leak.. A good A/C technician may be able to find and correct it for a couple hundred dollars... HOWEVER.

    I had a major leak, and the location did not make repair easy.. (I have A/C only not heat pump by the way)

    The original was a 13,500 BTU, it pulled 13.5 amps running.
    The replacement 15,000 and pulls the exact same 13.5 amps running.

    So it may be a good time to upgrade.
  • They are rarely worth attempting to charge as they do not have valving/connections to do so.
    They are basically throw way units if they leak.

    BUT have you CLEANED the evap and condenser coils?
    And kept the return air filter clean?

    Cleaning coils/filter goes a long way to helping them cool.

    Otherwise......
    IF they have been cleaned and are lacking in cooling......replacement time

    Never heard a Brisk running so can't comment
  • Here is your problem if you decide Coleman (RVP), you do NOT have the necessary tstat wirng to install a RVP and connect the new RVP tstats. More bad news. The current Penguin HP models have been fixed as a few years ago they had a noisy compressor problem. NOT bad compressor's, just their pumping noise was extremely louder than previous models(not your current model). So, unless you want to replace the tstat wiring (not easy to do) you need to go Dometic. The NEW HP Penguins have the control board already installed. "some" Monaco Penguins had the control board in the silver galvanized box right above the AC filter. If you do not see that box then your Penguin has the board installed on the top side. The new Penguins have the new 12 button tstat control board already installed. If you replace just the ONE bad unit, you will have to purchase and install a 12 button to 5 button control board on the Penguin. If you decide to replace BOTH Penguins, then you just have to purchase a new 12 button tstat which connects to the current tstat communication cable. The 12 button has all the features of a home type programmable tstat. Doug
  • As always to all thanks for the help. The coils are clean, not too long ago I checked the differential temp and it was running around 27 degrees (pumping cold air). When I checked the diff temp was only 15 and a day later it was 10 so I think it's a leak.

    My penguins have the control board in the silver box located just behind the filter. Did not know there was an upgrade to reduce compressor noise. Due to the age, a thermostat that the display is just about faded away and the bedroom AC unit short cycling (something in the control board or thermostat) we have decided to just replace them with two new duo-therm Brisk air II's. Reports suggests 15KBTU act like 17K's and they are much quieter. I hope so the penguins are so noisy. I found a shop (a good shop) that will change them out this week so I think I will go for it.

    As always thanks for all the help.
  • Installed the duo-therm Brisk air II's last week. We went camping friday through the holiday and a few extra days. The new AC units worked wonders. They had no problem keeping the coach at 71 degs in the hot Florida sun this weekend. I have noticed but did not measure the air flow is much grater than with the old units. Camping this summer will be much more enjoyable.