Air Conditioner Thermostat question

[deepdoc1]

Well, my 10 year old Duo-Therm compressor bound up, so I need to replace the AC unit. I have the 13.5k AC with heat strip, 5-button CCC thermostat, ducted, single zone, and the propane furnace is controlled by thermostat; probably the standard setup for the 32' rig.

I do like the AC when it works, and we do enough cool/cold weather camping that a heat pump would not be a bad thing, so I plan to replace the unit with a Penguin 15k heat pump. I'm trying to educate myself on thermostats and other AC related things, so here's a couple of questions. My tank area is heated by the furnace, and the heat pump will not do the basement area, but I would be using the propane furnace anyway at temps low enough to be a problem since the heat pump is not as effective (or so I understand) at low temps.

1. I know the new AC's need an adapter board to work with the 5-button thermostat. Will upgrading the stat to the 12-button model give me added functionality, or is it just more "shiney"? I'm thinking of outside temp sensor, larger display, etc.

2. When plugged in to shore power or generator, can the thermostat be set up like my home unit to run on heat pump until it won't heat enough then automatically use the propane furnace (similar to Emergency Heat mode)?

3. When dry camping, can the thermostat be used to just control the furnace?

4. Do both the 5-button and 12-button have essentially the same functionality in a one-zone setup? I'm not sure of the usefulness of the program-ability of the 12-button; has anyone used it, or have thoughts on it?

Please feel free to chime in with ideas, lessons learned, etc. Thanks!

[deepdoc1]

Thanks!

[Chris_Bryant]

deepdoc1 wrote:
Thanks again, Doug. Quick last(?) question - is it a plug-and-pray swap (same wire from roof to thermostat), or needs different wire?

It will use the same wiring.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I added a 2nd thermostat for just the furnace. That means I can use both the roof air and furnace to provide heat.

I only have the heat strip, unfortunately, so when the day finally comes that the compressor dies I'll certainly consider upgrading to a heat pump.

For times when the heat is enough from the roof air, I replaced the cold air return with dual window fans on a thermostat--they blow into the cabinet and move a little bit of air through the duct work which keeps all the pipes "happy" in cold weather.

[deepdoc1]

Thanks again, Doug. Quick last(?) question - is it a plug-and-pray swap (same wire from roof to thermostat), or needs different wire?

[dougrainer]

The COST to use the 12 to 5 button adapter is almost the same as buying the 12 button Tstat since you have just 1 Roof top unit. So buy the 12 button. The 12 button does have more bells and whistles like you can program multiple sequences like a home tstat. Now, IF you need under storage heat from the LP furnace, you will HAVE to use the LP furnace mode on the system. Dometic HP's, you are either on HP or LP and cannot be automatic between the 2. UNLESS, the outside temp falls below 36 degrees and you are in HP mode. Once the outside temp falls below 36 degrees, the HP shuts off and the LP furnace will heat until the outside is above 36 degrees again. Which means you have freeze protection since the LP furnace takes over below 36 degrees. Dry Camping or not, you can ALWAYS select LP furnace mode to heat. The 12 button system is plug and play. All you have to do is set the DIP switches on the 12 button control board up in the new Penguin. You would set the Furnace DIP--ON. Doug