Question Dometic Fresh Jet AC conversion

[lostinfla]

Forgive me if this has been hashed out before, but I am thinking of changing out the AC's on the coach at some point in the near future. In going with the Fresh jet units replacing the Penguins, I'd like to get some reliable info from anyone here who has done the switchover. I'd like to know what's involved with reconfiguring the Newmar plenum and/or gasket design (if necessary), also, if there's an ability to run them with the Micro Air thermostat. Thanks in advance for any knowledgeable responses!

 

[TheLooks]

Microair should work, Newmar is the best bet for telling you what will work as to their plenum design. I used to have a site that told me all the units within a manufacturer that were compatible, but they didn't include Newmars design change.

 

[Neal]

Would be great for Newmar to put out official guidance for all of their customers with Dometic if in fact we still can't source replacements. Be proactive Newmar!

 

[NWIP]

Spoke with Newmar and they have Penguin II 13500 btu in stock but no 15000 btu. Since we think our bedroom AC might need replaced we would elect the 13500 as a replacement.

They say they have not done a Freshjet replacement yet.

 

[Chuggs]

The plenum issue is covered on Newgle. It just requires an additional piece of foam seal material. I'll see if I can find a photo.

 

[Chuggs]

Newmar places a welded aluminum support...which the supply and return ducting is connected a foil taped to. If you look...you'll see the standard square...and the new A/C will have a foam square seal. You habe to add an additional section of foam to match that dividing welding.

Mounting holes for freshjet are the same as the penquin II.

I haven't had my hands on the new Heat Pump version. Out of desperation I installed the AC only version...which didn't come with a control board. I retired mine using g my Penguin II control board, freeze sensor, Molex power plug, Outside Air temp, and moved my MicroAir Easy Start over, as well. They moved the capacitors, to a different location. Not too much different otherwise.

 

[NWIP]

Thanks for the pic and additional info. I had mine checked and all voltages we good but since still have some issues with AC, even tripped the breaker once. Currently in MT and only using heat pump

 

[Chuggs]

They're a crap shoot. My rear unit is original 2016. Still works, although I did habe to replace the capacitor, fan wouldn't start. My front was replaced with another penquin II, and at the tine my wife wouldn't let me up on the roof for a job like that. (recent Heart Attack, may have been a factor ) Not too fat beyond warranty, that one went...compressor overheating) We had a big trip planned to go out to the mighty five and balloon fiesta. Nobody had any Penguin II 15k heat pumps. So, out of desperation I got a Freshjet5 A/C shipped down from Atlanta...and my wofe actually helped me hoist it up on the roof No more roof restrictions .

I do, at some point, want to swap out both with new 15k heat pumps. We got by with Oasis and a si gle heatpump this past winter. Back into full time A/C use again now.

 

[lostinfla]

Our coach is plugged in all the time while we're home and the air is on set to 80 so they run every day for a good bit of time in the Florida heat. (the advantage of having a dark colored coach. ) I've probably used the heat pump feature twice in the 11 years I've owned the coach, and we've been in some pretty cold campsites over the years. Still have the original heat pump unit in the front, () but replaced the rear one with a cool only model. For heat, we just use floor heat and add Oasis if needed. I'll be happy to go with the cooling only version. BTW @Chuggs, my memory may be fading, but that pic looks much like the standard Newmar gasket configuration for the Penguin, no?

 

[Chuggs]

It is…I believe this configuration has been used thru a couple of different heat pump units. They have a pdf with blueprint of the divider, if you wanted to weld one yourself on Newgle. However, in addition to aluminum, they have a molded plastic cover over it.

The only thing you, as an installer, need to do… is add that divider piece of foam on the bottom of your Freshjet 5 or Penguin II. It forms a seal between the supply and return side of your unit. Sandwiched between the bottom of the floor pan of the unit and the plenum bracket in the roof.

 

[lostinfla]

That's good news! I thought they changed the configuration of the supply and return. So I'll just have to add the same divider as the Penguin. But... will it talk to the Micro Air thermostat? I thought I heard they were using a different protocol or com wire.

 

[Chuggs]

That's good news! I thought they changed the configuration of the supply and return. So I'll just have to add the same divider as the Penguin. But... will it talk to the Micro Air thermostat? I thought I heard they were using a different protocol or com wire.

I have a Freshjet5, but I salvaged the controller and its components and installed them in my Freshjet. So, mine works with the MicroAir EasyStart and MicroAir EZ touch thermostat. For me…that is a must! We don’t have pets traveling with us now…so, when dry camping…we set AGS for temp, turn the system off…and leave for the day, then when we start to head back to the rv, I use the phone app to power up the A/C, which in turn starts the generator. This ensemble allows up to come home in comfort. We used it at the Balloon Fiesta and at Sun N’ Fun Fly-in…it was a great tool.

Now, I have heard that Dometic has finally gotten inventory of a RJ12 (6p/4c) to RJ45 (8p/8c) ? Connector whip. This is supposed to allow you to connect our thermostat wires to the new freshjet5 control boards RJ45 Jack. These wires daisy chain…so in my case, it goes out of the thermostat, in to A/C Front, out of A/C front and into A/C rear, the out of A/C rear and down to the Dometic control box in the basement which is connected to the ME-AGS-N via a pigtail. So, any unit I install would require two of these connector adapter whips. People with newer touchscreen thermostat controls, have had to wait while they straighten out software issues…but I have read that they have, and it works…you would just need to be careful what revision your new Freshjet has.

I’m hoping someone that purchases one of these connectors can map the pin outs. I have a toolbox filled with crimp connectors, and I could fabricate these as needed easily, but I don’t want to cross wires and fry a control panel.