Any updates on AC replacement for failing Penguin IIs?

[allenlook]

It's more about the control boards themselves than the Penguin/FreshJet guts. The AC unit is just dumb motors and valves. The control board has to be able to communicate over the wiring in place with whatever is on the other end, a thermostat obviously, and on multiple zone systems other AC units.

 

[Chuggs]

The control boxes have been in the plenum for decades. I never understood that, given how restrictive they and all the wiring are, and the holes they make into the attic that have to be sealed up.

Perhaps I'm using the wrong term.

In my limited experience (Dometic)...the controllers I have seen have either been in a metal housing on the frame of the rooftop unit...aka Newmar's Penquin II models. Or, I have seen a control panel, mounted in a separate metal box...and it is housed inside those Plastic ceiling distribution panels...aka Airstream's Penguin II models. That's my limited exposure.

The E (electronic controller incorporated) models of Freshjet 5 have a metal that mounts in the cold air passage going from the evaporator to the ducting below. I always assumed the only thing that got added to that spot would have been an optional electric grid heater. So new to me they woukd put a controller in there. Yes, closer to coach end connections, but --- to me, anyway --- a co ometely ridiculous obstacle to air flow. And if you want to check connections...you have to take the entire cover of the unit and the evaporator housing for access.

I, personally, prefer the housing were it was on our Newmar installed Penquin II. Or even the way Airstream had it...over the New Freshjet.

The Mech Only model, is designed for those Plastic Distribution panels and the standalone co troller box mounted in that. That is actually the easiest to access... no climbing on roof. But we have ducting and decorative ceiling registers instead.

 

[Chuggs]

It's more about the control boards themselves than the Penguin/FreshJet guts. The AC unit is just dumb motors and valves. The control board has to be able to communicate over the wiring in place with whatever is on the other end, a thermostat obviously, and on multiple zone systems other AC units.

Sure got that right.

 

[Chuggs]

So….is the compatibility issue more with firefly and silver leaf systems, or even with running the Freshjet5 with other penguin 2 units? It’s hard to believe they would design a unit that does not work with their (older) units. Sorry if this is has been answered somewhere else.

Rich, I don’t understand. They came up with a new set of extended commands…used Canbus protocol, which incidentally only takes four wires for our HWH leveler remote…. And to roll back, they —- after exhaustive testing? NOT! And an extensive delay…sent out defective conversion wiring whips.

 

[Richpatty]

It’s all hard to believe. Not sure why this is so hard for them to roll this out correctly….

 

[Aseras]

I had mine replaced in my 2015 London Aire.

Freshjet 5 replaced the Penguin 2, 15k BTU and Heatpump. It is plug and play provided you get a freshjet 5 with a 1.5 firmware version and 2 of the rj11 adapters.

The control board/box firmware needs to be version 1.5 or greater to work with the silverleaf. You can't update it, has to be replaced. For me it was easy with a 3 way call with my service tech and Dometic. Other people have gotten then run around getting the box replaced under warranty. YMMV.

There's a newgle article on it now as well.
( https://newgle.newmarcorp.com/s/article/How-to-Remove-and-Replace-a-Dometic-Roof-Air-Conditioner )

“Dometic Penguin II roof air conditioners have been discontinued. If replacing one, use a Dometic Fresh Jet 5 with version 1.5.0 or higher, as the wiring and plenum layout matches for an easy installation. You need an adapter (RJ11 to RJ45) cable to plug in the existing communication cable (Newmar part # 039192). If the air conditioner you are replacing has two communication cables plugged into the existing control board, you will need two of the adapters.

Always set dip switches correctly to match the dip switch setting of the A/C you are replacing.

If this is on a coach equipped with a SilverLeaf system, the TM-510 module will need to be viewed in the SilverLeaf component list. If the version has a D after the numbers (EX: TM510-1.25D), it will need to be replaced with a version that does not have the letter D after the number. The versions without the D after are 5V versions; the versions with the letter D are 3.3v versions will not work with the Fresh Jet 5. If it is a 3.3v, you will need to replace it with a 5v version (Newmar part #039864)."

The unit I got was FJX5557EHPWHCS and it came with 1.0, dometic replaced it with a 1.5 box overnight ( for free under warranty ), but there was also local board with the version available as well through an authorized dealer.

Install, match dip switches and power down AC and 12v ( fully reboot silverleaf so it autodetects ) and it came right up and worked just as the penguin 2 did before.

Also when we did mine, the wiring looked different, but we just needed to pull the harness out of the ceiling more and the right connectors were there, Newmar just wired some extra wires on with wire nuts.

I posted more over on irv2, Dometic FreshJet 5 with Silverleaf multiplex system One of the silverleaf/trillium guys is on there. Mark O and Art are who you want to talk to if you call them.

 

[Chuggs]

I had mine replaced in my 2015 London Aire.

Freshjet 5 replaced the Penguin 2, 15k BTU and Heatpump. It is plug and play provided you get a freshjet 5 with a 1.5 firmware version and 2 of the rj11 adapters.

The control board/box firmware needs to be version 1.5 or greater to work with the silverleaf. You can't update it, has to be replaced. For me it was easy with a 3 way call with my service tech and Dometic. Other people have gotten then run around getting the box replaced under warranty. YMMV.

There's a newgle article on it now as well.
( https://newgle.newmarcorp.com/s/article/How-to-Remove-and-Replace-a-Dometic-Roof-Air-Conditioner )

“Dometic Penguin II roof air conditioners have been discontinued. If replacing one, use a Dometic Fresh Jet 5 with version 1.5.0 or higher, as the wiring and plenum layout matches for an easy installation. You need an adapter (RJ11 to RJ45) cable to plug in the existing communication cable (Newmar part # 039192). If the air conditioner you are replacing has two communication cables plugged into the existing control board, you will need two of the adapters.

Always set dip switches correctly to match the dip switch setting of the A/C you are replacing.

If this is on a coach equipped with a SilverLeaf system, the TM-510 module will need to be viewed in the SilverLeaf component list. If the version has a D after the numbers (EX: TM510-1.25D), it will need to be replaced with a version that does not have the letter D after the number. The versions without the D after are 5V versions; the versions with the letter D are 3.3v versions will not work with the Fresh Jet 5. If it is a 3.3v, you will need to replace it with a 5v version (Newmar part #039864)."

The unit I got was FJX5557EHPWHCS and it came with 1.0, dometic replaced it with a 1.5 box overnight ( for free under warranty ), but there was also local board with the version available as well through an authorized dealer.

Install, match dip switches and power down AC and 12v ( fully reboot silverleaf so it autodetects ) and it came right up and worked just as the penguin 2 did before.

Also when we did mine, the wiring looked different, but we just needed to pull the harness out of the ceiling more and the right connectors were there, Newmar just wired some extra wires on with wire nuts.

I posted more over on irv2, Dometic FreshJet 5 with Silverleaf multiplex system One of the silverleaf/trillium guys is on there. Mark O and Art are who you want to talk to if you call them.

Wow… good to know. A lot of us don’t have the Silverleaf to worry about..,but good to know that someone had success using the RJ12-RJ45 connectivity adapters.

 

[Richpatty]

Yes! This is good news. I can be a little less apprehensive about one of my Penguins dying now….