Dometic Penguin II impossible to find

[Neemer]

Yeah, that’s a bit above my pay grade as well.

 

[Chuggs]

Yeah, umm, nope. This is going to be an expensive trip to Newmar when one or both fail. I'll have both done at the same time, not gonna be cheap I'm sure. Ugh!

Will you be installing Soft Starts in thew Coleman(s)?

I moved my Easy Start over to the new unit. (Dometic Freshjet 5) It started the first time with a 30A surge. The last one was 15A. It runs at 12A...So LRA is only 3 more amps. Amazing contraption. I'm hoping they offer an Inverter friendly unit. Australia is installing Dometic Freshjet 7's. They are making them for the Campervan community. Problem is they are 220v...and they require an Air handling unit for now.... where the controls are located. Maybe they will refine the product for the US market.

The hangup I have with Dometic is the running of RJ45, for Heatpump Freshjet 5's. Easy to pass thru the plenum for the run between units. I can imagine the thermostat and AGS will be a problem. And I have no idea if the new control units will continue to support Auto Gen.

 

[flyboy013]

The hangup I have with Dometic is the running of RJ45, for Heatpump Freshjet 5's. Easy to pass thru the plenum for the run between units. I can imagine the thermostat and AGS will be a problem. And I have no idea if the new control units will continue to support Auto Gen.

Thanks for all the info. From other posts that I’ve read on the subject, I thought using the existing RJ11 cable and adding a RJ11/RJ45 adapter would work. Wondering if you have any insight into this?

 

[redbaron]

and to follow up on flyboy's post, I read in the other place that you seem to have just moved electronics over and it works with existing equipment? Is that accurate?

 

[Chuggs]

Yep. All you get inside the Freshjet 5 A/C only is the compressor, fan, and capacitors. The rest you have to supply.

I didn't have the recommended control board...but it may be possible to mount inside the return/evaporator housing. If so...it will be plug and play...they have a molex that connects all their parts...and all of other things will just snap in.

I was trying to get this project done.

Amazon.com

So, that would be thier prefered way.

I am waiting a reply from dometic as to wether or not I can scavenge my Penguin II control board to make the Freshjet5 Heat pump work with my CCC2 type thermostat.

But no answer...and they supposedly won't release it until Fall...

Looking with a clear head...I could have made it a much much simpler job. I mounted the Easy Start to the Evaporator side. I could have easily split the loom and had the black and brown wire go directly to the compressor and the white and orange go to the capacitor housing. Done. The specified co troller would be plug n play for A/C only. Save yourself if you do the A/C. I think the Heat Pump will be a whole new problem. Pretty sure it will come with a control board compatible with the new Industry standard...and RJ45 cables.

 

[Chuggs]

Thanks for all the info. From other posts that I’ve read on the subject, I thought using the existing RJ11 cable and adding a RJ11/RJ45 adapter would work. Wondering if you have any insight into this?

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0463/8271/0952/files/a8279de4bb966e2c236a566ee58464a1.pdf?v=1751998771

Dometic has zero guidance.

I found a transition page on a website when we were trying to find a unit.

My understanding is…talking about 15k models. The A/C only talks CCC2 because the controller they recommend is a stand alone that accepts the units 6-pole wiring. The unit does not come with a controller. Good still with your thermostat and your RJ11 wiring.

The Heat Pump… I surmise, you will get a controller, it will be RJ45 and require a new thermostat. The only consideration they are giving is that you can purchase an adapter that will translate the new thermostats RJ45…and have a RJ11 so you can keep your remaining unit Penguin II (ccc2)…if not replacing it. I have not heard or seen anything that says they are going to help us with keeping our thermostat. I’m trying to find out if we can use our existing a Penguin II control board and do a swap out on our own. I would rather keep my EZ Touch RV thermostat, my RJ11, my known Auto Gen Start trigger for Temp = Ext. input.

Who said change is good?

The new Freshjet 5 does not look like a big improvement. Blue coating on evaporator fins, separate housing for capacitors, maybe an aluminum base rail…which hopefully won’t rust out like the Penguin II. Slight styling difference on the housing cover.

 

[Holdmybeer]

Remember when there was a capsule of mercury and when it tilted one direction it closed a circuit and when it tilted back the other direction it opened? I'm glad we simplified it.

 

[Chuggs]

Remember when there was a capsule of mercury and when it tilted one direction it closed a circuit and when it tilted back the other direction it opened? I'm glad we simplified it.

Not that far back (except the one still on my batwing antenna)...but I still remember black switches good for 250,000 cycles instead of touchscreens.

 

[gburgman]

with the picture of the opening in the roof, I am now wondering if My last ac was installed correctly, the one they took off had the foam divider straight across and not angled like the metal plate.. The installers did not change the divider so I bet that is why my mid ac does not do as well as the front and rear ones.

 

[Chuggs]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0750/2020/6383/files/Dometic_Penguin_II_to_Freshjet_RJ11_to_RJ45_AC_Adapter_Harness_9610008210_Single_01.PDF?v=1759157960

Finally!!!

The new Heat Pump versions are available. And a piece of literature that shows the wiring for those of us with CCC2 RJ11 communications. It appears to me I could replace both Penguin IIs with Freshjet 5 .,,keep my original thermostat wiring, and just convert to connect to the Freshjet control board. Much easier than what ai was oringinally led to believe. The remaining controller in the basement for AGS would be unaffected by the change.

 

[newmarokie]

Chuggs, I am not seeing anything about heat pump capability or optionality on the Dometic website. Where are you seeing this?

 

[Chuggs]

Chuggs, I am not seeing anything about heat pump capability or optionality on the Dometic website. Where are you seeing this?

Dometic FreshJet 5 Series 15k BTU Low-Profile Air Conditioner w/ Heat

FreshJet 5 is Dometic's low-profile rooftop air conditioner designed as a direct Penguin II replacement. With built-in hard start, quieter performance, a reinforced steel base and models available with or without heat pump, it's engineered for both new RV builds, universal replacements, direct...

rackupgo.com

 

[Chuggs]

It appears the choice will be 13.5 or 15k but, a/c only or heat pump, mechanics only or electronic …which I believe the mech requires a separate controller in it’s own metal box… and the electronic version I believe has the built-in control board. Still another with the heat strip option.. For Newmar people looking to replace Penguin II… the 15k electronic control Heat Pump, your choice white or black… and it will take two of the RJ45 to RJ11 connectors. Our coaches have RJ11 and CCC2 thermostat compatibility. The new Freshjet 5 is actually designed to accept RJ45 comm cabling and uses Canbus language…but they show it being able to still respond to CCC2 …the hitch is the comm port doesn’t accept the wiring we have without an adapter.

 

[Larry D]

It appears the choice will be 13.5 or 15k but, a/c only or heat pump, mechanics only or electronic …which I believe the mech requires a separate controller in it’s own metal box… and the electronic version I believe has the built-in control board. Still another with the heat strip option.. For Newmar people looking to replace Penguin II… the 15k electronic control Heat Pump, your choice white or black… and it will take two of the RJ45 to RJ11 connectors. Our coaches have RJ11 and CCC2 thermostat compatibility. The new Freshjet 5 is actually designed to accept RJ45 comm cabling and uses Canbus language…but they show it being able to still respond to CCC2 …the hitch is the comm port doesn’t accept the wiring we have without an adapter.

Good Morning. It has been a few months since this update. Has anything else developed with this? My local repair facility is still not getting any support from their dometic vendor.

 

[MobileRVService.com]

Hmm.....I didnt read through all of this, but it caught my eye because we actually have a Dutch Star in the shop that got a full solar/inverter makeover, and during testing we found the rear Penguin 2 had an internal blockage and needed replaced. We expect to receive the replacement within a week - supposed to be plug and play....we will see...
This is a Dutch Star, with heat pumps, and it has the CCC2 thermostat:

Parts we ordered - black unit.
DOMETIC AIR CONDITIONER ADAPTER KIT FOR FRESHJET 5 HEAT PUMPS
MFR # 9610008210

Dometic FreshJet 5 Low Profile ELECTRONIC RV Air Conditioner WITH HEAT PUMP 15,000 BTU - BLACK - FJX5557EHPBKCS

High amp and no flow pic as well as existing PN placard attached for ref.