Chuggs
RVF Supporter
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2019
- Messages
- 582
- RV Year
- 2016
- RV Make
- Newmar
- RV Model
- Ventana 4037
- RV Length
- 40’
- TOW/TOAD
- Jeep JKU
The “New Unit” is the Freshjet 5. On the one hand…they say it is a direct replacement for the Penguin II. I would say YES if it is for A/C ONLY…AND…your RV uses a ceiling Air Distribution Box. Our Newmar Coaches do not use a ceiling mounted ADB…and our model of a Penguin II has the controller mounted in the rooftop unit. If they would go back to offering the controller “built-in” to the rooftop unit…it would be direct. The Heat Pump model, which hasn’t been released yet…it supposedly got a built-in controller but,,,of a new standard. It purportedly requires a new thermostat…and comm cables of RJ45 8 pin 8 conductor…vs our existing RJ11 6 pin 4 conductor. They will offer converters for your remaining Penguin II. I went back and forth with thier support team…and they would offer zero technical documents before its official release. I gave them a very hard time about not supporting Penguin II legacy users…hopefully, they will offer a version with the built-in CCC2 thermostat. But I don’t feel like Dometic will make the right decision on that point. Time will tell.
I purchased a 15k A/C only unit, it came with zero documentation other than an schematic of the hardware wired to the 6-pin molex…and decided not to try to mount a controller designed to go in an ADB in just any ol place. I scavenged my Penguin II controller and mounted it in the provided housing on the Freshjet 5. I had to rewire everything. The controller they recommend is basically the same as the one in our basement used for AGS starting. It is normally used for AGS and Air Conditioners…and can support heat strips. The built-in controllers are normally used, I believe with Heat Pumps…because the reversing valve adds two wires…and that means a 6-pin Molex connector would come up two short. The built-in controllers mostly use spade terminals… but still have plug type for two com ports, outside temp sensor, evaporator freeze sensor, and remote cabin temp sensor.
Regardless of what they do… I will try to find more information to support this..but I believe the Heat Pump can be wired to our existing models of a Penguin II controllers. Because really…the interior is just a compressor, a fan, and two capacitors and a PTCR just like the Penguin II.
I purchased a 15k A/C only unit, it came with zero documentation other than an schematic of the hardware wired to the 6-pin molex…and decided not to try to mount a controller designed to go in an ADB in just any ol place. I scavenged my Penguin II controller and mounted it in the provided housing on the Freshjet 5. I had to rewire everything. The controller they recommend is basically the same as the one in our basement used for AGS starting. It is normally used for AGS and Air Conditioners…and can support heat strips. The built-in controllers are normally used, I believe with Heat Pumps…because the reversing valve adds two wires…and that means a 6-pin Molex connector would come up two short. The built-in controllers mostly use spade terminals… but still have plug type for two com ports, outside temp sensor, evaporator freeze sensor, and remote cabin temp sensor.
Regardless of what they do… I will try to find more information to support this..but I believe the Heat Pump can be wired to our existing models of a Penguin II controllers. Because really…the interior is just a compressor, a fan, and two capacitors and a PTCR just like the Penguin II.