Problem Rear air

[lostinfla]

Just got to our campsite for the next month in S Indiana and the rear air started making noise. Went up and removed the cover, and it seems the motor bearings have gone out. It's a Dometic Penguin II 15k heat pump. Has anyone here had luck finding the correct replacement fan motor for this unit? If not, I may have to just find a complete unit, but I dread having to go through that.

 

[Buly]

I bought one on Amazon 2 years ago, but no longer available.

 

[Rich W.]

Just got to our campsite for the next month in S Indiana and the rear air started making noise. Went up and removed the cover, and it seems the motor bearings have gone out. It's a Dometic Penguin II 15k heat pump. Has anyone here had luck finding the correct replacement fan motor for this unit? If not, I may have to just find a complete unit, but I dread having to go through that.

National RV Refrigeration in Shipshawana has them for $1650 and charges $100 for the installation. Im getting one on the 20th (bad compressor ). If you can wait til then Ill have more info.

 

[Buly]

$1650 I think I paid $110 for mine? Have a spare one now.

 

[Lab00Rat]

I'd suggest everyone check their Penguin II air units. I just installed some Micro-Air soft start today and pulled the cover on my brand new - just replaced unit to find pretty lousy build quality.

It is important to make sure that the air flow is controlled between the low pressure and exhaust zones. Only air should be pulled through the heat exchange fins and not any cracks or tares in the foam or barrier around the low pressure zone.

I found openings in the barrier that should not be there...

Also, the cold cap was not fully seated, and refused to close to be seated and clipped.

This is a brand new unit too, so it's like this from the factory.

My repair was to run aluminum hvac tape across gaps and cracks to seal them. It did make a difference in the cooling of the coach and the A/C vent flow was higher. That means my cold air was being blow out of the gap in the cold zone. There was a gap in the barrier and in the cold zone on both A/C units. Took about 20 feet of hvac tape to seal both units. Not sure if it's the best, but I can cut the tape for maintenance easily if needed.

Not sealing off gaps in the low pressure zone will lead to overheating of the motor bearings and premature failure in the unit.

 

[Sealyn]

If you can remove the motor, find a local shop that rebuilds small motors, if rebuildable it will be a fraction of the cost of a new one.

 

[Rich W.]

$1650 I think I paid $110 for mine? Have a spare one now.

$1650 is for a complete unit. If they had amscratch and dent it would be $600. Was $110 for a fan or for a new 15k btu heat pump? Mine has a bad compressor and while any competent hvac tech could replace it, dometic does not sell them or list a part number in their manual/parts diagram, and so far Ive never found an hvac guy to do it.

My brother in law and is an hvac contractor and could and would do it if I could get the compressor. I guess I could go that route but I want one now and Nat’l RV Refer in Shipshawana has them and will fit me in their schedule, at 5am. I might keep the old one to fix as a spare. Havent decided if I want to haul it all the way home yet.

I have a hard start capacitor I’ll try with an amp meter on it monitoring what its drawing before paying the big bucks for the swap. It just might break lose. Right now its stuck and just gets really how, but the rest of the unit works as it should. I tested the start and run cap, they are good, and I put in a higher power start cap (but not a hard start because I didn't have one yet) and that did nothing. So the hard start is my last hope, and ot very much of that. I will also send the make and model of the compressor to my BIL and see if he can get one.

We are actually surviving just fine on the front AC (and a box fan); weather has been cooperating so far and we’ll be home in August where my tools, resources, and network are located. But really it would be nice to put this one behind us and be done with it and worth $1750 if thats what it takes. I’ll save money on other diy repairs and maintenance to make up for it, I will also get up there and inspect and seal both units as detailed in post #5.

Here’s a pic of the compressor with the data plate visible. If anyone knows of a source please advise:

 

[lostinfla]

At this point, I'm thinking of a complete unit. Rich, I may see you up there if I can get in. I'll call Monday AM, THANKS! I think it could be replaced with the same unit without heat as we don't ever use the heat pump, and CW has them available (I believe) for around 1200. I'll find a way to get it up there if I absolutely have to do it myself. Should work with the thermostat along with the other unit with heat, no?

 

[Rich W.]

Yeah you can use a unit with less functions on the “10 button” t-stat. Just not the other way around - more function on the ”five button”. (Not how I refer to t-stats but that seems to be the tech lingo).

Ive used the heat pump in the bedroom once and found it too noisy to sleep and try to steer clear of extremely cold destinations, and have often used a little box heater to augment, but I am reluctant to down grade any equipment because of over-all value. But it is something to think about.

Also not to try to change your mind, but if I just had a fan motor go out I would definitely fix the unit. Easy and inexpensive repair by comparison. I spent some time looking for a compressor last night and ended up making a formal request through LG using my BIL’s heat and air company. We’ll see….

 

[lostinfla]

Yeah you can use a unit with less functions on the “10 button” t-stat. Just not the other way around - more function on the ”five button”. (Not how I refer to t-stats but that seems to be the tech lingo).

Ive used the heat pump in the bedroom once and found it too noisy to sleep and try to steer clear of extremely cold destinations, and have often used a little box heater to augment, but I am reluctant to down grade any equipment because of over-all value. But it is something to think about.

Also not to try to change your mind, but if I just had a fan motor go out I would definitely fix the unit. Easy and inexpensive repair by comparison. I spent some time looking for a compressor last night and ended up making a formal request through LG using my BIL’s heat and air company. We’ll see….

I would love to find a fan motor, but being the weekend (when all stuff stops working) I haven't found one available in a reasonable amount of time, and I don't want to live out the rest of the trip without the rear air. I think we've used the HP twice in the last 7 years. When it gets cold, we always use floor heat, at least till it gets below 40, then add a little furnace. Hitting the phone early Monday morning to try and find parts or a unit if necessary. I actually shouldn't complain as these are the original units on the coach.