2nd Air Conditioner for Crusader?

[rscconrad]

Great job, Thanks for posting the pics.

I would have never thought to use the existing duct work.

Robert

[kohai]

Originally Posted by pjones1969

Yes, the ductwork was one common run, it already had taps where the existing vent in the bedroom was, after I removed the vent I foil taped the entire hole to tie it all together. The return air is on the air distribution box that mounts to the ceiling inside your bedroom.

Sorry to resurrect my own old thread.

I've got the Crusader 296BHS. How do I know if I can tie into the existing duct work or just have to vent directly into the bedroom? Also, how do I know if it can tie into the thermostat. I don't have two thermostats, just the one in the hall by the bedroom. (The unit is pre-wired.)

I think I need the 2nd unit, but I want it installed right if the options are there for using the duct work, tying into the existing thermostat, etc.

[pjones1969]

Originally Posted by kohai

Sorry to resurrect my own old thread.

I've got the Crusader 296BHS. How do I know if I can tie into the existing duct work or just have to vent directly into the bedroom? Also, how do I know if it can tie into the thermostat. I don't have two thermostats, just the one in the hall by the bedroom. (The unit is pre-wired.)

I think I need the 2nd unit, but I want it installed right if the options are there for using the duct work, tying into the existing thermostat, etc.

You will need to pull the beauty ring on the existing vent in your bedroom and see if you have ductwork there (4 screws), if so, it should be taped off like the previous pictures. Once that is pulled you can look around for the wires in the ceiling cavity, it sounds to me like it is pre-wired to accept a unit with the controls on the distribution box to serve that area only and not to be controlled by a thermostat, you could probably fish wires to a closet wall and mount another stat if you wanted to but I don't think you can control two units with one stat, but I'm no expert, took a lot of investigation and phone calls to figure out what I had and needed. I called several rv dealers and got so many different answers I finally got the model number off my existing unit and called Dometic, by far the best info I got was from them.

Hope this helps......

[kohai]

For the archive, I thought I would post what I did.

I ordered a Coleman Mach 8 with the heating strip, no condensation pump, non-ducted. I went with the Coleman for two reasons; first it is only 8" high which is 1" lower than the Dometic penguin II, and second is that people say it is quieter. Since I wasn't tying into my existing Dometic thermostat, it didn't matter to me which unit I used.

I found the instructions to be very well written. Sometimes I find instructions to be written in a way that they can be interpreted two ways -- not the case here. I'm not a super DIY person, but this install was really doable. Getting it on the roof is awkward. I'm sure the neighbors were watching with interest as four of us wrestled it up two ladders while dodging two kids under our feet. I was joking about finding a tall tree to pull the ac into with ropes so that it could be lowered on the RV roof -- I still think that is a good idea. It is about a 2 hr project.

On my crusader 296bhs, the power was pre-wired (see pic). The duct runs just next to the ceiling opening behind a piece of wood but it does not tie into this unit. If somebody got creative they may be able to remove wood to get to the duct but that is beyond me and probably effects the structural support. The power cable was already wired at the circuit breaker side (yeah!).

Many people say the heat strip doesn't do much. I had the chance to try it out this weekend and it definitely heated the room up -- enough we had to turn it off after 5 minutes (it was probably 55 F outside). We were only on a 30 amp connection so I didn't really use the AC on this unit. In testing after installation, the ac worked well. I see this AC mostly getting used when the Dometic can't cool the RV fast enough when arriving at a campsite in the middle of the summer.

I was concerned the inside ceiling unit would get in my way walking around, but that isn't much of an issue -- I don't hit my head on it (I'm 5'10").

I've got a picture attached of the outside so you can see what it looks like when it is installed.

[Todouble]

Look great! Nice job. I definitely see this in my near future!


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[another_newfie]

Thanks for the pics! We had hoped to have a second A/C added while our rig was at the motherland getting other issues dealt with but it have to wait.

[Planostu]

Nice work Kohai. I did the same. Second AC in bedroom with heat strip will cool my 294 quickly. Low profile Coleman 15k. In Texas, should not be an option. I only wish it would share existing duct. Took about 2 hours as well.


2015 Crusader 294RLT, 2014 2500 Ram

[kohai]

Originally Posted by Planostu

Nice work Kohai. I did the same. Second Attachment 59401AC in bedroom with heat strip will cool my 294 quickly. Low profile Coleman 15k. In Texas, should not be an option. I only wish it would share existing duct. Took about 2 hours as well.


2015 Crusader 294RLT, 2014 2500 Ram

What fan do you have over kitchen? I was contemplating doing a fan there, but not sure about power availability, etc.

[Planostu]

TurboMaxx fan. It helps cut the heat that beamed through that thin vent top. I installed two on my Sydney 5er and loved them in the cooler months as they really can act as a ceiling fan. This one has the thermostat and is reversible for airflow. Find the nearest led ceiling light (mine was on the curb side) and lower it from the ceiling, you will find a host of wires running there. Find a 12v always hot wire and tap in to it there and use a fish tape to pull the wire to your overhead vent. That part took 30 mins. Installing the fan itself was another hour and a half. I have a MaxxAir cover for the bathroom I will install when we get back from our current trip.


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[kohai]

Originally Posted by Planostu

TurboMaxx fan. It helps cut the heat that beamed through that thin vent top. I installed two on my Sydney 5er and loved them in the cooler months as they really can act as a ceiling fan. This one has the thermostat and is reversible for airflow. Find the nearest led ceiling light (mine was on the curb side) and lower it from the ceiling, you will find a host of wires running there. Find a 12v always hot wire and tap in to it there and use a fish tape to pull the wire to your overhead vent. That part took 30 mins. Installing the fan itself was another hour and a half. I have a MaxxAir cover for the bathroom I will install when we get back from our current trip. Attachment 59470

Nice, I'll put that on my list of things to upgrade at some point. I've worn myself out the past two weeks with the 2nd ac install and this morning installing steadyfast stabilizers. I've got to get back to the regular home DIY tasks.

[Planostu]

Nice work. You completed the same two priority upgrades I did while I had it my warehouse. The other I found that is necessary in the summer heat is the interior fridge fan mod. Otherwise, the bottom of that fridge is unusable in hot and humid temps. We had to throw out all the meat we had stored in the bottom during our shakedown trip to the hill country a few months ago. http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOMETIC-NORC...item3ce58e3ed8



2015 Crusader 294RLT, 2014 2500 Ram