Adding thermostat to front AC.

[Goferbroke]

We have a Chaparral 360IBL and the front AC does not have a thermostat. We have to turn it on with the switch on the unit. Has anyone on here added a thermostat to a non thermostat unit? If so, how much of a pita is it to do? I know I'll have to run a wire from the AC to the thermostat on the wall, but will the AC already have wiring for a thermostat? Thanks in advance for help!

[brad2388]

Originally Posted by Goferbroke

We have a Chaparral 360IBL and the front AC does not have a thermostat. We have to turn it on with the switch on the unit. Has anyone on here added a thermostat to a non thermostat unit? If so, how much of a pita is it to do? I know I'll have to run a wire from the AC to the thermostat on the wall, but will the AC already have wiring for a thermostat? Thanks in advance for help!

What kind of thermostat do u have now? Pics?

Also what kind of ac unit is it? Pics?

You can swap out the controls for a thermostat if you can figure out what u have.

[Witch Doctor]

You will also have to change the control board in the unit itself, plus pick up 12volt for the stat, could be a big pita.

[Goferbroke]

Originally Posted by brad2388

What kind of thermostat do u have now? Pics?

Also what kind of ac unit is it? Pics?

You can swap out the controls for a thermostat if you can figure out what u have.

I don't have a thermostat. I want to add one to a Dometic Brisk II 13.5k in our bedroom. We have to turn it on and off with the switches on the unit. I guess what I'm asking is in general what is involved in adding a thermostat. I can pick up 12v from a nearby light switch. Thanks!

[doc73]

There was a thread here probably a year or so ago where some used a heavy duty relay to act as an on off switch to the main power feed of the AC. The thermostat acted as the relays trigger. Made their non Ducted / thermostatically controlled unit work on a cheap honey well thermostat. Now this would not allow for fan speed changes in this setup but it would turn on and off as needed.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by doc73

There was a thread here probably a year or so ago where some used a heavy duty relay to act as an on off switch to the main power feed of the AC. The thermostat acted as the relays trigger. Made their non Ducted / thermostatically controlled unit work on a cheap honey well thermostat. Now this would not allow for fan speed changes in this setup but it would turn on and off as needed.

Will not work with dometic a/c will work with a Coleman, needs new control board and a domestic stat, dometic is the only company that uses a ground instead of a positive for there relays to supply voltage.

[Goferbroke]

Thanks to all that replied! I've always heard "search is your friend" and now I know. I googled how to add a thermostat to dometic ac and came up with this:http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nit-97237.html
He is working with my exact AC in my same model camper! Thanks again all!

[doc73]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

Will not work with dometic a/c will work with a Coleman, needs new control board and a domestic stat, dometic is the only company that uses a ground instead of a positive for there relays to supply voltage.

Why would it not work? The relay is on the main 120 feed to the AC from the breaker. Not in any of the AC's wiring other than the main power.

[justpassinthru]

Added 1 about 3 months ago. Called Dometic gave them model number of ac In return they gave me the part numbers for the thermostat and control board. Actually bought both thru camping world online. Had my rv dealer install for me. They took 1.5 hours of labor well worth it. Hope this helps.

[Mikeschultz85]

I added a relay to my heater tstat to control the the Dometic A/C. No dedicated post, but I added a comment to this thread:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...d.php?t=115933

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by doc73

Why would it not work? The relay is on the main 120 feed to the AC from the breaker. Not in any of the AC's wiring other than the main power.

I have told you why in the above post, they use a negative wire to close the relay not positive, just buy the board.

[Witch Doctor]

The relay is 12 volt contacts not 120 volt. The OP. IS DOING IT CORRECTLY.

[Mikeschultz85]

It works for me. I'm not using a relay in the A/C. It is added to the power line running to the a/c and is controlled by the thermostat that was formally for the furnace only. No need to buy a new board.

[Witch Doctor]

Your the very first that I heard of with a dometic that it worked with a dometic stat

[Mikeschultz85]

I'm using a 12 volt relay that switches 110 volt. As doc73 said, it cuts power to the a/c. You leave the controls of the a/c on all the time and the 12v tstat wires triggers the relay to cut/restore the 110v power to the a/c. Can probably be used with any thermostat.

This is the relay I used: http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_Produ...jPK9kyzg%3D%3D

[doc73]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

I have told you why in the above post, they use a negative wire to close the relay not positive, just buy the board.

Yes and while I do not want to argue with you, it will work. What I think maybe you might be missing and it might well be my wording... The relay is on the MAIN power feed to the ac unit. No thermostat connected to any of the air conditioner relays or thermostats. The added thermostat, bought from home depot merely triggers the relay and applies power to the AC that had been already trained to hight and full. Chill. Pretty much like flipping the breaker on and off.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by Mikeschultz85

I'm using a 12 volt relay that switches 110 volt. As doc73 said, it cuts power to the a/c. You leave the controls of the a/c on all the time and the 12v tstat wires triggers the relay to cut/restore the 110v power to the a/c. Can probably be used with any thermostat.

This is the relay I used: http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_Produ...jPK9kyzg%3D%3D

Posted the same time..

[Witch Doctor]

Thank you for the Info, your are telling me you put this a Brisk 2 dometic correct

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by doc73

Yes and while I do not want to argue with you, it will work. What I think maybe you might be missing and it might well be my wording... The relay is on the MAIN power feed to the ac unit. No thermostat connected to any of the air conditioner relays or thermostats. The added thermostat, bought from home depot merely triggers the relay and applies power to the AC that had been already trained to hight and full. Chill. Pretty much like flipping the breaker on and off.

Thanks for education, sounds to easy

[doc73]

Yes it does.. It almost makes me think it IS too easy!