Why is upgrading to Dometic digital t-stat so confusing???

[Captain America]

I have been searching the forum for upgrading to a digital thermostat and now I'm confused. I have the Dometic analog t-stat with part # 3107541 control module on the AC.

What I have been reading is that I can directly connect a Honeywell t-stat with the Hi-Low fan toggle switch or buy the Dometic digital t-stat with control module part # 3313189.

I rather go with the Dometic t-stat, so is this the correct kit?

Dometic 3313189.000 Single Zone LCD Thermostat and Control Kit Polar White Trailer Camper RV

I usually don't get confused, but this is making me think too hard, or maybe I'm just too tired!

[rockfordroo]

I believe that's the one you want.

The Honeywell will cost you about $25-40 depending on whether you get a basic non-programmable or a programmable one. The Dometic is $90 and isn't programmable.

I see your link to the Dometic says it has a "3 wire connector." I have no idea what that means. I suspect it needs at least 6 wires (+12VDC, wire to furnace, wire to AC, wire to hi speed fan, wire to low speed fan, and ground wire for the thermostat's "brain").

Most of the Honeywells I've seen do NOT have a fan speed switch, so you'd have to add that; figure another $10 and some work on your part.

So positives for Honeywell is price and ability to get a programmable version. Negatives are it's battery operated, so you'll have to replace them periodically, and having to wire in a fan speed switch yourself. (Or just pick one speed and go with that).

Positives for Dometic are it should be plug-and-play and is powered from your TT. Negatives are cost and not programmable.

[kendive]

When we had a Kodiak camper that had a Dometic AC system. I used this to upgrade to a Digital Thermostat.

Dometic 3313192 019 Black Single Zone LCD Thermostat Only camper Trailer RV | eBay

Now that we have a Catalina 253 RKS with a Coleman AC Unit I used this Digital Control.

RV Comfort HC Coleman Mach Black Digital Wall Thermostat RVP 8330 386 | eBay

They both were straight forward to wire up and no issues.

Hope this helps...

[cpaulsen]

I dumped the old Dometic thermostat and put in a Honeywell. Did not care if I had a high and low on the a/c. It works really good on the low and installing the Honeywell was about a 20 minute job.

[Bama Rambler]

Originally Posted by Captain America

I have been searching the forum for upgrading to a digital thermostat and now I'm confused. I have the Dometic analog t-stat with part # 3107541 control module on the AC.

What I have been reading is that I can directly connect a Honeywell t-stat with the Hi-Low fan toggle switch or buy the Dometic digital t-stat with control module part # 3313189.

I rather go with the Dometic t-stat, so is this the correct kit?

Dometic 3313189.000 Single Zone LCD Thermostat and Control Kit Polar White Trailer Camper RV

I usually don't get confused, but this is making me think too hard, or maybe I'm just too tired!

If you go with this unit, you'll have to remove the old control box and install the one that comes with this one. You'll also have to redo the wiring from the A/C to the T-stat.

It's much easier to just get a Honeywell (or similar) digital t-stat and install it.

[Captain America]

That's what I found out. The dometic digital is not plug and play like the colemans. The digital is 3 wire and analog is 6 wire.

Switching out control module shouldn't be too difficult and I can use 3 wires of my choice to connect t-stat to controller.

I like the function of the Hi-Low fan on the dometic. While the Honeywell will work if I add a toggle switch.

I'll probably go with the dometic and I'll give feedback on the install.

[jjuscg]

Switching can be confusing, but the results are worth it. You can achieve real and consistent temperature control not possible with the analog stat. You can use an ordinary household thermostat, programmable or non-programmable. The only REAL difference, is the ground wire isn't used, because the thermostat uses battery power, and if you WANT a hi/lo fan control, you must install a switch. I found the hi/lo fan difference was so insignificant it wasn't worth the trouble. Here is an article which explains it pretty well..
Hunter 42999B Digital RV Thermostat - Upgrading the OEM Thermostat