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Duo Therm Penguin Repair

This topic can be found at:
https://www.barthmobile.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3431087061/m/114105023

07-28-2010, 06:32 PM
Bruce & Kathleen
Duo Therm Penguin Repair
As promised, I am sharing the information provided to me to repair my Penguin A/C. Our model number is 610015.305, which is a 13,500BTU non-ducted roof top unit. I am figuring this is an original unit from when our coach was built, which would make it around a 1992 model year. According to some paperwork that I found, there are two "circuit boards" that basically control this unit. One is inside the interior shroud behind the control face plate and called the control board. It has a ribbon cable on it that plugs into the ribbon cable from the other board located inside the upper unit itself called the main board. Here is where it got interesting. According to the paperwork, I needed a Dometic part #3101625.006 for the control board and part #3101626.004 for the main board. If you read my other post in Tech Talk, I was out searching for one and then the other of these parts. Dometic does NOT have them. Anyway, I sent out e-mails to anyone and everyone I could and finally got a response from a contact on eBay. (Note: Just because someone is selling a part on eBay that is not the right one for you, don't be afraid to send them a question and ask if they can help with what you need. Worked for me!) Anyway, Kim from WWW.RVPARTSAROUNDTHECLOCK.COM said that they could help. As far as the main board was concerned, I was told that part number changes have occurred... 3101626.004 goes to 3104232.008 goes to a 3104233.006. This is what I purchased and it was an exact replacement and the A/C unit is up and working again. No modifications needed. Just remove and replace. As far as the control board was concerned, 3101625.006 changed to a 3101625.014, which is what I purchased also.
So, if you have an older Duo Therm Penguin that has any of these part numbers in them, you can use one of the other part numbers shown and it should be an exact replacement!
Some other part number's in the unit that may be of some help to someone: Heat Strip is #3101121, Start Capacitor is #3100236.219 and the Run Capacitor is #3100248.073.
Hope this helps someone some day. And remember, DON'T THROW OUT THOSE OLD COMPONETS UNTIL YOU STRIP THEM OF WORKING PARTS!!!


9303 3855 33BS 1B
Bruce & Kathleen
1993 33' Front Entrance Breakaway
230HP Cummins 5.9, Allison 6 speed, Spartan Chassis, Nicely Optioned
07-28-2010, 08:38 PM
Rusty
I had the same unit, with a similiar problem. However, it WASN'T the circuit board, but rather the ribbon cable had 2 broken wires where it was soldered to the board. Thanks to Carl Flack (when he lived in TN) and his soldering iron, I restripped and re-soldered the connections, and all was well for another year or two when the compressor croaked.


Rusty


MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP; built-to-order by Peninsular Engines:  Hi-pop injectors, gear-driven camshaft, non-waste-gated, high-output turbo, 18:1 pistons.  Fuel economy increased by 15-20%, power, WOW!"StaRV II"

'94 28' Breakaway: MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP

Nelson and Chester, not-spoiled Golden Retrievers

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not.
In either case the idea is quite staggering.
- Arthur C. Clarke

It was a woman who drove me to drink, and I've been searching thirty years to find her and thank her - W. C. Fields
08-25-2012, 12:54 PM
dulobast25
is Carl Flack on this forum?
08-25-2012, 12:55 PM
dulobast25
Bruce/Kathleen..I tried parts around the clock on ebay and they tried to sell me on the new conversion kit....you say you got a celing keypad t-stat from him?
08-26-2012, 01:27 AM
carlflack
Dulobast25: Carl Flack is a member of Barthmobile. I now live in North Fort Myers, Florida......?????.....................


Former owner of "THE TOY"
1988 Barth Regal SE 33' Tag
1992 Barth Breakaway 32'
2005 Coachmen Mirada 32' DS

08-26-2012, 04:34 PM
dulobast25
Hello there, carl

my understanding is that you recommended a few shops to Rusty that provided hard to find dometic/duotherm control pads/ t-stats and boards.

"That circuit board is obsolete; however, Carl Flack (when he lived in TN) referred me to a places that found the board. I don't remember the company..."

I was wondering if you could share the names of these shops with me or the forum.

By the way, to all member of this board: Thanks for being so responsive and supportive of requests!!!!!!!!!!
08-27-2012, 05:42 PM
Tom and Julie
So I have a question! These old Duo Therm's are now 19 years old, operate on ancient freon and mine, at least, was only barely keeping up. I bought the new Duo Therm variable speed fan, 410 Freon 15,000 BTU with heat strip from PPL for under $700, including new digital thermostat and 10 pin ribbon cable adapter. It now cools much better and runs about 2/3 as much. So why patch these old units?


1993 32' Regency Wide Body, 4 speed Allison Trans, Front Entry door, Diamond Plate aluminum roof &
1981 Euro 22' w Chevy 350 engine and TH 400 tranny
08-28-2012, 03:08 AM
Rusty
I agree. There's a time, not always clearly evident, to retire a device rather than trying to keep it running past its prime.


Rusty


MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP; built-to-order by Peninsular Engines:  Hi-pop injectors, gear-driven camshaft, non-waste-gated, high-output turbo, 18:1 pistons.  Fuel economy increased by 15-20%, power, WOW!"StaRV II"

'94 28' Breakaway: MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP

Nelson and Chester, not-spoiled Golden Retrievers

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not.
In either case the idea is quite staggering.
- Arthur C. Clarke

It was a woman who drove me to drink, and I've been searching thirty years to find her and thank her - W. C. Fields
08-28-2012, 12:45 PM
Steve VW
This is of course not applicable to certain high end aluminum motorhomes which are always (almost!) worth saving! Big Grin


9708-M0037-37MM-01
"98" Monarch 37
Spartan MM, 6 spd Allison
Cummins 8.3 325+ hp
08-29-2012, 08:07 AM
Bruce & Kathleen
dulobast25---They found me one but that was back in 2010. They told me at the time they were obsolete.
Another option I was chasing was contacting RV repair shops in your area and ask if they have changed out any old penguins. Most shops just dispose or sell off the old units. You could snag one before they get rid of it. But that is no guarantee that the boards are good. Ask the repair shop what was wrong with the unit that the previous owner decided to replace it.
To Tom and Rusty's thoughts, we are heading to the fall season and a lot of shops will start discounting their A/C inventory to move it before winter sets in. This is not always the case in warm weather states, but search the internet for places up north that want to unload their inventory for deals after the Labor Day holiday...


9303 3855 33BS 1B
Bruce & Kathleen
1993 33' Front Entrance Breakaway
230HP Cummins 5.9, Allison 6 speed, Spartan Chassis, Nicely Optioned
08-29-2012, 03:04 PM
bud@YXY
I agree with Steve--- one of the fun things with a Barth is the trying to keep more or less original quality items. The repair guys at KiSS Rv (in AZ) were of the opinion that some of the older items were better quality and one should try to keep them as long as possible (reasonable).

Bud


1993 Breakaway 36ft & 1977 20 ft
Spartan: air ride and brakes & P32(?)
Cummins: 8.3 litre 250hp, PACBrake
Allison 3060 (6 spd)
Front entry, side hallway
7.5 kw diesel gen.
1999 2dr Tracker 4X4 5spd, SMI Braking system