Adding a Second Furrion AC

[NH_Bulldog]

When we bought our new Cougar, my wife absolutely did not want the optional second AC over our bed in the front. Well of course that has now changed after camping through some serious summer heat.

Although our Cougar is only a few months old, it was one of the first units built with the "new again" manual switch/monitoring panel instead of InCommand (no longer used on the Cougar line), which I like and also which I hope will make this process easier.

Our Cougar has a 50A service and is prepped for the second AC. We currently have a Furrion Chill 15k ducted AC unit in the main living area that has a single wall-mounted thermostat on the steps to the upper level. Inside the front bedroom door on the wall is a sticker that indicates the wiring for the optional second AC is located there. All the photos I have seen of the same model 5th wheel as mine that already have the second AC show the second thermostat in that very location, so I am reasonably confident that I should be okay with installing the thermostat there.

I do have the second AC prep framing and wiring in the ceiling where the existing vent is above the bed, and I have confirmed that the ducts are there as well (currently taped up because the vent is there and the "Racetrack" duct circuit cannot be completed).

I certainly feel well-qualified to get up on the roof and install the AC (was thinking of the Furrion Chill 13.5k for matching aesthetics).

So here are a few questions: 1) Since I don't have InCommand, do you see any hidden issues/concerns in adding the second AC? 2) Since I don't have InCommand, do you see any issues mixing AC brands, i.e. not going with a Furrion unit for the second AC? 3) If I did consider a different brand of AC, what are your thoughts on the best brand/model? Thinking of reliability, quietness, low profile, etc. since it will be at the top front of the 5th wheel.

[St. Michael]

I’ve done this on a Cougar and it’s very straight forward. Biggest effort is getting the AC on the roof. If you do elect to go with a different brand just confirm the harness is compatible and the roof opening dimensions are correct (openings are pretty standard but u never know.). Happy wife happy life

[jxnbbl]

I added mine last year and because of other electrical reasons wanted a unit that would run with a 15A breaker. Since it was in the bunk room and only used sparingly I just opted for the controls on the unit and not the additional thermostat. The hardest part to me would be just running that extra thermostat wire down into the wall that I wanted it in (if I installed it). I was able to get the unit to the roof pretty easily by parking my truck along side and using 1/2 an extension ladder as a ramp to push the box on the roof from the truck bed. I did it by myself but 2 people would have been easier.


The only gotcha and I thought would be the most difficult part....which I documented in the forum...was within the footprint of the additional AC there was a plumbing roof vent and I'm thinking I'd have to replumb. Turned out to be a vent there to cover a hole drilled in the wrong place!

[sourdough]

To your questions; 1) adding the 2nd A/C should be no problem (except hauling it up on the roof). It will operate independently of the main A/C you currently have. They will both share the same racetrack ducting. 2) Since they are completely isolated from each other except for the ductwork mixing brands would not make a difference if the harness works as was mentioned. 3) There are lots of considerations listed and some are counter to others ie; smaller will probably = louder. Since it is not going to be a Whisper Quiet unit no matter what I think "loud", no matter how quiet, is going to be "loud". I've never been around a RV A/C running that was quiet. Reliability - I've had Dometics for as long as I can remember and have had one replaced (current trailer due to a "bad batch" per Dometic and the tech). I am not a fan of Furrion anything while GE and Coleman make other units. Coleman has been making RV units for a long time, I don't believe GE has so I would be hesitant. Looking at low profile Dometic makes the Penguin II you could put on the front. Put one on my last trailer and it caused no problems but they aren't quiet. Just some thoughts.....

[jsb5717]

We also had a 2nd AC added to our rig. Like yours, our bedroom came pre-wired for the AC and thermostat. Brand doesn’t matter. If the harness matches and the thermostat talks to it then you’re OK. Yes, they’re all noisy. I have the Easy Starts in both AC’s but running both on 50a isn’t an issue. They do run independently and each thermostat regulates its own temp. We do run them both in hot weather with good results. At night I tend to run just the living room unit to cool us down at night without the noise over our heads. Works for us.

[NH_Bulldog]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate the input and the insights. I did some digging around and it looks like I need the rooftop AC unit, single zone controller, air distribution box (ceiling assembly) and a thermostat. This is regardless of which unit I choose to install.

If I went with a Furrion unit, I can reuse the thermostat I removed from the main living area (replaced with an EasyTouch). Cost for the Furrion is around $1,000 landed without the t-stat. It kicks up another $500-$600 for Dometic and Coleman. Far cry from the $800 cost installed if the Mrs. had simply let me get it when we ordered our unit.

[JBM3M]

There
Vis a WiFi Tstat for Furrion that I have heard good about and am considering for my unit. Hardest part of adding on is getting the unit on top of the RV. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MPG1Y23...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[jxnbbl]

Originally Posted by JBM3M

There
Vis a WiFi Tstat for Furrion that I have heard good about and am considering for my unit. Hardest part of adding on is getting the unit on top of the RV. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MPG1Y23...v_ov_lig_dp_it

I just added this to my trailer:


https://www.microair.net/collections...ne-replacement


Seems to work fine.


I use the cielo breeze at home but I thought those were really only for "splits" and programmed through/replacing the normal remote.

[NH_Bulldog]

I have the Micro-air EasyTouch thermostat on my main AC. We had one in our Passport and loved it, so we bought another for our new Cougar.

I still have the Furrion thermostat that the EasyTouch replaced and a second EasyTouch would be overkill so I plan to either reuse the Furrion thermostat if I install a Furrion AC or just keep it simple and go with a manual control model of another brand AC.

[ab8cd]

We have two Furrions model: FACR15HESA-BL. I was initially upset because I had ordered a soft start for the bedroom air conditioner (which was not installed). Until I did an Amp measurement upon start up, which never exceeded 11 Amps… so by definition these were “soft start.”

In practice we run the bedroom unit when watching tv in the main living area and run the main living area unit when we are in bed to offer some separation from the noise.

[Nitehawk]

Originally Posted by JBM3M

There
Vis a WiFi Tstat for Furrion that I have heard good about and am considering for my unit. Hardest part of adding on is getting the unit on top of the RV. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MPG1Y23...v_ov_lig_dp_it

I have the Furion chill AC in my trailer. The cold sensor that co trol the init is located in the unit itself. The Cielo has a sensor built into the thermostat. For this to work properly do i have to disconnect the sensor in the furion. I find that because the sensor is in the unit it does not cool down the trailer properly

[NH_Bulldog]

Basically, No. the sensor is in the ceiling assembly, simply disconnecting it will not magically make the one in the wall thermostat work. You have to work with the existing sensor.

There is a sensor relocation kit available and I have seen other users rewire it using the existing wire set from the AC unit to the wall thermostat. In that case, they had 6 wires and 2 were not used, so they repurposed them. I checked my wires and I have 5, so it isn’t an option for me. I did recently contact Keystone about the sensor location and they said they would authorize a dealer to relocate the sensor for me.

I still have 3 months of camping season left, so I am not interested in having it sit at a dealer for the temperature sensor relocation so I might just do the relocation myself. In the meantime, I adjusted the temperature offset on my EasyTouch thermostat and that brings it in line and accurately reflects actual inside temperatures.