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Dometic Brisk II Rooftop RV / Camper A/C – Review and Installation Discussion
If the roof air conditioner goes out on your RV or camper and you are handy enough to perform the work, replacing the A/C on your RV yourself can save you a lot of money. Additionally, with the 2-3 month waits for service nowadays, doing the work yourself can get you back on the road and camping quicker. It is heavy work, requires electrical knowledge, and you need to have basic tools. At least one other person to help with lifting and placement of the A/C will be needed. If you are not comfortable with any of these components you should hire someone to do the installation for you! We have had to change the air conditioner on one of our travel trailers and on one motorhome. People have asked how hard it it to replace the A/C on a recreational vehicle… Â
Well, let’s break down what you need to be successful replacing your air. First, you need help lifting and placing the A/C. Even using the techniques we talk about below, you will need two other people for this part of the job. Next, you need to be comfortable doing the wiring. This is not somethin you want to tackle if you do not feel comfortable… find a friend who is or hire this part done. Lastly, you need to be comfortable with basic tool and be handy. This is not a super difficult job if you have all of this but take your time to do a good job. Taking a few extra minutes with the steps below will make the system function much better.
So, if you are still reading, maybe you have decided to do the work yourself. Choosing the best rooftop A/C to replace yours with can be a daunting task. You will need to decide on 13,500 or 15,000 BTU, heat or no heat, ducted or not ducted (unducted), and color of the A/C cover. There are many brands on the market now but we find the Dometic brand of air conditioners to be the best quality on the market. They also get amazing reviews and many happy customers. The Dometic brand has been around since the 1920’s and specialize in all types of cooling / refrigeration.
Sizing the roof air for your RV or camper is generally based on need. The two most common size are 13,500 BTU and 15,000 BTU. Both A/C systems fit in the same size hole in your RV roof / ceiling and generally use the same connection to ducted RV A/C systems. Most people recommend upgrading to a 15,000 BTU A/C if you are replacing a bad one just so you will be able to cool the unit faster and the air conditioner will not need to work as hard. Dometic Brisk II is one of the leading RV A/C systems and is available in both sizes. Below are links to both sizes for you to compare.
Another decision you need to make is if you need a replacement RV A/C for a ducted or non-ducted system. Ducted means that there are air lines running through the ceiling of your RV, originating at the A/C, that carry the cold air to various locations and rooms within the camper. A non-ducted system only has vents right at the bottom of the A/C. Fortunately, you can purchase a Dometic Brisk II unit that will work for ducted or non-ducted systems. The included instructions and instructionally installation videos can be found on YouTube to assist in setting up your new unit for ducted or non-ducted applications.
Other things you need to keep in mind when selecting the best replacement rooftop A/C for your RV include heat or no heat, remote thermostat or unit controlled, and color of the exterior roof cover. If at any point you have concerns about which A/C you should select for your project, CLICK HERE to view one of their products on Amazon. In the questions section you will find a link to email Dometic and ask your questions. Below we will list various Dometic RV configurations with appropriate links.
So why select Dometic Brisk II to replace your existing RV roof air? After two year of re-engineering and improving the design of the Brisk II Rooftop Air Conditioner, Dometic has created a unit that is much more lightweight, durable, and efficient. The housing is now built out of EPP foam which, in addition to saving a lot of weight, really improves the cooling performance of this unit. This redesign, a high performance motor and fan, along with high quality components are why Dometic provides a 2 year Protection Plus warranty on these new and improved Brisk II units. Below is a guide to help you start your search when selecting the correct rooftop A/C for your RV or camper.
How to Get Replacement Rooftop A/C on the Roof of Your RV / Camper
Getting a replacement air conditioner up on the roof of your RV can be a daunting task. They are fairly heavy and of an awkward shape and size. Leaning an extension ladder against the camper and sliding the A/C up the ladder is a common method for getting the A/C up on the roof. Be careful during this process and make sure you have help. Also make sure that you put towels or some cushion between the ladder and the surface of your camper to avoid denting or scratching. The drawing below shows the basic process of sliding a rooftop RV air conditioner up a ladder to get it on the roof of your RV or camper. Ropes can also be used to pull the A/C up the ladder and to lower the old A/C back down the ladder. Either way, make sure you have sufficient help to safely handle this task. Once the a/c is on the roof DO NOT SLIDE it around. Most RVs now have a rubber or similar membrane roof that can be easily torn or cut by sliding the A/C around. It is better to have two people lift and place the A/C in the correct location while someone inside the camper looks up through the hole and directs the lifter / placers.
Securing the New A/C to the Roof of the RV
Rooftop RV air conditioners are secured with 4 long bolts. Once in position this is an easy portion of the install. The biggest thing you need to be careful of here is how much you tighten these four securing bolts. It would be easy to think, the tighter, the better… WRONG! If you overtighten or undertighten these bolt water may leak around the seal of your new A/C. Read and read again the manufacturer’s instructions on how to know when you have the A/C bolts tight enough. It is a good idea to tighten each bolt a little at a time and keep working around all 4 bolts until you are at the recommended torque. After installation, thoroughly inspect the seal to make sure there are no air gaps or spots that are doubled over. Securing the lower (interior) panel to the ceiling is typically done with 4 wood screws, one in each corner of the A/C per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Wiring the New Replacement A/C to the RV
Connecting the new A/C to the RV is fairly straightforward and much like typical residential wiring. If you are not comfortable with AC / DC wiring, hire someone to do this for you. Following the instructions and with the power turned off, you will connect the 110V AC line in the camper to the newer A/C. If your A/C has a remote thermostat you will need to wire that too. Like with home thermostats, RV thermostats generally use the same low voltage wiring (including colors of wires) across brands. Refer to the wiring diagram for both the thermostat and the A/C to properly wire the thermostat.
Installation of Ducted & Non-Ducted A/C on Your RV
If your RV or camper has a non-ducted A/C system you will simply need to install the correct bottom end. This will include the air intake and the vents. Additionally, it will contain the controls. If your system is ducted, you will either use your existing bottom end or purchase a bottom portion for ducted systems. With the ducted A/C kit you will trim the duct dividers (see instructions) to fit your system and then install the bottom or lower portion. We recommend using duct tape (the thin silver metallic type) to limit or eliminate leaking at the unit. Any air leaking around the duct dividers and the ducts leading out into your RV will be recirculated through the A/C and reduce efficiency. If you are like us you want as much air as possible coming out of each duct during those hot summer camping trips.