evolvingpowercat
Well-known member
I replaced the 11,000 BTU Penguin I with a 13,500 BTU Brisk II on my 2011 Heartland Edge a few weeks ago. I was able to sell the Penguin I for $ 300 so my net cost of the DIY upgrade was under $ 400. Both were non-ducted and I use the standard Dometic Air Box with both. Both were installed per Dometic instruction manuals.
The only change was that both Dometic instruction manuals required that the roof opening be wood framed and Heartland did not do this on the original installation of the Penguin I they just cut a square hole in the roof center that was un-framed on all 4 sides. I wood framed it per Dometic's instructions after removing the Penguin I and replacing it with the Brisk II.
The Brisk II is advertised as being quieter than the former Dometic AC products. There is little difference. I measured my Penguin I with a sound pressure level meter and have measured the Brisk II with a sound pressure level meter and they are within 2 dB of each other on the lowest speed on either.
The Brisk II has 3 speeds where the Penguin I had 2 speeds, the Brisk II does not cycle the fan on and off, only the compressor cycles on and off. The Penguin shut off both the fan and compressor. I think this is better when it is so hot you have to run the AC at night, on the Penguin I the jump in noise when it would start after being off would wake me up. The noise on the Brisk II is constant all night long so once you get to sleep its fine.
The Brisk II was 3" higher than the Penguin, increasing the overall height of my RV that amount. The Brisk II lowered my roof weight by about 20 pounds vs. the Penguin I, due to new lighter design. The Brisk II has a vertical mounted compressor where the Penguin I had a horizontal mounted compressor which is the primary reason for the height difference.
While the Sound Pressure levels are the same, the Brisk II seems to be a "better" noise that is easier to hear the TV over and sleep over, it does not seem to transmit compressor noise thru the roof of the Edge as much as the Penguin I did.
The 13.5 K BTU Brisk II does a better job of cooling down my Edge when arriving in the afternoon after towing and having to cool down a warm camper, which I think is just due to the slightly higher BTU rating. The Penguin I would freeze up occasionally so far I have not had that problem with the Brisk II.
The starting current seems to be the same for both. My Yamaha 2400iSHC generator starts the Brisk II with no issues. I also had no issues with the same generator starting the Penguin I.
The only change was that both Dometic instruction manuals required that the roof opening be wood framed and Heartland did not do this on the original installation of the Penguin I they just cut a square hole in the roof center that was un-framed on all 4 sides. I wood framed it per Dometic's instructions after removing the Penguin I and replacing it with the Brisk II.
The Brisk II is advertised as being quieter than the former Dometic AC products. There is little difference. I measured my Penguin I with a sound pressure level meter and have measured the Brisk II with a sound pressure level meter and they are within 2 dB of each other on the lowest speed on either.
The Brisk II has 3 speeds where the Penguin I had 2 speeds, the Brisk II does not cycle the fan on and off, only the compressor cycles on and off. The Penguin shut off both the fan and compressor. I think this is better when it is so hot you have to run the AC at night, on the Penguin I the jump in noise when it would start after being off would wake me up. The noise on the Brisk II is constant all night long so once you get to sleep its fine.
The Brisk II was 3" higher than the Penguin, increasing the overall height of my RV that amount. The Brisk II lowered my roof weight by about 20 pounds vs. the Penguin I, due to new lighter design. The Brisk II has a vertical mounted compressor where the Penguin I had a horizontal mounted compressor which is the primary reason for the height difference.
While the Sound Pressure levels are the same, the Brisk II seems to be a "better" noise that is easier to hear the TV over and sleep over, it does not seem to transmit compressor noise thru the roof of the Edge as much as the Penguin I did.
The 13.5 K BTU Brisk II does a better job of cooling down my Edge when arriving in the afternoon after towing and having to cool down a warm camper, which I think is just due to the slightly higher BTU rating. The Penguin I would freeze up occasionally so far I have not had that problem with the Brisk II.
The starting current seems to be the same for both. My Yamaha 2400iSHC generator starts the Brisk II with no issues. I also had no issues with the same generator starting the Penguin I.
