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11-23-2013, 08:55 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Great Lakes
Vessel Name: NONE
Vessel Model: NONE
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 448
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Question split air systems
Can anyone give me some guidance here? I have 3 split air systems on board, 2 of which have failed and I am looking to replace them. I believe the problems are on the compressor ends, one trips breaker & one does not blow cold. Can I just replace the two compressor units and connect the new ones to the existing fan/evapp units or are they some sort of matched system ?
If I can reuse the old fan/evap units, is there anything I should be aware of in ordering the replacement compressors?
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11-24-2013, 02:38 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
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Before buying two new compressors, check for simple problems.
Tripping the breaker could be a wiring short; Does it trip when power is turned on, when running just fan, or after a period of time when in cool mode?
No cold - could be a gas leak and just needs re-gassing (and leak repaired).
If compressors do need replacing, obviously they need to be sized properly. I'd order same compressor make/model unless you are up to speed with other options which will match. Re-gassing may be required as well after replacement.
If the indoor end of business is working ok, no need to replace. Although there may not be a huge difference in price between compressor/re-gassing/labor , and replacing the lot.
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11-24-2013, 04:53 AM
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#3
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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Call a good repair guy, air cond has enough complexity that DIY is seldom a good idea.
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11-24-2013, 05:25 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
City: St James City Fl
Vessel Name: Paradox
Vessel Model: Mainship
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 165
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11-24-2013, 06:38 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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I agree..get a guy that knows his stuff and probably save you what his charges are...
Then again...had a friend with splits...the one marine a/c guy keep screwing around with one....wound up with$3000 bill in parts/labor and it failed within a month. Second guy said "what was that guy thinking"...put in a new compressor with labor and the bill was around $3000.
In boating centers there are good marine a/c guys...out in the boonies...(even a popular boating area like South Jersey) it's a crap shoot for real talent.
I'm not gonna even bother...next year I'm yanking my 2 split units...putting in 3 all-in one units where the current air handlers are. The new units are more efficient, quieter and I can install them myself. If one has the slightest problem...I can unhook it and take it to ANY a/c guy's shop and save transportation costs plus the hourly rate will be 1/2 of the marine guys.
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11-24-2013, 07:31 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Solomons Island Md
Vessel Name: Fryedaze
Vessel Model: MC 42 (Overseas Co) Monk 42
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,721
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I assume that split means, one compressor running two condenser fan units. I just had both my units fail. One didn’t produce much heat and the compressor didn’t come on for the other. One of them is a split system. After a week of monkeying around troubleshooting it myself I punted it to the boat yard. One had a blown fuse and the other was a little low on charge. No leaks found and no cause for the fuse although I believe it’s from me shifting it from heat to cool multiple times in short order.
Ditto on getting a GOOD AC guy.
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11-24-2013, 10:11 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
City: Great Lakes
Vessel Name: NONE
Vessel Model: NONE
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 448
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Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated. I hear you about calling in the experts, but given the age of the units I fear I'll spend a couple hundred only to be told they need replacing. When I get back to the boat in a few weeks, maybe I'll get the meter out and see if I can't track down exactly whats at fault. The one throwing the breaker I'm fairly certain is a stuck reverse solenoid, banging on it didn't help which from what I've read means the unit is junk.
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11-25-2013, 05:58 AM
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#8
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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11-25-2013, 07:24 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: South FL
Vessel Name: Oliver
Vessel Model: Nordhavn 47 Hull# 12
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,607
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__________________
Thanks, Oliver
M/V Oliver
Nordhavn 47 Hull #12
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11-25-2013, 09:28 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Great Lakes
Vessel Name: NONE
Vessel Model: NONE
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 448
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I like the "price" of those ductless home systems but the drawback is the air handler unit is really big and ugly and cannot be hidden away. I would also worry about locating the compressor in the engine room as it was designed to be outside.
KLIMAIRE DC Inverter Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners heat pumps a/c deals online sales
Thanks Oliver, the Webasto you flagged is a self contained unit, not split, but psneeld makes some good points in favour of the self contained systems. Seems to me however that my path of least resistance & expense is to simply replace the compressor units if I can determine they will play nice with my existing air handlers.
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