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Frustrated with Dometic

Discussion in 'HVAC' started by Brian G, Apr 27, 2022.

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  1. Brian G, Apr 27, 2022
    #1
    Brian G

    Brian G Member

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    Was told this week that my Cruisair RX12C compressor is fried. Ok, let's just replace it. Well, it's discontinued and is no longer available. Bummer, let's replace it with current a current 410 system. Not so fast. It's on backorder and will be 3-4 months out. Lovely, that means the summer months in Destin, Florida will be hot, hot, hot in the VIP bedroom. Since my Marine AC repair person doesn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation, I've tried to take matters into my own hands and look for alternatives. I'm thinking that maybe a self-contained unit in the bedroom might be a good stop gap measure. If so, what would you recommend?
  2. Pascal, Apr 27, 2022
    #2
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I m not a fan of self contained… they're still a bit loud and you re going to have to add a water pump in the bilge. That’s a Johnson 70, right? Do you have a thru hull for direct head discharge at the bow? You could use that. But still loud.

    Have you tried other source for the compressor? They're pretty much off the shelf. You don’t have to replace the whole condenser.

    Or ditch Cruisair and see if you can get a replacement condenser from one of the US manufacturers like Ocean Breeze or Flagship, both around Stuart.

    If your boat is like the one I ran, not a lot of space to pull the condenser from the forward port corner of the ER.

    Crusiair sucks. 3 years ago one of the chillers on the 84 I was running failed and it was a 3 months wait. That was before C19 and all the supply chain BS. My AC guy ended up rebuilding it in 2 weeks.

    Flagship is really good. I concreted my 53 to their chiller system. Well built and simple off the shelf stuff. No proprietary boards.
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 28, 2022
  3. MBevins, Apr 27, 2022
    #3
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Assuming you have a split system, contact an industrial/ commercial ac company, they'll come in and swap out the compressor, no big deal. For some reason the marine guys are allergic to this.
    cleanslate likes this.
  4. Slimshady, Apr 28, 2022
    #4
    Slimshady

    Slimshady Senior Member

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    Get your compressor rebuilt. Easy and faster.
  5. Pascal, Apr 28, 2022
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    You can’t rebuild a compressor. Easy to replace it. Unless by compressor you meant condenser.
  6. Slimshady, Apr 28, 2022
    #6
    Slimshady

    Slimshady Senior Member

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    Yes you can, we sell our used compressors to guys that break them open, rebuild them and resell with warranty. It's perfect for older units that are in otherwise good condition.
  7. Pascal, Apr 28, 2022
    #7
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    What size are you talking about? Typical marine Compressors aren’t that expensive… factoring the labor to install a new one, I don’t see the point.
  8. Slimshady, Apr 28, 2022
    #8
    Slimshady

    Slimshady Senior Member

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    Your correct if a new replacement is available. This applies to compressors that aren't available any more. The ones our goberment thinks are bad.
  9. BigChief, Apr 28, 2022
    #9
    BigChief

    BigChief Member

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    There is a tag on the compressor, bring it to a a local ac supply house. I replaced one on a 16k btu 110v Marine air split system from 1989 about 3yrs ago.
  10. Brian G, Apr 29, 2022
    #10
    Brian G

    Brian G Member

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    Thanks for the feedback. I pushed my A/C guy to find a better solution and he's now going to replace just the compressor. He said "no promises but it looks hopeful." As MBevins said, marine guys are reluctant to take this route but with a little nudge, it just might work out.
  11. Capt Ralph, Apr 29, 2022
    #11
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    We tried just replacing compressors in the past. Lots of flushing and back flow with nitrogen.
    50% (30 day) hit rate. We finally gave up. Hard to warranty when we know the whole system is usually trashed with debris and/or burnt freon.
    80% with new condensing station. No issues with new systems (amazing how that works).
    It's not the marine tech vs the house tech. Dry air home systems don't have the higher duty cycle nor poor quality water cool condensers. Amazing they work as well as they do.
    The marine tech knows this and hates loosing his shorts on piece work.
    Usually a gamble if he gets paid at all. Then he has to eat the warranty if piece it together does not work, where again, he usually does not get paid.
    So don't beat up the marine AC guy if he is reluctant to work on this stuff,,, he rarely makes a profit.
    Been here, lost my shorts before..

    And before I get blasted by the folks that just replaced their compressor and it worked,,, Well good for you..
    Go make a living on it..
    Charles Gross likes this.
  12. Pascal, Apr 29, 2022
    #12
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Over the years I ve had a bunch of compressors replaced and never had an issue. The tech just has to flush the system. Even with a new condenser you re not going to replace the evap or the copper lines to the evap anyway.
  13. Capt Ralph, Apr 29, 2022
    #13
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    1550CCED-90A5-4F91-BD9A-B1034B667A00.jpg
    Well good for you..
    Please re read my whole post. Yes, we flushed also.
  14. Pascal, Apr 29, 2022
    #14
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Well… between 2013 and 2017, I had 4 compressors replaced on my 53 and 6 on a boat I used to run (same 70 Johnson as the OP). None of them failed again. Since 2017 both my personal 53 and the boats I ve run used chillers so far fewer issues

    maybe I m just very lucky.
    MBevins likes this.
  15. Brian G, Apr 29, 2022
    #15
    Brian G

    Brian G Member

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    Since it's going to be at least 3 months before I can get a replacement system, this seems like a worthwhile try. If it doesn't work out, I'll be sure to pay my AC guy for his time. :)
  16. Pascal, Apr 29, 2022
    #16
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    The worst part of the job will be pulling the condenser out. On the 70 I ran the four smaller condensers were stacked in the corner. If the bad one was behind, you had to remove both!

    i love chillers !!!
  17. Brian G, Apr 30, 2022
    #17
    Brian G

    Brian G Member

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    Fortunately, it's the VIP unit which is front and center. There's the fire extinguisher to contend with but I don't think it will be too difficult to get the unit out.
  18. Slimshady, Apr 30, 2022
    #18
    Slimshady

    Slimshady Senior Member

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    I know units are somewhat different but we maintain almost 200 ac units. They last approximately 15 yrs in Florida salty hotness. No difference in new compressor vs rebuilt. Key for all ac work is flush and dry .
    Now if you want to get me all stirred up let's talk about aluminum coils.
  19. Pascal, Apr 30, 2022
    #19
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I ve never had a marine compressor last 15 years. The old blue cruisairs of the 80s yes… 25 years. Not the new stuff.
  20. rtrafford, Apr 30, 2022
    #20
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    This is my perspective. It's the right fix for the time and place. Make the fix, place the order for the replacement system when you can, and while you can afford to wait for it to be built and delivered.
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