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In the Abacos and would like some AC advice

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by motoryachtlover, Jun 11, 2024.

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  1. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    In the Abacos on a trip and master stateroom AC is acting up. It is a 2016 or so vintage Dometic split system. It is 410A. Prior to the trip it shut off on HI PS and you could restart it and it would last up to 30 minutes then trip off on HI PS again. So we flushed the unit and all was fine for 2 days. Then once we get to the Bahamas it shuts off again on HI PS. I flush the unit again. All is good for 3 days. Then it shut off on HI PS this morning. I flushed the unit again and restarted. Running now but for how long. One other thing to mention is I have one AC water pump serving all 5 units. The other units all run fine. There is the normal water flow out of the side of the boat. My point is no other units are having any issues and they are all on the same pump and plumbing. I have noticed that it used to be when the AC units were either off or unit running but the compressor was not running the pump would shut off. Now the pump stays running with the units off. Don’t know if that is a clue that will tell you all something.

    It seems to me to be a sensor issue. When the unit runs it blows 54 degree air. Do any of you have thoughts on what could be causing this? Is there a way to bypass the sensor that may be doing this?

    Thanks for your time. Not a show stopper but would like to atleast identify the problem as this is going to a ***** to troubleshoot because it is so intermittent.

    Attached Files:

  2. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Do you have a heat gun aboard? Compare the temps at the discharge points of each heat exchanger to see if they're getting equal flow.

    By "flush", do you mean Barnacle Buster or similar, or?
  3. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Thanks for responding. I flushed by taking the hoses off and I have a garden hose adaptor that I spray through the unit. The readings are in the picture. Once again thanks for the help.

    Attached Files:

  4. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    While you may not have any blockage, you may have developed scale on the coil within the heat exchanger. Bucket, pump short hoses, barnacle buster recycling through the coil and back into the bucket, flushing for several minutes will clear the scale and enhance heat exchange. You can likely see this with a heat gun, comparing each coil from unit to unit. Issue is enhanced when you get into very warm water.
  5. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Ok. Will see if I can find some Barncle Buster. Thanks
  6. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Barnacle Buster or an HVAC coil cleaner if available.
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Are all 5 units discharging out a single outlet or 5 separate outlets?
    Can you compare the 5 outlets and note a difference in out flow?

    Can you "back" flush from the hose end at the discharge to the hose at the bump manifold or pump.
    My idea here is restrictions are not always at the condensing station.
    Found silt settling in the bottom of hose bends (low dips) and restrictions at the pump manifold a few times thru the years.
    Found one restriction at the hull discharge fitting also.

    106° degree water in is not to impressive either.
    How does that compare to water temps on other stations.
    Where that blue cap is, is that tube cold when running?
    Top of the compressor to hot to touch or just warm?
  8. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    All 5 units discharging out of a single outlet.
    Blue cap tube is cold when running.
    Top of compressor is hot. Infrared gun says 172.

    Big salon unit is 146 and 113 on the heat exchangers.
    If you move the IR gun around a bit on the unit in question you can get 132 and 116.

    Yes I can back flush up to and into the manifold. A little bit more fun to get to but not too bad. That will be next step.

    Thanks Ralph.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I assume no pressure gauges on board?
    Is that is a soft start cap kit or freq start on the control box?

    A C just serviced before your trip? A lil extra freon added?
  10. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Correct no gauges.
    Yes that is a soft start.
    Yes ACs serviced before trip. Don’t know about any added Freon. Have not gotten invoice yet.

    Thank you very much
  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    BACK flush with water pressure from the discharge manifold, which I assume you have since you said all five go to a single thru hull, to the intake manifold by disconnecting the hoses at the manifold. Out the discharge hose in a bucket to see what come with.

    flushing in the direction of the flow doesn’t do much, it just forces the whatever debris you have further in.

    Also, poke thru the Tees at the manifolds to make sure you don’t have some shells stuck in there.

    to check for actual flow after you restart, disconnect the. Discharge hose at the discharge manifold and put it in a bucket to time how long it takes to flow a couple of gallons.

    then if that doesn’t solve it, you may need to descale it with BB

    I have wireless temp sensors on my coils and monitor temperatures. In summer starting now I have to back flush every week
  12. Lunderic

    Lunderic Member

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    Obvious but I have to ask.... did you check the strainer? I get High PS on one of my units when the strainer gets even partially clogged. I've also had the O-ring on the strainer cap with a slight weep that would make one of the units shut down with High PS code.
    Capt Ralph likes this.
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Also what kind of pump do you have ? Crusair / Oberdorfers as well as Scott pumps have bronze housing and impellers which erode with time loosing capacity. 5 to 7 years is about the life expectancy for these. Depending on the manifold design, that unit maybe getting a little less water.

    been there, done that.
  14. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    I have the Oberdorfers. They are less than a year old. Cleaned the strainers before I left but never hurts to check again. Will give the strainer top and O ring a good look.

    Thank you all.
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Please give them a call and ask if they added any freon to this station.
    With the increase water temps, The head pressure may go a lil taller than local waters..

    Now the big woo, on R410 systems, Low freon may offer HP errors.
    But you state the return line is cold. Real cold and sweating?

    Just trying to help trouble shoot from far away.
    f3504x4ps likes this.
  16. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Return line is real cold and sweating. No barncle buster in Marsh harbor. But unit has run non stop since yesterday.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Have you been in "Marsh Harbor" all these times of failures?
    Sadly, the most polluted and heated water in all the Abacos.
  18. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    No Stuart, west end, Guana, and now Marsh. Still running though with no interruptions.
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    In those hot basins I understand. like sitting in a pot of hot water.

    Please look at that picture above, where you labeled 106. Is that an outflow label with water flowing out?

    Rite now I'm thinking you are ever so slightly overcharged on freon.
    In those hot water basins, head pressure will get higher.
    Get out of those harbors into cooler flowing water.

    It's always better on a hook than dock anyway.
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2024