Help with AC

[Meanwhile]

2007 Marlin. I went to use the AC while on shore power and here are the symptoms:
I switch the power on from the control panel for the AC, the AC control panel to the left of the sink lights up, I can hear a click under the sink, and the AC control panel goes dark. No more response.

Any history or ideas? The boat is 90 miles away so I don't have the documents, not sure or the brand on the AC. I'm hoping it is an easy replacement like my genset was, a simple plug and play component.

Randy

 

[seasick]

2007 Marlin. I went to use the AC while on shore power and here are the symptoms:
I switch the power on from the control panel for the AC, the AC control panel to the left of the sink lights up, I can hear a click under the sink, and the AC control panel goes dark. No more response.

Any history or ideas? The boat is 90 miles away so I don't have the documents, not sure or the brand on the AC. I'm hoping it is an easy replacement like my genset was, a simple plug and play component.

Randy

You need to check the shore power as well as that cable and the connections. The fact that the AC panel goes "dark" when under load leads me to suspect an shore power supply issue and not necessarily an air conditioner issue

 

[glacierbaze]

Was that a one-time event, or does it repeat? That click sounds like a possible circuit breaker.

 

[seasick]

Was that a one-time event, or does it repeat? That click sounds like a possible circuit breaker.

Good point. I guess we need to know if he switched the breaker for the air conditioner or the breaker for the entire AC panel.
I would think it was not the later since it would have been 'dark' already . If the former, the panel goes dark when the air conditioner is switched on , a short or excessive draw should trip the air conditioner breaker and not the power main.
He also didn't state what he has to do to reset the main panel. He may have a ground fault issue.
I guess we need more details

 

[g0tagrip]

Assuming your 2007 Marlin is setup the same as mine.......and assuming your shore power is working properly......I have had two problems with the a/c on my Marlin. Both were related to the water pump. I am on my third water pump since I bought the boat new.
So first check out your shore power, the breaker is under the starboard gunnel close to the shore power cord connection. Make sure when hooked to the shore power you do not have a reverse polarity light on your circuit breaker panel. Assuming all is well there, turn on the a/c. Do you hear the water pump come on? Or does that click you are hearing come on after 5 or 6 minutes? Is the water coming out the drain on the port side of your boat? If no water then the pump needs to be replaced. Also there is a reset button on the compressor. To access that you have to open the access hatch under the steps, use a flash light to find the button and try resetting the compressor. The reset button will not reset the compressor if it is hot (lack of the pump working). If water is running and you tried to reset the compressor then I suspect you may need a new compressor.But with out the water pump running the compressor will get hot and shut itself off in a couple minutes.
Good luck with your issue, hope it is just your shore power connection or it that is all good, maybe just a pump problem. I think the last time I had to order a new pump it was around $90.

 

[journeyman]

Assuming all is well there, turn on the a/c. Do you hear the water pump come on? Or does that click you are hearing come on after 5 or 6 minutes? Is the water coming out the drain on the port side of your boat? If no water then the pump needs to be replaced.

I hear what you're saying but I don't think the pump will run if the cabin temp is at or near the controller temp set point. The pump only runs if the controller indicates the need for heating or cooling, both of which have a lighted indication on the controller. The fan, however, will and should run continuously if the controller is powered on.

I plan to be on my boat by 6 this evening. I will pay closer attention to what the AC controller does when powered up from the main electrical panel, what lights up, if anything, etc, and post what mine does when I get home.

 

[journeyman]

Ok, here's what I got-

Opened the sea cock
turned on Main breaker
turned on Air conditioner breaker
Air conditioner control panel lit up with 3 red dots where the numbers are and I hear a click (no pump / no fan)
3 red dots change to 3 "eights" as all segments of the screen light up
Air conditioner panel goes black - nothing on

Pressed power button on air conditioner control panel
Panel lights up and displays cabin temperature
Cabin temperature shows 81 degrees (I know my set point was 70 at last visit)
Pumps starts as light shows mode is "cooling"
Fan starts to circulated air

As cabin cools and reaches set point, pump stops
Fan continues to circulate air
pump comes on and cycles this way to maintain temp set point


Good luck, hope you figure it out and it's something simple and inexpensive.

 

[Meanwhile]

Ok, here's what I got-

Opened the sea cock
turned on Main breaker
turned on Air conditioner breaker
Air conditioner control panel lit up with 3 red dots where the numbers are and I hear a click (no pump / no fan)
3 red dots change to 3 "eights" as all segments of the screen light up
Air conditioner panel goes black - nothing on

Pressed power button on air conditioner control panel
Panel lights up and displays cabin temperature
Cabin temperature shows 81 degrees (I know my set point was 70 at last visit)
Pumps starts as light shows mode is "cooling"
Fan starts to circulated air

As cabin cools and reaches set point, pump stops
Fan continues to circulate air
pump comes on and cycles this way to maintain temp set point


Good luck, hope you figure it out and it's something simple and inexpensive.

The main electrical panel is fine, as is the shore power. I did not describe that very well.

I flip the circuit breaker for the AC
The AC control panel has lights on all 3 leds
I hear a click under the sink
Nothing more from the AC.
I push the AC on, or any button on the AC control panel and nothing happens.

I can repeat the above sequence with the same result.
The electrical panel is unaffected by the above, don't get sidetracked. All other functions of the electrical panel function fine.

No water would be pumped as the click happens too quickly. I have an attachment to flush the line with fresh water, maybe that would help (see below regarding prime).

I'll try the compressor reset.
Then I'll take a look at the pump, is the pump in the AC unit itself?
I read somewhere about an AC pump losing prime, could that happen here or is the pump self priming on the Marlin?

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like this AC unit can be grumpy. Journeyman seems to have hands on experience.

 

[journeyman]

The pump for the AC is located near the seacock.


I have also read that some have had priming issues but I never have. They may have had "tired" pumps. Not sure I would replace pump yet...

The click you hear has got to be a relay. I hear it also when I turn on the breaker for my AC.

I don't have drawings so I can't say what that relay is for but that could also be a point of failure.

Your unit may have overheated at some point so if you can locate the reset, that is a good place to start.

You say the Air conditioner control panel has lights, but do you see numbers (cabin temp)?

The air filter for the return air can get really dirty. Cleaning it often is a good idea. Mine is under the stairs. Could be a cause of overheating.

 

[Meanwhile]

I found the pump in my stock of photos. I have only run the AC once or twice so I'm thinking overheating would not be likely, but end of life due to corrosion. I'll be at the boat tomorrow so I'll post up what I find.

In searching online it looks like a replacement pump is $230. Ouch.

The red LED lights just come on for a second as if they are initializing, then go dark when I hear the clock. No figures can be made out, as if all the elements of the LED are on at once.