Cruisair SMXir ac issue

Mtshain

New Member
Apr 26, 2022
20
Macomb Twp, Mi
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 300 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 5.0 Mercruiser w/Bravo III drives
Good evening all. Have a new to me 2005 300 Dancer. Took possession of it a little while back. While I was out this weekend I tried to get the air conditioning going with no luck. When I turn in the ac breaker on the panel it sends power to the unit and the thermostat. The fan will blow but only the same temperature air as outside.

the sea cock is open. The pump does not seem to want to kick on down in the bilge by the sea cock to pull the raw water from the bottom of the boat.

On the thermostat all buttons work and function as they should but when I push the cool button nothing happens. And the “cool” does not illuminate. If I push the heat it does.

Am I missing something? Should the ac water pump start automatically when you click the ac breaker on and then turn the temp down and select cool? Sorry new to the whole ac thing…
 
The pump only runs when the compressor is running. Have you checked the basket in the strainer for trash? If the compressor is not coming on, the pump will not run.

Bennett
 
On your 120V panel you need to have both the pump relay ON and the air conditioner ON. Next on th SMXir panel you press either heat or cool and adjust the temperature you want to maintain in the cabin. You need approximately 2 degrees difference between actual inside temperature and desired inside temperature. When the compressor comes on the water should flow overboard. Hope this helps
 
Sounds like your ac unit is not turning on. The control panel should have lights on and at least display the temperature. The pump gets turned on when the AC calls for it. So the fact that the pump is not turning on just means the AC is not calling for it. If the AC was turning on the compressor would kick in and then it would turn the pump on.

Is the compressor turning on?
Does the display light up and display the temperature?
Can you change the set point?
 
Sounds like your ac unit is not turning on. The control panel should have lights on and at least display the temperature. The pump gets turned on when the AC calls for it. So the fact that the pump is not turning on just means the AC is not calling for it. If the AC was turning on the compressor would kick in and then it would turn the pump on.

Is the compressor turning on?
Does the display light up and display the temperature?
Can you change the set point?
Sounds like your ac unit is not turning on. The control panel should have lights on and at least display the temperature. The pump gets turned on when the AC calls for it. So the fact that the pump is not turning on just means the AC is not calling for it. If the AC was turning on the compressor would kick in and then it would turn the pump on.

Is the compressor turning on?
Does the display light up and display the temperature?
Can you change the set point?


Yes the display lights up and displays the temperature. It will show the inside and outside temps. It allows me to change and set temps. It allows me to slow the fan or increase to Max. I can push the heat button and it will illuminate. Nothing happens when I hit the cool button. I tried to change the set point down to 60’, nothing.
Yes it was plugged into shore power, had the air conditioning breaker switched on and the water pump breaker on but that only seems to be for the fresh water tank to supply faucets etc. not to mention that pump is in the port side and works as it should.
I wasn’t sure if there was another relay or switch to supply power to the raw water bump for the ac.
 
On your 120V panel you need to have both the pump relay ON and the air conditioner ON. Next on th SMXir panel you press either heat or cool and adjust the temperature you want to maintain in the cabin. You need approximately 2 degrees difference between actual inside temperature and desired inside temperature. When the compressor comes on the water should flow overboard. Hope this helps
The pump only runs when the compressor is running. Have you checked the basket in the strainer for trash? If the compressor is not coming on, the pump will not run.

Bennett
No I’ll have to check the basket the next time I’m out. Yeah I don’t think the compressor is coming on. Just the fan motor. I can feel it suck the air through the filter etc. I’m guessing the basket will be down in the bilge by the raw water pump and seacock.
 
Yes the display lights up and displays the temperature. It will show the inside and outside temps. It allows me to change and set temps. It allows me to slow the fan or increase to Max. I can push the heat button and it will illuminate. Nothing happens when I hit the cool button. I tried to change the set point down to 60’, nothing.
Yes it was plugged into shore power, had the air conditioning breaker switched on and the water pump breaker on but that only seems to be for the fresh water tank to supply faucets etc. not to mention that pump is in the port side and works as it should.
I wasn’t sure if there was another relay or switch to supply power to the raw water bump for the ac.

So don't confuse the fresh water system with the raw water AC pump. The fresh water pump is 12v and the AC pump is 110v. Again, the AC pump will come on when the AC unit calls for it. You need to verify that the compressor is coming on.

You say the heat works?
If so then the ac will work, was it hot enough to have the AC on?
 
Sometimes if the compressor comes on in heat mode but not the Cool mode, the reverse vapor cycle shuttle valve/switch may be stuck on heat. Look at your manual and find that switch unit and gently tap on it when switching to cold. That happened to me on more than one occasion. Worth a try.
CD
 
Yes the display lights up and displays the temperature. It will show the inside and outside temps. It allows me to change and set temps. It allows me to slow the fan or increase to Max. I can push the heat button and it will illuminate. Nothing happens when I hit the cool button. I tried to change the set point down to 60’, nothing.
Yes it was plugged into shore power, had the air conditioning breaker switched on and the water pump breaker on but that only seems to be for the fresh water tank to supply faucets etc. not to mention that pump is in the port side and works as it should.
I wasn’t sure if there was another relay or switch to supply power to the raw water bump for the ac.

you need to look at the 120volt panel for a breaker that reads pump relay or AC pump or something along those lines as I mentioned earlier. Do not run the AC unit without water for the AC on.
 
How many AC units do you have in the boat? If more than 1, does the other work?
 
Sometimes if the compressor comes on in heat mode but not the Cool mode, the reverse vapor cycle shuttle valve/switch may be stuck on heat. Look at your manual and find that switch unit and gently tap on it when switching to cold. That happened to me on more than one occasion. Worth a try.
CD
Thanks I’ll give that a try.
 
Sometimes if the compressor comes on in heat mode but not the Cool mode, the reverse vapor cycle shuttle valve/switch may be stuck on heat. Look at your manual and find that switch unit and gently tap on it when switching to cold. That happened to me on more than one occasion. Worth a try.
CD
Okay finally was able to make it back to the boat today. I confirmed the compressor works along with the fan in heat mode. The compressor will kick on, water is squirting out the port side of the boat as it should.
Once again try to set the temp to a lowered temperature and nothing happens. Hit the cool button and nothing happens. Hit the heat button it illuminates.
I’m guessing it could be this reverse vapor valve you’re talking about since everything else works. I think I found it next to the u it but not sure if I’m tapping the right spot to get that float to move.
 

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If the pump is running, put a wet vac hose on the outside discharge and suck. Pump on, AC on.

works for me
 
Anyone on your dock have the same unit? The control pops right off and has phone jack connector. I'd simply swap with someone to see if its the controller.

Tim
 
The controllers definitely go bad. The unit always defaults to the AC mode and typically the valve will not shift to the heat mode. I bet on the controller being the issue.

Bennett
 
Just a final update. Since everything else was working. I bit the bullet and bought a new control panel. That was the issue. All works just fine now as it should. Was happy to have air over the holiday weekend.
 

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Just a final update. Since everything else was working. I bit the bullet and bought a new control panel. That was the issue. All works just fine now as it should. Was happy to have air over the holiday weekend.
Maybe..... I was dealing with an unusual "HP" fault. And sometimes no response from the SMXII controller at all but the displays still worked. As it ends up the RJ45 connectors and cable between that controller and the HVAC unit was making insufficient/intermittent contact. I replaced the cord and all is good in the world. $20....
BTW - from what I have found out the "HP" fault is loss of comm from the controller; it is not in the owner's manual. Not to be confused with HI-PS faults.
 

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