Air Condition Help

black pearl

black pearl

New Member
Apr 27, 2007
293
atlanta, ga
Boat Info
2006 40 Sundancer
Engines
8.1 Mercruiser's
We put our boat in the water today for the first time in 16 months. Everything worked great except I can not get the air to work unless we are hooked up to shore power only. As soon as we unhook to go out so does the air. Is there somthing I am not turning on? The thermostat has no read out like it does not have any power. Help, what are we missing. We need air this weekend. Thanks Jim
 
I did not know I had to have the genny on. I thought the air would just run off the engines running. Sorry very new at this. Thanks
 
Generator is needed to run AC, Battery Charger (your alternator also charges the battery) Electric Stove, Microwave, and all 110 outlets. Everything else runs off of 12 volts. Some things are dual like the fridge.
 
When you do start the genny, you will see switches on the electrical panel to turn on the AC power by the shore power or by the genny. You shouldn't be able to use both at the same time - that would be bad.

1) Run blower for 4 minutes and then leave it on with genny
2) Start genny and allow to warm up for 1 minute
3) Turn on switch(es) to power AC panel from genny
4) Turn on A/C cooling pump (if separate switch available - probably not on your boat)
5) Turn on A/C and enjoy
6) Turn off A/C when done - leave pump on for X minutes to cool system (if available)
7) Turn pump and other AC systems off - turn off AC switches from genny to allow shore power later
8) Allow genny to cool for 1 minute
9) Shut genny down
10 Turn off blower as required
 
black pearl said:
I did not know I had to have the genny on. I thought the air would just run off the engines running. Sorry very new at this. Thanks
Click to expand...

No apologies needed that's how we all learn. What's funny is that this question isn't asked more often, I mean the AC runs off the car engine, why not the boat engine? Once you understand the principle of how the AC works on a boat you'll understand the difference.
 
Just to avoid a costly mistake, you may see if you can have someone show you the systems. Maybe a marina mechanic or a knowledgeable boater and how they all work. It may be worth the expense. The dealer went over my boats with me - both new and used.
 
That is just what I am going to do this weekend. The people on our dock we met prior to the boat arriving last weekend are vary willing to help us out knowing we are vary newbies. We hope to learn alot in the next few weeks. Thanks for everyone's help. Jim
 
:wow:
Just to avoid a costly mistake, you may see if you can have someone show you the systems. Maybe a marina mechanic or a knowledgeable boater and how they all work. It may be worth the expense.
Click to expand...

This is excellent advise and I too suggest you do this. One stupid error or an error as a result of ignorance can cost you thousands of dollars. I would also recommend reading and studying the manuals as they provide a good deal of operational information.

It is what we don't know that kills us:smt013
 
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In Two Deep said:
:wow:

It is what we don't know that kills us:smt013
Click to expand...

This is true I didn't know that you had to run the blowers while running the Genny. I could have killed us all. Thank goodness you guys told me before I did something stupid.

See so don't feel bad!!
 
I turned on the hot water heater without water in it on my 260. I didn't realize it was bypassed - by the previous owner. Little things can get expensive.

The one thing I learned is run your genny under load all the time otherwise you start fouling plugs and run it at least 15 minutes a month when not winterized.
 
Drama Queen said:
Skolbe,

This may be a dumb question, but what does under load mean?

Thanks,
Lonetta
Click to expand...


Have ‘stuff’ turned on like the air conditioning, microwave, battery chargers, refrigerator, water heater, lights, etc.

We are not saying you need to have all of these on at the same time, its just best to have the generator working hard when its on after a bit of warm-up time. A rule of thumb is you want to have the generator average 60% - 70% of its maximum load. Actually, you need to have a lot of stuff on to be at 70%.

Fouled plugs is a inexpensive example of a side effect of having a light load when running the generator. Unevenly worn piston / cylinder walls are a example of a expensive side effect.

Um, “Use it or loose it” applies here.
 
Everybody was a new boater once. Ask away. We are all here to help.
I screwed up the generator filter element selection last year on my boat's diesel genset. I will pay the stupid tax for that on Saturday morning as I replace the filter element in the tough to get to Racor filter canister for the gen set.
Stuff happens. The good memories outweigh the bad by far, and every unfortunate incident is a "teachable moment" whereby you learn from your mistake and pass it on to others. At other times we simply learn by doing.
Look what all QSM 11 owners have learned from Gary's various posts about his adventures with Four Suns' mains, or Nehalennia's posts about the post delivery overheat of the 350MAG in his 260DA.
Post your boat year, model, propulsion, and home port in your signature and somebody here at CSR has been there, done that with whatever challenge you face on the boat.

regards
Skip
 
I run my genny 5 minutes no load to warm up, then run full load excluding ac converter/battery charger. Then no load 5 min cool down than off.
 
Speaking of AC converter, when should it be on and when should it be off? I have read several post before we put the boat in the water and I am still a bit confused. One person told me to just leave it on all the time. I am not to sure about that one. Thanks, Jim
 
I turn my ac converter breaker(which is my battery charger) off as it is not needed, as the engine runs the alternator charges the batteries.
 
black pearl said:
Speaking of AC converter, when should it be on and when should it be off? I have read several post before we put the boat in the water and I am still a bit confused. One person told me to just leave it on all the time. I am not to sure about that one. Thanks, Jim
Click to expand...

I've wondered about this as well. The one thing I try to avoid is running the engines with this switch on. It's one or the other, but not both.
 
Drama Queen said:
This is true I didn't know that you had to run the blowers while running the Genny. I could have killed us all. Thank goodness you guys told me before I did something stupid.

See so don't feel bad!!
Click to expand...

Don’t feel too bad about this one.

First of all, unless you have a newer Sea Ray with a factory installed generator you don’t even have a switch to turn on the blower by the electrical panel where you turn on the generator.

Second, most blowers are not rated to operate continually.

The idea / concept of continually running the blower when you are running the generator is a relatively new idea and one that I don’t agree with. Like anti-lock breaks, the facts simply do not support the idea. By the way, did you know that anti-lock breaks increase your vehicles stopping distance on all road surfaces except clean, dry pavement?

Depending on the location of your generator exhaust an engine compartment intake ducts, running the blower after you have started the generator could increase your chances of sucking CO into your engine compartment.

PS: I do not run my blower continually when running the generator. I run it before I start the generator just like with the main engines.
 
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