Air Conditioner shutting down when anchored.

eweise

eweise

Active Member
PLATINUM Sponsor
Aug 23, 2013
530
Jacksonville, FL
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 4.3L 220 HP, Alpha 1 Drives, 5E Genny, AC
Having trouble with my A/C shutting down while anchored. It works fine while cruising. It is the factory cruise air unit that came with my 2005 280 Sundancer. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Is the water flow restricted in any way?
 
How well does it work at the dock? While underway the scupper will help push water through a less than clean sea strainer. What does the discharge flow look like while at the dock as compared to while at anchor?
 
Well, it does not work at the dock either. It starts to run and cool but shuts down. Not sure where the discharge flow comes out? New to this boat, a few weeks only. I guess I need to check the strainer first. Just puzzled why it works okay while running. Thanks.
 
If your not seeing water discharged thru a fitting in the hull then the strainer is the first place I would start. Water is being pushed thru the system while the boat is underway, at least enough to keep the system from shutting down. If the strainer is clear then check the intake grate under the boat
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will have the marina put it on a stand and check the strainer and grate. I appreciate the help.
 
the strainer should be visible in your engine room and you should be able to get at is easy enough to rmove and clean it if it needs it without pulling the boat. the grate is another story unless you know a diver that owes you a favor
 
If you have a Cruise-Aire system and have the type of control panel that has the LED display, see what the error messages are being displayed. That will tell you what kind problem you're having.
 
When it shuts down, do you get a message on the panel such as HI PS ?
I had the same thing happen to me while at Bayside Marina in Miami. After cleaning the strainer (which didn't require much cleaning) to no avail, I noticed the red reverse polarity light on my DC panel was lit up.
I wiggled the shore power cable on the boat and dock, and voila: problem solved!

Ps: if haven't already, please do yourself a favor and read the OFFICIAL 280DA thread. It's long but worth it's length in gold!


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eweise said:
Not sure where the discharge flow comes out?
Click to expand...

It comes out on the Port side of the boat via a thru hull that is installed just above the boot stripe. It is about halfway down the hull pretty much on the other side of the hull where the A/C unit is installed (under the aft dinette seat cushion). You should see a constant [strong] flow when the unit is running. Others have provided some great advice in this thread. It is likely you have a blockage either in the system or the strainer. Also could be a bad water pump.

I see you are in Jacksonville, FL. If this is a slipped salt boat, I have read where unless cleaned regularly, marine growth can grow in and congest the system. There are several threads on here about how to prevent this and maybe someone can offer some insight as to what can be done "after the fact" if that is indeed your problem.

Good Luck.
 
eweise said:
Well, it does not work at the dock either. It starts to run and cool but shuts down. Not sure where the discharge flow comes out? New to this boat, a few weeks only. I guess I need to check the strainer first. Just puzzled why it works okay while running. Thanks.
Click to expand...
This will show you were the discharge is Page 31 http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/1C1_23_74DEJAKVQ76.pdf It'll come out almost like a garden hose. I've heard some boaters say that just the running of the boat will push water through the system on some boats. I don't know that this is the case with yours but I think the first thing I'd do is check the strainer and then the pump to see if it runs and pumps water. This is a magnetic driven pump, it is possible you'll hear it run but you need to verify it pumps water. If it works while cruising it's because you getting some help pushing water through. By your description it sounds like you have a pump problem, or blockage problem, or a combination of.

Jason beat me to it:huh:
 
The boat is kept in dry storage when not in use. Thanks for all the input. I now see where the water should be coming out while running. Hopefully just a strainer issue and not the pump. Will update findings this weekend after getting back on board.
 
When I had this problem I found 2 small flat shells, like sand dollars, inside the grate housing on the hull bottom. While underway I assume the moving water kept them out of the way but they would cover the inlet hole docked or at anchor. I just used a small flat screwdriver to beak them into small pieces.
 
Your problem is that when dry storing the boat (taking it out of the water) the AC system loses prime and will not prime up automatically like your genny. When you put it in the water, start your genny. Once you leave the dock turn on the AC while you're crusing around 1500rpms. This should help prime the system and you will see water flow on the front port side of your boat. Once it's primes you're good to go until you dry store it again. When coming back to the docks shut it off and go into the engine room and shut the AC seacock. This way it will hold prime and the next time you put her in the water you just open the seacock and your AC is ready to go.
 
eweise said:
The boat is kept in dry storage when not in use. Thanks for all the input. I now see where the water should be coming out while running. Hopefully just a strainer issue and not the pump. Will update findings this weekend after getting back on board.
Click to expand...


Bucit is 100% correct in the AC system losing its prime when the boat is put back on the rack. When you say the AC doesnt work at the dock, is it just BEFORE you head out?

Running the boat will reprime the system so it should still work at the dock AFTER you get back and before it goes back on the rack.
 
eweise said:
Having trouble with my A/C shutting down while anchored. It works fine while cruising. It is the factory cruise air unit that came with my 2005 280 Sundancer. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...


He said "while anchored". I was assuming you have to run to an anchorage.
 
Bodkin Creek George said:
I keep mine on my lift and every time I put it in the water I pull the top hose off the unit and have a rig made that I use to prime it with my dockside hose. Once I do that its good as long as its in the water.
Click to expand...


Mine lives on a trailer and after 5 min. in the water, works every time without running. YMMV.
 
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