Cruisair Triggers

Four Suns

Four Suns

Not a pot stirrer
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
10,533
Williamsburg, VA
Boat Info
2003 480 DB
Engines
QSM-11 Diesels
One of the things on our 480DB I noticed right before we left on our trip was that one of the AC units in the cabin was not working. It would "work sometimes" and sometimes not. I flushed all the AC systems before we left with Rydlime but it didn't really do anything... the systems were pretty clean for a 2003 boat IMO.

I found the problem yesterday and one of the three triggers for the system was shot. I posted this on SRO when this happened to me before but I thought I would do a recap here since this is a simple problem to fix if you diagnose it correctly.

The Cruisair AC systems have an output (110 or 220'ish volts) that turns on the raw water circulation pump when they come on. If you have more than one system tied to a single pump (or a "single" pump system with multiple pumps), then there is a junction box that all the AC systems tie into. This junction box then connects to the single raw water pump. Inside this junction box are devices that are called "Triggers" that are tied to the individual AC systems and serve as the trigger to provide power to the single raw water pump. The Cruisair junction box has slots for 3 triggers but if you have only 2 AC units, then only 2 triggers will be installed. I have 3 units in the cabin and all the slots are filled.

The symptoms are this: If you turn on a particular AC system and the raw water pump does not come on (if the compresser is running) and you eventually get a PS/HI error message indicating water flow issues, it may be a trigger. If another AC system turns on the pump and the suspect one then magically starts cooling, it is probably a blown trigger. They are very easy to replace...

There used to be problems with the older style triggers and I had one blow about 2 years ago and replaced all three for my cabin area. I kept the 2 good but older style triggers as spares and I'm glad I did as one of the new ones went out... hardest part on changing them is getting under the bed in the starboard stateroom to get to the junction box.

Anyway... just an FYI post.

My wife is now happy as the cabin can serve as a meat locker at night.
 
Gary,
precisely the same thing happened on the 420DA. new trigger fixed the problem.
You guys coming to BIH for the CSR link up?
Skip
 
We'll be there... going to stay an extra day and then head down to Urbanna on the Rappahanock on Tuesday. I started a thread on the board here about our month long trip also....
 
Same Here

I've had the same issue several times and now I keep several triggers in their baggies stapled to the bulkhead right by the junction box. behind the breaker panel. I know where the spare is!

When the Admiral starts screaming for AC I don't have time to be rummaging for that spare! :lol:
 
Dave,

I don't think you would have to worry about the trigger issue with a single system. This junction box/trigger thing is a high-voltage/analog IF-THEN-ELSE box for multiple systems tied to a common raw water cooling system.

I also keep the extra triggers in a baggy tie wrapped to the junction box so they won't get lost... that's funny we all do the same thing.
 
I recalled reading this thread while trying to analyze an AC problem on a 2006 40DA. The Master SR AC runs fine while the Salon AC ( and hence the raw water pump) is on, but when the Salon AC shuts down so does the pump and shortly thereafetr the SR AC alarms PH/Hi. The raw water pump does not come on when it is turned on by itself so I'm pretty sure it's a bad trigger. My problem now is that I can't seem to locate the triggers. Any help from a 390/40 DA owner, or anyone else would be much appreciated.

Brian:smt100
 
Thanks, Frank. That's not good news. The Salon AC is virtually unreachable. I may have to ask Sea Ray before trying to get access there. I was hoping they'd be behind the breaker panel or in the engine room near the raw water pump.
 
Mine were in a fairly obscure spot. I found the junction box by following the wire to the water pump. It also plugs into that junction box.
 
Gary

I found a junction box very near to the raw water pump but it appeared as if the leads were only spliced to what looked like romex coming in from the other side. Could the triggers be behind the wires?:huh:
 
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Thanks for the info...now I know why the forward AC unit will not work without the Aft unit on. Have not thought about it this year until I read your post Gary.
 
Does anyone have any experience with the AC unit saying PS LO?

The AC unit in the forward stateroom will work for a while, then stops working and says PS LO. You can restart the AC and do this over and over again every thirty min or so...

Thanks,
 
Well thanks to all for their help. Sea Ray's Owners club was also helpful telling me where the control box was...for future reference, on a 2006 40 DA (and probably the 04 and 05 390 as well) the Cruisair control box containing the raw water pump triggers is located behind the Main Distirbution Panel.......aaaaahhhhhh working Master SR AC again. Thanks.

Brian:smt038:smt038
 
I just had my first experience diagnosing a bad 'trigger'. I was out for the weekend as a transient and we had no AC in the salon. I hadn't remembered, or simply missed, this thread, so I wasted many hours trying to figure this one out. However, it was the memebers of this board who eventually helped me diagnose and fix the problem.

I was in the Farley's state marina in Atlantic City for the weekend, and the stars surely were lined up as a cruisair distributor/service tech keeps his boat in the same marina. I simply had to walk over from the H dock to the A dock to buy the parts. $30 each, so I bought two. I replaced both triggers, deep six'd the bad unit, and kept the good trigger as a spare.

For future reference to other 410DA owners....you need to remove the aft section of the salon sette back rest to get to the 'triggers'. 6 or 7 scews at the base and then simply lift the backrest up and out.

Hmmmmm....with all that luck, maybe I should have went into the casino and put a wad down on 'red'?
 
Looks like our system may have a failed relay as well.

The Bow AC keeps getting a PS HI error code . We checked the water flow and it does not flow when the Bow system is running alone. When the salon system and Bow system are running togter the water flows. Our conclusion is that the there is a loose connection or the trigger relay needs to be repalced. The $64,000 question is where are the relays located??? And hat ane where do yo uorder parts? The manuals are useless. I have read the forum links but have had little luck finding information about this. The AC Unit is an SX12-Q5. Any and all assistance is appreciated.
 
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