2021 R-25 OB AC E1 Error / Issues

[philbyrd]

I am having a problem keeping AC running on my new boat. And, it’s been hot in Baltimore like everywhere else. I use my boat as my condo in the water, and work from home from the boat many days , so AC is crucial.

First issue is coming to the boat when AC had been off. Per my thermometer on the galley table, boat can be over 100 inside even with covers on and curtains drawn. I leave the cockpit cover on along with the optional sun shade extension. Seems to me the system is not capable of cooling to a reasonable temp in a reasonable time starting there, and it takes several hours to get it habitable. I start it and go to the pool, take a walk, etc. But, per below, I can’t now count on it to stay on.

I leave the boat on the dehumidifier setting when I leave. Temp when I open up is still up there (mid to upper 80s) but low humidity and the AC gets right to work. I was ok with this.

Current problem is system consistently shuts down showing E1 code. First time this happened on a repeat basis the raw water filter needed cleaning and I check it all the time now. Despite clean filter and flushing the lines, and a strong output flow, still have the problem.

When I first got the boat, this happened rarely, but did happen. Now, it may go a few hours but almost always is off in the am when I overnight and have to use AC due to brutal humidity leading to some very poor sleep. It is now always off when I return to the boat when set on dehumidifier setting. Which means I face problem number 1 all the time, and can’t count on the AC for my work day.

The AC pump gets very hot, and while that is likely normal I am wondering if it is failing, or some component in the system is failing. Seems to me the pump overheats and unit turns off due to no flow.

Please comment on the AC capacity and the R1 problem. I have asked the dealer but have not heard back yet, and I suspect they will seek factory input in any event.

My boat has the lithium option with soft start AC, but all these issues are on shore power. I suspect they would persist despite the power source.

Thanks for you attention to this.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

We have seen the E1 error once or maybe twice on our R-23. I find the A/C works well when we set it to high cool. No complaints. I don’t use the dehumidifier setting, so I’m not sure about running it in high heat conditions in that mode.

I’m curious why you don’t run it on high cool?


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[philbyrd]

I run on high cool when I need AC. Dehumidifier setting is when I leave the boat for days. As I understand it’s an economy setting. Regardless of high AC vs dehumidifier setting, shutting down problem still exists.


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[trailertrawlerkismet]

You may do this already but if not consider placing a piece of marine vinyl (Joann Fabrics) between the roof hatch window n the screen to block overhead sun. This helps keep the boat cooler and or helping the ac unit not work so hard. As I said you may already do this.

Jim

 

[philbyrd]

Thanks but I see little heat load from the hatches. They are tinted, and the screen are a further filter. High noon no light shines down from them. Plus my problem extends to nights with the AC cutting off pre dawn while I sleep.

 

[KennyMarrs]

Hi Phil,

E1 has to do with raw water flow or lack there of. Even if the strainer is clean it might be worth a check at the actual pick up under the boat. If there is debris build up there that could be causing the problem.

Thanks,
-Kenny

 

[Capt’nKarl]

Hey Phil. Kenny makes a good point. You may have a restriction at the thru hull pickup. Here’s another idea. Do you have a flush tee on the AC hose leading to the AC unit? If you do I’d try hooking up a fresh water hose to the tee to see if increasing the water the unit gets stops it from shutting down. When you say the Ac pump gets hot that may be a flag it’s not performing well. Hope this helps.
Karl

 

[philbyrd]

Thanks all. The temperature and humidity here has been a little better the last few days and the AC has stayed on. So far 2 1/2 days. It almost seems the system just can’t handle 95 plus degrees with high humidity. Marina owes me a pull out which I will do soon for 20 hour service and will check the thru hull. I do plan on adding flush tees as well. Some of my boating neighbors suggested bromine pellets in the AC strainer to fight crude. Can anyone comment on that?

 

[Capt’nKarl]

I just have this addendum. We’ve lived in high humidity and temperature areas but it’ll be hard to match the humidity/temperature/heat index of the panhandle and coastline of Florida. In 10+ years of boating here in the heat and humidity our AC has never stopped working unless I’ve let the AC pump loose prime or I’ve screwed something up. These AC units tend to be good workhorses in this environment and we couldn’t go boating in the summer without it.
Karl

 

[KKRCRACE]

Phil, I have to flush my Webasto unit a couple times a summer. My C 24 came with a Tee after the pump that I attach a hose to and flush for about an hour with the unit on. I have also flushed with it AC off. I also wrapped tape around a cutoff piece of hose and put it in the sea strainer to flush the through hull out through the bottom of the boat. This has taken care of my water flow problem so far. A couple weeks ago my AC unit stopped cooling and had an E3 code which is low pressure. I tried everything that the Webasto technicians said to try and nothing helped. I took it on my own to install a service port in the low pressure side because these unit do not come with one. I was thinking it was low on freon and that was not it. It turned out to be a bad Capacitor. All is working fine now. I’m at Herrington Harbor North on the Chesapeake Bay.
KKRCRACE

 

[philbyrd]

Thanks to all. The AC is doing better, but still will be off on dehumidifier after 4 or 5 days when I return. It of course has been somewhat cooler and and less humid. I am fairly convinced my AC pump is compromised.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

For the life of me, I’m not sure what dehumidifier mode only would be useful for.


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[philbyrd]

Dehumidifier mode is basically a low AC setting. Less electricity used. When I get back to the boat humidity low. Cools further quickly.


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[philbyrd]

Latest on this. My dealer contacted the pump manufacturer. Pump manufacturer indicated the pumps very rarely overheat if there is not a flow problem. They suggested blowing out the two small stainless lines on the pump, these are the feed and exit for the water that actually cools the pump in a separate path from the flow through the pump in / out to the AC. Looks like it requires removing the pump, but not a big job. In light of all the crud I get in the strainer, plausible this will fix it. I just hope this is not going to be a frequent maintenance issue as a bit more involved than cleaning the stainer. Perhaps now that I am cleaning the strainer more frequently it won’t be an issue. Will post if it fixes my issue.