Air conditioner issue

[homer]

The air conditioner on our 2009 Ranger Tug works well for approx. 3 hours, then begins to stop producing any cold air-at that time looking at the uint it is frosty/frozen on the location where the coils are. We spoke to Andrew at the Jan. boat show and he advised us to duct tape our ducting, which we inspected and noted it was already taped.

Anyone have any other suggestions to solve this problem?

 

[Ken Boyd]

Sounds like the unit might be low on refrigerant. Ice forming on the cooling coils is the common symptom for this type of AC problem but it usually occures in applications where there are connections in the refrigerant lines where the charge can slowly leak out. Odd this type of problem would occure with a sealed unit.

 

[commander bill]

You should also check the small inlet filter. Mine is black and washable. It slides out of the forward diner seat base in area under the table. Filter can appear clean but it is better to remove it and clean it. 2 things have caused my ACV to freeze up in the past. The filter will clog quickly (especially when my wife's hairy cat is onboard) or due to some object positioned under diner table blocking air suction inlet. AC freezing up in usually due to poor air flow rather than bypass flow which is a separate tug design problem which tape will help.

 

[SPaddock]

I don't have the AC manual at hand, so can't tell you exactly, but there is a adjustment in the unit's setup segment that controls the time the unit will "defrost" as it cycles. We've had the same issue.

Another factor is whether you set the fan to continuous operation or to run only when the compressor cycles. We found that continuous fan helps remove the beginnings of any icing as it cycles. Also, be sure that your air intake filter is clean and that nothing is blocking the return air vent below the table.

Of course, you have all windows and doors closed when the unit runs, because it can't keep up if there's significant outside, high-humidity air coming into the cabin.

Good luck...
Steve

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

You've received all good advice. If after you've done as advised and end up calling a tech to your boat make sure they have a sniffing tool in order to detect any leaks in your refrigerant lines. I had, on a prior boat, my air unit recharged only to have it fail again. It failed because of a leak in the line that could have easily been detected with a sniffer.

Jim F

 

[GulfSailor]

................... I had, on a prior boat, my air unit recharged only to have it fail again. It failed because of a leak in the line that could have easily been detected with a sniffer.
Jim F

Quite right. A/C units (boat/house/auto) do not consume refrigerant.
If it gets low and needs recharging it's because there is a leak, and recharging will just be a short term fix until the leak is found and repaired.

 

[Stella Maris]

When we had Solitude, our R-25, we at first attempted to run the AC at the lowest temp possible. In about three hours it to would ice up. I adjusted the temp up to 78 and the problem was solved. Might give this a try.

 

[homer]

Thanks to all of those that responded so quickly to my post....I know what I will be doing this weekend!

 

[commander bill]

Although not related to icing I had another issue this season. Those of us living in the SE US have to contend with 2 annual gifts from the devil (Kudzu and mud wasps). So far my boat has not been overgrown by Kudzu as I try to launch it early in spring before there is any chance. However, this season after launching & the usual effort to get the AC cooling water to prime I was able to enjoy about 24 hours of cool air in the cabin only to have the AC condensate drip pan start overflowing. During my first season I had similar porblems due to the drip pan overboard hose having been installed with an upward loop preventing the pan from draining. However, I had resolved that quickly. This time it was the condensate overboard line plugged by a mud wasp. I guess I will not add plugging all the overboards while boat is at my farm on the trailer. It also occurred to me these devils could cause significant issues plugging other small lines such as the bilge pump overboard.

 

[doke01]

I have found that the air flow over the coils is not always sufficient. On our boat the cold air from the vent is also sometimes sucked back into the AC unit, since they are near each other. On days when it tends to frost up (it doesn't happen every day, just the right humidity/temp) we place a small fan next to the air intake coil to help push warmer air through it and our freeze up issues go away. Taping off the vents and turning on the defrost cycle also help but I have found that the defrost cycle does not occur often enough to be 100% effective and it is not adjustable.