air conditioner problem

[davecook]

I thought i was doing a good thing , today was pull out day - back on the trailer to head north . I thought i would do a fresh water flush to the engine , genn. and air conditioner . All went well except for the air - had seacock closed , hose supplying the strainer - pickup . The strainer always had water in it but the air unit only pulled the water some of the time , exiting the side of the boat in a occasional pattern . Tried this a few times for a minute . Just when i thought it was rinsed from salt water my wife said the unit shut down and flashed the E1 code , witch is compressor high pressure protection . We are heading north for the next 3 or 4 days so i won't be able to call the FCF tech line , but i would appreciate any ideas on this ( hopefully not expensive fix ) I will check in at night when the days driving is done . Thanks everyone !

 

[Brian B]

I had the same problem recently, then I remembered I needed to pull the hose off on outward side of strainer. Pull the hose up and pour water or RV antifreeze directly into the hose while someone turns the unit on. A long funnel helps especially for RV antifreeze so you don't waste any.

 

[Boatdreamer]

Hi Dave. We had this problem on Gratitude a few times. If the unit isn't getting a constant flow of water it will show that code. As it turned out for us, our sea straner was too small and the pump (also to small) would get hot and shut down. You should be good to go next time you're back in the water. It might take a couple of cycles to get water back through the system. How did you power the A/C on the trailer?

Tim
Gratitude

 

[davecook]

Thanks for the comments . I powered the air unit in the water with shore power hooked up ( seacock off ) did the genn the same way , did engine on the trailer . I will take the hose off to prime it when its in the water again in 3 or 4 weeks . then turn sea cock on and give it a try . Thanks everyone for the help .

 

[HRowland]

The pump for the AC is not self priming and needs positive water pressure, this is why they are installed below the water line. It can air lock easily. When winterizing I close the seacock, remove the strainer cover, and tape the end of a long (2 feet) funnel to the strainer. This provides sufficient water head to allow the pump to prime.
In the spring the pump will sometimes not prime itself so I close the seacock, loosen the cover to the strainer, then open the seacock until water starts coming out of the cover. I tighten the cover and start the AC again and it is able to prime the pump.

The engine and genset use flexible impeller raw water pumps which pull a good vacuum and are able to self prime.

Howard

 

[knotflying]

Dave,
When I clean out my a/c I actually do it on the trailer by opening the seacock and then force water through the thru hull using a hose and let it run out the seacock end. Never have to turn the a/c on.