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marine AC charge

  • Thread starter Thread starter Regal2800
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Regal2800

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  1. OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
Hatteras Model
52' CONVERTIBLE (1983 - 1990)
I have a mermaid 9000 btu self contained unit. I added freon to the system but how do i know if i am within specification? What the the specs for a unit like this? Hi and low.

Right now in cool mode i am at 50 psi low and 160-170psi on the high side. freon R22. outside temp is 64F.

Is there a chart or something i can go by?
 
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If you get a chart you will need to measure he.oz and pressure then do a bit of math.

I look at just under 70 Psig in 70 degree temp as an easy to remember number. Too low like your 50 psi would ice.
 
Ok guys, the cruiseair chart is exactly what i was looking for. Water temp of 55 F and air temp of 65 F in COOL mode puts my LO side at exactly 50psi. My Hi side based on my guages was 160psi which is a little higher then the charts.

I will check my psi in HEAT mode and let you guys know how it fairs compared to the cruiseair chart.
 
boatSb you were right. The coil iced up after 25 min. (room temp 65F). I raised the pressure to 70psi.

In heat mode i am running about 80psi LO and like 295psi HI. First problem is that the high side seems too high. Second issue is put a thermal gun on the compressor and getting temps on the compressor of 220F which seems WAY too hot.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong? If my low pressure is too low i ice up. If i raise the pressure my high side pressure climbs and the unit runs real hot.

On a side note before i messed with the r22 pressure my pressure reset switch would trip after 20 min in HEAT mode. I put gauges on it and the HI side pressure rose up to 375psi and my LO side was just over 100psi.
 
I do not charge in heat mode so I have no idea what the pressures should be from experience. I think there is a chart for that but I've been taught to charge in cool.


Remember I said below 708 psi at 70the degrees. If you are at or over 70 psi at 65 degrees you may be a bit too high.
 
I do not charge in heat mode so I have no idea what the pressures should be from experience. I think there is a chart for that but I've been taught to charge in cool.


Remember I said below 70 psi at 70 degrees. If you are at or over 70 psi at 65 degrees you may be a bit too high.
 
No i dont charge in heat mode either. The charging was done in COOL mode. I just leave the gauges on so i can tell what the unit is doing in heat mode.
 
I had a unit with the messed up pressures like that. I couldn't get them right so I consulted with Steve(SPCoolin). After a few questions he diagnosed it as being on its last legs. I ended up replacing it before it failed altogether. Steve gave me a great deal on a direct replacement. All is well now.
 
SKYCHENEY said:
I had a unit with the messed up pressures like that. I couldn't get them right so I consulted with Steve(SPCoolin). After a few questions he diagnosed it as being on its last legs. I ended up replacing it before it failed altogether. Steve gave me a great deal on a direct replacement. All is well now.
Click to expand...

I had a customers units with fried valves and a bad reversing valve doing weird stuff. Replace with new always seems to be a safe bet.
 
lool thanks guys, but these units are so damn expensive replacing with new is my last last last resort.

Reversing valve seems ok. I cut one of the wires and while in heat mode touched the leads together and can clearly hear the solenoid rock back and forward.
 
Hearing is not 100%. If the seats are toasted they will leak and the pressure will not get right.
 
A new compressor is not as expensive as you might think.
 
It's all relative. If you value a reliable AC system and live in the south it's not so expensive. It also depends on how you value your time. If you think your labor is free you need to re examine your priorities.
 
I was amazed at how simple it was to replace a compressor. I had it changed out and ready to vac down in less than 30 minutes.
 
OK...I'll try to give you guys the straight skinny, but rather than typing it all over here I'll give you a link to a thread on my site that was started by a HOF member...

http://marine-ac.com/forum/maintenance/checking-freon-level/#p2206

arielmiller...Considering your cabin & water temps...You were much closer at the 50 psi suction...

The reason you were icing is that A/C is not designed to be Refrigeration...It's not designed to operate in cooling with cabin temps much below 68 degrees...

The thread on my site should explain more...

Steve~
 
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Oh & Thanks Sky for the Kudo's...

But in ariel's case (judging from his pressure spread) I don't think he needs a new compressor or reversing valve...At least not yet...See below...

I do however wonder why his sealed Mermaid system needed refrigerant in the first place ?

There is no such thing as a Freon Monster & these systems are not like cars that have rubber hoses & shaft seals that are known to leak...

I still don't understand why more of you HOF members don't come over to my site to ask these questions...
It ain't like I bite, and I do try to give honest straight up experienced info :cool:

Honestly Guys...Is it that you are afraid I'll try to sell you something ?
Sometimes yes I try to explain why a new piece is a better option that may cost you less in the long run but I don't think I push for you to buy it from me...Though I admit I'd hope you would consider it.

Instead we have pages of info that may only hurt the members system...70 psi suction this time of year in cooling with a 65 degree cabin surely will hurt that Mermaid or any other R-22 A/C system...It will be flooding back liquid to the compressor & we all know you can't compress liquid...Something has to give...

Steve~
 
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STeve,

I sent you an email.
 
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