A/C problems...one more time!

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Mark Johnson

Anyone else having problems with their Marine Air air conditioning? Here in the Northeast we had 90 degrees this past weekend. I was looking forward to the A/C at the dock. Turned it on and all I got was HHH on the display panel. That is the same problem I had last year when the boat was new. They thought they had it fixed last year, but obviously not.
 
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Ed Schenck

Need more info.

If anyone is to help I think more information is required. What does your manual say for "HHH"? Is that not an error message? Can you hear the intake waterpump running? Is there an an air bleed device between the pump and the unit? These systems are pretty basic except for the electronics module and the, I'm assuming, digital/programmable thermostat. Even the electronics are fairly simple, your manual should have a wiring diagram. Would you get an "HHH" if there were a leak and the refrigerant was gone?
 
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Rich Stidger

"HHH" is for Hot, Hot, Hot!

Mark, I think your problem is easily fixed. If this is the first time that you have used your AC since putting your boat in the water this spring, then the problem is that the AC water pump is not primed. The 120VAC water pump is located just under the waterline and I find that it does not self-prime. It is not your average rubber-impeller type of pump, but rather a centrifugal pump. These pumps MUST be below water level AND full of water before they will pump at all. One method I have used to prime the pump is to disconnect the hose from the filter, open the seacock and let the filter completely fill and purge of air. Bring a water hose from the dock down into your salon and put the nozzle of the hose into the hose leading to the pump and ACs. Put a small flow of water into the pump and ACs, this will force any air out of the pump housing and fill the water lines to the AC condensers. Shut off the hose, and with the seacock open and water running out of the raw water filter, push hose back onto the filter. Now the entire system should be filled with water. Turn on the AC and get cool! The 'HHH' is the fault code that is displayed when the condenser overheats due to lack of water flow from the pump. If left on, the system will wait 2-4 minutes and try to run again. After a minute or so it will shut down again. The reason that you had this problem last year and this year is that when the boat is put into the water, the AC cooling system is air-locked and the pump runs but will not displace any water. After priming once, you will be OK for the season. Next year expect the same problem because air will have gotten into the system at haul-out. BTW, if you see the 'HHH' during the season, check your raw water filter for plugging. It means that you just aren't getting enough water to the units. Rich
 
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bill walton

HHH

Just had one of my units repaired for a similar problem. The HHH indication means high head pressure. It turns out that on my forward unit the high pressure cutout sender switch had failed. There was nothing wrong with the unit except the switch. The repairman jumped the switch and ran the unit while conducting a full battery of tests. He replaced the switch and all has been well since. It's been warm in the Keys for awhile now so we use the unit quite a bit at night and no reoccurence.
 
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Mark Johnson

Well...done all that stuff too..

pumps have been primed, high pressure switches have been replaced, filters have been cleaned, etc. Used the A/C units earier this season and all was fine. Seems like a intermittent reaccurring problem. Will let you know after Marine Air takes a look at them.
 
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