Air Conditioner Condenser Pump

[kloudie1]

Seems like automobiles are kinda shifting toward electrically driven water pumps for cooling.. some of them are kinda universal and speed controllable.
Auto Electric Water Coolant Pump 12V DC 60W Brushless Pump &PWM Signal Generator | eBay
Nott recommending this one, but something like this looks to be a viable replacement for an air conditioner (up to about 16K BTU) condenser cooler pump. It is 12 volt so a relay would have to be conjured up to operate it instead of a 120V pump, but looks to be a bargain when compared to the March or others like it. It is a seal-less design and looks to be able to handle salt water, since it is plastic and (probably) a stainless shaft..
I thought it was interesting.. Your Comments??

 

[dLj]

I agree it looks interesting. You might want to seal the electronics board. That does not look particularly "marine" resistant.

dj

 

[Terry Cox]

Your Comments??

Good morning, Claude. No refrigeration expert here, but just wondering, would it replace the compressor, or just where does it fit in the layout?

I'm aware of two types; air and water cooled. Likely would not work on an air cooled system, but an existing water cooled system, I suppose. Not that familiar with the layout detail of a water cooled system.

 

[JamesG161]

You need 120VAC to run your AC.

On my boat there is a Circuit Board that needs the Water Pump ON to Start the AC.

Water Pump circuit Input is 12OVAC

So why use your 12VDC to run the water pump?

Variable Speed would complex the Control Circuit.

Jim...

 

[kloudie1]

@Terry Cox... The water pump pumps sea water through a heat exchanger to condense the refrigerant for the air conditioner.. same as the hot side of a home AC where air is used to condense instead of water. The pump pumps water into the exchanger then the warmer water exits from a thru-hull.
@JamesG161 Yup.. you'd have to rig a simple relay to switch on 12V to the pump instead of 110V.. since the boat would be plugged into shore power anyway with a battery charger on, it shouldn't be an issue running the pump on 12V.. The March pump I have today costs $300-400 . My original March lasted 26 years (I replaced it with an identical pump a few years ago) so I am not likely to have to buy another .... uuuhhhhh in my lifetime.. It just struck me how much less these cost ... They seem to be well sealed with the electronics sealed in with the motor windings, and capped with a heat sink.. The temperature rating is much higher than the March.. I dunno, it looks OK from the specs but ...

 

[Terry Cox]

The pump pumps water into the exchanger then the warmer water exits from a thru-hull.

Hi Claude. I suppose no different from our two sea water heat pumps that we use to warm/cool the boat. Our Little Giant pump cycles sea water through the system consisting of an evaporator, condenser and compressor, all of which requires about 25 ah of 120VAC with both units running. Whether your posted pump could replace the Little Giant...

 

[kloudie1]

Yup, exactly the same pump function.... That is the subject of my wondering.. seems like it could work as a little Giant or a March .. would require some thought and a relay .. and a little wiring..