Air Conditioner won't turn on

[aw6686]

Turned off a/c, switched breaker to off, turned off main power and went sailing for a couple of hours. Returned to shore power, turned on main power, turned on a/c breaker pressed power switch on a/c panel and absolutely nothing happens. Any idea's would be great!

 

[uncledom]

Do you have any indicator to tell you there is power to that A/C panel once the breaker is turned on? I once had a neutral burn right off the crimp on terminal to one section of my A/C panel. It was right after I bought the 6 year old boat. I wound up replacing the incoming shore power connector with a Smart Plug, which Maine Sail raves about, and checking and tightening all connections on the way to that panel. I'm also a big fan of Ox Gard on all crimped connections. It filles the voids of the crimp with conductive grease and ensures a minimal amount of heat in normal operation. Easiest thing is to carefully check for power at the back of that panel after a close inspection with boat unplugged from shore, then with the panel still open use a meter so you can see voltage.

 

[Benny17441]

You have not mentioned trouble shooting codes so I gather there is no power getting to the A/C control panel. If the rest of the boat has power check the A/C breaker switch.

 

[aw6686]

The A/C breaker switch in on. Are you referring to the back of the breaker panel?
Thanks much!

 

[Benny17441]

I understand it may be in the On position but is it actually conducting power? These things go bad from time to time. Are you confirming the A/C control panel is not getting any power? Is there a control panel indicator light or display that would reveal the presence of power? If nothing lights up the breaker switch needs to be checked and yes, the back of the main electrical panel would need to be accessed to properly check it. If uncomfortable with working in the exposed panel by all means contact a licensed electrician. Safety first.

 

[Craig Cook]

Start at the pedestal and troubleshoot. Pedestal breaker(s) on gets you power to your cord, like uncledom said, check both ends of the shore power cord to make sure everything is as it should be. Main AC breaker on should get you power to your AC panel. One thing, if your boat is like ours there are TWO main AC breakers to meet code. One is in the very aft corner of the aft cabin nearest the shore power inlet on the transom, the other is at the actual AC panel. The one nearest the inlet can be tripped off pretty easy.

 

[Benny17441]

Guys let's give our friend here some credit; I believe he would have identified a total lack of power in the boat before inquiring about the air conditioner circuit.

 

[Craig Cook]

you know what assuming does?

 

[Don Lucas]

Does the air conditoning control panel light upat all? If not - Is there a shore power breaker between plug and the main AC panel (my is kind of easy to bump with a bumper or something in the locker)? Are there 2 shore power plugs, one for the main supply and one for the air conditioning, and you are plugged into the wrong one? If there are 2 plugs is there a parallel breaker on the panel? Is the breaker for the water pump relay shut?