Dometic/Cruisair SmartStart Installation

[mjodonnell]

Has anyone installed a Dometic/Cruisair SmartStart unit on their B343's 16,000 Btu Cruisair Air Conditioner? I am extremely interested in your experience with installing the SmartStart. Was it an easy install? Or was a very difficult install? Did you have to unbolt or move the A/C unit in order to get to the electrical control box, to which the SmartStart is attached? How long did the installation process take?

Any information on your experience would be sincerely appreciated.

Thank you.

Cap'n Mike
B343 INTREPID
Hull#053

 

[Gunni]

I didn't install it but my smart start is nowhere near my 16K BTU A/C unit. The smart start is located next to my Marsh coolant pump in the engine compartment. I will say that the OEM install was incorrect, not to ABYC standard and problematic. I paid a pro to get it right. Crappy plastic strainer below the water line, and plumbing that did not drain to the thru-hull.

 

[mjodonnell]

Hello Gunni,

Thank you for your input. As our boats are of different sizes, 411 vs. 343, is your 16K BTU unit located under one of the seats in the main cabin, (my A/C unit is under the aft end of the port bench seat in the main cabin), or is your A/C unit located in or near your engine in the engine compartment? Also, the SmartStart is connected by 4 wires to the A/C unit's electronic control box, which is (or should be) mounted somewhere on the A/C unit itself. Do you know if your SmartStart is connected to the electronic control box, which should be mounted on the A/C unit itself? Finally, would you want to share with me who or what business installed your SmartStart unit. I thank you in advance for your help and input.

 

[RichH]

I mounted my Smart Start on a bulkhead directly adjacent to the electronic control box for my 16K BTU Dometic AC. Its about a one hour job if youve ever 'been inside' the control box before and you have the proper crimping tools and tinned connectors, etc. etc.
As far as having to move the AC unit ... unless the AC unit was installed so that the control box is 'blind' to a bulkhead wall there should be sufficient clearance to 'work'.

If youre located in Georgetown on the Sassafrass, the closest Dometic 'Rep' and one of the best boat 'electricians' and AC techs in the area is Terry at Looking Glass Marine: www.lgmenv.com/Looking Glass Marine.htm He can probably give you a better deal on a Smart Start than even most internet sources. Certainly his AC prices beat anything you can get on the 'net'. He is usually VERY busy.

hope this helps.

 

[Gunni]

Hello Gunni, Thank you for your input. As our boats are of different sizes, 411 vs. 343, is your 16K BTU unit located under one of the seats in the main cabin, (my A/C unit is under the aft end of the port bench seat in the main cabin), or is your A/C unit located in or near your engine in the engine compartment? Also, the SmartStart is connected by 4 wires to the A/C unit's electronic control box, which is (or should be) mounted somewhere on the A/C unit itself. Do you know if your SmartStart is connected to the electronic control box, which should be mounted on the A/C unit itself? Finally, would you want to share with me who or what business installed your SmartStart unit. I thank you in advance for your help and input.

Yes, my unit is located under a saloon seat, and the smart start power supply feeds the power junction box on the unit. It also feeds a second HVAC unit in the stern. That is the reason for the smart start being midship in the engine compartment. The whole install was done by the Beneteau dealer during commissioning. I would be more concerned about overloading your 120VAC system. That is like a 12 amp load, plus the circulation pump, pretty much half the safe load for a single 30 Amp shore power service. I have a dedicated separate 30a service for my HVAC systems.

 

[mjodonnell]

Hello RichH,

Thank you for your reply and the info. I'll contact Terry at Looking Glass Marine and go from there. I am not at my boat, right now, to look under the seat at the A/C unit for where the electronic control unit is located, but when you say "blind to a bulkhead wall", do you mean that an A/C unit is mounted in such a way that the electronic control unit (to which the SmartStart is connected) is up against a bulkhead wall, therefore making it difficult if not impossible to gain access to the inside of the electronic control unit"? I would think that in such a situation the A/C unit may have to be moved in order to gain access to the electronic control box. I ask this as my A/C unit may be mounted in such a way under the main cabin port seat. I'll have to look at the electronic control box's position when I go to my boat in a couple of days.

Again, Thank you very much for your info and input. I'll let you know how my A/C unit is mounted.

 

[mjodonnell]

Hello Gunni,

Thank you very much for the additional information. Who was the Beneteau dealer who installed the SmartStart on your boat? Was it Annapolis Yacht Sales, or maybe Winter Yacht Sales in N.J.? I do have two 30 amp circuits going into my boat. One is only for the A/C, the other is for the remainder of the boat. I really am looking at the SmartStart as a way in which to connect a Honda 2000 portable generator to the A/C's 30 amp inlet at the stern, and use the Honda generator on extremely hot and humid nights when away from the marina and at anchor. I believe the Honda 2000 in Normal Mode will operate the A/C with no problem, however, in order to operate the generator in the ECO Mode (lower speed and less noise from the generator) I will need the SmartStart installed. I'll contact AYS, if they are the dealer who installed the SmartStart on your boat. I am also going to Contact Terry from Looking Glass Marine, and see which business can possibly install the SmartStart on my boat.

Again, Thank You for your help and information. I'll write again and provide an update as to my efforts in having a SmartStart installed.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

. I believe the Honda 2000 in Normal Mode will operate the A/C with no problem, however, in order to operate the generator in the ECO Mode (lower speed and less noise from the generator) I will need the SmartStart installed. .

Sounds like you may have been misled about what a Smartstart does. It will not do what you indicated above unless you have a VERY small A/C.

The SS essentially decreases the start current draw below the cutout threshold. It's just what the name implies -smart 'start'.

Subsequent to the initial start load, it serves no purpose in this application. Consequently, it cannot decrease the run loading on your Honda and therefore NOT allow your generator to run on Eco mode.

It's also a really easy DIY 2 hour project if you follow the instructions included with most kits. If you are at all electrical savvy, you can purchase the parts for a fraction of the kit cost.

 

[RichH]

Hello RichH,

Thank you for your reply and the info. I'll contact Terry at Looking Glass Marine and go from there. I am not at my boat, right now, to look under the seat at the A/C unit for where the electronic control unit is located, but when you say "blind to a bulkhead wall", do you mean that an A/C unit is mounted in such a way that the electronic control unit (to which the SmartStart is connected) is up against a bulkhead wall, therefore making it difficult if not impossible to gain access to the inside of the electronic control unit"? I would think that in such a situation the A/C unit may have to be moved in order to gain access to the electronic control box. I ask this as my A/C unit may be mounted in such a way under the main cabin port seat. I'll have to look at the electronic control box's position when I go to my boat in a couple of days.

Again, Thank you very much for your info and input. I'll let you know how my A/C unit is mounted.

This is not really a problem as the (if) 16K BTU/hr Dometic units are quite light in weight and easily disconnected and removed from 'tight' spaces.
Since the Smart Start™ is essentially a capacitance bank which delivers the momentary extra amperage needed to overcome the compressors starting torque, it should be mounted as close to or ON the AC unit. If not then extra heavy connection wiring should to be used to prevent amperage reduction / high resistance due to instantaneous high amperage flow.

Also its good practice to wait a few minutes after gen-set, etc. start-up to allow sufficient charge build up in the Cap bank before switching on the AC unit, even that the smart start has a 'delay to on' function inbuilt.

The 2000i and similar portables certainly will not be running at eco-idle when powering a 16K BTU/hr AC unit .... nearly a flat out roaaaaaar! Dont anchor near anyone when using your AC + 2000i or you will become quickly 'unpopular', especially after sundown.

 

[Gunni]

Your install is off spec and not a good match to the Beneteau dealer service department. Have you spoken to Annapolis Cruisair, or Dependable Marine Services? Both have experienced ABYC technicians with familiarity on A/C and gensets. Good luck.

 

[galynd]

I'm not sure the I2000 is adequate for a 16 btu ac. Can anyone verify that who actually has that set up?

 

[RichH]

I do and quite a few other folks I know do too. Dometic 16K BTU w/ and 'offbrand' 2000 watt portable generator (a Chinese rip-copy of the Honda 2000i)

A Honda 2000i, etc. generator is marginal with a 16,000 btu unit. Such an AC unit will draw 12-15 amps continuously and the Honda is only rated to 13 amps continuously. Using such a 'marginal for this service' generator will require one to 1. shut down all other AC circuits. 2. Start/run the generator with the 'eco-idle' feature off / locked out - noisy!!!!

Dometic lists the locked rotor amps (LRA) on their spec sheet for their newest 16K unit. I think I remember that it is about 35 amps for the 16K btu unit. But that doesn't mean that a 2,000 watt (about 17 amps) generator won't start it; although, you really need a 'Smart Start". The newer Dometic AC units have much lower starting amperage draw then most all of their competitors (most in the range of 100 amps LRA vs. 35 for the Dometic). It all depends on how heavy are the particular generator's windings and how much extra torque its engine can deliver. The high starting current for the AC unit lasts for ~less than a second; the 'Smart Start' supplies that current demand. I've started my 16K BTU/hr. unit without the Smart Start ... but it definitely is a 'struggle' using a 2000W portable generator without a 'smart start', sometimes it will totally stall the gen w/o the Smart Start. With the Smart Start Ive only had two instances of failure to start ... and then discovered that one should wait for the Cap. Bank to fully energize before starting.