problem with CruiseAir AC unit

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Wayne Small

I have a CruiseAir ac unit mounted beneath my forward v berth bunk. I just cleaned out the sea strainer for it yet my ac unit cycles off after three tries. I then get the error code PS H5 from it? Does anyone have any suggestions for what may be continuing to cause this error? Clogged lines?
 
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Ed Schenck

What have you tried?

I have a Mermaid that will shutdown if there is air in the intake hose after cleaing the filter. Does your manual explain the error code? Or could you call CruisAir? If you remove the hose at the filter outlet do you have good flow with the thru-hull open? I take my hose off there and check. Then I add water from a cup to the hose that goes to the unit. I blow through this and keep adding water until I know there is no air. I put my thumb over the hose to keep from losing water and clamp it back on the filter outlet. Now the hoses before and after the filter are full and the unit senses full water pressure. A bleed valve came with my unit but there was no convenient place to install it. I only have to do this when I commission in the Spring.
 
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Jim

Power

Check to see if you have enough power to the unit. I discovered that when I didn't have enough amps coming in that the unit tried a couple of times then shut off.. The dock line was only 20 amps or less. When i went to a 30 amp line.. everything worked fine
 
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MIke D

Online Info

Wayne, Cruisair has online PDF files of owner's manuals. I found a PDF for the control unit and posted the link below. Page 13 has some fault codes. Although not exactly what you have written, it appears to be a pressure related issue. Have you physcially witnessed water flow? Is the air filter clean? (located against the coil). Careful on handling the filter, read the directions for cleaning. Is the evaporator (circulating) fan running and unobstructed? The manual is pretty thorough on what to check and when to call the factory. I have heard they are super cooperative. good luck, Mike D
 
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Wayne Small

This what I tried

Ed, I pulled the Sea Strainer apart and it was full of mud and grass. I then cleaned out the sea strainer. I then opened the thru hull and got a steady stream of water so I am sure that up to the sea strainer is clear. There is another unit in the lower locker of my v berth but I am not sure what that unit does. I tried removing some of the hoses from it but could not get them off. That is a project for this weekend. I have been told that this unit can 'lose its prime' and wonder if that could be causing the error. If so, is filling the hose after the sea strainer all I need to do to prime this unit? any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 
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Ed Schenck

Yes, I think so.

As in my original reply, prime the rest of the hose AND unit. Pour water in that hose and blow into it. Then more water in the hose. On my boat you can actually hear the water coming out of the outlet thru-hull. Try to reattach it to the filter without letting in too much air. A little air will not cause a problem. My Mermaid also has a trip-switch, like a metal circuit breaker. When it runs without water for too long this trips and has to be reset. I have read several reports of people losing their A/C prime everytime they sail. I do not think that will happen if you keep the inlet thru-hull closed while sailing. I have never lost prime during the season. Good luck.
 
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Bruce Hill

Same issue

Ed is pretty good with A/C questions, my guess is that you have lost the prime. Same exact thing happened to me on my Marine Air units. Cleaned filter, no water, shut down. I was a lot less delicate than Ed, however! I gave the dock hose to my neighbor and he ran water through the outflow to get the air lock out. I went down below to turn on the AC. He ran water into the fittings until all was fine.
 
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Jim Vincent

Cruise Air

Wayne, ....one small error in reading your error code, you show PS H5. more likely, it's reading PS HS, which indicates an error code of PRESSURE on the HIGH SIDE. your problem could possibly be a pressure switch? good luck, take care, Jim Vincent, Toucan
 
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Ray

cruise air problems

On occasion, I have found it helpful to flush directly through the a/c discharge through-hull with my garden hose. Can't see that it would hurt anything and it might, at least re-arrange any possible air in the system which could prevent the waterpump from pumping. While I can't explain it--it has restored prime to the water pump at least twice over the last 5 years. Don't think it can hurt to try it. Your suction through hull and strainer should be checked before doing this.
 
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Terry

WHEN I CALLED FOR HEAT OR COLD...

from my P42 main cabin heat pump it would try to start but kick the circuit breaker. The repair guy checked it out and determined a frozen compressor. It has worked fine ever since replacing it. Terry
 
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Wayne Small

Jim and Ed

I have tried priming the unit from the outside. I do get plenty of water from my through hull and I double checked the screen. It is clear. I will have to pull a couple of the other hoses off and fill them with water. Once I get this accomplished, I'll take somebody along with me to put a hose through my thru hull and try to restore the prime while I circulate the unit..
 
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