I just posted the details of the installation of my new AC unit in my 306 over in the Photo Forum if anyone is interested in seeing it. What a job!! I took a week of vacation and it took every bit of it to do the install.
Reverse cycle AC installation on a 2004 306
- Thread starter Randy Conkling
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Looks great...couple of questions
Hey Randy, Great pictures! I just started installing the exact same unit into my boat this past weekend. Couple of quick questions: + Why did you use check valves? + What water pump did you end up using? I've been thinking of using the Teel (sp?) one from Mermaid. + Did you get the various pieces/parts from Mermaid? Thanks. I got things laid out over the weekend and started getting the plumbing and wiring in order, but am no where near complete.... <sigh> ;-) matt
Hey Randy, Great pictures! I just started installing the exact same unit into my boat this past weekend. Couple of quick questions: + Why did you use check valves? + What water pump did you end up using? I've been thinking of using the Teel (sp?) one from Mermaid. + Did you get the various pieces/parts from Mermaid? Thanks. I got things laid out over the weekend and started getting the plumbing and wiring in order, but am no where near complete.... <sigh> ;-) matt
Some answers
Hi Matt, Thanks for the kind words. I used the check valves because I was afraid that the use of the head might cause the AC pump to loss prime and vice versa. They were just an extra safeguard since I was sharing the one thru hull. The only ill effect that I have noticed is that it takes a little more muscle now to pump the head than before. I went with the Danner Mod 7 magdrive pump. Roger at Mermaid recommended this pump over the smaller Teel pump because of the long run to the AC unit. The pump has a plastic housing with plastic input and output fittings. This concerns me a little bit. It wouldn’t take much to snap one of these off and flood the boat. I’m going to keep a close eye on them and make sure the ball valve is closed when I leave the boat. I might keep my eye out for a heftier pump. The good news is that this pump seems to do a fine job of circulating the cooling water. It primed easily and the bleed off valve has not been necessary. It also had a light current draw at only 1.5 amps. I plan on running the unit with a Honda 2k generator when away from the dock. According to Mermaid, this unit should be able to run with the EU2000i. I just got the generator yesterday, so I’m headed to the boat tonight to make the test. I’ll let you know if it works. Finally, yes I got all my parts from Mermaid with the exception of some of the plumbing parts (check valves, tee, and hose barbs). I worked with a guy there named Roger who was very helpful. Good luck with your installation. Let us know how it comes out. Randy
Hi Matt, Thanks for the kind words. I used the check valves because I was afraid that the use of the head might cause the AC pump to loss prime and vice versa. They were just an extra safeguard since I was sharing the one thru hull. The only ill effect that I have noticed is that it takes a little more muscle now to pump the head than before. I went with the Danner Mod 7 magdrive pump. Roger at Mermaid recommended this pump over the smaller Teel pump because of the long run to the AC unit. The pump has a plastic housing with plastic input and output fittings. This concerns me a little bit. It wouldn’t take much to snap one of these off and flood the boat. I’m going to keep a close eye on them and make sure the ball valve is closed when I leave the boat. I might keep my eye out for a heftier pump. The good news is that this pump seems to do a fine job of circulating the cooling water. It primed easily and the bleed off valve has not been necessary. It also had a light current draw at only 1.5 amps. I plan on running the unit with a Honda 2k generator when away from the dock. According to Mermaid, this unit should be able to run with the EU2000i. I just got the generator yesterday, so I’m headed to the boat tonight to make the test. I’ll let you know if it works. Finally, yes I got all my parts from Mermaid with the exception of some of the plumbing parts (check valves, tee, and hose barbs). I worked with a guy there named Roger who was very helpful. Good luck with your installation. Let us know how it comes out. Randy
Randy, where you tapped into the ...
existing through hull, it looks like you tapped into the water side of the through hull rather than the dry side. In other words do you have a through hull valve controlling the flow of water for each device as it should? It appears to be a safety issue to me if you tapped into the water side of the valve. Terry
existing through hull, it looks like you tapped into the water side of the through hull rather than the dry side. In other words do you have a through hull valve controlling the flow of water for each device as it should? It appears to be a safety issue to me if you tapped into the water side of the valve. Terry
Gen. Location and water side of thru hull
I'm using a portable Honda EU2000i generator. When in use, it will sit in the cockpit or on the swim platform and plug directly into the shore power connection. When not in use, I will store it below in the cabin. It seems to fit perfectly under the table just aft of the compression post. It won’t be in the way there. As for the thru hull, the original thru hull is not shown in the picture but it’s still in place. The sequence of components not shown is: Thru hull, ball valve, hose barb, hose to strainer that’s shown in the picture. The original ball valve (the one not shown) is always closed when I leave the boat.
I'm using a portable Honda EU2000i generator. When in use, it will sit in the cockpit or on the swim platform and plug directly into the shore power connection. When not in use, I will store it below in the cabin. It seems to fit perfectly under the table just aft of the compression post. It won’t be in the way there. As for the thru hull, the original thru hull is not shown in the picture but it’s still in place. The sequence of components not shown is: Thru hull, ball valve, hose barb, hose to strainer that’s shown in the picture. The original ball valve (the one not shown) is always closed when I leave the boat.
I have a reverse cycle
A/C Mermaid 5.2k BTU unit on my Hunter 260 powered by a Honda Eu 1,000 or a 2 K inverter with 450 Ahr batteries, installed aft of the false bulkhead, works Great. Photo Forum in the 260 section, Just thought you might be interested in the little guys, John, Baums Rush
A/C Mermaid 5.2k BTU unit on my Hunter 260 powered by a Honda Eu 1,000 or a 2 K inverter with 450 Ahr batteries, installed aft of the false bulkhead, works Great. Photo Forum in the 260 section, Just thought you might be interested in the little guys, John, Baums Rush
We traded in a H26 for the 306
We loved our H26, but it got to small as our kids grew. I'll take a look in the photo forum at your project. Randy
We loved our H26, but it got to small as our kids grew. I'll take a look in the photo forum at your project. Randy
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