The sea water circulating pump on my unit only work sporadically and needs replacement. It's a very small pump made my March Manufacturing. My first reaction is to replace it with a much larger one. Does this make sense?
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Richard
Does the seawater option save you electricity?
Have you found that the seawater cooling option saves battery power?
Have you found that the seawater cooling option saves battery power?
W
Warren
Refrigeration Aux Pump
I just discussed this with another 376 owner and our service manager after his pump went out. We all agreed it's very expensive to replace that particular pump...it's a magnetic induction pump and the motor compartment is sealed. The impeller shaft seems either to get worn in its slot or scale builds up. Either way, the induction motor isn't strong enough to overcome the shaft drag so it quits. He tried to clean it to no avail. We all agreed that it would be nice to find some other less expensive replacement pump and the idea of a bait live well pump came up. It would have to be the type that has both inlet and outlet hose ports, obviously. Last time I saw him he was walking through Marsh Harbour trying to find just such a pump. Don't know whether he was successful or not. Also, I can't answer the question of how large a pump is safe. Maybe Kenyon Marine has the answer. The operating manual of the Super Cold Machine recommends switching on the aux cooling pump anytime the ambient air temp goes above 90 F. It's on a sensor, I believe, so it comes on on demand. (That would explain the sporadic operation of your pump.) Unfortuately, because of the compressor location in the 376 it's over 90 F. just about all the time in the Bahamas. We wired my pump so it runs anytime the fridge compressor comes on to help overcome the heat buildup in the compressor compartment. So far, no pump problems after 7 months. The other owner doesn't do that because his boat is kept in an area where there is a lot of sea grass and debris and a continuously running pump would clog the sea strainer too often. Hope this helps clear things up.
I just discussed this with another 376 owner and our service manager after his pump went out. We all agreed it's very expensive to replace that particular pump...it's a magnetic induction pump and the motor compartment is sealed. The impeller shaft seems either to get worn in its slot or scale builds up. Either way, the induction motor isn't strong enough to overcome the shaft drag so it quits. He tried to clean it to no avail. We all agreed that it would be nice to find some other less expensive replacement pump and the idea of a bait live well pump came up. It would have to be the type that has both inlet and outlet hose ports, obviously. Last time I saw him he was walking through Marsh Harbour trying to find just such a pump. Don't know whether he was successful or not. Also, I can't answer the question of how large a pump is safe. Maybe Kenyon Marine has the answer. The operating manual of the Super Cold Machine recommends switching on the aux cooling pump anytime the ambient air temp goes above 90 F. It's on a sensor, I believe, so it comes on on demand. (That would explain the sporadic operation of your pump.) Unfortuately, because of the compressor location in the 376 it's over 90 F. just about all the time in the Bahamas. We wired my pump so it runs anytime the fridge compressor comes on to help overcome the heat buildup in the compressor compartment. So far, no pump problems after 7 months. The other owner doesn't do that because his boat is kept in an area where there is a lot of sea grass and debris and a continuously running pump would clog the sea strainer too often. Hope this helps clear things up.
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Phil Rains
Response to Richard
I'd like to believe it saves battery power, but I'm not convinced. Without it though, the heat build-up under the settee is incredible. I can always tell when it's overheated because the freezer starts to thaw. I open everything up when we're gone during the week and I don't like to leave the pump on because of the sea grass in the harbor. I think that's what burned out the pump in the first place. The West Marine description for the March pump clearly states "...do not run dry for more that 60 seconds..." Opps!
I'd like to believe it saves battery power, but I'm not convinced. Without it though, the heat build-up under the settee is incredible. I can always tell when it's overheated because the freezer starts to thaw. I open everything up when we're gone during the week and I don't like to leave the pump on because of the sea grass in the harbor. I think that's what burned out the pump in the first place. The West Marine description for the March pump clearly states "...do not run dry for more that 60 seconds..." Opps!
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Phil Williams
Water pump replacement
The pump that is on your system know was selected because of its low amperage draw. Going to a larger pump will increase the amperage draw and diminish the advantage of having water cooling. The March pump will perform fine and is really intended for use when the boat is away from the dock.
The pump that is on your system know was selected because of its low amperage draw. Going to a larger pump will increase the amperage draw and diminish the advantage of having water cooling. The March pump will perform fine and is really intended for use when the boat is away from the dock.
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Tom Troncalli
Seawater pump alternative
I first converted my ice box with a conversion unit I built using an air and water cooled condensor. I have since run the high-side refrigerant line through my bilge water eliminating the need for a seawater pump, sea strainer, and thru-hull. The bilge water cools as well as the seawater pump did without the use of a thru-hull and water pump. This is a completely closed system. My bilge always has 1" of remaining water which soaks the heat from the refrigerant line. The bilge water can not heat up because it has the ocean on both sides and the lead keel directly below. Works great! Quieter too! My refrigerant return line is now as cool as the surrounding seawater and I have eliminated both the condensor air fans and the seawater pump and resulting battery use. The only electricity draw now is the compressor itself.
I first converted my ice box with a conversion unit I built using an air and water cooled condensor. I have since run the high-side refrigerant line through my bilge water eliminating the need for a seawater pump, sea strainer, and thru-hull. The bilge water cools as well as the seawater pump did without the use of a thru-hull and water pump. This is a completely closed system. My bilge always has 1" of remaining water which soaks the heat from the refrigerant line. The bilge water can not heat up because it has the ocean on both sides and the lead keel directly below. Works great! Quieter too! My refrigerant return line is now as cool as the surrounding seawater and I have eliminated both the condensor air fans and the seawater pump and resulting battery use. The only electricity draw now is the compressor itself.
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Phil Rains
Response to Phil Williams
Phil, Thanks, I suspected as much. I did some calls and found that there are very few low amp 12 v. pumps. In fact, March seems to be the only one, so I ordered an exact replacement from March through Boat U.S. I do intend to add some much needed ventilation to the area under the settee to give the compressor some fresh air. Plus, since the pump is mounted directly to the hull, it makes a wonderful resonating hummmmmmm, all night long. I think I'll add a few rubber spacers between the mount and the hull.
Phil, Thanks, I suspected as much. I did some calls and found that there are very few low amp 12 v. pumps. In fact, March seems to be the only one, so I ordered an exact replacement from March through Boat U.S. I do intend to add some much needed ventilation to the area under the settee to give the compressor some fresh air. Plus, since the pump is mounted directly to the hull, it makes a wonderful resonating hummmmmmm, all night long. I think I'll add a few rubber spacers between the mount and the hull.
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Phil Williams
Sea Water Pump Replacement
The March pump has a life expectancy of 3,000 hours. It is not designed to run all day every day. Again the reason for selecting the March pump was because of the very low amperage draw and the quiet operation. Impeller pumps are noisy and draw more amperage. Getting good ventilation to the compressor compartment is important for obvious reasons. I wish there was a low amperage high performance quiet pump available to replace this one with.
The March pump has a life expectancy of 3,000 hours. It is not designed to run all day every day. Again the reason for selecting the March pump was because of the very low amperage draw and the quiet operation. Impeller pumps are noisy and draw more amperage. Getting good ventilation to the compressor compartment is important for obvious reasons. I wish there was a low amperage high performance quiet pump available to replace this one with.
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