Air Conditioning Intake

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thinwater
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Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

I have a Cruisair, but I'm tired of the location and lugging it on and off the boat. My back can't handle it anymore. I've decided adding air would be a good winter project. Since I will probably haul for painting late this summer (I only haul every 2 years), that would be the time to install a new through hull.

My puzzle is the water intake. I don't fancy installing the unit under a bunk and would rather place it under the forward salon seat. Correct me if I am wrong:
* I like quiet for sleeping
* I need the cold up front, not in the cabins (by evening even the Cruisair cools the whole boat).
* I think 9000 BTU will do fine, though I might go with 12000. I'm not in FL and the Cruisar does OKish. I want the longer run time to reduce humidity. Honestly, we don't use it that much up here, since the summer is not too long and it is not needed when anchored out (generally enough breeze if not in a marina).

But I can't figure out how you get the pump and strainer below the water line and in a place the strainer can be cleaned comfortably. The obvious place is with the other through hulls, but access is awful. A starboard locker is possible, but that leads to some ugly hose runs. Under the fridge is possible, but that would mean a new through hull and would cost some storage space; probably the best option.

As for ducting, I assume one in the galley and nav, 1-2 in the salon, and 2 in the cabins. Is there a simple way to cut off unused ducts to re-direct the cold?

I'm not all that interested in the istallation kit, as they seem overpriced and I think custom selections will work better.
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amytom
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by amytom »

My AC is currently located under the starboard bunk but I've come to realize that's the wrong place for it and under the port setee behind the big galley cabinet is the ideal place. I'll be moving it during the next haul out and was considering the starboard bow for the intake with the output and condensate near the sink drain. The strainer would either be up high. And include a line coming up to re-prime after cleaning or maybe loose mounted on a line so I can just pull it up to do maintenance. The pump would be on a platform a few inches off the bottom to keep it out of any rainwater that might leak in.

Maybe I'm wrong but I've got some time to rethink and read here for other ideas.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by amytom »

How were you hoping torun the ducts back to the aft cabins? I currently have one two inch duct run through the bilge from the strbd bunk to the head.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by Lady of the Lake »

Here is an overview of what I did on Lady of the Lake...

16K BTU unit installed under the starboard settee just behind the nav station. Mounted the unit on rubber pads to minimize vibration transfer to the boat structure. Routed cooled air from the unit to three locations, one above the unit in the salon, and one to each forward stateroom. As for cooling water routing, installed a new through hull in the starboard hull under the floor panel right next to bed. Under that floorboard is the water intake, the filter, and the water pump, all easy access. Hose then runs under the floor and up behind the book rack in the corner and behind the nav station to the AC unit. Water output is directly next to the unit shooting straight down under the bridge deck.

I did remove the nav station to insert the unit and also to help with both water hose and air duct routing, came out easy and went back easy. I did modify the back of the nav insert so the unit could fit behind it with the nav insert in place. I also added a "door" in the back of the nav station insert for access to the side of the unit. Access to the top of the unit is through the cover under the seats in the salon. I am very happy with the install, would not change anything.

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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by Lady of the Lake »

And after all of that, I just realized you were asking about a 32, totally different, sorry...

Sam
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by amytom »

The rubber mounts is a great idea. I'll have to do the same when I move ours.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

amytom wrote:My AC is currently located under the starboard bunk but I've come to realize that's the wrong place for it and under the port setee behind the big galley cabinet is the ideal place. I'll be moving it during the next haul out and was considering the starboard bow for the intake with the output and condensate near the sink drain. The strainer would either be up high. And include a line coming up to re-prime after cleaning or maybe loose mounted on a line so I can just pull it up to do maintenance. The pump would be on a platform a few inches off the bottom to keep it out of any rainwater that might leak in.

Maybe I'm wrong but I've got some time to rethink and read here for other ideas.
Unless I don't understand...

The pump must be below the water line as it is not self-priming. The strainer must be before the pump. Priming is always possible, but is generally a drag.

I'm thinking I might mount both to a board mounted on studs glued to the hull, much as I mounted my solar panels. It would be easy to pull for maintenance and I could build it at home.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

amytom wrote:How were you hoping torun the ducts back to the aft cabins? I currently have one two inch duct run through the bilge from the strbd bunk to the head.
No idea yet. If I can't get a good run, I may just use fans as we do now.

I really don't like the bilge idea. It gets wet down there on rare occasion, and I like to keep a clean bilge.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

amytom wrote:The rubber mounts is a great idea. I'll have to do the same when I move ours.
I'd like more detail on that as well.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

Tom: How many BTU? I suspect I need one size less.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by amytom »

I have the OceanBreeze 20k unit. My ducts run through the aft steering area so I loose quit a bit of cooling there. Otherwise it cools the boat fairly well.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

Yeah, I'm getting by on 5-6K now, so there is obviously a huge difference in need and possibly expectation (peak temps in Fl and Va are not that different).

One difference may be that we have gotten creative in reducing heat gain:
* white covers for all windows and hatches in the salon.
* awning from hardtop to mast.
* close-off cabins during the day (blow fans in there once the sun sets).
* close the head door and open the window.

And I am conscious of the duct losses. I'm not sure it is even worth running ducts to the back, if the space is tight an the run is long; I'm pretty sure nothing cold will come out unless there is a 3"straight shot.

We keep 3 AC fans on the boat: one ~20" that can really move some air when there is no AC, and 2 x 10" fans that can really cool the aft cabins fast when sat in the doorway. Very nice when working on the boat too!

Also, what about the power draw? I need to look at the specs on the Freedom power controller, but it strikes me that it ran pretty hot with just the 6K unit. Did you upgrade something? There is slight but noticeable dimming from the inrush. I hoping just to use a spare breaker.

So I still think the 9K or 12K will do for me.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by amytom »

I don't have the freedom unit. I have standalone charger and inverter. The power for the AC is taken off at the 30amp inlet through a separate breaker. All the lights are LED and run strictly on the 12v side.
The manufacture spec for current draw is 16.8 amps. Their 9k is 5.3A and their 12k is 11.2A.
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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by danhaun »

TomKat has two units and the forward cabin unit is under the port salon seat behind the galley cabinet. The water intake is in the port hull under the cabinet which is below the refrigerator. The strainer and cooling pump feed both ac units and are also mounted in this space below the waterline.

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Re: Air Conditioning Intake

Post by thinwater »

Dan:

I'm guessing the reason for behind-the-cabinet location is ease of installation with cabinet removed. Is the unit actually installed through that opening (have not measured--going to boat today)?

I assume the return is down on the floor near there, and that the discharges are higher? Exactly where did you find good places? It is always a compromise to get the cold where you want it without a severe draft.

Did you use the "kit" or did you get the grills separately?

Is the power through a separate breaker or through the AC panel?
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