emilymarie2 said:

Wow! What a great site!, I have a CA unit that when I dial back the temp control knob it trips the breaker but starts right back up again, everything else seems to be fine ( water flow etc) any ideas? also there does not seem to be anyone local ( Toledo,Ohio) to service these AC units. I would like to learn how to fix these units and start a new business, any ideas on that as well, thanks!

Hi emilymarie2~

Thanks for the compliment…When you say "dial back the temp" I assume you are talking about a Knob type thermostat ?

It would help to know how many knobs the control has…2 or 3 ?

If it is 3…Then it is most likely a reverse cycle heat pump model unit…That being the case, it may be switching from heat to cool and you are not allowing enough time (between the switch) for the refrigerant pressures to equalize in the system…The compressor then tries to re-start against the high side pressure it built up while running in heat, and thus trips the breaker because of the extra load of trying against that pressure.

It's a common event that can also happen when switching from ship to shore if you do not first shut off the a/c before doing so.

The digital controls take care of this for you, but with the manual controls you have to manage it yourself…The compressor/system needs at least 30 seconds time before a re-start is attempted to allow those pressures to equalize back thru the small capillary tube that the refrigerant sprays thru when running…All refrigeration systems are similar, but some take longer than others to equalize. (your refrigerator may take 5 or more minutes)

When you are turning your t-stat toward cooler (from when the unit is heating) You should hear a click (turn slowly) and the compressor will cycle off…Take note of where the arrow is pointing…If you continue to turn toward cooler you will get another click, and the compressor will re-start in the cooling mode…

Here's the thing…The position of that arrow when it is in-between the two clicks and the compressor is off…Is the temp of the cabin…If you leave it between those clicks…The cabin should stay within a few degrees of that actual temp whether the unit needs to heat, or cool, to keep it there…It will do either needed to maintain that cabin temp….

If you want the cabin a few degrees cooler just rotate the arrow toward cooler until you hear that click and the compressor comes back on…Same with heating…just rotate toward warmer till it clicks and the cabin will get a few degrees warmer…Just remember if the compressor cycles off, to wait 30 second before you make it click again.

I will add that rotating one direction or the other does not make the air coming out colder or warmer (A/C does not really work that way)…It just makes the compressor run longer to get the cabin to the desired temp…However…Since A/C works on a 15 to 18 degree TD (temp differential) from the air entering to the air exiting…As the cabin air lowers or raises…So will the discharge air temp because of that designed TD.

Hope that explains it for you…If yours does not act like this then we might have a problem…Let me know…

As far as starting a marine A/C business…Lot's stuff to learn starting with the basic refrigeration theory & electrical…It can take years to master, and then even when you think you are getting good, something comes up that blows you away…I'm working on my 35th year in the marine business and still get surprised now & then…

You should be able to find a servicing dealer in your area by calling the Cruisair factory at 1-800-234-8778…Otherwise I will try to help from here in any way I can.

Steve~

Same thing applies when going from cooling to heating…

You can't rotate past the first click without first waiting 30 seconds to energize the second click….It will trip the breaker if you do so…

Yes I can sell the digital controls….The parts & pieces that make up a kit can range from $650 to $850 depending on what control, and how much protection you want with fault code shut downs…

This link is to the available Cruisair controls…

http://www.dometic.com/enus/Am…..red-Water/ 

This is for the Marine Air versions that will work on Cruisair also…

http://www.dometic.com/enus/Am…../Controls/

Steve~