AC troubleshooting

[rob71]

Neighbors Carver has 5 package ACs.
All will turn on but, none will trigger the single Orbrdorfer pump.
There is a terminal box/ circut board next to the pump with all incoming wires and the output to the pump.
Suggestions on troubleshooting ?

 

[jmooney]

It’s not a bad idea to have a manual bypass switch to turn the pump on in this situation.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Neighbors Carver has 5 package ACs.
All will turn on but, none will trigger the single Orbrdorfer pump.
There is a terminal box/ circut board next to the pump with all incoming wires and the output to the pump.
Suggestions on troubleshooting ?

Hello Rob
Pending the design of the pump controller,
It may have it's own breaker and power source.
It may have an internal fuse or breaker.
Older controllers had Triacs, Contact relays and solid state relays.
Frankenstein would be proud of some controllers out there.

If you could find a model number on the outside of the box may be helpful.

If you are handy with electricity, the cover is off with just a couple of screws removed.
On the inside of these covers is usually a schematic to help.
Take a picture of the inside and post here if your confused.
First find the ACv in leads and insure there is electricity coming in to the pump. This is not the ACv signal from the zone A/Cs. You have to have juice here, if not, find that open breaker.

I just Re-read your post;
Ah, not your boat but a Carver.
Yes, on the ACv panel is usually a pump breaker.

 

[JD5652]

Hello Rob
Pending the design of the pump controller,
It may have it's own breaker and power source.
It may have an internal fuse or breaker.
Older controllers had Triacs, Contact relays and solid state relays.
Frankenstein would be proud of some controllers out there.

If you could find a model number on the outside of the box may be helpful.

If you are handy with electricity, the cover is off with just a couple of screws removed.
On the inside of these covers is usually a schematic to help.
Take a picture of the inside and post here if your confused.
First find the ACv in leads and insure there is electricity coming in to the pump. This is not the ACv signal from the zone A/Cs. You have to have juice here, if not, find that open breaker.

I just Re-read your post;
Ah, not your boat but a Carver.
Yes, on the ACv panel is usually a pump breaker.

If the controller has a contactor in it... could be a bad contactor coil as well...

 

[rob71]

Thanks for the quick response. AC is life here in Fl !
Pulled the pump after no response from directly connecting it to 110 power.
On the way to DEPCO which is here in our town.

 

[Pascal]

I hate these oberdorfer with bronze housing and impellers. They erode after a few years. Been replacing them with March pumps.

 

[rwaldrop13]

It’s not a bad idea to have a manual bypass switch to turn the pump on in this situation.

Due to issues with one of the MarineAire units I purchased, I simply set up my AC pumps to run continuously for the working MarineAire and Mermaid package AC units. I found while it increases my maintenance load in terms of checking strainers etc, it also eliminated the issue you mentioned.

This solved the issue, since the faulty MarineAire unit killed a pump and since they denied warranty, I'm in a legal battle with them now.