Converting to FX1 control units?

[MVCaprice]

Does anyone have any words of wisdom about the easiest way to convert to FX1 control boxes from the three knobbers? I picked up a few from Pascal and I was sort of curious about the best way to do the install. A couple key questions come to mind:

Is it possible to mount the control box close to the air handler or are they typically installed by the compressor unit?

Is there such a thing as a factory control box or is it just a wiring junction?

FYI I was able to find the manuals online and what not, I was just curious about the interfacing aspects of the install.

 

[Pascal]

When upgrading from the old rotaries, it's probably easier to install the control box by the air handlers close to where the old controls were located since that's where the factory wiring is. Basically power comes from the electrical panel to the control board and the control board send the signal to the compressor in the ER

The other wires from the compressors to the control boards are the low and high pressure switches

If you wanted to install the boards in the ER by the condensers you would have to run the phone style cable from their to the display in each room and you could use the compressor control wire to feed the air handlers motors. And of course you d have to bring power from the panel to the condensers son it all depends on blue your boat was setup.

This is how splits are usually set up on newer boats

 

[MVCaprice]

I think it would be much easier to install them by the air handlers on our boat so that is good to hear. There is also plenty of cabinet space in these locations for the control box. On our boat (61MY) the generators are in the engine room and the generator compartment houses the 7 compressors which are quite remote from the master and salon in particular.

My plan is to do the three that have Honeywell thermostats first which are:

Salon - One knob with a hi/lo fan switch and Honeywell Thermostat
Master - Three nob (two fan speed controls) and a Honeywell Thermostat
VIP Stateroom - Two knob with Honeywell Thermostat

I am hoping that the Honeywell thermostat doesn't complicate the setup.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I converted all of mine. They all had Honeywell stats. I mounted the boxes near the air handlers. The hardest part is identifying what wires control what. Get out your Hatteras wiring diagrams and you should be able to figure it out.

 

[MVCaprice]

The hardest part is identifying what wires control what. Get out your Hatteras wiring diagrams and you should be able to figure it out.

I have them all! Love it! Thanks for chiming in.

 

[MVCaprice]

Using the Hatteras AC schematics, the FX1 manuals (that were on the internet) and the schematics that were behind the cover of the compressor assembly I was able to get one working fairly easily in a couple hours. The control panel fit nicely in the same place that the Honeywell three wire thermostat was mounted. I simply removed the thermostat and surface mount J-Box and cut a slightly larger hole.

The next one I want to do is our Salon which may be a bit trickier. The salon unit has a two speed air handler fan which I assume will not work with the variable fan speed controller on the FX1. Anyone have a specifics how to for this one?

Also, Thanks Pascal for the hardware!!!

 

[Pascal]

You r welcome . I really these controls much better than the newer LCD that are so hard to read.

 

[MVCaprice]

I reached out to micro air on the two speed fan in the salon including some pics of it and here is what they send back to me:

Thank you for for your purchase. The fan can easily be controlled by the FX-1 control board. Just connect the motor power wires (with the run cap still connected to the fan motor's start and run winding) to fan L1 and fan L2 of the control board. You can then adjust the high and low fan speed setting if needed in the controls program menu. Fan speed can then be automatically or manually controlled as required at the display. It is not necessary to use the two speed control anymore as the FX-1 provides total control.

If you have any other questions, please let me know.​