Cruisair mystery cut off

[boozubay]

We have a split 16k for the master cabin. The unit tries to start for one second. Cuts out immediately and goes into that loop. Tries to start in about 1 minute, then click, compressor starts hums 1 second and off.

Diagram shows no low pressure switch. Checked pressures but cannot really read since won't run.
Tried new capacitors and no luck?

Maybe the start relay?

Anyone experienced this before?

Thanks!!

 

[madhatter1]

Can be start relay, capacitors, or as in my case perfectly working compressor crapped out. Even then was not too expensive to change. But mine are very accessible.

 

[Pascal]

Every bad compressor i ve had Tripped the breaker. Could be the calacitor. No mesage on the display ?

 

[madhatter1]

The message I got was I’m hot and I would rather be cool

 

[Captain Ralph]

Low Freon.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I had one that cycled like that. The evap fan was wearing out and not pushing enough air.

 

[boozubay]

Split system so no fan...
Acs in Gen room under floor 61my

plenty of water Going to try to find a new relay unless someone has great ideas?
Swapped capitors no luck

Compressor sound normal for about 2 seconds!

tks!

 

[boozubay]

Thought about evap fan but 1 second cutout? Not long enough for high or low temp,,,

 

[Captain Ralph]

[h=2]Re: Cruisair mystery cut off[/h]

Low Freon.​

 

[Oldlaxer1]

Mine did the same thing. Low Freon. I forget what my tech called it (low pressure cutoff maybe) but knew exactly what it was when I told him. Quick charge and good for about a week then it happened again. We were afraid the leak could be near one of the two virtually inaccessible air handlers but fortunately it was a copper connection just above the unit. Quick fix and we’ve been fine for the past month.
good luck.

 

[boozubay]

Thanks for all the input...
The system is analog so just a relay and two capacitors. I looked on the schematic and see only a high pressure switch, no low pressure cut off. wfah 5-16c condensor

Would compressor cut out by itself for low freon without switch?

 

[Pascal]

There should be low pressure switch in the system. Compressors also have a temperature cut off but I doubt that would kick in so quickly. Was the compressor hot?

 

[madhatter1]

The temperature switch is also an over current device. Pops from heat or current that also heats it up. Resets in about a minute or less. You can hear it click. If that’s what it is just get a good AC guy to diagnose. I spent way too much time and effort. They know what to check and in what order.

 

[boozubay]

So I did find what looks like a low pressure switch on the cap tube behind the control box. It is not on the schematic.

The unit is cold since it will not run more than 1 second.
Pattern is it tries to run> compressor starts for 1 second and stops. About 1 minute later same exact thing. it is a perfect loop trying to start every 50 seconds then stops.

Cannot get pressure reading running since it will not stay on for more than 1 second. Shows about 100psi equal for high and low not running

edit... That must be the reversing valve not LP switch

 

[Boatsb]

Clixon on the compressor?

 

[Captain Ralph]

Thanks for all the input...
The system is analog so just a relay and two capacitors. I looked on the schematic and see only a high pressure switch, no low pressure cut off. wfah 5-16c condensor

Would compressor cut out by itself for low freon without switch?

Could you send a pic of the switch and where the tube connects to the compressor.

Small tube from the compressor is high pressure, larger tube to the compressor is the low pressure.

Yes, when the compressor starts, it draws down the low side lower. If it's a low pressure switch, it will behave exactly as you have noted.

A bad run cap, bad contactor or bad/burnt wire theoretically could do this also.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Where are you hiding your boat? I can help if your close.
I'm in Satsuma, 32189.

 

[boozubay]

We are in Tampa Bay... Dunedin to be exact

 

[boozubay]

I figured I would come back and post the answer for those that me be having a similar issue....

After swapping capacitors, relay, bypassing HP switch I found there is a thermal overload switch under the cap where the wires run into the compressor.. That was the culprit!

Bypassed to test and OMG it stayed on.... There was a little problem with too much gas in the compressor and in 30 seconds it did a death wobble and done! Compressor is destroyed from over pressure.

Expensive lesson to learn.... So the little $30 part could have saved me a ton of time.

A professional may have gone right to this or maybe not. So a new compressor will be in route and now I get to learn compressor replacement and evac. Learning from mistakes is a way to learn even if it can be expensive lol.

3 weeks waiting for an AC guy to come out is just insane.

We live aboard so had to make a run to Home Depot for a portable ac for the master so we can sleep in comfort. Any advice about compressor replacement is welcome too!

On a positive spin, I now feel I know these systems pretty intimately. They are pretty simple since no control boards, just a relay and to capacitors...

If anyone knows the correct tecumseh compressor for a WFAH16c that woulld help a lot. Going to call Flagship marine near us next for parts...

 

[Boatsb]

That's the clixon. It's there for a reason. My previous post evidently never mad the site.