Self contained AC

[Maynard Rupp]

The company our son works for, (Watsco), just bought a marine AC company. Our 16k BTU salon Cruiseair unit just seized up and they want to install a one piece unit. I have no idea how they can get the whole thing installed where the air handler currently resides. They say it isn't a problem. They are dropping down to a 12,000 BTU unit as they claim theirs is much more efficient than our 25 year old CruiseAire. They are going to install the new unit on Friday so tune in for the next chapter.

 

[34Hatt]

I agree you can always find a spot But 12k

No way I hope you have another unit on board. I have a new 16K unit one year old this month runs 410 gas very efficient also a 5k older cruisair in the front bunk room and feel it is perfect! I am in the N.E your sir in FL I say not enough and usually the 12k and 16K self contained are the same size so why?

 

[MikeP]

That will be a neat thing to see; good luck and hope you take some pics to post!

I am quite curious re 12kBTU vs the larger one that is in place - 16k BTU, I assume. While I can understand that a modern unit can be physically smaller than an old unit of the same BTU rating, if it takes a 16k BTU system to cool a specific area, wouldn't it still require 16k BTU unless other work - like insulation of the space, etc, is done?

In any case, really interested in the results!

Good Luck

 

[bobk]

Agree, 12000 is 25% less that 16000. Efficiency has to do with power consumption. Cooling ability is defined by the BTU rating. Unless the 16000 felt like overkill, I'd want to keep the 16000.

Bobk

 

[roundIII]

I had a 16k self contained unit installed several years ago in the master cabin closet with vents to the master cabin as well as the salon. I did this for redundancy so I would never be without a/c (Florida). Has separate thru hull and pump. That being said, this unit alone will not get the salon ice cold but does keep the master ice cold and COOLS the salon. The other two Crusaire units are still operational and do a good job.

Just letting you know that I do not think 12k will be enough given the size of my boat as compared to yours. 1989 40 MY.

Ron

 

[Pascal]

The new all in ones are pretty compact so it will likely fit, but in my opinion downsizing to 12k is mistake... Your not in Michigan anymore! . It may be ok initially but as the coils get dirty you will quickly loose cooling capacity

And when using the boat, door opening and closing, cooking, it won't be enough.

 

[Angela]

I’m in South Florida. When I installed new AC, I up-sized every room just a bit, and holy cow, I am sure glad I did. I think downsizing the BTUs is a huge mistake. The price difference between a 10K and a 16K was only $50, so the price difference between a 12K and a 16K might be even less. For those kinds of peanuts, why risk it? And if it's about size, well, my 10K and 16K units sit in the same sized pan, meaning the footprint is the same.

 

[Andy B]

A btu is a btu, a more efficient one will like said earlier just be smaller ,the Same amount of btu's will still be required to cool the same space to the same standards, you will not be happy with the performance of a smaller unit.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

air cooled units are less efficient than water cooled, a 12k btu rated unit at air cooled will produce 14 k when water cooled, now, the temps are critical when comparing air to water cooled , cooler the water , more btu's. In South Florida I would want 16k at 75 deg water temp as a minimum.
Get them to to show the curve of performance,

I replace a 16k cruisaair up here with a 12k and it works great, mind you sea water temp right now is about 65 f, heats real good also.

16 k compressors are usually only available from crusieair at 120V most other mfrs offer only 220v in that size, there is a suspicion that cruiseair uses tecumseh 12 k units as 16 k. the configuration is 100% identical

 

[Genesis]

75F water temp? ROFL!

Around here during the summer it's more like 85F.

 

[Angela]

16 k compressors are usually only available from crusieair at 120V most other mfrs offer only 220v in that size, there is a suspicion that cruiseair uses tecumseh 12 k units as 16 k. the configuration is 100% identical

Nah...CruisAir doesn't have the corner on that. Aqua Air, Webasto, Mermaid Air....just to name a few, all have 16K units available in 110v.

 

[Triskele]

air cooled units are less efficient than water cooled, a 12k btu rated unit at air cooled will produce 14 k when water cooled, now, the temps are critical when comparing air to water cooled , cooler the water , more btu's. In South Florida I would want 16k at 75 deg water temp as a minimum.
Get them to to show the curve of performance,

I replace a 16k cruisaair up here with a 12k and it works great, mind you sea water temp right now is about 65 f, heats real good also.

16 k compressors are usually only available from crusieair at 120V most other mfrs offer only 220v in that size, there is a suspicion that cruiseair uses tecumseh 12 k units as 16 k. the configuration is 100% identical

Dennis...I agree with your comments. I have been sourcing and trying to replace a Tecumseh AKA8515EXA 16K BTU compressor in a Cruisair WHAF 16 split service A/C and heat pump in my salon. It is original equipment and sized for a 43' DCMY. When operational, I felt it was way too much cooling (I live aboard in TN...humidity capital of the world). I have always felt a smaller unit would be better in the salon (full disclosure...43' DCMY have two a/c units, one in the salon and one in the master and v-berth - wouldn't down size in master/v-berth). Anyway...back to the compressor, after contacting Tecumseh and Cruisair it appears that the BTU rating for the A/C unit depends on who you are talking to. The 16K BTU rating for the cruisair unit applies to the air cooling or space cooling as in all air conditioners. However, when speaking to Tecumseh and talking about the compressor they speak in terms of whether the compressor is air cooled or water cooled. Technicians and service reps don't always make this distinction cause some are more experienced in refrigeration or household units that are air cooled (12K BTU) whereas marine applications are normally all water cooled (16K BTU).

I have posted below comments from Cruisair I received from an inquiry I made to them:

"We in fact do still use the AK8515EXA Tecumseh compressor even in our present R16 condensing units and they are considered OEM . The confusion comes in when you are talking air cooled rating versus water cooled. The same compressor air cooled is rated 12,800 BTU but water cooled it's 16,000 BTU. Just a word of caution, if you have a WFAH unit I'd say it's at least 15 years old or better. I usually advise to replace the complete condensing unit, today's replacement would be the R16, if a unit is more than 10 years old. The reason is the water cooled condenser itself. There is no method readily available to inspect the interior of the condenser but you can figure it has received wear over time. If this condenser fails it will flood the compressor with cooling water which often results in the evaporator also becoming flooded with water. This is even more of a concern in saltwater. I will readily admit I've known customers who have done replacement compressors on units 10 years old and older without problem but I always like to advise of the risk. I've also known customers who took the risk and had to replace the condensing unit and evaporator shortly there after plus cleaning the refrigerant lines after such a failure is time consuming and also expensive.

Hope this helps,
Carter Till
Senior Customer Service Representative
Cruisair
carter.till@dometic.com "

 

[Canuck Dennis]

See, us Canucks aren't so dumb...ain't we ?? eh...eh...eh...

 

[micky]

I was able to fit a 9k btu self contained unit where the air handler was without modifying anything. This was in the closet of the back room in a 43 dcmy.