Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

[craig240DA]

Brand spanking New 2007 240DA and the air conditioner isn't pumping water so it shuts off after a minute. The dealer says I need to "run" it to get water into the pump but that sucks because we are on a canal and it takes 20 minutes of No Wake before I get some speed on to "Prime" it, and now I'm not sure its going to work when we need it.

Does everybody need to "Prime" the air conditioner before it works?

p.s. Yes, the stopcock is in the proper position.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

It's probably a Cruise Air system and if so most likely has a diphragm style pump which should not need priming.

If your running a water cooled gen set it should not be run while the boat is run at more than idle speed. The same goes for the a/c system. Most manufacturers do not install scoops on the thru hull water pick-ups because the scoops force water past the pumps and may cause damage to the units. Not such a problem for the a/c but the gen sets can get water on the pistons causing hydrolock. Check the bottom of the boat for scoops over the thru hulls (gen and a/c), if there are none, thats all you need to know, to know the dealer is feeding you a line of BS. Without the scoops, at speed, the systems do not have the capability to suck the water in.

 

[craig240DA]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

Turns out to be a centrifugal non-self-priming pump, so I either have to prime it or keep water in the system. Still sucks, no easy solution so far.

Any ideas?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

You could change the pump, may not be cheap but would solve your problem.

 

[craig240DA]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

The boat is brand spankking new, 20 hours, so I'll have to continue to work with the dealer.

 

[studlymandingo]

Stay on the dealer.

Stay on the dealer.

They should take care of the issue without question or excuses.​

 

[flashback]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

Years ago I installed AC and electronics for several dealerships and not once did I have a unit that needed to be primed by running the boat.. That sounds like total BS to me...........

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

Does this work if you are just sitting at the dock? Where is the pump located, they are supposed to be down low (below the water line) so as soon as you open the sea **** water is forced right up to the pump.

 

[craig240DA]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

Follow up:

2 solutions that should work. I've been closing the stopcock after we are done using the air, that way when it is up on the lift, the system doesn't drain out. When we lower it into the water and open the stopcock, it has enough water in it to prime and runs great.

I still want to add a water hose connection between the filter and the intake, in case I forget the stopcock and we try to turn the air on and it doesn't work.

Thank again for all the input and help, this forum is great.

 

[flashback]

Re: Air conditioner not pumping water, needs Priming?

Boatin Bob is right, the pump should be mounted below the waterline. you should consider moving it if it is not.. which it probably isn't..