Air Conditioner Replacement - Variable Speed?

[Dean Vermeire]

All,

I am not yet sure I need to replace our 11-year-old air conditioner, as I still have a few diagnostic and trouble-shooting things to try.  None the less, I have been researching new units.  It seems that most of the new models have a soft-start feature to reduce the amp-spike.  But I am really intrigued by the variable speed units.

Have any of you looked into the variable speed ACs?  Do you have a strong recommendation one way or the other?

For those who have replaced an AC, how difficult was it?

Thanks in advance,

Dean Vermeire

S/V Encore (C-355 #83)

[hvb...@gmail.com]

I just replaced my AC after just three years. It was a dog from the start. Was not working when I took delivery and was essentially rebuilt after just three months of service.

In any event I replaced with a CTM 16,000 btu AC unit with an Elite II control. Free shipping and it arrived the next day. The new unit has been a dream. Very easy to replace. 

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 13, 2024, at 12:28 PM, Dean Vermeire <drver...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Jeff Hare]

We also installed the CTM 16K with a micro air soft start.  Having previously installed a Dometic DTU system, this seems better built to me. Also much quieter.

Jeff

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[Dean Vermeire]

Thanks for the recommendations. The thought of having a quieter, cooler environment for sleeping sounds pretty good!

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/1718327012631.17085a307d103c2b%40thehares.com.

[Dean Vermeire]

Jeff,
Do you have the soft start device because you have a generator, or because it just starts quieter?

[Jeff Hare]

I have it because it stages the startup of pump, fan and compressor. The startup current requirements of the CTM are less than the Dometic to start with so this is just further reducing that.

1. I can avoid needing 50a or 2nd 30a inlet and continue using a single 30a smartplug. 

2. If I find myself at the end of a long dock with poor power or on a hot day with weak power, it'll still start.

Still have to stay within the 30a limit.

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[Dean Vermeire]

Great answer. I have two 30A circuits at my slip, but would like the flexibility to tie up where there may only be one.

Thanks again!

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/1718369361100.69fb761565060c4b%40thehares.com.

[Frank Chopin]

Am thinking about replacing my pompanette 16000 unit bcos the fins have severe corrosion. Did you guys haul out a pompanette model? Am wondering about footprint of the two units. Thanks

Frank

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[bill pittore]

I put an easystart device on my A/C last year. I had noticed that when the compressor kicked in the inverter would go on for a second in order to supplement the shore power. The same company that makes most of the a/c controllers makes the easystart, micro-air. 

On a related note I put in a switch that allows me to connect the secondary AC, circuit which runs the A/C, to the main circuit so I don't have to move the shore power cord. Plus it allows me to run the A/C on the inverter. 

Bill

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[hvb...@gmail.com]

I had Pompanette. Plenty of room for CTM. I also have separate circuit for AC but I have a Y cord and run both house and AC circuits with one 30 amp hook up. 

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 14, 2024, at 7:52 AM, Frank Chopin <chopin...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[chopin...@gmail.com]

Many Thanks

 

 

Frank

CTM CT-16 Marine Air Conditioner 16000 BTU - 115V, 50/60 Hz citimarinestore.com

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/15DCFBFD-E550-471D-8090-6D37C841D152%40gmail.com.

[Dean Vermeire]

For those having replaced a Pompanette air conditioner, did you replace the control panel with the Elite II controller?

If so, was the existing control cable an 8-wire cable, or did you have to run a new cable?

If you ran a new one, how much fun was that, and was it worth it?

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[hvb...@gmail.com]

Elite II has 8 pin. The Microair controller that the Pompanette used did not work with the CTM when using the remote thermistor. 

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 14, 2024, at 3:09 PM, Dean Vermeire <drver...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Dean Vermeire]

Thanks for the information, folks!

I called Pompanette, on the off chance there is something I can do to get the old AC working.  I had already checked the filter, the water flow, etc.  Nothing.  They put me in the tech support voice mailbox.  I left a nice message, but have not heard anything back at all.  So, I ordered the CTM CT-16 with the Elite II thermostat and the soft start module.  I'm not really looking forward to the job, but I sure will enjoy the new air conditioner!

Thanks again,

Dean Vermeire

S/V Encore (#83)

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/CCD5EF90-6BAB-49E1-A792-F90E806FA15D%40gmail.com.

[Leo Krieg]

Hi Dean, 

Please take lots of pictures and maybe even a video. I'm likely going to replace mine within the next 18 months.

Thanks

Leo

Falken (#125)

Get Outlook for Android

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From: catal...@googlegroups.com <catal...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dean Vermeire <drver...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 5:15:27 PM
To: catal...@googlegroups.com <catal...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Catalina 355:5412] Air Conditioner Replacement - Variable Speed?

 

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[Dean Vermeire]

I may need to bleep out some audio, but I'll see what I can do. 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/MW4P223MB0660352F7D6786C25EE3BED0FCCE2%40MW4P223MB0660.NAMP223.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.

[hvb...@gmail.com]

It’s a fairly straightforward job. You will have no problems. 

Good luck,

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 18, 2024, at 3:44 PM, Dean Vermeire <drver...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Eric Carnell]

Hi everyone, 

Luckily my Pompanette still works (but has never been great) so I am saving the link for CTM. I am curious about A/C location. Mine is in port aft corner behind aft cabin. But I watched a video from a dealer in Florida who puts the A/C unit under settee seat in salon (where I have a drawer). 

-Eric Carnell

Hull # 126

Solstice 

Yorktown, VA

On Jun 18, 2024, at 8:30 PM, hvb...@gmail.com wrote:

It’s a fairly straightforward job. You will have no problems. 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/FD3D80B8-AFB6-4BD7-92E9-F6B6BE756B6A%40gmail.com.

[Dean Vermeire]

Mine is on the aft port compartment like yours. Note that the dimensions of that compartment make it too small for some models. 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/97385C4F-2DFE-4522-BC81-0FEC7724901A%40gmail.com.

[hvb...@gmail.com]

Mine is under the settee in the salon. 

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 19, 2024, at 5:44 AM, Dean Vermeire <drver...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Dean Vermeire]

For those with AC under a settee in the salon, do you have 3 fresh water tanks? 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/FCC979F3-EDE7-42C9-99DB-BD949210B72E%40gmail.com.

[hvb...@gmail.com]

Yes, three water tanks. Plenty of room in the space for the ac unit and the water tank under the settee. 

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 19, 2024, at 7:25 AM, Dean Vermeire <drver...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Jeff Hare]

So did your water heater move or did you lose the drawer?

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/BBE46E31-8A33-4291-93F8-B967E9DF5DEB%40gmail.com.

[hvb...@gmail.com]

No drawer. 

HVB

Sent from the field. 

On Jun 19, 2024, at 9:53 AM, Jeff Hare <Cata...@thehares.com> wrote:

So did your water heater move or did you lose the drawer?

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/catalina355/1718812424469.2225323a465d1e7a%40thehares.com.

[hvb...@gmail.com]

[Jeff Hare]

Sorry, hit send too soon. I'm interested in how that unit under the settee is ducted.  

Would be great to see pictures of various AC installs.  

I'll post ours when I get a chance.  It was a CTM 16Kbtu located in the space behind the aft cabin on the port side.  6" duct out of the unit, to a custom box on stbd side where a 3" runs up to round vent for the aft cabin.  From there 5" duct runs to a 5x5x4 transition in the main salon. Then down to a 4" line that vents out in the vberth.   On the port side, there is a 3" line that currently runs from  small vent in the head to the port side stern vent that formerly was used with dryer vent to the engine.  That line has a nearly silent low-current 12v IP65 exhausted box fan.  That line could easily tap into the AC if mo more AC airflow is needed.

I'm still getting the controls figured out. There may be some programming to do. 

It's fairly quiet and can be hard to tell if the compressor or just the fan is running from the vberth.

For ducting, we used clear dust collection hose and fabricated synthetic fuzzy insulation sleeves that we tugged over the hose before install.  That material is primarily to reduce possibility of condensation on the lines.

It was a very difficult project, all in all and the total cost was around $3500, or $30k if you count all the hours that went into it. On the bright side, the swear jar funding could pay for a long family cruise around the world. 😆

Jeff Hare

#17 Solstice

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