Post edited 7:41 am – September 1, 2011 by Steve Pooler

z28jimi said:

Going for a long shot here…

Turns out, the RX30C feeds two air handlers. Surprised me, but I can now see them both. Problem is, they are both under the forward console on the flybridge, and access to the port unit looks really bad, but access to the starboard unit looks impossible. Is there any chance you've ever worked on the air handlers on a 1990 Ocean 56' CPMY and know how to get to them?

It looks to me, that some major panel cutting is required to get to it. Can't believe even the most knuckle-headed builder would have literally built this thing into a corner...Ocean Yachts has been known to do some pretty crazy stuff with A/C…

 

You are stretching my memory but I had a customer with an Ocean MY that was same style, but without cockpit…Think they called it a 48 ???…Basically the same boat inside I think…But dam if I can bring up the memory of the overhead units….Seems I do remember a grill in the overhead about midship in the pilot house, and I think they blew air out the port or starboard valances in the salon…

That boat is now gone from here, so I can''t even go look…I do remember upgrading the fwd air handler/system…Where they put that unit was stupid too….Plus it was way too small for the job it was trying to do…

 

As far as the bridge units…Are they 2 separate units that look like they have a ski ramp type angled box for return ?…

 

If so…They are Cruisair ESS-16 air handlers…The coil & blower are inside a aluminum box that is strapped to that Ski ramp return plenum…This box will need to be separated from the ski ramp & disassembled…I know a PIA, but at least it makes the unit smaller for removal…

 

To test for leaks before removal…Tell your A/C guy to stick his sniffer in the bottom of the aluminum fins (after the unit has been off for an hour or so) into the pan…Freon is heavier than air and will settle in the condensate pan/s…The unit that makes his sniffer scream is the one leaking…

 

I would do this ASAP…With the Dometic merger, they have discontinued that ESS model, and I don't know how long you will be able to get a replacement coil, or the whole aluminum box part (which was known as a EBS-16 air handler, and also discontinued)

 

I will add that if one is leaking…and If you plan on keeping the boat…It's best to consider doing both units… Electrolysis/Galvanic action is what happens to the solder joints inside with time…If one joint is leaking…Others may not be far off, and I'm betting you would like not go thru the aggravation & expense of doing this again shortly…Especially considering that the parts may not be available for long…

 

Steve~

Jim~

Just remove the return air grills from below…With the system off…They should be able to stick their sniffer probe into the pan from there…The fins should be just behind a insulated diverter that you can bend down to do so…It's also made of aluminum and will bend easily…When done just bend it back up in place…

If that does not work out…Have the sniffer ready, calibrated, and stuck into a discharge grill…Then turn the fan on low…This will suck any freon out of the pan and should trigger the sniffer…

Unfortunately the second method will only work once, and only just after turning on the fan…To test that way again you will need to turn off the fan, and wait for the pan to fill up with freon, depending on how bad the leak is…Is how long you might need to wait to test the second one…The blower will evacuate any freon, so it's a one shot test till it accumulates again with the blower off…

Steve~

Thanks for the report back Jim~

Yes flare joints in split systems are a source of refrigerant leaks if not "made" properly…One issue is the larger flares (1/2" & over) must be tightened till you think they will break…Then tightened some more…

I didn't mention this because of the age of your systems…Once properly "Made" they really should be good for the life of the system…So it's very possible that they have been leaking since original installation…

Steve~