CruisAir

[davidsmith]

Sounds like it could be cycling on the high pressure switch. Might be overcharged with refrigerant and needs to have the charge weighed in. This type of unit can be over charged very easily when the cooling water temp is low.

[reelfishin]

I was wondering how long it would take someone to come up with to much refrigerant. I have to kind of agree with that. It is a hard thing to diagnose not being able to see the unit. Good suggestions here.

[Paul]

OK, I surrender. I think at this point that I would be better off getting the heating / cooling guy who charged this unit up for me to come and have a look at it. Although I installed the unit, I've only got a general idea of what makes it run.

I do tend to take "do it your self" to the extreme in most cases however some things are better left to proffesionals.

Thanks for all the help.

[Paul]

UPDATE

I was down at the boat this weekend getting it ready for haul out. Since it was cool, I turned on the heat and this time it ran perfectly without the compressor cutting out once. The only thing that has changed since the compressor was cutting out is the temperature of the water. When the problem was occuring, the water temp was 68°F but now the temp is 56°F.

My guess is the increased cooling capacity of the lower temp water running thru the heat exchanger is exactly what the compressor requires to function correctly.

Again thanks for the replies.

[reelfishin]

Normally when a High pressure switch trips in the heat mode of a Heat Pump it is a air flow problem. Since this is a water source heat pump the problem can be with water temperature. If the water temp entering the unit is to high it can cause the high pressure switch to trip. Now saying that I still think one should make sure the system strainers are clean. If the water flow is to low it will cause the same problem as having to high a water temperature. Clean the system. Make sure the strainer is cleaned and the strainer under the boat is clean. When you pull the boat you can look at both. That is the time to do it. Two reasons, one to get the water out of the system for winter storage and two to clean the system.
You need to make sure the water flow going out of the boat right now is really strong. If the unit is running and you are not getting a good water flow out of the discharge port on the boat then you have a blockage in the system. Normally at the strainers. I bet under the boat is blocked some.

[g36]

i have a reverse cycle cruise air also, mine works fine at the higher temp water even in the upper 70's. yours should too. right now its 74 degree water temp here and mines working like a champ. we stay a week at a time around now on the boat
its good your unit ran properly at 56 degrees but there is still a problem if you have to wait till the water is this cold to operate it. the unit will operate even down to around 40 degree water temp but its really not doing much to heat the cabin at that time. it will eventully freeze up when it gets cold enough.

[reelfishin]

I agree that the temp of his water is not to hot to cause a problem but if the water flow is to low it will cause a problem. If he as good water flow then I think it is over charged or a air flow problem. I do know there normally is a filter on the coil and it could be clogged. Lots of things can cause it but those are the main things.

[Paul]

You could be right with the air flow suggestion. That was the one other thing that I did differently. I ran the fan on High since I was heating the cabin and the cockpit. Based on what your saying, the added air flow could be why it ran perfectly and not so much the water temperature. I don't normally run it in high when I'm heating or cooling the cabin because it's like a wind storm when I do. However if this is what's required to run the heat, then that's what I'll do. The unit is a 12000 btu, I wonder if it's too big for the cabin of an F-26.

At any rate, thanks for helping me figure this out.