440: AIR CONDITIONING

[JeffBurnes]

I am looking to install air conditioning in our 440 - Main saloon, 4 x cabins and 1 x fwd cabin.

Has anyone done this using a St Martin based company that they can recommend.

Also does the Genset need to be running continuously whilst we are using the Air-con or can it be configured otherwise?

[DHHong Kong]

Jeff, i cannot offer any advice re St Martin but you will need to run the genset any time any aircon is running unless you are on shorepower. To my knowledge the 440 (certainly mine) is not configured to run an aircon via the inverter and if it was any aircon load would drain the batteries very quickly..
Cheers
Paul

[JeffBurnes]

Thanks Paul - The Genset we are looking to install is the ONAN 11.5kVa

[GordMay]

➥ PermaFrost Marine Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Services N.V. +1 721 556 3351

➥ Titan Marine Air - 954-401-7997 Marine AC repairs, service, support

[JeffBurnes]

That's awesome, thanks Gordmay

[tkeithlu]

You mean, we're not going to have yet another argument over solar powered AC? Just like that, end of story? Wow!

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by JeffBurnes

That's awesome, thanks Gordmay

I would be very interested in the quotes you get for that ac job!

[Raven Odyssey]

Originally Posted by DHHong Kong

Jeff, i cannot offer any advice re St Martin but you will need to run the genset any time any aircon is running unless you are on shorepower. To my knowledge the 440 (certainly mine) is not configured to run an aircon via the inverter and if it was any aircon load would drain the batteries very quickly..
Cheers
Paul

A/C will murder an inverter. Even a pure sine unit.
Generator or shore power only.

[JeffBurnes]

Hi Nahbrown, I have briefed two companies now - I will let you know.

Thanks Raven Odyssey - It looks like we will be installing the generator

[Raven Odyssey]

Originally Posted by JeffBurnes

Hi Nahbrown, I have briefed two companies now - I will let you know.



Thanks Raven Odyssey - It looks like we will be installing the generator

You won't be sorry.

[JeffBurnes]

Has anyone carried out an Air-Con & Genset install that can give an approx. cost of what we could be up for?

[Sailmon]

We're fitting out our Freedom 38 for retirement cruising. Installing a Dometic turbo - 16K btu. AC installed by boatyard including new (second) shore power circuit. Cost from boat yard $8,583. I'm doing about 1/2 of the work and expect to save around $2,000.
I am installing a NextGen 3.5kw diesel generator. Total cost from boatyard around $11,500 - includes some modification to my sail locker opening to accommodate the unit which is 2" wider than the opening . I will do some of the work myself (mostly wiring and plumbing - and will save another $2,000. Not cheap - but suites the kind of retirement cruising we are planning. We are also installing a Rainman water maker - probably the 115V AC unit.

[Raven Odyssey]

Originally Posted by JeffBurnes

Has anyone carried out an Air-Con & Genset install that can give an approx. cost of what we could be up for?

We installed three Flagship Marine (big mistake) A/C units. The installation was tricky, and the total was close to $20k.

We replaced our Northern Lights 7.5kw genset, did all the work ourselves, and the total was $15k.

[Typhoon]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

You mean, we're not going to have yet another argument over solar powered AC? Just like that, end of story? Wow!

Maybe that will be my next thing to fiddle with,just need to find the time , there has been some advances in compressor technologies lately. But at best , a btu is a btu and a watt is a watt and the best I could hope for would be one cabin being cooled with an amp draw of around 30 amps 12v dc. Masterflux makes an interesting compressor and controller , but it is pricey.

Regards John Tully

[Privilege]

Originally Posted by Sailmon

We're fitting out our Freedom 38 for retirement cruising. Installing a Dometic turbo - 16K btu. AC installed by boatyard including new (second) shore power circuit. Cost from boat yard $8,583. I'm doing about 1/2 of the work and expect to save around $2,000.
I am installing a NextGen 3.5kw diesel generator. Total cost from boatyard around $11,500 - includes some modification to my sail locker opening to accommodate the unit which is 2" wider than the opening . I will do some of the work myself (mostly wiring and plumbing - and will save another $2,000. Not cheap - but suites the kind of retirement cruising we are planning. We are also installing a Rainman water maker - probably the 115V AC unit.

FYI The start-up load on your 16k BTU will pop the fuse on your Next Gen 3.5. (I have the same set-up). Although the 3.5 will happily run the A/C, when the compressor kicks in, the start-up load can be several times the running amps and this exceeds the output on the 3.5. You will need to have a soft-start installed. The soft start slowly ramps up the compressor thus avoiding the big momentary load but I assume the boatyard should know this.