Air Conditioner Condensate

[Curtis]

RE: Air Conditioner condensate

Anyone used the Mermaid Condensator system that uses a venturi off of the cooling water discharge to drain the condensate pan?

I love the idea but $150/per seems a bit steep for such a simple thing. Has anyone designed their own?

Curtis

[mmccoy]

You're kidding, right?

I've got many more important things to spend $150 on.

K.I.S.S. - My condensate drains thru a $10 hose to the bilge sump.

[MLC101]

I have used the Mermaid Condensator to remove air conditioning condensate and drain it via the raw water line. The concept is a venturi effect that sucks the water out of the drain pan.
It seems to work well. The literature says it needs to be maintained, since it might clog up. In many hours of use, it has never clogged up. The only concern is the restriction on the output line, which may put stress on the raw water pump, and the general restriction on raw water output. We did burn up a raw water pump, though we did get plenty of use out of it, and the raw water pumps on air conditioners seem to be maintenance items anyway. At least by our experience. After 5 years in Florida and the Caribbean tropics, we have run through some raw water pumps.

Anyway, I would consider it for a smaller unit (ours is on a 5K BTU), but not for the larger units (e.g. 12K BTU or larger), since it restricts the output so much.

Also, the price used to be much more reasonable. Mine was, I believe, $75 some years ago.


BTW, The reason I used it was that this A/C was in the forward part of the boat, the bilges were generally dry from there to the bilge sump, and I was not comfortable introducing this much water into those forward bilges. A better way would be to use a shower sump, with a bilge pump in it, and connect the output to a forward sink drain. Lots cheaper, no restriction to the raw water output, and easy maintenance. However, I had no convenient place for the shower sump.

[Curtis]

Thanks for the reply, MLC101. I didn't want the water in my bilge either.

I've worked very hard to get and keep my bilge mostly dry...does wonders for smells and humidity. It really bugs me for the A/C to be draining there. Seems like the A/C takes days to complete drain through after we turn it off.

mmccoy is right, though. Crazy way to spend $150...actually $300 because I need two.

Was hoping someone had engineered their own.

Curtis

[GordMay]

Cheap Venturi Pumps ($12):
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/....items/cid/750
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../2556/cid/2947
I have NO IDEA how well they work...

[Knucklehead]

We have a mermaid a/c unit that is not even turning on. Where are the circuit boards, so we can check them?

[sdowney717]

That could be the low pressure freon switch is on.
Among many other things.

[hellosailor]

So it isn't just the water pump, the entire system is dead?

Do you know where the fuses are? From there a power wire will lead to the circuit boards. The switch will lead to the fuses and/or circuit board as well, you may have to trace out wires.

Was it working recently? Did it stop suddenly? And how old is it?

[Knucklehead]

Guys, I really do not want to admit this, BUT, 30 amps into a 50 amp boat sure puts a crimp into the system especially AC units.
Installed splitter, voila!!!
That is why "knucklehead"

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Curtis

RE: Air Conditioner condensate

Anyone used the Mermaid Condensator system that uses a venturi off of the cooling water discharge to drain the condensate pan?

I love the idea but $150/per seems a bit steep for such a simple thing. Has anyone designed their own?

Curtis

We installed a Condensator 3 years ago and found it very problematic. After repeatedly fooling with it, replacing check-valves etc., I removed it from our system. Our condensate currently drains to sump in the bilge but I intend to connect the drains to a shallow closed Tupperware pan that is fitted with a small submersible condensate pump that will dicharge the condensate into the the input side of the raw water loop (to take advantage of the cold condensate).

FWIW...

[Florida Mike]

Consider a small aquarium pump like used for waterfalls. Put it in a Tupperware container with a float switch, connected to a over board drain. Just my two cents, Mike.

[US1Fountain]

Bought one for 1 of my boats a few yrs ago. Works like a dream. Being a tool and die maker, I made 3 (1 for my 2nd boat and 2 for buddies) coping the original design with a couple improvements (less parts). All units have been trouble free for over 5 yrs now.
I don't use the check valve.

[US1Fountain]

whoops, just noticed this is an OLD thread

[Freedom45]

Kent Marine Turbo Venturi Valve 1/2 Inch... 20ish bucks
That's what I have, works like a champ

Chuck

[GaryMayo]

Old thread needs new ideas. Newer systems leave the water vapor suspended in the exhaust and vent it outside, leaving nothing to drain. Ordered one, arrives tomorrow.