I live in an extremely hot climate and life without AC is un-liveable, truly unbearable! This makes me happy to know you guys have the comfort of AC on the boat 😊
The one copper line under the bed is contacting the high pressure line, it will rub and eventually leak causing failure. Just put something soft in between tape together and done.
Keeping the explanation simple so some don't have there eyes glaze over, good. If someone is competent in their wiring and plumbing work your ac/refrigeration videos would bring them up to a self installer. I just point them your way, the best I have seen. My finer points would drive most crazy.
I think one thing that should be done is if copper line is touching the rubber line split a piece of rubber hose and zip tie it to the copper line. That way there won’t be any chafe and rub a hole in the line
Good idea. Chafe is bad. But... You won't believe this but you will be protecting the copper from the rubber. I've seen so many times where engine hoses chafe the engine steel without harming themselves. I found that unbelievable but seems to happen.
So when you're fixing a jet engine, it's very important to check all your subassemblies for proper flow and vacuum/pressure seals. In my job we use an all in one system called a "vac cart". It's my job specifically to maintain the vac carts. I'm a little upset that I could have been using this sealant stuff the entire time instead of Teflon tape. Especially on all the flare fittings, as it makes a lot more sense in that specific application.
My battery-powered AC unit just had its final hookup today. I'm ecstatic because it got done with a few months to spare of the oncoming Mexican heat. 5.1kWh battery and a 30.5 SEER a/c unit. Solar panels on the roof (of an RV) in the next few weeks.
Great Video; I have signed up on the website. We want two, although, contrary to the form I filled out, after watching this video there may be advantages to do a component install rather than getting pre-charged units on a sled to have more flexibility as to where to locate the components. :)
Yes I know I'd always want the components. In this (and the next) video I'm trying to show that with how I've set this up it's easy to install with hand tools.
Hey Clark! We’re installing your dc/ac system on Rhiannon and I have some questions: What is “this stuff” that you’re putting on the flare fittings? Our system is 24v so do I need to use the power booster or can I just wire straight to my system? I’m assuming I will need to convert to 12v for the blower motor and the pump,or does the system step it down? I’m really impressed with this system ,especially how tiny the compressor is! Thanks for coming up with this for all of us and keep up the great work!
Thanks, You can find "this stuff" on our Amazon store (link in video description). It's really not required but since I bought some I use it all the time. No don't use the boost converter for the compressor. If you can find a 24v pump use that. It's better. Same pump, different windings. As for the air handler motor. I haven't tried this but it should be fine if you use the included motor speed controller as long as you don't ever turn it up beyond half way. Correct setting should be like 1 amp 24v. Probably 1/10th from off. It should work as a good buck converter but if you turn it up too far it will likely harm the motor. Or you could get a little buck converter to make 12v. Likely you already have 12v circuits on the boat, right?
@@Clarks-Adventure I agree 100%. My boat has one chiller that is 65,000 BTU, with 5 distribution handlers. We are thinking 4 units at 12/15,000 BTU each.
@@Clarks-Adventure A side by side test of 3-4 different brands would be great, but I'm sure it's not what you live for. If you want to sell 100 of them in a few days, do the comparison live at the Annapolis boat show this fall.
Yes I'm actually looking forward to a boat show sometime. For this, the bbms, the channel, Emily's dinghy build. Lot's of offers. We have over 2000 interested parties on the mailing list. I bet we will have no problem selling the first 100. Then they will tell their friends....
I am going to be installing A/c on my 30 freedom. Once you start looking into what's out there it's almost overwhelming. For me I want simplicity and the ability to maintain and service the unit myself. Are there service valves on the Condenser? If not what's your thoughts on installing them. My other thing is I would be happy having a cool sleeping room but the Captain wants a cool Salon as well so for me I may not be able to do this one. It looks great though. Seems like the coils are serviceable and the blower too. I am thinking of maybe going with two. 1 for day in the salon 1 for night in sleeping room. Ty
The unit comes with both a high side and low side service valve. This is usually considered plenty as every part of each of these subsystems have the same pressure . I agree about the sleeping room as I mention in my first video. I'm concerned that this might not be enough unit to cool a big poorly insolated room in the heat of the day with the sun on the deck. A larger unit is in the works or you might accept the idea of spot cooling. (Leaving the hatches open and just blowing cool air right on you.)
@@Clarks-Adventure I saw the service valves. That's a sign of a well thought out unit. It creates so many Maintenance and Service options. I hope you do well with these and tonight I am going to show my better half and really get down to the nitty gritty of cooling our space. These units remind me of commercial ones we used to install in Homes and a lot of apartments. Good luck to you and ty for making these so user friendly!
A great video, thank you! Have you had any issues with condensation on the refrigerant return line? Many AC installations insulate this line to eliminate condensation dripping issues.
Yes this is an important step. Filming a video out here is more difficult then in a studio in the US. They need to search for a good material to do that with. I'll make sure I include that in the manual.
Automotive products for this work well. Generally self-adhesive neoprene foam foil backed tape. Some installations run lines together to exchange ( further lower high pressure line temperature).
hi you should insulate the copper lines going to the air handler and all the other lines other wise are wasting cold freon and making the boat hotter and less cold ! your "expert advisor" should have told you DUH !
I have seen similar units manufactured through China. Is this one of them? I'm looking for a small 12 volt A/C unit for tear drop and similar type trailers. However, how is this [your] unit's price of $2000 justified?
It's really his business to run but I think about any time now. If you either sign up on his webpage or fill out the survey linked to our AC videos you will get a message when things happen Last week he drove up to our house in Florida and picked up the components I had on hand so he wouldn't have to wait for the slow boat from China
Hi Clark, Great video! I have a strong feeling i'm going to be getting one of these units! Have you looked at Swagelok for fittings on your copper lines? They might add some price but would save from having to have the tooling for flaring on the copper lines, and they are super easy to use for those folks that may not be so inclined to do it themselves.
Yes but the tools to do the swagelok cost more then the flare tools I believe. I didn't chase this down personally I suggested it to Russell (manufacturer) when he forgot to get copper weld-ons with the titanium condensers.
There were so many "right answers". I think in a few months there might be a one sled offering that uses air ducts. It won't be quite as efficient but will be plug and play.
@@Clarks-Adventure I don't have any thru-hulls on my catamaran and I'd like to keep it that way. Given the construction of my boat, I can segregate the condenser cooling air flow from cabin air very easily and thus I am very interested to see the specs and layout of the air-cooled version.
I'm about to work on an air cooled unit for an RV trip we have planned. Don't expect it to work as efficiently as the water cooled unit but it should be offered at MarineDCAC.com eventually. You should really just install the thru hulls or share one you already have. In saying you don't have any I assume you have no engine or outboards. Where does your sink drain? You have a composting head? Most every boat has thruhulls and it's not like boats are regularly sinking because of them. One of the thruhulls used for AC is best installed just above the waterline.
You will find a link in the description of this video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q0juFMOMaD8.html It's about to go on sale again.
Have you calculated the cubic feet of the cabin you are cooling? I have a small cuddy cabin power boat, please don't judge, and my old AC is in need of replacement. My current 6000 BTU unit draws almost 1000 watts so I can really only use it when on shore power or when one of my engines is running. It's also all (Compressor, Fan and Water) 110\120 so I'm losing efficiency through the inverter too. I don't have a generator but was thinking of getting an air cooled inverter generator to plug into my shore power to run my AC but this might be a solution that would eliminate the need for a generator. My cuddy might be a little bigger than your aft cabin but not sure. I think the square footage might be more but the cubic feet less due to the very low headroom. I'm think the most important measure for cooling is cubic feet. Would you agree? I'm also thinking of upgrading my house battery to a 1 or 200 amp lithium or maybe even trying the new Dakota lithium starting batteries too.
Where to start? If you are contemplating li check this out. www.emilyandclarksadventure.com/bbms But on a boat is a tricky thing. It's surface area and insulation and circulation with outside areas and number of people since it's such a small space. To really save power blow the cool dry air right at you. Big savings if you curtain off just the bed. Ours is around 200 if I'd have to guess. The new install was about 300
No. I had to sign that away in the contract. But it's all but impossible to buy this compressor as a single unit. I was a defence contractor so I can talk the talk and said I was developing a prototype project. Didn't say it was an AC for my sailboat. But turned out good for them as we will be buying volume.
I just signed a contract today. They will be available again soon. Your best bet is to fill out the survey in the description of this video to get on the mailing list. Or subscribe and watch our videos as I'll announce progress.
No. The water wouldn't drain well I suspect. I think it would probably try to go back to the fan. But you might be able to cobble up a dam inside to deal with that. It comes apart with screws.
Yup, having a proper tube bending tool would be trick, but they're at anchor in the Dominican. I'd bet finding a tubing cutter or flare kit on a sailboat isn't a common occurrence, either, so assess your tool needs and aesthetic needs when planning your installation. How pretty do you need it to be? : D
