What is the current wisdom on the best value in air conditioners? The
compressor on our self contained Marine Air 16000 BTU unit has shorted and
most folks around here recommend replacing the whole unit as opposed to
trying to replace the compressor.
Seems there might be an advantage to getting another MarineAir since the
install should be a simple out/in but if better makes are available it might
be worth a bit of cut and fit to get another unit to work.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Bill

Hi,

I don't have any formal training in air conditioning, but do routinely
service our Marine Air units (I have a few special tools, the gas and
the gauges).  We had one compressor go bad and frankly it was child's
play to replace.  The compressors are all fairly standard and all you
need to do is find one that has about the same rating as the one you now
have.  Physical size and placement of ports is only important inasmuch
as you need to get the new piece into the same space and plumb it up by
brazing.  We had to reroute a couple of pipes, but that was easy too.

So, if you can get the part for a reasonable price and if the rest of
your system is in good shape, I'd vote for fixing it, or have it done by
a pro.

If you do the work yourself be careful of the high pressure switch.  If
it is mounted on the compressor, like ours was, then you will need to re
braze it from one to the other.  Wrap it in a wet cloth.  We wrecked
ours because we did not know this.

Once everything is changed over, put a vacuum pump on the system, pull a
vacuum, shut it down and watch your gauges for a day to see that there
are no leaks.  Don't rush this step.  It is important to pull the vacuum
for at least a few hours (this dries out the system) before you put the
Freon back in.

Yes, I know, I know, only accredited air conditioning "experts" are
supposed to work on air conditioners...blah...blah...blah! <VBG>.
Sometimes you have little choice if you want the thing to be running.
We've been travelling through places where you have to fix everything
yourself or detour hundreds of miles to find service (which we've also
had to do...sigh).

Good luck!
Maurice & Louise-Ann Nunas

-----Original Message-----
From: cooke_w@bellsouth.net [mailto:cooke_w@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, 28 September 2005 08:43
To: TrawlerWorld
Subject: T&T: Marine Air-conditioners

What is the current wisdom on the best value in air conditioners? The
compressor on our self contained Marine Air 16000 BTU unit has shorted
and
most folks around here recommend replacing the whole unit as opposed to
trying to replace the compressor.
Seems there might be an advantage to getting another MarineAir since the

install should be a simple out/in but if better makes are available it
might
be worth a bit of cut and fit to get another unit to work.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Bill

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