A/C pump and winterizing

[Skuza]

When you turn on the pump will water flow through and out of both A/C units even if one of them is not turned on? I have always been under the impression that the heat or air needed to "kick on" in order for water to circulate through the unit. Will the fact that when one of the two A/C units kicks on the pump will it then circulate water through both units? The units do not have a valve in them that opens to circulate the water right? I'm thinking they are turned on by a signal from the control unit that tells the pump to turn on just before the compressor turns on right?

What I'm getting at is when I winterize the A/C system I was always under the impression that each A/C unit had to be winterized individually and that I had to actually turn on the compressor in order for the antifreeze to be circulated. I'm thinking that when the A/C pump is running it is circulating water through all units regardless if they are on or not.

If anyone can make any sense out of this please respond.

 

[Four Suns]

When you turn on the pump will water flow through and out of both A/C units even if one of them is not turned on? I have always been under the impression that the heat or air needed to "kick on" in order for water to circulate through the unit. Will the fact that when one of the two A/C units kicks on the pump will it then circulate water through both units? The units do not have a valve in them that opens to circulate the water right? I'm thinking they are turned on by a signal from the control unit that tells the pump to turn on just before the compressor turns on right?

Yes

What I'm getting at is when I winterize the A/C system I was always under the impression that each A/C unit had to be winterized individually and that I had to actually turn on the compressor in order for the antifreeze to be circulated. I'm thinking that when the A/C pump is running it is circulating water through all units regardless if they are on or not.

If anyone can make any sense out of this please respond.

The pump will have a manifold in the top that distributes the water to each compressor/condenser. The Cruisair systems have a relay box so when one unit turns on, the pump will pump water to both units. In fact, you should find this control box because one common thing that goes wrong is the "triggers" in the control box will go bad and only one (or none) of the units can turn on the pump.

You can winterize each circuit separately or pump the juice in before the AC pump so it hits the manifold and goes to all the systems. I have a flush kit installed on my through hull so I can pump stuff to all the systems. I don't use it for winterizing but to flush Rydlyme through the system and get all the wingless out.

This allows me to only hook the hose up to one spot and hit all three units. If you are pumping the antifreeze through, it'll go through the AC pump and out the through hulls and you don't need to turn on the AC units to get it in the system. The pump is a centrifugal pump so that's why stuff can just flow through it without it being turned on.

 

[osd9]

Either AC unit should trigger the AC pump to kick on. With the pump on, water will flow throgh both Thruhulls.

You don't even need to turn on the AC units to winterize the AC system....I don't.

I have a thoroflush connection on the AC strainer cap and a cheap handpump......

..... that I stick in a gallon of AF. I pump the AF until pink comes out of both thruhulls.

 

[fwebster]

But you may be able to isolate either the forward of aft units if your boat has seacocks down stream of the compressor units. Both of mine do and the valve is located right at the thru hull where the cooling water exits the boat. Close either and nothing will flow thru the unit.

 

[Skuza]

Wow you guys can read and decipher Chinese! Thats exactly what I wanted to know.
Last season I ran out of antifreeze in my siphon bucket before the front unit turned the compressor on and I was paranoid that it didn't get sucked through. After reading about this and how they work it was totally fine as I ran 2-3 gallons through the system just doing the salon A/C. Thanks guys.

 

[Robski97]

Crap im confused now.... Anyway GARY where'd u get that flush thingy that u installed above the seacock....

Rob

 

[Four Suns]

Groco makes the flush attachment. It's just an extension to the seacock. I like it because it's permanent. I think I got mine from defender..

Here's the ones for the main engines:

and

It's a cool mod for sure...

 

[osd9]

that's a cute little hose attachment on that fitting....

 

[Four Suns]

yeah... but those raw water hose diameters are pretty manly... they have no trouble sucking up garbage bags, lilly pads, small sticks, and whole fish... all kinds of stuff to crap up the strainer and fry the impeller.

 

[Skuza]

Gary just wanted to show everyone how big his seacock is...

 

[Robski97]

LOL.... NO DOUBT and I took the bait ... DAMN!

Rob