Cruisair Fan Does Not Blow

Four Suns

Four Suns

Not a pot stirrer
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
10,533
Williamsburg, VA
Boat Info
2003 480 DB
Engines
QSM-11 Diesels
Well... it does blow that it does not blow. I have a mid-cabin AC system that the compresser comes on but the fan just makes a buzzing noise and does not blow air. I know there are some HVAC guys on this board.... thoughts? (I tried wapping the fan cage with a rubber mallet and it didn't jar it loose.)
 
If you shut the unit down, did you or can you spin the fan by hand?
 
The blower is driven by a variable speed controller. Odds are, you have a bad controller if the motor turns freely. Never bothered to check what they use as a driver in the controller, probably just a triac. Either break out a voltmeter and oscilloscope and debug that thing or replace the control box that's mounted near the A/C unit. It's connected to the AC by a thick multi conductor cable.

Just for fun, try playing with the fan speed controls on the panel. You might also want to go into programming mode and change the upper and lower fan speed limits to see if that has an effect.

Best regards,
Frank
 
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Maybe the motor bushings or bearings. Since it's buzzing it must be getting voltage. I would disconnect/cut the power leads to the motor, stick 'em into a power cord and see if the fan works then. If it doesn't, the problem lies in the motor itself.
 
tobnpr said:
I would disconnect/cut the power leads to the motor, stick 'em into a power cord and see if the fan works then.
Click to expand...

And if it does, leave it plugged in until you can get the controller.

I used a water hose from the dock to run my AC all night in the Bahamas once when my water pump failed. I made 'friends' with the dockmaster the next morning. :huh:
 
gary,
ur going to have disassemble the duct and do what river rat said . If shes humming ... shes stuck... u might be able to free it up,,,, but its going to happen again.... power off... spin it .... see if its bound.

Good luck

rob
 
I just had a similar issue with my forward cabin unit. The condensate pan drain got plugged and the blower was running in the water that was collecting in the pan.

Here is the only Cruisair dealer listed:
Virginia
Lamy Marine, Inc. Location: Chesapeake, Virginia 23324 USA Phone: 757-494-3747 Fax: 757-494-3740 Email: lamy.marine@verizon.net
 
I see their vans in Bluewater all the time... I'm just going to call them as I have too many other things going on to diagnose this and then try and hunt down parts...

As a side note, this is the first HVAC issue I've had on this boat that required a call.. and my systems pretty much run all year. Much more reliable than these Water Furnace things in my house have been.
 
Well... that ain't going to work. TWO WEEK+ LEAD TIME!!!!!

Guess I'm taking apart a Cruisair system tonight...
 
I went to the boat and tested this thing out. If I turn the fan all the way up, the motor buzzes and does not turn. There are 240 volts across the wires for the motor at that point. If I reach in and spin the fan, it starts to spin but makes a loud and horrible bearing grinding noise as it turns.... and it's spinning far slower than it should.

I pulled the fan assembly out. The fan is actually held on with a hex screw/key combo so technically the motor could be replaced. I'm not sure if they'll sell the $10 motor though... I bet I have to buy the whole thing assembled as a unit as there is a part number on the whole unit.
 
One other thing... the side of the motor says "Oil with SAE 20 P/N: 333655"

Are we supposed to oil these things? I don't see where to put it...
 
Cruisair is headquartered about 30 miles from my house and you would think I could get parts but NOOOOOOOOO... I have to go to the guy in Chesapeake who says he won't sell me parts and I have to wait 2+ weeks for him to "service it"....

grrrrr.....

Anyone got Cruisair parts? All I want is a simple ELECTRIC MOTOR!!!!
 
Just got off the phone with them and they will not sell outside their territory.
 
With the no blowing title... and gary involved I was hoping for a heck of a lot more entertainment in this thread.
 
Gary:
Check for a motor rebuilding shop in your area. My Chris-Craft had an ancient Monomatic head that was impossible to get a replacement for. Took it to the local shop and had it back the next day. Most small electric motors are easily rebuildable.
 
Ditto. If that isn't available, most guys that rebuild alternators locally (do they still exist) have the know how and access to parts to get this done.

Wow... just realized I haven't had an alternator rebuilt locally since the early 90s. I'm obviously an old, balding, fat loser.
 
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