Air Conditioner Question

[tnmike]

Can anyone offer some suggestions about a marine air conditioner problem? When the unit is first turned on, the whole thing starts up and runs fine for about 5 seconds then the compressor sounds like it is trying to start AGAIN and the circuit overloads and kicks out the breaker. If I wait 3 min or so and restart...no problems. The unit runs fine and does not do it again. Even when the thermostat cycles, the compressor will kick in normally (though the start up is getting louder). It only does the overload when the unit has been off for a few hours or days. I am thinking maybe a starting capacitor?? There really is no difference in this unit than a home heat pump except instead of air cooled condenser coil, it has a sea water pump. Thanks in advanced!

 

[stopmeister72]

could it be????

Could the problem be that at start up there isn't any water pumping through the condenser causing too high of a head pressure kicking the compressor off, then when the pump gets primed and water is flowing through the condensor like it should it is ok. Then if it is off a while, the water drains back out of the condensor and the pump needs time to prime? Just a thought.

 

[tnmike]

Actually I thought of that. I had a noisy sea water pump on there so I replaced it and checked to make sure that pump is primed and water flows when the unit starts...so that is not it Thanks for the response!

 

[toggleswitch2]

How's your refrigerant level?

 

[tnmike]

I don't have the gauges to check that..it uses the old r-22. We just bought the boat in early summer and the "DA" that sold it just had the a/c units charged. I doubt that is the reason but could be as I don't have the freon pressure readings. Thanks for your response man!