A/C on generator??

jaykris · **Joined:** Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 am **Posts:** 22

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. I am not new to boating, but recently purchased a FW Vista 26'8. As with any new toy there is a learning
curve. My issue is, why wont the a/c work while under engine power only? I have to start the generator to use the unit while
under power. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong???

Jay

strick · **Posted:** Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:44 pm

Yes, lots to learn.... Welcome to boating. Air Conditioners only operate off 120V power, not off 12 volt battery power. Need to have the generator running to use the AC.

Good forum here, you will learn lots by reading through the various posts and keeping an inquiring mind active....

Best of luck with the new boat!

Cheers!

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:53 pm

Welcome! No question is dumb or "too noob". Everyone here has been there when it comes to boating (except LouC, I think he was born on a trawler in LI Sound).

Anyways, congrats on the 268! Great Vista, should have lots of good boating for ya. The only rules around here are:

*Tell us about you and your boat. Where ya boat at, how your boat is set up etc.
*Don't be a one post wonder. We get a lot of new members who ask their question, get the answer and never come back. Feedback on a fix or remedy to a problem is appreciated, it may help someone else.
*Post pics.

jaykris · **Joined:** Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 am **Posts:** 22

strick wrote:

Yes, lots to learn.... Welcome to boating. Air Conditioners only operate off 120V power, not off 12 volt battery power. Need to have the generator running to use the AC.

Good forum here, you will learn lots by reading through the various posts and keeping an inquiring mind active....

Best of luck with the new boat!

Cheers!

Well, thanks goodness I have the gen. Thought it would run like our cars off that big ol 5.7 liter engine.

Thanks,

Jay

jaykris · **Joined:** Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 am **Posts:** 22

NiagaraChillin wrote:

Welcome! No question is dumb or "too noob". Everyone here has been there when it comes to boating (except LouC, I think he was born on a trawler in LI Sound).

Anyways, congrats on the 268! Great Vista, should have lots of good boating for ya. The only rules around here are:

*Tell us about you and your boat. Where ya boat at, how your boat is set up etc.
*Don't be a one post wonder. We get a lot of new members who ask their question, get the answer and never come back. Feedback on a fix or remedy to a problem is appreciated, it may help someone else.
*Post pics.

I hear that! Nope not me. Been lurkin here since October.
Its a beautiful FW Vista 26'8 no pictures yet. I keep it here on the water in Lake Lanier Ga. Damn the cold, been out each weekend if I wasn't working. I've had bass boats, dual console, and smaller deep V's. Grew up in south Florida hence water
was plentiful.....

Any and ALL advice is appreciated!!

Jay

ric · **Posted:** Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:55 pm

Marine AC units use water from the lake/ocean that you're in for heat conversion. Cooling the unit with water is vastly more efficient than cooling it with air like on a car or in your house with the big unit outside. That whole big thing outside your house or a big radiator in the front of your car is replaced by a tiny fluid/water heat exchanger the size of a cup. There's a little pump that circulates the water and spits it out the side of the boat. It makes the A/C unit very small, efficient, and quiet. The whole thing is not much bigger than a shoe box. They run of 120v AC power so when you're plugged into the dock it runs off normal power. When out to sea you need to kick on the generator to supply the 120v power to run the unit. It's so you can be anchored out somewhere camping for the weekend and not run the engine to use the AC.

I personally installed a battery bank on my boat with a 12v to 120v power inverter. Lasts overnight so I can sleep in peace and quiet.

jaykris · **Joined:** Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 am **Posts:** 22

ric wrote:

Marine AC units use water from the lake/ocean that you're in for heat conversion. Cooling the unit with water is vastly more efficient than cooling it with air like on a car or in your house with the big unit outside. That whole big thing outside your house or a big radiator in the front of your car is replaced by a tiny fluid/water heat exchanger the size of a cup. There's a little pump that circulates the water and spits it out the side of the boat. It makes the A/C unit very small, efficient, and quiet. The whole thing is not much bigger than a shoe box. They run of 120v AC power so when you're plugged into the dock it runs off normal power. When out to sea you need to kick on the generator to supply the 120v power to run the unit. It's so you can be anchored out somewhere camping for the weekend and not run the engine to use the AC.

I personally installed a battery bank on my boat with a 12v to 120v power inverter. Lasts overnight so I can sleep in peace and quiet.

Battery bank........hmmmm. How many do we need for this? I love the idea. I assume run in series? Do you plug this into the
shore power plug?

Jay

Pilotpak · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:46 am

Hi Jay,

Just one thing to to aware of, (I'm not sure if your 296 is setup the same as my 378), but my A/C condensation drain goes into the mid bilge.

It's surprising just how much moisture the a/c will suck out of the air (I'm in Australia where it's fairly humid)

noexcuses · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:12 am

If you already have a generator why not use it? The AC power draw is going to require a rather large inverter and battery bank that is going require a signifcant amount of time to recharge.

strick · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:43 am

noexcuses wrote:

If you already have a generator why not use it? The AC power draw is going to require a rather large inverter and battery bank that is going require a signifcant amount of time to recharge.

Not to mention, it is actually bad NOT to use the generator periodically, as the impeller can have a tendency to degrade if not used periodically. I try to start and run mine, even for a short while, whenever I am on the boat.

ric · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:50 am

If you have a factory genset, don't bother with a battery bank.

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:57 pm

My generator fires up before we leave the slip and stays on until we are back on shore power.

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2014 1:26 pm

Welcome aboard Jay! Glad to have another 268 owner here and looking forward to seeing some pics when you have a chance

jaykris · **Joined:** Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 am **Posts:** 22

Pilotpak wrote:

Hi Jay,

Just one thing to to aware of, (I'm not sure if your 296 is setup the same as my 378), but my A/C condensation drain goes into the mid bilge.

It's surprising just how much moisture the a/c will suck out of the air (I'm in Australia where it's fairly humid)

Good question! I will find that one out.

Jay

jaykris · **Joined:** Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 am **Posts:** 22

noexcuses wrote:

If you already have a generator why not use it? The AC power draw is going to require a rather large inverter and battery bank that is going require a signifcant amount of time to recharge.

Only because of the noise at night. Probably would sleep better with no gen burning. Its HOT :twisted:

here in Ga....

But you are most probably right, not going to be worth the bother.

Jay

www.iFourWinns.com

A/C on generator??

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