• Untitled Document

    Join us on March 29rd, 7pm EST

    for the CBEC Virtual Meeting

    All EYO members and followers are welcome to join the fun and get to know the guest speaker!

    See the link below for login credentials and join us!

    March Meeting Info

    (dismiss this notice by hitting 'X', upper right)

Install AC on a E34

Shadowfax

Member III
Has anyone installed, or had installed, an AC system on a 80's vintage E34? I checked the archives and couldn't find anything. Looking for a little advice on how to run the system

Thanks
 

rgraham

Member II
I'll be installing one on my E-36 RH

I don't know if it will help but I'll be installing an AC on my E-36 RH (1980). The layout of this boat is very traditional so I don't know if it is close to your layout. I was (and may still) going to locate it under the settee beside the fuel tank because it is a good location. The reason being is a PO installed an 18 gal tank so now there is plenty of room. So I may also opt for another location so I can go back to a 50 gal tank if I ever get to go cruising with it. I can show how I'm doing it via pictures if you want.
 

chaco

Member III
Existing System ?

What is your existing AC System consist of for starters.
Your best resources for Design and Panel installation are Blue Sea Systems
(www.blusea.com) and PanelTronics.
My existing system was run from a residential home panel from Home Depot !
The wiring to the AC outlets was installed properly and still good.
All I had to do was get a new 30A -(4) Breaker AC Panel, wire a new feed
from the Shore Power recepticle and connect the existing 120V recepticles
and battery charger. What a difference :nerd:
The BIG issue is the Green Wire Controversy. Do you Ground the AC System
to the DC System :confused: ABYC says YES.
The Dock Committee says NO WAY :cool: As you connect your AC System
Ground to the DC System you are opening yourself up ALL the stray power
in the water at your dock and accelerated galvanic corrosion of everything
connected to your engine and zincs. The condition varies from Marina to
Marina and is known to be worse in areas of substandard wiring codes
(Mexico !) The AC System on my boat is only connected to the battery
charger, which has a galvanic isolator built-in.

Happy AC System :egrin: :egrin:
 

kevin81

Member II
Paul,
I have a 1989 E34. The previous owner installed a 16,000 BTU CruiseAir unit with two air handling units. There is a 4,000 unit for the aft cabin and a 12,000 unit for the main and forward cabin.
The compressor is mounted on a shelf in the starboard locker, above the holding tank (pic 1). The cooling water intake and pump are accessed from the under the bunk in the aft cabin.
The air handling unit in the aft cabin is mounted in the aft section of the hanging locker (pic 2).
The main cabin/forward cabin air handing unit is mounted in the forward storage under the port V berth. A duct/chase was constructed with vents to the main cabin and forward cabin (pics3,4, and 5).
The system is controlled by the “SMX” control with digital controls for heating, cooling, dehumidification, and trouble conditions. The dehumidification cycle does an excellent job of keeping the humidity at acceptable levels.
I have been very pleased with the set up. If I had to do the project myself I might install a smaller unit however in the hot/humid days in July and August on the gulf coast, the cabin can be cooled in a short time.
Kevin
 

Attachments

  • Compr on shelf.JPG
    Compr on shelf.JPG
    19 KB · Views: 67
  • Aft cabin cond.JPG
    Aft cabin cond.JPG
    15.6 KB · Views: 76
  • duct-box -fwd cabin.JPG
    duct-box -fwd cabin.JPG
    11 KB · Views: 78
  • Port -fwd cond.JPG
    Port -fwd cond.JPG
    25.3 KB · Views: 60
  • vent main cabin.JPG
    vent main cabin.JPG
    15.8 KB · Views: 69
Top