My 1979 Ocean 40+2 Trawler had two Cruisair 16K BTU ACs. One is a split system with 2 evaporators: one in each of the fore and aft cabins. The second is split system with one evaporator in the salon - over the refrigerator, near the aft companionway. Both condensers are in the engine compartment.
I replaced the fore and aft cabin AC condenser a few years ago with an Ocean Breeze condenser that works great.
Now, I want to replace the salon ac with a stand-alone 16K BTU Dometic (?) AC installed under the settee in the salon. The warm air return will work great, by installing the input vent in the "side" of the settee near the middle of the salon.
Reasons for going to stand alone unit: old evaporator, old copper freon tubing, R-22 (407C??) gas, cost, etc. Dumb???
I am trying to find a way to run a 6" insulated flexible AC cold air duct (about 8" OD) to the current location of the evaporator above the refrigerator, about 25'.
Mabe I am working too hard???
"I think" I should try to put the cold outlet high, since the room temp air return is near the floor, to get better circulation. "I think" putting the cold outlet where the evaporator is now, would be optimal.
Alas, I cannot find a way to get the 6" (8" with insulation) flexible duct to the area above the refrigerator without running the duct through the floor under the settee, then across the top of the engine compartment. Would this be an acceptable approach? Or, do you have a better idea?
The easiest installation is to just output the cold air in a 90 degree different direction from the other side of the settee - pointing vent louvers "up" to improve circulation high in the salon.
Does the cold air duct need to be insulated if it is running through the bottom-back of the salon galley cabinets?
The 6" flexible duct cross section is about 28 sq in. I can run 2 rectangular "un-insulated" pvc ducts through the galley cabinets, but they will only have a 25 sq in cross section. Will that be a big problem for the compressor?
I could build-in a plywood enclosed pathway in the back-bottom of the galley cabinets, but the only insulation would be the plywood. Is this approach acceptable?
Ugh! I obviously need a lot of help
Your experience and expertise is appreciated.
I replaced the fore and aft cabin AC condenser a few years ago with an Ocean Breeze condenser that works great.
Now, I want to replace the salon ac with a stand-alone 16K BTU Dometic (?) AC installed under the settee in the salon. The warm air return will work great, by installing the input vent in the "side" of the settee near the middle of the salon.
Reasons for going to stand alone unit: old evaporator, old copper freon tubing, R-22 (407C??) gas, cost, etc. Dumb???
I am trying to find a way to run a 6" insulated flexible AC cold air duct (about 8" OD) to the current location of the evaporator above the refrigerator, about 25'.
Mabe I am working too hard???
"I think" I should try to put the cold outlet high, since the room temp air return is near the floor, to get better circulation. "I think" putting the cold outlet where the evaporator is now, would be optimal.
Alas, I cannot find a way to get the 6" (8" with insulation) flexible duct to the area above the refrigerator without running the duct through the floor under the settee, then across the top of the engine compartment. Would this be an acceptable approach? Or, do you have a better idea?
The easiest installation is to just output the cold air in a 90 degree different direction from the other side of the settee - pointing vent louvers "up" to improve circulation high in the salon.
Does the cold air duct need to be insulated if it is running through the bottom-back of the salon galley cabinets?
The 6" flexible duct cross section is about 28 sq in. I can run 2 rectangular "un-insulated" pvc ducts through the galley cabinets, but they will only have a 25 sq in cross section. Will that be a big problem for the compressor?
I could build-in a plywood enclosed pathway in the back-bottom of the galley cabinets, but the only insulation would be the plywood. Is this approach acceptable?
Ugh! I obviously need a lot of help
Your experience and expertise is appreciated.