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Cruiseair review – one not working
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Not much stuff left when AAP closed, Featherlite purchased most/all of their stock.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
Think Tradewinds bought the rest of AAP’s stock. I paid $4,600 for a used rebuilt AAP unit with a 90 day warranty about 3 1/2 years ago.
AquaAir has purchased all the materials in bulk and going into production. I will be getting the first unit out installed in my bus in the end of June.
AquaAir tested the unit in a small plywood box that had a small intake and was placed 3″ off the floor to simulate the conditions of a coach being lowered. Ran it for a month, all PSI readings were good, ran around 11 to 12 amps. Unit will come standard with an Easy Start/soft start.
Chuck
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I have good news and bad news.
BAD – 1 cruiseair still not working. The compressor is pulling the correct amps and its moving. Issue is its not compressing. Pretty sure the compressor is bad, now I need to find a new one.
GOOD – 3 units work great.
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Here’s some info on CruiseAir compressor replacement:
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I just bought 2x AKA5512’s. Had one unit that I diagnosed to bad compressor. Just removed it last night and have two compressors on the way. Despite the other post on here saying these 12K BTU compressors will die after 6 months, I guess we’ll wait and see. There are no other options. All the original AKA8515’s are long gone. There might be some used new/used inventory on Ebay, but, might be a shot in the dark.
I wrote about this before. All the higher BTU compressors appear to be 230V. It could be an option but it wouldn’t be a direct drop in replacement.
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Hidden 75 – Agree…it’s just a compressor and if properly installed, I, too, do not understand why it has been said they will fail in 6 months.
If one will read the spec sheet for the 15K and compare to the 12K, one will find the compressors have the same displacement.
Here is how a marine ac distributor rep explained it in an email inquiry:
This compressor was originally made directly for Cruisair by Tecumseh for use in marine air conditioner that utilize water-cooled condensers. Water-cooled condensers run at a relatively low condensing temp, which produces more capacity. The original made for Cruisair will be labeled at 15,000 BTU’s because of this when it is a 12,000 BTU’s compressor. Since Tecumseh no longer makes this only for Cruisair they are now rated at 12,000 BTU’s. They have the same displacement, so they will pump the same capacity. When used in water-cooled condensers, they will have the same BTU’s. (15K)
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Thanks for the great information Jeff. This puts me more at ease.
I think you could even go as low as 11,000 BTU IMO. 5511’s. It’s harder and harder to find even the 5512’s now. I think I picked up the last two online. Ebay has one or two as well.
Looks like these didn’t have filter dryers from Cruisair. At least mine don’t.
I bought a bi-directional that I plan on adding. Cheap insurance. Also curious if anyone bypassed (removed) the HGB on these units as suggested by AAP in another post.
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Hidden – yes, on the hot gas bypass as it is said to not be needed and also a common leak point.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
This is all very interesting. Can someone post a picture of the HGB valve? I have a leak that we cant find and suggested to my refrigeration guy that it could be there. He had no idea what is was or what it would look like. Good info. Thanks, Jeff
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
See attached picture in RED.
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I have been getting a LO PS indication on one of my Crusieair units, so I went to add some R22 today. The units have not had to be serviced since I purchased the bus back in 2014. Reading some of the posts here it was reported to turn the service valve on the suction side CCW to open the valve to add the R22. On my unit I had to turn the valve CW to open the service valve. (Full CCW is closed). Did they put different service valves on the Crusieair units? The charge seemed to work, filled until the suction line was “Beer Cold” and internal was blowing at 48 degrees. The valve opening direction threw me off and was curious if anyone else ran into this.
Alex
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
Thanks for the image. So is the procedure to just remove that solenoid valve in picture, or are there modifications to the refrigeration lines that are needed? Thanks, Jeff
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Thanks everyone, will discuss with my hvac guy.
Yesterday it was 85 and sunny and my bedroom unit was not cooling to the temp of the other 2 units. It didnt have a fault code but it might have the issue where it needs more gas due to the long line set. HVAC guy is coming saturday and its supposed to be sunny and 90.
We are down to 2 running units. They were able to keep the front half of the bus at 70. That will not work for any trip to warmer areas.
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Where did you buy the aka5512?
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Alex,
Although your issue may of been an actual low charge, another possible cause of LO PS is a loose low pressure switch connection or faulty switch.
It’s easy to check and/or bypass. Adding refrigerant should only be done after checking the pressures first to find out if it’s actually low. Otherwise you could add r22 for no reason and possibly over charge.
I mistakenly added refrigerant to a system that was getting LO PS when it was not the issue. My issue came down to a loose spade connector from the low pressure switch to the control board. Although it was connected, it was not tight. The result was random LO PS faults.
It’s best to just check the charge to determine LO PS or HI PS faults and do the easy troubleshooting steps on the pressure switches to identify if it’s one or the other.
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