AC Breaker Tripping

[Murdog]

Had my 1997 3200 SCR two weeks now and AC and Heat worked fine until yesterday. Prior to that the AC would work but once I put it on the Heat mode it would trip the breaker. Today it trips the breaker for both AC and Heat.

Advice??

[mmwjr]

Use an inductive current probe (electricians tool) to measure the current on the hot wire to see if it exceeds the breaker rating. This will tell you if the unit is drawing to much current or the breaker is faulty.

[Murdog]

Ok. What happens if it is drawing too much current?

[biggerseagar]

Your a/c is toast then.

Roger

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by Murdog

Ok. What happens if it is drawing too much current?

Have an A/C person inspect it but it may be time to replace. The high current uses is the compressor.

[shrew]

Are you in saltwater? Has the boat spent a large amount of time during its life in saltwater? How old are the breakers on your 20 yr old boat?

I had to replace the breakers in my AC panel and the fuses in my DC panel a number of years ago. The gates can build corrosion if in a salt air environment over the years. I swapped out all the breakers in the panel and stopped tripping breakers.

[Murdog]

Mmwjr--I have a friend who has this tool--inductive current probe (electricians tool) and he'll come out this weekend.

Shrew--This is a Great Lake boat her whole life. Being a brand new boat to me--do I just go online/google to get Maxum parts?

[mmwjr]

Call me Mike

Maxum did not make the breakers or most parts on the boats. There should be a manufactures name on them if you pull the panel.

[Murdog]

Thanks Mike!

[shrew]

All marine chandlers carry marine breakers. I honestly have to wonder if they are even 'marine grade' breakers. I would go down to any chandler and buy breakers of the same amperage.

[Murdog]

Any chance a fuse could be bad? If so where do I find a diagram for my boat.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by Murdog

Any chance a fuse could be bad? If so where do I find a diagram for my boat.

First a blown fuse would not cause the breaker to trip. Second fuses were used on the 12VDC systems and breakers on the 120VAC systems.

Use the advice you were already given else you'll be chasing your tail IMO.

[Murdog]

Thanks for all of the advice--had a tech come out yesterday and told me it was a bad pump. Gave me a price of $600. Is this something I can do myself and save $$ or is it money well spent.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by Murdog

Thanks for all of the advice--had a tech come out yesterday and told me it was a bad pump. Gave me a price of $600. Is this something I can do myself and save $$ or is it money well spent.

I'm assuming you are referring to the water pump. You can save half the cost doing it yourself, fairly easy. Guess it depends on your skill set and ability to work in cramped spaces. It should be located in the engine compartment.

March Submersible Magnetic Drive Pump