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Azimut Grande 32M: chilled-water AC failure, root cause wantedAzimut Grande 32M: AC root cause wanted

Photos

What this page tells you: what the damage looks like, in dated photos grouped by system.

Dated photos from the yacht, grouped by system. Tap a photo to open it full size. No identifiable faces, paperwork or prices are shown.

The yacht · Chilled-water loop · Inverter drive electronics · Line reactors · Controller screens and insulation testing · Shore power and the on-board isolation transformer · main-engine start batteries · exterior paint and gelcoat

The yacht

A beautiful yacht, but in our experience reliability and after-sales support have not been straightforward.

The yacht at anchor off a limestone island, three-quarter view — The yacht at anchor off a limestone island, three-quarter view.Related: the request for help

The yacht at anchor, side profile.Related: the request for help

Chilled-water loop: flush debris, strainer and sample

Sediment recovered on a cloth during the chilled-water loop flush — Sediment recovered on a cloth during the chilled-water loop flush. Feb 2024, on board, during loop cleaning.Related: the AC plant, step by step

Sludge and particles from the chilled (fresh-water) loop — Sludge and particles from the chilled (fresh-water) loop. Feb 2024, on board, during loop cleaning.Related: the AC plant, step by step

Chilled-loop strainer with granular sediment — Chilled-loop strainer with granular sediment. 25 Jun 2026.Related: the AC plant, step by step

Chilled-loop strainer mesh with dark grit (circled) — Chilled-loop strainer mesh with dark grit (circled). 25 Jun 2026.Related: the AC plant, step by step

Sealed sample of chilled-loop water and glycol, kept for analysis — Sealed sample of chilled-loop water and glycol, kept for analysis. 25 Jun 2026.Related: the AC plant, step by step

Inverter drive electronics (unit 3)

Inverter (drive) enclosure of unit 3: scorched IGBT power module — Inverter (drive) enclosure of unit 3: scorched IGBT power module. 29 Jan 2026, on board.Related: parts replaced

Underside of the unit 3 inverter circuit board: burn mark through the board — Underside of the unit 3 inverter circuit board: burn mark through the board. 29 Jan 2026, on board.Related: parts replaced

Label of the Semikron SKiiP 24NAB12 power module removed from the failed drive — Label of the Semikron SKiiP 24NAB12 power module removed from the failed drive. 29 Jan 2026.Related: parts replaced

Identification label inside the failed unit 3 inverter enclosure — Identification label inside the failed unit 3 inverter enclosure. 29 Jan 2026, on board.Related: parts replaced

Line reactors

Unit 3 line reactor: charred W-phase terminal — Unit 3 line reactor: charred W-phase terminal. 29 Jun 2026, independent inspection.Related: key measurements

Line reactor terminals 0W/1W close-up, with the Martignoni nameplate — Line reactor terminals 0W/1W close-up, with the Martignoni nameplate. 29 Jun 2026, independent inspection.Related: key measurements

Line reactors in place, front view, showing W-phase terminal charring — Line reactors in place, front view, showing W-phase terminal charring. 29 Jun 2026, independent inspection.Related: key measurements

Open-frame line reactors mounted beside seawater piping in the machinery space — Open-frame line reactors mounted beside seawater piping in the machinery space. 29 Jun 2026, independent inspection.Related: key measurements

Line reactor nameplate: three-phase, 40 A, 0.4 mH (this is a reactor, not a transformer) — Line reactor nameplate: three-phase, 40 A, 0.4 mH (this is a reactor, not a transformer). Aug 2026.Related: key measurements

Controller screens and insulation testing

Danfoss MCX controller: FLOW METER ALARM, code 7, unit 2 — Danfoss MCX controller: FLOW METER ALARM, code 7, unit 2. 29 Jul 2026.Related: fault codes

Controller screen: unit 2 compressor OFF, inverter plate at 62.3 °C — Controller screen: unit 2 compressor OFF, inverter plate at 62.3 °C. 29 Jul 2026.Related: fault codes

Controller event log: unit 2 DRIVE ALARM, code 30 (the logged date may be wrong; the controller clock is unverified) — Controller event log: unit 2 DRIVE ALARM, code 30 (the logged date may be wrong; the controller clock is unverified). Aug 2026.Related: fault codes

Earth point used as the reference for compressor insulation tests — Earth point used as the reference for compressor insulation tests. 19 Aug 2026.Related: fault codes

Shore power and the on-board isolation transformer

Nameplate of the on-board shore-power isolation transformer (Bi-mec, 65 kVA, Dyn11) — Nameplate of the on-board shore-power isolation transformer (Bi-mec, 65 kVA, Dyn11). 3 Sep 2026.Related: stray current and the transformer

Thermal camera: transformer terminals about 48–50 °C at light load — Thermal camera: transformer terminals about 48–50 °C at light load. 3 Sep 2026.Related: stray current and the transformer

Thermal camera: transformer core clamp plate about 89 °C at about 17% load — Thermal camera: transformer core clamp plate about 89 °C at about 17% load. 3 Sep 2026.Related: stray current and the transformer

Meter reading on the transformer output, W2 to V2: about 408 V at minimal load — Meter reading on the transformer output, W2 to V2: about 408 V at minimal load. 3 Sep 2026.Related: stray current and the transformer

Wider context: main-engine start batteries (separate incident, not linked to the AC)

Main-engine start battery bank in place, one unit ruptured — Main-engine start battery bank in place, one unit ruptured. 20 Feb 2026, engine room.Related: ownership experience

Main-engine start battery removed to deck with a ruptured casing — Main-engine start battery removed to deck with a ruptured casing. 20 Feb 2026.Related: ownership experience

Start battery after the event: warped plates and a heat-damaged connector bar — Start battery after the event: warped plates and a heat-damaged connector bar. 20 Feb 2026.Related: ownership experience

Wider context: exterior paint and gelcoat

Plastic enclosure at the stern for exterior paint and gelcoat correction work, afloat — Plastic enclosure at the stern for exterior paint and gelcoat correction work, afloat. 27 Feb 2024, alongside.Related: ownership experience

Yellowish stain on the topsides above the boot-top stripes — Yellowish stain on the topsides above the boot-top stripes. 22 Aug 2025, alongside.Related: ownership experience

Yellowish discoloration on the white hull surface — Yellowish discoloration on the white hull surface. 22 Aug 2025, alongside.Related: ownership experience

Yellowish streak along the lower topsides — Yellowish streak along the lower topsides. 22 Aug 2025, alongside.Related: ownership experience

The yacht alongside under scaffold mesh and plastic sheeting for exterior paint work — The yacht alongside under scaffold mesh and plastic sheeting for exterior paint work. 2026, alongside.Related: ownership experience

Most photos were taken by the crew, contractors or the independent inspector during their work. Corrections to captions are welcome.

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