[C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement

[Jack Brennan]

Graeme:

I’m not sure what Catalina’s logic was, but your setup is original. My guess is that it has to do with the wire shelves. 

Also, it’s colder near the evaporator plate, which means placing it on the right side would make the most useful space on the left a little warmer. 

That said, I think whatever suits you would be fine. We removed the shelves and use Tupperware containers, which allows us to organize things better and keep items from sliding and disappearing when we heel. 

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.
Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay




Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Graeme Clark
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2020 8:50 AM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement

Mark
I’m sure the kit that Catalina fitted changed over the years but I’m curious about your set up
Standing in the galley looking astern, where is the evaporator plate within the fridge “box”? 
On my boat it is on the left hand end wall, and is a “rounded box” shape so anything put down the middle will freeze
But this means 3ft if tubing is used just to get out of the fridge (the duct enters the fridge side at the right hand end of the back wall about 5 inches down
This makes me wonder if the unit has already been replaced once and whether the original siting got the evaporator plate was at the right hand side of the fridge?
An extra 3ft of Pre-gassed tubing will be another $150 so I’m keen to avoid that if I can
I’m not sure what the advantages and disadvantages are of locating the plate in different places
The left side of our fridge box goes deeper and it is quite hard to reach the bottom sump (where the drain is). If I moved the evap plate to the right that would help - but is that less efficient cooling?
Also the right hand side has a chamfer at the bottom so it’s rather useless space for storing as nothing will sit there!
Graeme

Sent from my phone. Excuse typos! 

> On 13 Jul 2020, at 03:46, Mark Cole <boatnboot at me.com> wrote:
> 
> Graeme;
> 
> When I bought Fiddler’s Green, the fridge compressor was little more than a pile of rust.  It actually worked during the survey and once afterward, but then gave up.  Like your’s, it was under the propane locker and the seal around the locker leaked.  I first focused on caulking the seam around the propane well.  I then replaced cold plate and compressor with an Isotherm Compact Classic unit.  There is a 3” PVC pipe chase running from directly below the compressor to directly behind the ice box, so the 6’ of coolant tubing that came with the new unit just reached without the need for an extension.  Based on this, I put the compressor back in the original location and everything works great.  Like Jack describes below, I did the install myself, mainly because of the new leak-proof quick connections on the refrigerant tubes.
> 
> I would also suggest looking at the Smart Energy Control unit made by Webasto for various compressor units.  Here is a link <https://www.indelwebastomarine.com/int/products/cooling-technology/isotherm-smart-energy-control/> describing how it works, but it basically knows when you are connected to shore power or the alternator is charging your batteries and puts extra “cold” into the icebox.  When you are drawing off the batteries, it reduces power to the compressor to just keep stuff at the proper temperature, greatly reducing battery draw.
> 
> Mark Cole
> Fiddler’s Green #8
> 
> 
> 
>> On Jul 12, 2020, at 3:39 PM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> 
>> When I bought my 1998 320 about two years ago, the fridge was dead.
>> 
>> My first thought was to repair it, but I was persuaded that the new units are so much more efficient that it would be foolish to do so.
>> 
>> I bought a new Adler/Barbour Cold Machine for maybe $1,400 or $1,500 total from Defender. It was as advertised. Even in hot (and currently  covid-ridden!) Florida, it doesn’t seem to consume more than about 50 amps a day, although I’ve never felt the need to actually measure.
>> 
>> My only problem in two years has been a thermostat that went out. Adler/Barbour sent me a new one for free. I installed it in 30 minutes.
>> 
>> I installed the system myself in a good part of a day, working slowly and cautiously because I’d never dealt with refrigeration before. Despite some jitters, it went well and I was glad I didn’t pay a pro 1K or more for the installation. 
>> 
>> The new Cold Machine has quick-connect lines that make it almost impossible for you to lose the refrigerant, which used to be the most common problem.
>> 
>> Jack Brennan
>> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
>> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>> 
>> From: Graeme Clark
>> Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2020 4:38 PM
>> To: Catalina list
>> Subject: [C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement
>> 
>> 24 years wasn’t a bad life but my compressor/condenser unit has finally given up. 
>> 
>> It still runs actually but has corroded away in its rather exposed position underneath the gas locker and lost all the refrigerant!
>> 
>> It’s really not a great location ( I think) and I’m thinking of siting the replacement elsewhere. Not least because the installation will be substantially cheaper if I can keep the pipe run under 6ft
>> 
>> Has anyone done this and where did you put it? Were you able to reuse the thermostat and evaporator plate inside the fridge or did you have to replace everything?
>> 
>> Did you do it yourself or use an installer?
>> 
>> All thoughts welcome
>> 
>> Graeme
>> #366
>> 1996
>> “Jaskar”
>> Falmouth, UK
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos! 
>> 
>