[C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement

[Bruce Heyman]

Graeme,
One thing you can do is turn the thermostat down when the engine is running and then turn it back up when you kill the engine for the night.
Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Graeme Clark
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 8:53 AM
To: Catalina list <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement

Jack

Thanks for that; and interesting discussion about our different environments.

The Cu-100 coldmachines are not (readily) available in the UK, (meaning an internet search produces zilch!) which is probably for two reasons. 

Firstly, most boats sold over here are European and have much smaller food storage space. Traditionally I think European sailors have existed on re-hydrated pasta and rice rather than fresh food!  

Secondly as you noted, the ambient temperatures here aren't that great so a smaller unit probably achieves the same end temperature in the cool box!

I could add to that,  the well known British taste for warm beer and our less enthusiastic use of ice in everything that you guys are so fond of :-)  

The other factor of course-  and this is what is driving my decision a bit - is pairing the power requirement with my solar installation.  Obviously we don't get quite the same light intensity here so my 100W solar panel realistically produces about 2 to 3 Amps on average rather than the theoretical 8+ that could only be achieved in perfect conditions!

Obviously the fridge only runs part of the time ( i read somewhere that 25% is a good working  guide) but the solar panel runs all day, so I am trying to be more self sufficient as far as the fridge is concerned. Our old unit was pretty power hungry, drawing over 4A when it was running and probably needing to run nearer 40% of the time, even in UK temperatures! The new one should be 2 to 3 Amps when running and will hopefully be more efficient and run less.

I’ve found a kit that will happily cope with 5.65 cu ft which is near enough. We rarely fill the fridge so if it struggles I’ll use up some space with foam insulation blocks.

We have an accelerated charging device that modulates the alternator when the engine is running and almost always even if we have been sailing all day, we will use the engine for a bit to come into dock or position ourselves to anchor for the night. So it doesn't matter if the fridge out-paces the solar a bit during our sailing passage as long as it doesn't totally flatten the battery, because it doesn't take much engine time to charge the batteries back up to a decent level.

We used to only run the fridge when the engine was running until i realised that the alternator will put it back a lot faster than the fridge takes it out!

Thanks for all the input and advice and suggestions, once again

Graeme
#366
1996
UK





> On 15 Jul 2020, at 15:49, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Graeme:
> 
> I bought this one ( https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=1599545 ), which is billed as good for as large as 15 cubic feet, and it works fine. I can seal off a section near the evaporator and get 31 degrees F, just enough to keep things frozen, and the rest of the compartment in the mid 30s.
> 
> Keep in mind that this is in western Florida, where our winter temperatures are about the same as your summer highs. Right now, we’re experiencing highs of 95 degrees F with 90 percent humidity, and the Cold Machine works just fine.
> 
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> Dolphin Cruising Club of Florida
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> 
> From: Graeme Clark
> Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 10:37 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement
> 
> Thanks Jack
> I’ve not bought it yet but Coldmachines (sold under Waeco brand in UK) 
> aren’t readily available for our size fridge (5.8 cu ft). I’ll ask 
> around a bit more Graeme
> 
> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos! 
> 
>> On 15 Jul 2020, at 14:09, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Graeme:
>> 
>> I sounds like you’ve already bought the replacement unit but, just in case, the Adler/Barbour Cold Machine comes with about 12 feet of tubing. I had to coil it in the rear port locker.
>> 
>> 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: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 8:38 AM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge compressor replacement
>> 
>> Quick update
>> 
>> I’ve removed the old unit and the evaporator plate from the cool box 
>> along with the tubing
>> 
>> The way mine was set up, the tubing exited into the aft port locker, 
>> routed under the shelf that the compressor sits on and then comes up 
>> through a hole in that shelf at the aft end to return back forward to 
>> connect to the compressor
>> 
>> My guess is that this made for easier connections as the big self 
>> seal couplings need space around them for a wrench
>> 
>> Long story short is that from the exit hole in the cool box that takes 10ft of piping. If I could make the connection to the compressor at the forward end that might save 2ft but no way will I do it with the standard 6ft pipe length, especially as some of that will be used within the cool box between the evaporator plate and the exit hole in the wall!
>> 
>> So either I buy an extension tube or I site the compressor somewhere 
>> else
>> 
>> On the 320 I used to have fractional ownership of, that had already 
>> been done and the compressor was near where the battery charger is 
>> sited above the small cupboard/stowage box that is accessed to rear 
>> of cool box
>> 
>> Of course there’s potential for heat build up there but I think it 
>> would be easy enough to repurpose the engine blower to suck air from 
>> that locker (the two are interconnected)
>> 
>> Difficult choices!
>> 
>> Graeme
>> #366
>> 1996
>> 
>> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos! 
>> 
>> 
> 
>