[C320-list] Frozen Compressor on Adler Barber Cold Machine
Dave Hupe
hoopdtwo at yahoo.com
Wed Sep 2 09:13:05 PDT 2020
Yes, I believe it was John Morrison or Graeme the installed the Nova Cool RT6, with the different freezer box, but on the aft not starboard wall. I like the RT6 freezer box with the door, but likely still would go for the open compartment RT4 unit that closely matches what I have now.
I went back to the boat today and tried it again after shutting it off completely yesterday. Everything seemed to work fine. The box got cool all around very quickly, I could clearly hear hissing in the box. The compressor and fan ran fine. I shut it off and will try it again sometime soon for a longer period to see what happens.
I had a lot of ice built up on the freezer box that I had not defrosted before. I wonder if defrosting somewhat frequently is beneficial and possibly might change the compressor freezing I inexperienced???
Dave Hupe1994 C320 #32
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 11:17 AM, Doug Treff<doug at treff.us> wrote: Dave,
I've been eyeing the Nova Kool units too. The LT201-RT4 seems to have the same freezer box we currently have. Interested to hear if the RT6 will fit in a C320 fridge box.
--
Doug Treff
doug at treff.us
On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, at 9:54 AM, Dave Hupe wrote:
> In answer to the appreciated feedback so far, my fan was working fine,
> the thermostat was only set to 4, and the compressor body itself was
> not hot (I think it normally is very hot to the touch).
> The cold plate was completely covered with ice and in fact several
> items in the freezer bin were completely frozen solid.
> I definitely don't plan to throw money at it considering the old age.
> I have taken note of a complete Nova Kool unit recommended by John
> Morrison (LT201-RT6) that is selling for $920 now at
> www.suremarineservice.com. A new complete Adler Barbour Cool Machine
> seems to be about $1500 now.
> Dave Hupe
> 1994 C320 #32
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>
> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 9:35 AM, Graeme Clark<cg at skyflyer.co.uk>
> wrote: I’m no refrigeration expert but recently did a bit of reading
> prior to replacing my 1996 unit!
>
> My I de standing is:-
>
> If the system is set up correctly the entire evaporator cold plate in
> the cooler box should be cool/frosted but the return pipe to the
> compressor should not. If it is then that’s a sign that the system is
> overcharged with refrigerant
>
> Conversely an undercharged system will show up because only a portion
> of the evaporator plate gets cold
>
> The cooling effect is when the liquid refrigerant expands through a
> small orifice to become a gas
>
> The compressor then compressed the gas which makes it very hot and the
> condenser cools the hot gas (with the aid of a fan) to return the
> refrigerant to a liquid and the cycle repeats
>
> I struggle to see how lack of fan or other overheating would cause
> frosting on the compressor or condenser?
>
> I would suspect a partial blockage of the circuit near the compressor
> and condenser creating a restriction and allowing the refrigerant to
> expand into a gas downstream of that restriction
>
> I’m not sure how else you end up with frosting at the compressor end,
> which creates considerable heat!
>
> But I’m no expert so happy to be schooled!
>
> However I replaced my system (including evaporator) at a cost of under
> $1000. It’s an easy, although fiddly, job
>
> The new unit draws 3amps max (variable speed so sometimes only 2.5) vs
> 6 amps on the old one
>
> In my humble opinion I wouldn’t spend a cent on fixing your 1994 system
> as I suspect it will be the start of continual maintenance costs given
> its age. Bite the bullet and replace it if you can afford to do so!
>
> Graeme
> #366
> 1996
>
> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos!
>
> > On 2 Sep 2020, at 13:04, islgirl3 at aol.com wrote:
> >
> > Dave,Also make sure the fan is working properly.
> > RichBarbara Rita 897
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com>
> > To: C320-List at catalina320.com <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > Sent: Tue, Sep 1, 2020 8:49 pm
> > Subject: [C320-list] Frozen Compressor on Adler Barber Cold Machine
> >
> > Dave
> >
> > Your question doesn’t show up in my email feed just on the site so I had to
> > try to redo the subject line.
> >
> > We have had this problem with a dehumidifier we use in the basement. We
> > have found that turning the dehumidifier down a little seems to help a lot
> > to extend the useful life of the unit.
> >
> > The typical cause of this problem is that your compressor is working harder
> > than it was designed to do originally. This can be because you have the
> > fridge turned way up on a not so hot day so there is not enough hot air
> > blowing across the compressor , or because your compressor fan isn't
> > blowing quite as well as it used to, or you are starting to run low on
> > refrigerant.
> >
> > If this is your original unit and you literally have 26 years on a cold
> > machine. Wow! You got a lot of miles on that baby, but...you are going
> > to need a new unit sooner or later. A recharge of your system may not be
> > possible if it was an older refrigerant but that is something you could
> > look into I suppose.
> >
> > Good luck, if it's working for now, try knocking the temp back a little and
> > see if that clears up the icing situation....or...put a fan down there to
> > get more air circulation?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Troy Dunn
> > Hull#514
>
>
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