[C320-list] Refrigeration Diagnostics Assistance

[Ken McCrimmon]

Hi
I changed the 15 amp fuse and tested the other one

Thanks for the suggestion

Ken

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 6, 2021, at 1:12 PM, wdoc1 at aol.com wrote:


Hi Ken-
If you haven't already done so, try replacing both fuses (one a 5 AMP, the other is 10 I believe) on the upper/aft/outboard portion of the unit. My fridge came back to life after this simple fix a month ago. Had to hold the phone on selfie mode with one hand to see what I was doing, and maneuver the fuses with the other.
Good luck,
Bill
Diversion #714


-----Original Message-----
From: Ken McCrimmon <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>; KEN GEIGER <kendgb at aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Jul 6, 2021 7:07 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Refrigeration Diagnostics Assistance

Hi
The saga continues.  I was at the boat this weekend with my head and upper body (sometime all of me) in the rear port compartment where the fridge compressor is.
I was trying to test to make sure there is power to machine.  When I asked my wife to flip the switch, I could hear the fan come on.  I also checked the voltage going into the machine and it looked right.

Then i noticed that the light was blinking on the front of the panel.  I could not see it before because it was facing the stern and i could not see it from my previous position in the hatch from the rear berth.

The light is blinking three times, which based on the diagnostic run down shared earlier buy Jack means

  1.  Pressure have not equalized yet
  2.  Unit has been overcharged
  3.  Danfoss module is defective

I tried the remedy for #1, no luck
Unit has not been charged recently, so i do not think it is number 2
I guess i am left with number 3 - replacing the Danfoss Module

Unless anybody has other suggestions to try for something I might have missed

Thanks
Ken

________________________________
From: KEN GEIGER <kendgb at aol.com<mailto:kendgb at aol.com>>
Sent: June 21, 2021 3:56 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com> <C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>>; Ken McCrimmon <kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com<mailto:kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>>; C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com> <C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com>>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Refrigeration Diagnostics Assistance

Hi Ken.  Your 320 as a 2003 I newer than our 2000 #765 and the other responders so there may be differences.

Our fridge is 12volt and controlled by a panel switch assuming the batteries switch is turned on to one or both batteries.  If you are going to leave the fridge on you need to keep the batteries charged some how.  Battery charger needs shore power.  Lose the shore power with fridge on will deplete the batteries.

So you need to id the fridge and it's power source. Do you have a wiring diagram for the boat.  Then find out if you have power to compressor.  The thermostat may have an off position and then clicks to coolness levels.

Fridge drain on our 2000 is fed to a 3 way valve under the head sink, as is the shower drain.  We select the correct position of the valve, turn on the shower drain switch on panel and then turn on the switch on the vanity wall by toilet.

Ken Geiger
Northern Dream 2000 #765



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On Mon, 21 Jun 2021 at 14:40, Ken McCrimmon
<kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com<mailto:kenmccrimmon at hotmail.com>> wrote:
Hi
10 days ago, I left KIA ORA (2003 Catalina 320) plugged into shore power with the fridge running. with a couple of beers and some water.
I came back this weekend and the fridge was not running.  The switch was still on and the shore power plugged in.  I know that the yard would have unplugged to boat to do some other work during the week.
Normally, I can hear the compressor running but nothing.  I checked the thermostat, I reset the switch on the electrical panel, nothing seemed to make a difference.
I tried to find the compressor.  I thought it might be in the port locker but what i thought might be the compressor was actually the battery charger.  I did not look in the port stern locker.  Did not think about that until now.
I put a block of ice in the fridge for the weekend, which created another problem, lots of water in the bottom of the fridge.


  1.  Is there a fuse or circuit breaker that i should be checking?
  2.  Anybody know where else to look for the compressor?
  3.  I thought there was a drain for the fridge (based on some other reading on the C320 Association site) but I could not find it.  I tried to get the water out manually (jcloths, tea towels, etc)  I either need a manual pump or really big sponge.  Is there a drain in the cold box and if so, is there something i need to do to open it.  Assume it drains into the bilge.

I tried getting into the 320 site to do more research but i am having password issues today

Thanks
Ken