Refrigerator Question

K

k3nlind

New member

I recently had to have the cooling unit of my Norcold DE0051 refrigerator replaced... it simply quit working. Fortunately the unit was still under warranty and Norcold replaced it with no cost to me.

When the refrigerator was installed, I did notice that it seemed to run quite hot to the touch at the cans that cover the electronics on the top of the unit... and I was and am a bit concerned that due to the tight quarters there may not be adequate ventilation.

I am considering placing a separate 12-volt exhaust fan just under the table toward the rear of the refrigerator. When I asked the gentleman who replaced the cooling unit, he stated that I should seek advice from Norcold... is it possible to over ventilate this cabinet area?

I have sent two messages to Norcold service support with no reply. Does any C-Brat have advice or has anyone done this or considered doing it?

 
Excellent point--and I was thinking of putting in a fan last night on the CD 25. It is easy to put in a 12 volt muffin fan, on a thermostat. You can do no harm with this--and it will extend the life of the refigerator several fold.

I have put the fans in larger boats and they definately increase the effeciency. There is on contraintradiction for the fans. Get a low current draw fan.
 
To improve air circulation behind & over the refrigerant coils, I cut an opening in the partition between the galley cabinet & the refer about 4 X 6" in size located as low & outboard as possible. Also cut three circular holes about 1 to 1-1/2" in diameter in the forward "vertical" partition just below and as far outboard as possible below the pilots seat. The refer is easily removed to see the location of the heat exchanger coils to aid in proper hole location and sawdust cleanup. I would guess that I more than doubled the air flow. While your at it, this would be a good time to swap the refer door hinge location so that it swings open for proper access from the galley side.
 

Hmmm... interesting. So one of the holes you cut is under the sink, right? Just so happens that my refer is on the opposite side... still I may cut the holes AND add the fan... or I may move the refer to under the helm seat... don't know yet. I been wanting to fabricate the forward looking passenger seat and that may dictate that I move the refer...

Concerning the fan, I was going to wire it direct to the refer 12-volt so that it would be on anytime the refer was on... but I like the thermostat idea better!

As always this site pays collaboration dividends! :lol:
 
Speaking of reefers, Bob, what were the reasons that led you to decide to order your TC without a refrigerator and to install the portable unit on the slider? What is the make and model of that unit anyway?

Thanks,
Warren

IMG_0608.sized.jpg
 
I think the long term cruisers prefer the freezer installations over refrigerators, and I could see that, if I were spending more than 2-4 days at a time out.

I also chose to not install a fixed fridge. I use a small ice chest and alternate two inexpensive, 12V portable fridge units from Wal-Mart. One is small. I use it on my tractor alot during baling or harvest. It keeps up to a dozen cans cold and easily fits in the truck console for driving. The larger one, about the size of a mid-sized cooler, uses 110V, or 12V. It costs about $79 and can be strapped down in a number of places - cockpit, under dinette, on bunk, etc.. I can put a bag or two of ice in the larger one and plug it in the second day and still have good ice on the fouth day. I also have a folding, flexible portable cooler that fits inside the larger 12V cooler for extending the ice longevity. At the end of the cruise, I just lift the shoulder strapped portable out of the 12V unit and head home.

The portable 12V, larger unit, has more interior room than the $995 Norcold. It seemed to me that the installed fridge blocked up alot of usable space behind it in the cabinet. When we're all busy in the cabin, I sometimes put the cooler in the cockpit, and vice versa when the cockpit is busy. I really enjoy the extra space for storage.

John
 
John:

You are describing thermo-electric cooling units. That's what I use, and it serves the purpose.

A larger cooler (like mine), however, will run down a battery in less than 8 hours. So I always, using a 12v/110v adapter, plug into 110v whenever possible (dockside).

My (older Coleman) unit fits under the transom in the cockpit (see photo album), and I plug it directly into the battery from there.

Wayne
 
Yeah.... What he said.....

Well, Wayne, as I've told Dr. Bob of Thataway, I'm mainly just a consumer nowadays. I have so little free time that I want to spend as much as possible acutally using the boat and not working on it. I have four batteries and over 80 amps in alternator charging going on and, like you, I don't leave the big one plugged in all the time. The little one keeps drinks and meat really cold for only a few amps.

John
 
Warren,
The chest freezer/refigerator is a Norcold. It holds about 100 lbs of frozen food. It is a non current model, but very similar to the 2.12 cu current model. We have owned these for about 30 years. The first one finally rusted out after we used it for "boat camping" on an open 22 footer.
We have had this one for about 15 years and used it to bring home our salmon from Alaska--and as a suppliment to the freezers/refers on our larger boats.

The reason it was choosen--it is both a freezer and refigerator just dial in the temp. It holds more than the refigerator, and takes up about the same amount of "room", because of the way the refigerator is installed.
We use it for the entrees and meats etc--keeping the soft drinks and vegies in coolers. We can take it with us in the RV when we go to the west coast, and it will fit under the V bunk--and I have put in a 12 volt outlet for it on the CD 25.
 
Back
Top