H41DS Refrigerator/Freezer Replacement

[Nodak7]

We have had our 41DS now for a number of years and are very happy with it. Thru the years I have changed the battery bank to a 6v system (great upgrade) added 2 285w (570w total) solar panels, changed all cabin lights to LEDs and some other minor modifications to improve our power consumption/generation. After our last outing I have decided that my next change would be the refrigerator and freezer. Both of these are old (2005) Nova-Kool units which are not very efficient (4.4a Freezer/2.2a Frig) by modern standards. I am aiming toward Isotherm but would like to hear what others have done in relation to changing these power hogs out. Any suggestions or experiences would be helpful! Thanks

 

[Terry Cox]

Replaced our original 1991 refrigerator unit with this: https://www.defender.com/product3.j...ed&path=-1|2276204|2276226|2530817&id=1599545

Settled on this evaporator: https://www.defender.com/product.js...it&path=-1|2276204|2276226|2530825&id=1599574

That was three years ago. Very happy with the results. Self installed. Article here: https://hunter.sailboatowners.com/mods.php?task=article&mid=45&aid=8342&mn=42

 

[Nodak7]

Replaced our original 1991 unit with this: https://www.defender.com/product3.j...ed&path=-1|2276204|2276226|2530817&id=1599545

Interesting concept Terry. From the looks of this you replace the operating unit with this? How does it do?

 

[Terry Cox]

How does it do?

It do well.

 

[dakno]

Kodak7 where did you mount your solar panels?

 

[Nodak7]

Kodak7 where did you mount your solar panels?

I put them above my Martek Dinghy Davits Dakno. I did a bit of reinforcement but it works great.

 

[dakno]

Looks like a high-rise building. I have the Hunter OE davits which cantilever out of the rear of the arch. In order to work the tackle for the dink I usually end up standing on the perch seats and poking my head up between the bimini and davit so I need to make sure I can still do so after solar panel install. Is that a cooler on top of the propane locker? What do you do about your lead acid batts venting. My boat came with AGM's new and there is no venting from the designers as far as I can tell. Did you reprogram your charger/inverter?

 

[Nodak7]

Yes it is a cooler over the propane locker! Works great for keeping drinks on ice. I have made no modification to the battery storage "venting" system. None that I am aware of. I carry 6 6v Trojans. 2 under the sole plate next to the nav station and 4 under the nav station seat. No need to reprogram the charger/inverter. I have a Victron 100/50 MPPT charge controller that handles the panels very well. The system keeps the batteries topped up and unless I use lots of power during the day (or very overcast) I do not need a generator.

 

[Rick486]

Looks like a high-rise building. I have the Hunter OE davits which cantilever out of the rear of the arch. In order to work the tackle for the dink I usually end up standing on the perch seats and poking my head up between the bimini and davit so I need to make sure I can still do so after solar panel install. Is that a cooler on top of the propane locker? What do you do about your lead acid batts venting. My boat came with AGM's new and there is no venting from the designers as far as I can tell. Did you reprogram your charger/inverter?

I also have te OEM Hunter davits and I lead the tackle lead to the cabin top winch Effortless.

 

[scottdube]

I'm probably late to the party but I replaced my refrigeration/freezer system last year. I used seafrost, one word to describe the system AWESOME! The equipment is made here in NH and is of very high quality. I did a post on it when I did it. https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/refrigeration-updating.184658/&highlight=

 

[senang]

I have a 2005 Hunter 38 with the same Nova Kool refrigerator and fridge. These are power hogs! But it is not Nova Kool to blame but Hunter Marine. There is no way to circulate air around the evaporator! I create some air circulation fresh air in and hot air out for both fridge and freezer. You can use the 12V ventilator from the Danfoss compressor block and put it somewhere to pull the hot air out. Just prolong the feed wire for the compressor. My freezer compressor was running 24 hours! By improving air circulation I estimate that I gained 50% of Amp hours used by fridge and freezer.

 

[ice breaker]

Very Nice solution!

 

[Terry Cox]

There is no way to circulate air around the evaporator!

Hmm. Our boat has dual air cooled AB units; freezer and refrigerator. Neither seem to require any kind of air circulation around the evaporator. Condenser, though, does have a fan that seems effective enough, but that is part of the AB unit. During our seasonal extended cruising (two months) these units will cycle about every fifteen to twenty minutes running maybe three to five minutes each cycle depending upon how often I dive in for an ice cold beer. Excessive power consumption has never been an issue in all these years. Hunter did a nice job insulating both boxes with about four inches of foam around each one. Very effective units.

 

[seadaddler]

I added 2-190 watt panels on my H-36 and used my arch to mount the 2 panels very securely
and ran the wires down in my arch.
My boom doesn’t seem to cause much shading and can see my install here in mods in H-36.
and been on since 2010.
Nick