Adlor Barbour cold Plate

[kimelmore]

My problem is that my cold plate gets a 1/4 inch of ice on most of the cold plate after approximately running 1 week at a relatively low setting. After a week the compressor is running full time never shutting off and the fridge is slowly getting a bit warmer. Food is still cold, beer is drinkable, but can tell it's just not as cold. I have defrosted the fridge now about once every 10 days of use. My thought is to fix what I believe to be a poor seal on the top door, and then add a computer fan to blow air across the cold plate. Anyone have anything to add? Thank you in advance.

 

[Ron20324]

Don't know your layout, but my B323 has the compressor under the sink, with the box just outboard of that. Heat builds up under the sink and drifts under the fridge, and makes it work that much harder. I put 2 vents near the compressor, on the fore and aft panels. Overnight I leave the under-sink door open. Back in the slip I take the door off it's slide-off hinges for maximum heat venting..

 

[Allan Frey]

Air may be leaking into the fridge from a poor door seal. You can check this by closing the door on a dollar bill. The dollar should be held tight wherever you put it. If not tight, replace the rubber gasket.

allan

 

[whatfiero]

Yes ya got to get the heat off compressor and keep the cold in refrigerator mines a top load so I put a towel over unit and pre cool everything I put in also I keep block ice to help unit

 

[Tom G P-21]

I don't know about refrigerators on boats but I've dealt with them on campers. They make a fan to use inside the fridge to keep the cold evenly distributed. Runs a long time on 2 cells. It might be worth trying for under $20.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camc...gclid=CNXkn9frlM0CFcQjgQodymgM2Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

If it does help there are more permanent ones out there.

 

[Gene S]

My guess would be to check the freon level. When my house a/c freon got low, the coils got covered with ice.

 

[kimelmore]

I just had the unit serviced and was told "no leaks". I'm goint to try out the "Camco RV Fridge Airator" that Tom recommends and I'll let you all know how it works out.

 

[Benny17441]

I think you are on the right track about replacing the seal on the lid to keep humidity out but also minimizing the number of times the lid is opened will help. I had a similar problem once and was going to install a timer to shut off the unit for a couple of hours every night to see if I could keep it frost free but never got around to it and then sold the boat. A fan inside the box will improve efficiency but I don't know if it will help any with humidity. good luck.

 

[kloudie1]

If there is a drain in the box, make sure that is plugged .. like the door seal, can admit air that will frost up.

 

[Gunni]

A fan moving air about the box may keep your food more uniformly cool but it will efficiently deliver moist air to the evaporator coil - faster frost up.

 

[Rich Stidger]

All good suggestions, but the seal is the number one thing to check. Try to limit how much you open the box, especially if it is a side-load. Plug the drain for sure. A fan will help keep the entire box at the same temp but will do nothing for the humidity inside that causes the frost.

 

[kimelmore]

I bought a seal this morning and will install it Friday when I turn the unit on again. We are going to Two Harbors for the week. Will be leaving Sunday Morning and returning to LA harbor the following Sunday. I'll be running a generator for an hour or so twice a day to recharge the house batteries. I have a block of ice for the fridge to see if that helps keep it cool. There is only so much I can do at this point. There is a overboard drain and I will keep the thru hull closed ( it was open for the first couple of days we had the boat). I have orders that only the top is to be opened unless retrieving something from the bottom shelf. The first several days that will only be ice anyway. We are bringing a cooler for drinks so that minimizes opening the fridge. I'm hoping for the best.

 

[kimelmore]

I removed the old seal today. The PO had just taped a worthless seal on top of an additional worthless seal in an effort to seal the top hatch. It was no trouble to pull a dollar bill out anywhere around the hatch. I had a bit of trouble finding something thick enough to seal it with but bought a couple of things to try. I'll try to post photos with my solutions as I give them a try.

 

[NYSail]

I bought sheets of freezer bubble wrap like stuff I saw at the grocery store. I forgot the name of the stuff but it's meant to put over your ice and drinks in a cooler to keep the cold down. I put these over the cold plate and all items and it has helped dramatically with ice buildup. I will snap a picture this weekend. Main thing though is the gasket....

 

[kimelmore]

Thanks NYSail. I'll look myself too. Sounds like something that will help.