I am about to embark on converting my Icebox to a refrigerator and curious as to how you may have gone about routing the coil from the evaporator to the condenser? How carefull do I have to be to keep from kinking the coil? Any words of advice would be appreciated. I plan to mount the condenser under the starboard lazerette using a piece of plywood glued to the floor pan with mounting bolts coming up from below the board. Then simply lower the condenser on to them and bolt them off. Should I also consider isolating the condeser from the wood or floor to reduce vibration transmission from the condenser by using some type of rubber mounting blocks?
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Insulation is the key
Make sure you have alt least 4-5 inches of insulation around the icebox. Less will have VERY undesirable effects on your reefer power consumption. I'd isolate the compressor from the board too. Moat have rubber isolation mounts already. Kinking any of the lines is a bad idea but bending them will not hurt anything. It is copper or aluminum tubing so not kinking it is pretty easy, just be careful and go slow in the tight spots. Are you using air or water cooling? If water I'd recommend placing the circulation pump in/near the bilge to keep it from losing it's prime on one tack. If you put the pump outboard then on one tack it will be above the water line. As long as the pump is running you will be OK but when it cycles it will lose its prime. This one drove me crazy the first year I had the boat as the losing of prime seemed to be random.
Make sure you have alt least 4-5 inches of insulation around the icebox. Less will have VERY undesirable effects on your reefer power consumption. I'd isolate the compressor from the board too. Moat have rubber isolation mounts already. Kinking any of the lines is a bad idea but bending them will not hurt anything. It is copper or aluminum tubing so not kinking it is pretty easy, just be careful and go slow in the tight spots. Are you using air or water cooling? If water I'd recommend placing the circulation pump in/near the bilge to keep it from losing it's prime on one tack. If you put the pump outboard then on one tack it will be above the water line. As long as the pump is running you will be OK but when it cycles it will lose its prime. This one drove me crazy the first year I had the boat as the losing of prime seemed to be random.
H31_83-87 Refrigeration
Have you purchased the system? If not I highly recommend the link below, mine has worked perfect for over a year. Simple and easy.
Have you purchased the system? If not I highly recommend the link below, mine has worked perfect for over a year. Simple and easy.
ice box conversion
I recently installed the Norcold unit in my hunter 30 and am very pleased with it. installation was simple and straight forward and draws less than 3 amps under full load. It also automatically switches from shore power to battery and vise versa when shore power is applied or removed. Charles Creel www.sailingmobile.com Fairhope, AL.
I recently installed the Norcold unit in my hunter 30 and am very pleased with it. installation was simple and straight forward and draws less than 3 amps under full load. It also automatically switches from shore power to battery and vise versa when shore power is applied or removed. Charles Creel www.sailingmobile.com Fairhope, AL.
Bill, regarding your Tropicool...
I went to their Website. What model did you get and how much of an installation effort was involved. Assuming you adapted the icebox, my concern has always been for space. It is such a small unit to begin with, my concern is adding any kind of cooling plate would be counter productive.
I went to their Website. What model did you get and how much of an installation effort was involved. Assuming you adapted the icebox, my concern has always been for space. It is such a small unit to begin with, my concern is adding any kind of cooling plate would be counter productive.
H31_83-87 Refrigeration
Doug, I purchased the Model 40. 12V 3Amps max pull when getting down to temp and 1Amt to maintain (per specs!) I choose this unit because I wanted 12V and it would run with a high ambient temp (I think it was spec at 110Deg) that way the I could mount the Condensor in the starboard laz and not have to add any ventilation, no heat build up, no added exhaust fans. No through hulls cut! Briefly how I installed it. Mounted the Evaporator on the port side of the ice box as far astern as possible (about 2 inches off the back wall) and as high as possible (about 2 inches down from the top). Unit is only 12 X 12 inches. I cut the hole for the tube from the back of the box and it came out just above the Evaporator connection. Yes was a tight fit to get it hooked up and check for leaks, but it is up, out of the way and not easily disturbed by contents of the box nor touched by hands. Mounted the condensor on the BACK of the box (starboard laz) at an angle so the CO2 would run down to the Evaporator (per specs). VERY short tubing run to the Evaporator (which is good). For good power had to make a run direct to the battery with a fuse. Adding CO2 was a bit tricky. Took a couple of trys to get it right, plus I had leaks the first time because I used Lowe's 1/4 " copper tube connections. Company made a small modification for my install which eliminated all splices. Service? THE BEST! Tom the salesman and Ernie the engineer know the product and had the answer or solution for any problem! Maybe I should not tell this one, but since I could only work on my install on Sundays, Tom answered my every call and that is how he determined the modifications to make my install better. Well worth the money! Unit has been running almost continously for the past year. I check the Amps when I first installed it, yes 3 Amps to get box down to temp and 1 Amp to maintain. NO, I did not add any additional insulation to the box. If you are serious, I will be glad to provide additional install tips via telephone or e-mail, I am listed in the owner's directory. Did you order the pedestal table? bill
Doug, I purchased the Model 40. 12V 3Amps max pull when getting down to temp and 1Amt to maintain (per specs!) I choose this unit because I wanted 12V and it would run with a high ambient temp (I think it was spec at 110Deg) that way the I could mount the Condensor in the starboard laz and not have to add any ventilation, no heat build up, no added exhaust fans. No through hulls cut! Briefly how I installed it. Mounted the Evaporator on the port side of the ice box as far astern as possible (about 2 inches off the back wall) and as high as possible (about 2 inches down from the top). Unit is only 12 X 12 inches. I cut the hole for the tube from the back of the box and it came out just above the Evaporator connection. Yes was a tight fit to get it hooked up and check for leaks, but it is up, out of the way and not easily disturbed by contents of the box nor touched by hands. Mounted the condensor on the BACK of the box (starboard laz) at an angle so the CO2 would run down to the Evaporator (per specs). VERY short tubing run to the Evaporator (which is good). For good power had to make a run direct to the battery with a fuse. Adding CO2 was a bit tricky. Took a couple of trys to get it right, plus I had leaks the first time because I used Lowe's 1/4 " copper tube connections. Company made a small modification for my install which eliminated all splices. Service? THE BEST! Tom the salesman and Ernie the engineer know the product and had the answer or solution for any problem! Maybe I should not tell this one, but since I could only work on my install on Sundays, Tom answered my every call and that is how he determined the modifications to make my install better. Well worth the money! Unit has been running almost continously for the past year. I check the Amps when I first installed it, yes 3 Amps to get box down to temp and 1 Amp to maintain. NO, I did not add any additional insulation to the box. If you are serious, I will be glad to provide additional install tips via telephone or e-mail, I am listed in the owner's directory. Did you order the pedestal table? bill
H31_83-87 Refrigeration
I should add, I keep a temp gauges in the ice box: Year Round temps, even in the Northwest Florida summer, Top, just below the lid - 45 to 55 Deg Middle, next to Evaporator - 30 to 35 Deg bill
I should add, I keep a temp gauges in the ice box: Year Round temps, even in the Northwest Florida summer, Top, just below the lid - 45 to 55 Deg Middle, next to Evaporator - 30 to 35 Deg bill
Wow it is costly
If I am reading it right this unit will cost $2200. That is alot of money for a cold one. I opted for the Norcold #SCQT-4407. It is self contained and super easy to install. Basically I cut a 1" hole in the back of the ice box. 4 screw holes to support the cold plate and 4 holes to mount the evaporator. Thats it! Total installation time and this is no exageration 1 1/2 hours. The biggest time consumption was carefully openning the copper tubing and running throught the hole in the back of the icebox. I keep the thermostat set about half way during the winter and I can make ice with ice trays. The summer setting is just a 1/4 turn higher. The ice box stays at about 38 degrees. Now for a helpful hint: No matter what unit you decide on. Go to the hardware store and buy yourself a rubber cork. Put it in the drain hole of the Icebox. When I did this my temp drop almost 10 degrees.(cold air settles and will run right out the drain hole!
If I am reading it right this unit will cost $2200. That is alot of money for a cold one. I opted for the Norcold #SCQT-4407. It is self contained and super easy to install. Basically I cut a 1" hole in the back of the ice box. 4 screw holes to support the cold plate and 4 holes to mount the evaporator. Thats it! Total installation time and this is no exageration 1 1/2 hours. The biggest time consumption was carefully openning the copper tubing and running throught the hole in the back of the icebox. I keep the thermostat set about half way during the winter and I can make ice with ice trays. The summer setting is just a 1/4 turn higher. The ice box stays at about 38 degrees. Now for a helpful hint: No matter what unit you decide on. Go to the hardware store and buy yourself a rubber cork. Put it in the drain hole of the Icebox. When I did this my temp drop almost 10 degrees.(cold air settles and will run right out the drain hole!
Question for Margaritaville
Margaritaville - Would you happen to know the approximate dimensions of the compressor? Can't find it anywhere in the online literature (checked the Norcold website). This sounds just like what I've been looking for. Had looked at a few from other manufactures at the Chicago boat show last year but they were way too bulky and expensive. Thanks! KH '85 Hunter 31
Margaritaville - Would you happen to know the approximate dimensions of the compressor? Can't find it anywhere in the online literature (checked the Norcold website). This sounds just like what I've been looking for. Had looked at a few from other manufactures at the Chicago boat show last year but they were way too bulky and expensive. Thanks! KH '85 Hunter 31
Yes Ken I think I can help you.
This is right off the back of my Owners guide. Exterior Dimensions 12.3" Height - 6.0" Depth - 9.1" Wide Dimensions of Evaporator 16.0"(L1) x 8.5"(L2) x 10.6"(H) If you climb into the starboard lazerette there is a shelf at the end of the icebox it is just the perfect size to mount the Condenser/Compressor It actually takes up no useable space which is great. Paul
This is right off the back of my Owners guide. Exterior Dimensions 12.3" Height - 6.0" Depth - 9.1" Wide Dimensions of Evaporator 16.0"(L1) x 8.5"(L2) x 10.6"(H) If you climb into the starboard lazerette there is a shelf at the end of the icebox it is just the perfect size to mount the Condenser/Compressor It actually takes up no useable space which is great. Paul
H31_83-87 Refrigeration
Paul, you got me on that one. Two years ago when I was searching for the "right" unit for my H31_83-87, I missed the Norcold #SCQT-4407. My Avxcel Model 40 was purchased at the St Pete boat show for a lot less than the current price. "Good Job"! bill
Paul, you got me on that one. Two years ago when I was searching for the "right" unit for my H31_83-87, I missed the Norcold #SCQT-4407. My Avxcel Model 40 was purchased at the St Pete boat show for a lot less than the current price. "Good Job"! bill
Perfect!
Time to buy one more goody before spring. Now I can get rid of the old AC refrig that's taking up room in the aft berth (and gobbling up DC like a bandit when I run the inverter).
Time to buy one more goody before spring. Now I can get rid of the old AC refrig that's taking up room in the aft berth (and gobbling up DC like a bandit when I run the inverter).
Always happy to help.
I love turning people to good products, It is tried and tested for the last year. When installed properly as soon as you remove the shorepower cord it will automatically switch over to the DC. It is about a 3amp consumption. Which means a group 24 battery will keep it running a min. or 30 hours depending on the insulation of your box. PS don't forget to plug up the drain hole!
I love turning people to good products, It is tried and tested for the last year. When installed properly as soon as you remove the shorepower cord it will automatically switch over to the DC. It is about a 3amp consumption. Which means a group 24 battery will keep it running a min. or 30 hours depending on the insulation of your box. PS don't forget to plug up the drain hole!
Ice Box Conversion
I too am considering a conversion on our Hunter 30T a la vie. Am considering the Norcolder SCQT-4407. What are you considering to use. Thanks Steve Harrod
I too am considering a conversion on our Hunter 30T a la vie. Am considering the Norcolder SCQT-4407. What are you considering to use. Thanks Steve Harrod
Ice Box Conversion
Where did you install the untit? I'm considering an instal in the next couple weeks in the 30T. What is the cu ft of the ice box? How is the noise. All the details you can give, I can use. Thanks, Steve Harrod
Where did you install the untit? I'm considering an instal in the next couple weeks in the 30T. What is the cu ft of the ice box? How is the noise. All the details you can give, I can use. Thanks, Steve Harrod
Ice Box Conversion
I have just completed an ice box conversion using the Norcold system. I mounted the evaporator in the starboard compartment under the cockpit. The evaporator had to go in the front of the ice box, towards the bow. I used a 1 1/4" hole saw to drill a hole in the box of the ice box aftward. I was able to unroll the coil tubing though the hole. I mounted the compressor on the hull immediately aft of the ice box. I expoxied 2 2x2s to the hull and then used a peice of starboard to mount the compressor.
I have just completed an ice box conversion using the Norcold system. I mounted the evaporator in the starboard compartment under the cockpit. The evaporator had to go in the front of the ice box, towards the bow. I used a 1 1/4" hole saw to drill a hole in the box of the ice box aftward. I was able to unroll the coil tubing though the hole. I mounted the compressor on the hull immediately aft of the ice box. I expoxied 2 2x2s to the hull and then used a peice of starboard to mount the compressor.
Further information
I just got back from doing some recon and it looks as though no matter where I punch the hole for the evaporator coil, it is going to be tight. I am waiting on a Waeco Adler Barbour VD-07 so I will have to see how big the connector is going to be. My best guess up to this point is that I will mount the evaporator plate on the starboard side of the box and run the coil through the front portion of the box. There just does not seem to be any 'easy' way to get the coit from the inside of the box to the compressor mounted in the starboard lazerett. To be continued.....
I just got back from doing some recon and it looks as though no matter where I punch the hole for the evaporator coil, it is going to be tight. I am waiting on a Waeco Adler Barbour VD-07 so I will have to see how big the connector is going to be. My best guess up to this point is that I will mount the evaporator plate on the starboard side of the box and run the coil through the front portion of the box. There just does not seem to be any 'easy' way to get the coit from the inside of the box to the compressor mounted in the starboard lazerett. To be continued.....
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