Digital Thermostat Refrigerator Spill Over Box

[Bryce Custer]

Many with spill over refrigerators have been fighting temperature control for years.
Finally have working system on my 2001 Hunter 410.
Years ago I used window foam around all opens of Freezer/Fridge. This helped build-up of ice tremendously.
In order to get even cooling in fridge, I installed a 12 volt computer fan (under shelf) on the hot side of thermostat so that it runs continuously with the fridge breaker on. This solved the uneven cooling in the box.
I just finished installing a digital thermostat (EBAY ~$19.00). What a difference. Box actually stays around 38 degrees. Able to open box and immediately see actual temperature.
Bryce Custer
s/v High Heel

 

[Michael G]

Can you furnish information about the digital thermostat? Who makes it and a link if possible.
Also are you using the unit as a thermostat to control the temperature or just a thermometer to check temperature? Is the temperature probe attached to your cold plate or just free standing within the box itself.

Thanks

 

[Rich Stidger]

This looks like it on eBay. Lots of eBay vendors sell this item; some from China and some from the USA. I have requested an email copy of the instruction book from one of them to be able to completely understand the programability of the unit before I purchase.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251131972150?var=550168659841&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I am unhappy with the performance and lifespan of the Adler-Barbour thermostats. They are about $36 each for the refer and the freezer and every one I have had installed has either failed to close or open- this causes the refrigeration to either not run or run continuously. A/B offers a digital thermostat for only about $200 or so. I spoke to another boater that actually had these electronic thermostats and they claimed that they worked well.

These refrigeration units should not be so problematic. I really hate to re-engineer systems because I believe that the designers should know more than I do about their product. But after a couple of thermostat replacements, I just gotta think there must be a better solution.

Gasketing on the doors and lids is another issue- and its not just as simple as slapping on some window gaskets from Home Depot. I have done that and while there is an improvement, it is nowhere near adequate. It seems as though the ice build-up on the plate decreases the heat conduction from the food to the plate causing poor performance.

Regarding the circulating fans- these work very well. I have a different design from the OP where the fan pulls air from the bottom of the box and shoots it across to the opposite corner. See pix below.

 

[Bryce Custer]

Digital Thermostat

Michael and Rich,
Yes Rich... that’s it. As you stated, there are many on EBay and this was shipped directly from China. Took about 3-4 weeks?
Michael, thermostat does work as controller (basically just turns the spillover fan on and off?) Temp probe is free standing (hanging under thermostat).
I was reluctant at first due to how cheap it was. Figured worst case was cost 20 bucks and about 20 minutes of time.
I have the information on the boat... going from memory.
The thermostat is basically universal.
1) You can program for heat or cooling (-34 to 150 degrees?).
2) You can set temperature delay time to "turn on”
3) Temperature range to turn on from 1-15 degrees (I have set at 1 degree).
4) You can set temperature differential (If the thermostat is off a degree or two from standardized thermostat, you can adjust)
Directions are a very poor translation as typical from overseas.
Installation was easy, hot lead to #1, jumper #1 to #3 to power thermostat, switch out on #2.
Realize that I have no mechanical ability. Like the majority of sailors, I do my own stuff out of necessity.
Regards,
Bryce

 

[Sailgunner]

I installed an air cooled unit to cool the refrig side and it works great. I don't care how long the freezer side runs when it is in the 90s the refrig side is never going to get cold enough without its own unit. This was a very poor design by Hunter..

 

[Michael G]

Rich, I like the fan idea.......where did you get the round fans??????????

 

[xcyz]

I wont speak for Rich but when I replaced the fan on my h376 refrigerator I got the fan from Fry's Electronics for $8. Get the ones that use bearings and not bushings.

It looks as if the fan Rich is using was modified from a normal square fan. Perhaps the corners were cut off?

 

[seadaddler]

Florida

Don't forget it gets real mean hot and most need really good Ref to keep things cold with out running it all the time in Fl so to each his own situation,I know a few boaters have no ref and still use icein Fl but slowly adding ref.
They changed my 07 H-36 to front load and so to add a drop in ref up below counter would be a very big job to build and install and I would have love to do that but just not really want to go that much work and so I got a Engel and they are great and low 12volt draw,my front load works great also but not a very big freezer section so we use the engel for freezing and making ice too like i said it works great,I could have gotten a freezer in the cabinet under the nav station but did not want to give up the storage.

 

[Rich Stidger]

It looks as if the fan Rich is using was modified from a normal square fan. Perhaps the corners were cut off?

Michael G- yup, got a 2" or 50mm ball-bearing computer fan out of my junk box and cut the corners off. Fits fine in 2" PVC pipe. I wired it to the 12V supply for the refrigerator- it runs whenever the refer is on.

The only caution is that if you get melted ice water in the bottom of the refer from ice cubes, the bottom of the vertical pipe must be above that level- so keep the bottom about 2" off the bottom or keep the box drained. The water won't get sucked up the pipe, it just stops the air flow.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Michael G- here's another mod you might like.....

I was continuously bumping the temperature control knob when accessing the refrigerator. Less so with the freezer but I made this modification to both thermostats.

I cut a 2" ring of PVC tubing (measure the knob diameter to be sure) and used regular PVC glue to attach it to the thermostat box. You can still adjust as needed but the guard thwarts unintentional movements.

See below for the before and after......

 

[ttac]

Just over a week ago I installed a fan in my freezer and one in my frige. What a difference it made in the freezer! Things freeze now that did not before! We all ways had to put things on the plate to freeze them!! Now they are out in the middle of the shelf and rock hard!
I do still need to install a Digital thermostat to get the temp down just a little bit more! Right now it only gets down to 25* f. I would like it to be about 20*. But the standard thermostat is at full cold now!

 

[onecoolair]

Cool Idea mind if I steal it?

I was continuously bumping the temperature control knob when accessing the refrigerator. Less so with the freezer but I made this modification to both thermostats.

I cut a 2" ring of PVC tubing (measure the knob diameter to be sure) and used regular PVC glue to attach it to the thermostat box. You can still adjust as needed but the guard thwarts unintentional movements.

See below for the before and after......

Cool Idea mind if I steal it? My problem is if my knob gets bumped then refrigerator side then turns into freezer too. So I have to make sure to keep spill over fan off.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Cool Idea mind if I steal it?

Of course not! Knock yourself out!

 

[iwillmott]

Re: Michael G- here's another mod you might like.....

good idea for the control knob-being away from available hardware I had to use duct-tape...i kept turning the heat up or down-forget which-every time i reached for a cold one

 

[twiggy53]

Hi. I purchased one of the thermostats Bryce suggested. However I find the wiring diagram a bit confusing. Can anyone explain the wiring sequence of the terminals 12 -34-56. Not very handy with electrical wiring so an suggestions would be of great help. Thx Mike

 

[Erich14716]

This looks like it on eBay. Lots of eBay vendors sell this item; some from China and some from the USA. I have requested an email copy of the instruction book from one of them to be able to completely understand the programability of the unit before I purchase.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251131972150?var=550168659841&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I am unhappy with the performance and lifespan of the Adler-Barbour thermostats. They are about $36 each for the refer and the freezer and every one I have had installed has either failed to close or open- this causes the refrigeration to either not run or run continuously. A/B offers a digital thermostat for only about $200 or so. I spoke to another boater that actually had these electronic thermostats and they claimed that they worked well.

These refrigeration units should not be so problematic. I really hate to re-engineer systems because I believe that the designers should know more than I do about their product. But after a couple of thermostat replacements, I just gotta think there must be a better solution.

Gasketing on the doors and lids is another issue- and its not just as simple as slapping on some window gaskets from Home Depot. I have done that and while there is an improvement, it is nowhere near adequate. It seems as though the ice build-up on the plate decreases the heat conduction from the food to the plate causing poor performance.

Regarding the circulating fans- these work very well. I have a different design from the OP where the fan pulls air from the bottom of the box and shoots it across to the opposite corner. See pix below.

Hello Rich,
I have already built two of your design PVC fridge coolers and have purchased a digital fan. The big question when I get to the boat how do I wire them up.
Thanks for any info

 

[ttac]

Hi Bryce, I was looking a this post and I see you mounted your thermostat inside the fridge/freezer. I am planning on mounting mine in our freezer. But I am concerned about condensation! On our 42 passage we have two compressor units and they used the same control for freezer as they did in the fridge. So the coldest I can get the freezer is 24 degrees. That is why I'm changing our thermostat.
I really don't have a good place to put the thermostat outside the box. Without making a box for it to hide it!
Thanks for any input.
Dean