Freezer Failure

[Panamax]

The freezer in my 2005 Hunter 36 appears to have given up the ghost. Only keeps things luke warm now. Started after the freezer had been on battery power all night. Now the compressor runs but very minimal cooling. A few questions:

1. Could this be caused by operating the freezer while heeled during a robust sail?
2. Are the repairable?
3. If not repairable, how the heck do you get the darn thing out to replace it?
4. Where can I find a replacement?

Thanks!

 

[woodster]

When is the last time you defrosted it.......there is a guy named Richard Kollman on here that is as good as it gets on these things

 

[Panamax]

It was not on long enough to frost up. Had been off for the winter season. Started using it again in May and it was initially working fine.

 

[Bill Roosa]

May is pretty cool, is the unit air or water cooled. If the condenser (part near the compressor not in the freezer) is air cooled check that it is not full of dust/lint. If water cooled check that the water pump is actually pumping water. Had a 37.5 that would loose prime when on a port tack and you would have to take off the hose to get watter to the pump before it would prime again. moved the intake lower in the boat to solve the problem.
good luck

 

[Panamax]

This is actually one of those mini-freezers like you might find in an office. Looks like it's just slid into a hole and bolted down somehow.

 

[Panamax]

More on the freezer problem. The freezer will not work in ac or DC mode. It runs for about 30 seconds or so, the shuts off, then in just a few seconds, kicks on again. This process is repeated until the power is killed. Any ideas?

 

[ben solomon]

You are out of refrigerant. It shuts off to not overheat.

 

[Panamax]

Thanks Ben. I've looked all over the web. No mention of that one.

 

[ben solomon]

I have a frigoboat fridge with a danfoss compressor. I had the same symptom. Got a technician to put gauges on it and the refrigerant was gone. It leaked out two seasons in a row. Got the tech to change the quick disconnects to regular threaded connections and so far so good. Richard Kollman is definitely the expert, not me.

 

[Panamax]

I wonder if this is a possible do-it-yourself job?

 

[ben solomon]

I thought about it myself. The issue is the amount of refrigerant is very delicate. Too much and you over pressurize the system, too little it doesn't work. It's a very fine line and I've discovered it's best to leave that to people that do it for a living everyday. Besides, special gauges are required and at least where we live there are certain environmental regulations about trapping escaped gas etc. It cost me $1,000 in total to remedy, but....in 100 degrees in the Chesapeake this weekend, my stuff was cold! The admiral was happy, my kids and their friends were happy.....priceless! We even had ice cubes for Mojitos!!

 

[Stu Jackson]

http://www.kollmann-marine.com/Performance problems.aspx

 

[Panamax]

Nice! Really wanted the freezer for the trip to the San Juans next week. No ice for me.