Funny sound from a 1990 ColdMachine...

[Tom Boles]

I have just purchased our first boat with refrigeration, a 1990 Hunter Vision 32. The system powers up and begins to cool the small bread-box shaped unit in the system (probably like the VD-150 Small Vertical Evaporator). However, after about 5 minutes, there is this faint noise, almost like a an intermittent scraping sound that I think comes from the evaporator. At first we thought it was coming from the mast, but it comes from the reefer evap unit. It sort of sounds like an occasional burble of something (the refrigerant?) moving through the evap unit. During the day, it's too faint to hear, but at night, with no other sounds, it's very obtrusive.I have not looked at the sight glass yet (should the unit have one?).Attached is a pic of the installed compressor. I will admit it's not the perfect location, But I think some venting will help....Any thoughts?

 

[Steve Dion]

You may want to have a specialist look at it but..

Tom:You may want to find someone in the bay area take a look at the unit and make sure that it is properly charged.What I have found it that if you have anything mechanical (pumps, compressors etc)that are hard fastened to the bulkheads, cabinets etc. They tend to echo the sound throughout the hull. It is like a halyard slapping on the mast, it sound like you are inside a drum as the halyard slaps. You may want to get some feet for the compressor to help isolate it from the cabinet.

 

[Tom Boles]

Thanks Steve-

Yes, I will need to look at how the compressor is mounted. I sort of think that the whole process should be a little more continuous, if the is the correct amount of magic fluid and the expansion valve is doing it's thing properly.Let's see if anyone from A/B looks in...

 

[Phil Williams]

Funny sound

The sound you are hearing is the gas expanding inside the evaporator, this is very normal. There is not a sight glass or an expansion valve on the ColdMachine. You are correct the unit does need to receive more ventilation than what is shown in the photograph.As far as stopping the noise while you sleep the only way to do this is to turn the unit off for those hours. Keep your ice box full and it has a better chance of retaining the cold during the off hours.

 

[Tom Boles]

Funny Sound -Thanks! & a follow-up question..

Phil-Thanks for your comments. We'll try putting some blue ice packs in the unit and see how it works overnight.Follow up-What kind of manual with specs & diagonistic info do you have for this vintage cold machine? I'd like to get something for my files & "just in case".Thanks!