Intermittent Adler Barbour problem

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Claude Labrecque

Adler Barbour super cold machine intermittent problem Some background information : Boat is a Hunter Legend 35.5, 1991 Our Adler Barbour model: SCM-15 Serial number: 3689 L Refrigerant: R-12 8 oz Water pump option not installed. Installation date, may 1991 Connected to main hunter electric panel on separate breaker Distance from compressor to electric panel about 15 feet Wire size Number 10, Problem happened while motoring, while plugged on shore power or while at anchor House battery capacity 450 amps. Installation under settee with 2 additional cooling fans. We use the boat every weekend and for 3 weeks of vacations in August. The system is on from mid May to mid October every year for the past 12 years without problems. Unfortunately, this new problem is intermittent and the situation evolved this summer. Here is a complete description. During normal operation, the unit cycling time is around 6 to 8 minutes on 8 to 10 minutes off. This keep the freezer (large vertical evaporator) frozen and the ice box to around 3 to 4 deg. The Hunter amp meter on main electric panel register around 8 amps while system is working. One day I heard the system working but the amp meter was only showing 4 amps. After closer evaluation, I noticed that only the fans were working. Surprised, I touched the evaporator in the icebox and it was no longer cold. I turned the panel breaker OFF and ON again and reading remained at 4 amps after fans start up. In this situation, when turning the breaker ON, putting my hand directly on the compressor, I can feel a slight noise and vibration but it does not seems to be the same as when the system is working properly, the fans are working without problems. Trying to solve this problem, I turned the breaker to OFF for about 40 minutes, ON again and everything went back to normal. I never noticed the problem again for several days. Then the same scenario became more frequent , once or twice every weekend or so. This past weekend we had the same problem during the night. I had thought it could be a temperature problem under the settee but the 2 additional fans improving cooling and the fact that this weekend it was around 60deg in the boat at night make me now think otherwise. I might be wrong! We might have a 6 sense but the problem woke me up at 3 am Saturday night. I could hear the fan working but I could not hear the refrigerant bubbling noise as I normally do in the evaporator. I listen to the fan for 30 minutes before switching the breaker to OFF. The evaporator was not cold in the icebox. In the middle of the night, while it was absolutely quite in the boat, I was waiting the usual 40 minutes before switching it back ON, suddenly, with the breaker in th OFF position, I heard the subtle noise of refrigerant starting to bubble in the evaporator! I turned the system back ON and everything came back to normal! What can be the cause of this problem??? Please we need help !
 
D

Don Berger

Cahrge?

You didn't mention it so I'll ask the obvious since your symptoms would indicate this - have you ruled out a refrigerant leak and checked to make sure you have the proper charge pressure? Don
 
C

Claude Labrecque

Refrigerant leak

At this point Don , I am not ruling out anything...It is a good question. Observing the compressor unit, touching the couplings pipes and joints on the unit, I did not found any oily, greasy spots or other deposits. Same at the evaporator end. Everything is bone dry. Should I look somehere else or perform a different test ? I do not have a clue how to check the charge pressure of the refrigerant, is there a gauge somewhere or a way to chekc this without removing the unit from the boat? If there is a leak, is the R-12 refrigerant still available from Adler Barbour or other service centers? Thanks for your imput
 
W

WAECO USA

module

Don, Replace the electronic control module with an Adler Barbour model AB3016. Sounds like yours has developed a noise circuit problem. Contact our customer care dept at 860-664-4911 or visit our website
 
Status
Not open for further replies.