I give up trying to make the original built-in freezer/refrigerator combination to work. Can't get the freezer to freeze even after adding additional insulation and a larger compressor/evaporator so have decided to install a refrigerator/freezer module (i.e., Norcold, Coolmatic, etc...) Has anyone out there had any success doing this and if so, what size (i.e., 2.7 cu ft, 3.6 cu ft, 3.8 cu ft, etc??). Thanks.
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I gave up on mine. It did hold frozen food and ice ok, but was never all that good on things like ice cream or freezing unfrozen food. However, I did find that if you turn the freezer on to the most minimum setting, the freezer compartment made a really good wine storage refrigerator. It holds a great temp for wines and Champagnes.
Refrigerator - Hunter 433
Didn't think about a wine cooler. Just might work quite well. But this still doesn't answer my question to replacing the two "boxes" with one refrigerator/freezer module. Right now I have a full set of Frigiboat AND Adler Barbour (at least I think that is what the second one is) compressors and evaporators that I have no idea what to do with other than use them for anchors. Thanks for the insight.
You might consider Technautics. We have had the cool blue 12v cold plate system for 5 years and love it. Very low amp draw and the bottom of the freezer box is 0 degrees, mid point of the freezer is at 14 degrees and the fridge stays at about 38 degrees.
http://www.technauticsinc.com
http://www.technauticsinc.com
Refrigerator - Hunter 433
Thanks for the info. I did try a holding plat (waco barber?) but it would not fit in the freezer. I also could not fit it with the "arrow" pointing up, again because of the restricted constraints of the freezer box. The unit did not work as specified so I replaced it with a evaporator. Doesn't work. That is the reason I am trying to replace everything with a built-in unit. I will give Technautics a call though and see if they might have any suggestions. Thanks again. Skip
Dick,
Thanks for the info. I did try a holding plat (waco barber?) but it would not fit in the freezer. I also could not fit it with the "arrow" pointing up, again because of the restricted constraints of the freezer box. The unit did not work as specified so I replaced it with a evaporator. Doesn't work. That is the reason I am trying to replace everything with a built-in unit. I will give Technautics a call though and see if they might have any suggestions. Thanks again. Skip
Skip: We also had a Technautics unit in our previous boat. If you talk to Randy, he can usually come up with something for you. They were making all of the holding plates in their own shop several years ago (no junk from offshore).
I have never seen the advantage of having an AC/DC unit on a boat. When we are plugged into shore power, our battery charger charges the batteries and keeps the refrigeration going. Having a unit that runs off of AC power, just seems to complicate the entire system.
If you decide to look at the Isotherm units, you may contact Joe at e-Marine Inc in Fl. http://www.e-marine-inc.com/ I believe that they have both evap plates and holding plates for their units.
I have never seen the advantage of having an AC/DC unit on a boat. When we are plugged into shore power, our battery charger charges the batteries and keeps the refrigeration going. Having a unit that runs off of AC power, just seems to complicate the entire system.
If you decide to look at the Isotherm units, you may contact Joe at e-Marine Inc in Fl. http://www.e-marine-inc.com/ I believe that they have both evap plates and holding plates for their units.
Refrigerator - Hunter 433
All,
Thanks for the information and insight. Looks like I will give this little adventure one more season to see if I can actually get it to work as it sits.
Happy sailing.
Skip
All,
Thanks for the information and insight. Looks like I will give this little adventure one more season to see if I can actually get it to work as it sits.
Happy sailing.
Skip
Here's one more thing to try in the event you haven't already done so. Place a rack in the freezer that will hold the food off the bottom and away from the sides, especially the cold plates. We had the same issue in a Beneteau and saw a marked improvement once we allowed air to circulate around the food.
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