refrigerator quit working

[doehunter]

Hey Sumner,(or anyone else) I'm hoping you might have a suggestion of what I might check.
My boat has been in the driveway since I used it two weeks ago.
I left the fridge running on AC power,but the DC cord connected as well.
I went there today to get something and I noticed the amp meter on zero, and no lights in my panel.
I found a blown fuse. Replaced it and blew the new one.
Then I noticed the fridge was off too. I unplugged the DC cord and replaced the DC fuse. Boat DC is good now.
I checked and found a tripped AC breaker. I reset it, and the fridge didn't come back on. I tested the extension cord with a drill. It's good.
So, the fridge didn't come on with AC and didn't trip the breaker, but it blows a 15 amp fuse on DC.(the temp light panel never came on either)
I didn't buy the extended warranty so I'm on my own.
I looked on line for a service manual and didn't find anything.
I have not contacted Edgestar yet.
Jim

 

[Sumner]

Sorry I can't help, but if it is any consolation I'd sometimes prefer something not working at all vs. intermittent. If you get into it I'd look for a burnt component or a wire or a burnt spot on a circuit board. These are regular compressor type frigs, so a regular refrigeration repair shop might be able to look at it if you get to a deadend.

We used ours in April driving down to the boat and used it in the boat for about a month before I got the frig I made installed and up and running in the boat. It ran a lot in the boat on 110 since it was so hot. Then we used it coming home again. It ran a lot in the vehicle on 12 volts. We spent a couple days at a friends house in Phoenix. Before running over to LA when I plugged it back in at his house the temp said 93 in it, but cooled into the 30's very quickly.

I've never had ours plugged into 110 and 12 volts at the same time, but if that has worked for you I doubt that did it. Good luck and let us know the outcome. I don't think I've ever found negative reviews on them, but quit reading after we got ours. Hopefully it is something small,

Sum

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[Model 70]

Check the website www.boatelectric.com and lookup Novakool install and repair. Troubleshooting tips apply to numerous brands. Use common sense and ask more questions if unsure on procedure.

 

[doehunter]

Thanks for your replies.
Yesterday I took the fridge home, opened it up and removed the ac/dc converter, and the dc/dc converter. Nothing obvious just looking at them.
They have model/part numbers on them and I did a Google search for those and came up empty. I did find the compressor on line but no US suppliers and no pricing. (Chinese)
The parts are still under warranty. EdgeStar finally said to take the fridge to a qualified repairman and if he says those parts need replacing, they will supply them under warranty.
They also told me that one of the parts is 90-180 day delivery!
So, it looks like my trip in October will be done using ice chests like I did last year.
Oh well.

 

[Sumner]

Sorry about that if we were closer you could use ours,

Sum

 

[doehunter]

Sorry about that if we were closer you could use ours,

Sum

That's mighty nice of you.

After this exercise, IF I get it fixed, I'll go ahead and use it but I think I might invest in one of those Yeti coolers.
I'll have to go back to dealing with ice but I think that one is by far the best insulated one I've seen and it wont stop working!
Jim

 

[Sumner]

That's mighty nice of you.

After this exercise, IF I get it fixed, I'll go ahead and use it but I think I might invest in one of those Yeti coolers.
I'll have to go back to dealing with ice but I think that one is by far the best insulated one I've seen and it wont stop working!
Jim

After making one for ...

...the Endeavour if our Mac one ever quits I'd make one for the Mac. It would cost about twice what the EdgeStar costs, but it is a cubic foot bigger and has a freezer section and uses way less than any of the portables, EdgeStar included. The secret though is...

...lots of insulation. More insulation than what the portables can incorporate and still have them portable. A person could cut way back on their electrical needs with one,

Sum

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[doehunter]

That's really cool.
You seem to be quite the handy one!
I'm skilled enough to make the frame an insulate it but I don't know the 1st thing about refrigeration. How did you figure out what components to use?
I suppose one could take a working fridge and move the working parts into a better insulated cabinet!

 

[Sumner]

....I'm skilled enough to make the frame an insulate it but I don't know the 1st thing about refrigeration. How did you figure out what components to use?

There aren't many working parts. You have an ....

...evaporator, that cools the box and is in the box. We chose one...

...that also serves the purpose as a freezer. There is a coolant line that goes from the evaporator in the box to the ...

...compressor/condenser that can be up to 6 feet from the box and you want it in a ventilated area that won't build a lot of heat. You connect the coolant line to the compressor and run 12 volts to it along with wiring from the thermostat in the box and you are done. That part is simple

I just finished documenting...

... the build of the one for the Endeavour...

...and the install in the boat itself. We used it for a couple months and love it. I might do the same in the Mac at some point. It isn't cheap at close to $1000 for all that you need, but it uses very little electricity compared to the portable you and we have so one could cut back some on solar which would save maybe $200 or so there or more. With that in mind the cost comes down near the portables and less when you consider how big it can be.

You can find the whole build/install, 10 pages worth, here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-inside-mods/inside-index.html

The box would be a different shape and the compressor would be located differently, but it could be done on a Mac with great results,

Sum

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[Kestle]

Seriously Sum, I'd add a thermal insulator like tile on the wood and a supplemental fan with a filter for dust. That is asking for heat trouble. I don't think you'll get proper heat dissipation n the tropics.

Jeff

 

[Sumner]

Seriously Sum, I'd add a thermal insulator like tile on the wood and a supplemental fan with a filter for dust. That is asking for heat trouble. I don't think you'll get proper heat dissipation n the tropics.

Jeff

Not sure what you are talking about? Not going to the tropics. Worked fine in Florida in the summer though for 2 months with 80-85 deg. cabin heat,

Sum

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[Kestle]

85? That's not a test...it's not even warm. My BBQ was 110 inside today without the tank attached and it's silver colored stainless!

. Jeff

 

[Sumner]

85? That's not a test...it's not even warm. My BBQ was 110 inside today without the tank attached and it's silver colored stainless!

. Jeff

But what was it inside the house and even at the BBQ I'll bet the humidity wasn't in the 90's. I was surprise that the record high for where the boat is on the west coast is only around 100 actual. Tomorrow there they are calling for a high of 92 but say that it will feel like 107!! Here in Utah tomorrow it is suppose to be 84 and feel like 84 and I've seen it feel like 5 to 10 deg. under the current temp here and I'll bet you have in CA also .

Ruth and I were talking to day about wanting to be gone from FL in the future by June 1st. The interior of the boat there should never be much over 85 if we can get out of there by then,

Sum

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[MrBill_FLL]

...

Ruth and I were talking to day about wanting to be gone from FL in the future by June 1st. The interior of the boat there should never be much over 85 if we can get out of there by then,

Sum
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/macgregor-links-1.html

yep. its the humidity that gets you.

it only gets up to low to mid 90's but the humidity and sun are brutal.

its like some throws a switch in the spring and the cold fronts stop coming down and the winds are out of the E - SE.

 

[Sumner]

yep. its the humidity that gets you. ....

Humidity is actually too weak of a word for the water in the air down there. I grew up in humidity by St. Louis. In Florida it is just wet air. We would take a shower at the club house and as you dried the water from the shower off you were instantly covered on the other side of the towel like water hitting the windshield behind the wiper blade in a driving rain storm.

The sun intensity also really surprised me. We are at 6,000 ft at home and the sun is intense here due to the thinner atmosphere, but I guess since it is so dry it just doesn't seem as intense as down there.

Two of the things I like about FL (at least the southwest coast) is the lack of smog compared to a lot of the rest of the country. I guess the air coming in off the Gulf is responsible for that.

The other thing is the magnificent cloud formations. I guess since you are at sea level vs. 6000 feet they just seem to tower so much higher. We really enjoy the clouds down there and that makes up a lot for not having mountain ranges on the horizon.

We are very happy at home, so the boat is about as close as we will come to becoming FL residents ,

Sum

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[vizwhiz]

The other thing is the magnificent cloud formations. I guess since you are at sea level vs. 6000 feet they just seem to tower so much higher. We really enjoy the clouds down there and that makes up a lot for not having mountain ranges on the horizon.

Yeah, we call the clouds our mountains...that's one of the things I explained to my wife when moving her from the SoCentral US to Florida...we have these awesome clouds that stand up on their ends and are flat on the bottoms...and the sun shines down between them...and they...

Being a native of Miami, I miss the clouds down there...the south part of the state has the best cloud formations. I always stare at them when I'm down in Naples because they look so much prettier than the ones we have in central FL...but even these are better than clouds in other parts of the country. :dance:

Sum, we usually consider "season" for snowbirds to be Thanksgiving-to-Easter. Of course, it varies somewhat from place to place, but essentially it's not quite cool enough until mid-late November, then it starts to heat up again in April (by May it's too hot) and the bugs come out again too by then. Have you checked on yer Endeavor since Isaac came through? I'll be heading down there this week or next week...could probably swing by.

 

[Sumner]

. Have you checked on yer Endeavor since Isaac came through? I'll be heading down there this week or next week...could probably swing by.

No I was hoping that it wasn't as bad as Debbie, but if you are going and have the time that would be good. The key is at the office and they close a 4 weekdays and noon sat. now.

There is a guy that is a couple boats down that is there living/working on his boat off and on. He was going to check, but I haven't heard from him yet.

I think we got the major bilge leak fix that came from the guy leaving the cockpit hoses draining inside the hull vs. outside . Still it would be nice to know the solar panel is still there and the bilge is ok.

You still have our home phone? Let me know if you can go by and if you could call while there and thanks,

Sum

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[vizwhiz]

I'll shoot you a PM when I know my schedule...

 

[Sumner]

I'll shoot you a PM when I know my schedule...

Sounds good, thanks,

Sum

 

[doehunter]

Hey yall,
Update on my fridge adventure.
I kinda let it set because I was expecting the mfg. to balk at fixing my fridge.
I finally got up the nerve to email them and told them about what happened.
MAN AM I STUPID sometimes!
The service tech said it sounded like the ac transformer and the dc/dc converter were both shot. He sent me the prices for replacements. I informed him that the parts are still under warranty. He only asked me to have it checked out by a AC/Fridge repairman and then he would send the parts.
I finally did, and lo and behold the parts are on the way. WOO HOO!

When I 1st bought the fridge it didn't work right and after a few emails and some frustration, they replaced it with a new one. Now they're sending parts under warranty on the second one. After looking around on the net I found quite a few negative posts about the "after the sale service" from Living Direct and Edgestar.
Well I can say that my experience has been different.
I'm not sure if the second failure was my fault or not. It could/might have been. There was a lot of water in my boat from it setting over night with a leak. Being inclined on the boat ramp MIGHT have momentarily submerged the electrical parts that later failed.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell yall, if you're thinking about putting a fridge on your boat, that these seem to be good people to deal with and the fridge will even freeze if you want it to.
To Sumner,
Do you leave your fridge in the boat all the time? And do you run it all the time when your at home? I was doing that so I would have cold drinks when ever I went to the boat and it would always be ready to go.
Maybe I should just run it when I'm on the boat?