I have a 4 year old AB cold machine which last year began to run continuously after sailing. If I turn the unit off for 30 minutes it will run normally. The problem has not shown up when the boat is left in the slip so I assume that it must have something to do with the boat heeling. Have you ever run into anything like this? Thanks for the great forum.
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Sometimes runs when it should not.
This is a common problem on boat with systems that are water cooled but the Adler Barbour it is always air cooled and even the Super Cold Machine that has supplemental water cooling still works without water cooling. I don’t think there is a problem with the refrigeration system if there is frost over 100% of the evaporator and the condenser fan is running and you have cleaned the condenser coil. I would check for ice/frost build up inside the thermostat or a loose thermostat capillary tube at the clamp on the side of the evaporator.
This is a common problem on boat with systems that are water cooled but the Adler Barbour it is always air cooled and even the Super Cold Machine that has supplemental water cooling still works without water cooling. I don’t think there is a problem with the refrigeration system if there is frost over 100% of the evaporator and the condenser fan is running and you have cleaned the condenser coil. I would check for ice/frost build up inside the thermostat or a loose thermostat capillary tube at the clamp on the side of the evaporator.
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Hayden Watson
Why only when sailing
Do you have any idea why this only happens when I am sailing? I have left the boat for up to three weeks and come back with the frig cycling normally. Then I go out for a quick sail and the thing will run continuously all night. If I don’t notice it and shut the unit off for a half hour it drains my batteries fast. I have also noticed that when it is running continuously, the temperature in the box goes up enough that the ice in the freezer unit will start to melt. My wife thinks that the evaporator has frost on the full height. ( She is in there a lot more than I am.) When it is cycling normally it only runs about 30% of the time. Hopefully this will help in figuring out what is happening. If this can’t be fixed, have you ever heard of an electronic circuit that will shut the unit of at a fixed interval to let it defrost?
Do you have any idea why this only happens when I am sailing? I have left the boat for up to three weeks and come back with the frig cycling normally. Then I go out for a quick sail and the thing will run continuously all night. If I don’t notice it and shut the unit off for a half hour it drains my batteries fast. I have also noticed that when it is running continuously, the temperature in the box goes up enough that the ice in the freezer unit will start to melt. My wife thinks that the evaporator has frost on the full height. ( She is in there a lot more than I am.) When it is cycling normally it only runs about 30% of the time. Hopefully this will help in figuring out what is happening. If this can’t be fixed, have you ever heard of an electronic circuit that will shut the unit of at a fixed interval to let it defrost?
Now there is a new problem it runs but quits cooli
I don’t know why it quits cooling when sailing except the boats motion or healing angle has something to do with it. I don’t want to jump to the conclusion that something inside the compressor is floating around and blocking refrigerant flow. I think the answer is external to the refrigerant system. Can some object in the area of the condensing unit sometimes block the airflow or stop the fan? If there is no air blockage the fan must be stopping, when this no cooling with compressor running problem occurs. The next time this no cooling condition happens you need to inspect the fan and the volume of air flow. These Muffin fans have maybe twenty transistors inside them vibration might cause an old fan to overheated and slow down. When the compressor pumps refrigerant and the fan cooled condenser disposes of the process heat, the box will get colder.
I don’t know why it quits cooling when sailing except the boats motion or healing angle has something to do with it. I don’t want to jump to the conclusion that something inside the compressor is floating around and blocking refrigerant flow. I think the answer is external to the refrigerant system. Can some object in the area of the condensing unit sometimes block the airflow or stop the fan? If there is no air blockage the fan must be stopping, when this no cooling with compressor running problem occurs. The next time this no cooling condition happens you need to inspect the fan and the volume of air flow. These Muffin fans have maybe twenty transistors inside them vibration might cause an old fan to overheated and slow down. When the compressor pumps refrigerant and the fan cooled condenser disposes of the process heat, the box will get colder.
H
Hayden Watson
Question
One more question. If the problem is caused by a bad transistor, why would shutting the unit off for a while get it to work normally again?
One more question. If the problem is caused by a bad transistor, why would shutting the unit off for a while get it to work normally again?
There is a solution here somewhere
How could the problem be the fan, because I am grabbing at straws to keep from blaming the problem on refrigerant flow. When the box starts to warm up are you sure the compressor is still running, or are you hearing the fan and thinking the noise is the compressor running?
How could the problem be the fan, because I am grabbing at straws to keep from blaming the problem on refrigerant flow. When the box starts to warm up are you sure the compressor is still running, or are you hearing the fan and thinking the noise is the compressor running?
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Hayden Watson
good question
Thanks for all the effort on this weird problem. I will be out at the boat this weekend. How do you tell if the compressor is running? I can hear the fan, but there aren’t any visible moving parts. Is there anything that I can look for this weekend? I have had a similar thing happen on my RV air conditioner if I try to get too cool on a humid day. In this case, it seams to be the evaporator freezing up with condensation. When I turn it to fan only it gradually gets cooler at the ice melts and lets the air through. As it does, the water really flows out of the unit. After a while, I turn it back to cool and all is well. However, if I understand the system correctly, the evaporator can’t freeze up on a refridg.
Thanks for all the effort on this weird problem. I will be out at the boat this weekend. How do you tell if the compressor is running? I can hear the fan, but there aren’t any visible moving parts. Is there anything that I can look for this weekend? I have had a similar thing happen on my RV air conditioner if I try to get too cool on a humid day. In this case, it seams to be the evaporator freezing up with condensation. When I turn it to fan only it gradually gets cooler at the ice melts and lets the air through. As it does, the water really flows out of the unit. After a while, I turn it back to cool and all is well. However, if I understand the system correctly, the evaporator can’t freeze up on a refridg.
Is compressor running and A/C airflow
These compressors are very quiet and the vibration is only a slight hum. 1. If there is a DC ammeter on the house buss a 3 to 5 amp current draw will be indicated when the compressor is running. 2. The vibration can be felt when you touch the compressor. 3. I stop the fan with my finger and then I can hear the compressor running. There is restricted air flow through you’re A/C evaporator that’s why it is frosting over. Have you changed ALL the air filters and vacuumed out the evaporator coil?
These compressors are very quiet and the vibration is only a slight hum. 1. If there is a DC ammeter on the house buss a 3 to 5 amp current draw will be indicated when the compressor is running. 2. The vibration can be felt when you touch the compressor. 3. I stop the fan with my finger and then I can hear the compressor running. There is restricted air flow through you’re A/C evaporator that’s why it is frosting over. Have you changed ALL the air filters and vacuumed out the evaporator coil?
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