Re: [Cal_Boats] Fridge Question

In a message dated 9/6/2011 12:11:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mi… [at] wahini.org writes: Paul, If it is a seawater cooled unit, ensure that water is flowing and not clogged with critters. If it is air-cooled, ensure that the fan works and that the cooling fins don't have a dead cat stuck in them. It is air cooled and located just behind the bulkhead where the fridge is partially up into the void of the coaming . . . which, if the engine is running would likely be a very hot space although the engine vent is about 6' behind it for what its worth. I will check the vents for dead mammals however ;-). Then I would consider the coolant issue. Many units don't have service ports and came sealed. I hope you don't run into that issue as service ports would need to be installed to be able to charge the system. It's not that big of a deal to do, but money that would need to be spent to have it done correctly. I was told by an auto mechanic/sailor that refridgerant does not wear out or go bad, it eventually leaks out somewhere. I don't know how old it is, how many amps it draws or any technical info on it. May be better off to replace rather than repair an outdated unit. Boat show is here in a few weeks, maybe there will be a good deal there. Also, one last thing, my boat had a new fridge in it and it wouldn't ever shut off either. It turns out that the PO insulated the box with owens-corning fiberglass insulation. Yes, the pink stuff. It had absorbed moisture from all the condensation and fell into a soggy mess at the bottom of the box enclosure. Check your insulation. Yeah, will do. It appears whatever is there is original as I see no signs of tampering. Thanks! Paul

Paul, Check the cooling fins that the fan blows over in addition to the vent for that area. I have seen quite a few that were clogged with lint on the blown side but you couldn't tell from looking at it from behind. As for refrigerant leaks, 10:1 odds that if you have one, it's a flare nut fitting that has worked slightly loose over the years. A few turns of the wrench will fix that one. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water just because of a leak. If it runs, keeps things cool and doesn't grind loudly it will probably last a long time. Would you replace an engine merely because it leaked oil at the drain pan? Of course not. Something I didn't consider because I assumed... Where's your thermostat set? Could someone have thought you needed colder beer and turned it to max? It might be set at a temperature it cannot attain. The thermocouple may not be sending the proper temp to the controller and/or the temp controller could be on the fritz. Just some more things to consider... Now I'm curious as to what it turns out to be... Good luck! On 9/6/2011 12:56 PM, pw… [at] aol.com wrote: > > > In a message dated 9/6/2011 12:11:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > mi… [at] wahini.org writes: > > Paul, > If it is a seawater cooled unit, ensure that water is flowing and > not clogged with critters. If it is air-cooled, ensure that the > fan works and that the cooling fins don't have a dead cat stuck in > them. > > It is air cooled and located just behind the bulkhead where the fridge > is partially up into the void of the coaming . . . which, if the > engine is running would likely be a very hot space although the engine > vent is about 6' behind it for what its worth. I will check the vents > for dead mammals however ;-). > > Then I would consider the coolant issue. Many units don't have > service ports and came sealed. I hope you don't run into that > issue as service ports would need to be installed to be able to > charge the system. It's not that big of a deal to do, but money > that would need to be spent to have it done correctly. > > I was told by an auto mechanic/sailor that refridgerant does not wear > out or go bad, it eventually leaks out somewhere. I don't know how > old it is, how many amps it draws or any technical info on it. May be > better off to replace rather than repair an outdated unit. Boat show > is here in a few weeks, maybe there will be a good deal there. > > Also, one last thing, my boat had a new fridge in it and it > wouldn't ever shut off either. It turns out that the PO insulated > the box with owens-corning fiberglass insulation. Yes, the pink > stuff. It had absorbed moisture from all the condensation and fell > into a soggy mess at the bottom of the box enclosure. Check your > insulation. > > Yeah, will do. It appears whatever is there is original as I see no > signs of tampering. > Thanks! > Paul > > >

In a message dated 9/6/2011 1:28:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mi… [at] wahini.org writes: Paul, <Check the cooling fins that the fan blows over in addition to the vent for that area. I have seen quite a few that were clogged with lint on the blown side but you couldn't tell from looking at it from behind. > Will get down there with my air compressor an blow around it. When we bought the boat is was pretty dirty in places that don't get looked at a lot. <As for refrigerant leaks, 10:1 odds that if you have one, it's a flare nut fitting that has worked slightly loose over the years. A few turns of the wrench will fix that one. > Have not seen it any obvious leaks but will look closer and get my inspection mirror out. <Don't throw the baby out with the bath water just because of a leak. If it runs, keeps things cool and doesn't grind loudly it will probably last a long time. Would you replace an engine merely because it leaked oil at the drain pan? Of course not.> No, but if I could buy e a new one for a little more than the cost of repair I would ;-) <Something I didn't consider because I assumed... Where's your thermostat set? > Good question . . . we rarely use it as we mostly race. I don't know that I've ever messed with it. <Could someone have thought you needed colder beer and turned it to max? > Beer can always be colder so I may have done that LOL <It might be set at a temperature it cannot attain. > Which begs the question why they'd put a temp on there that is unattainable? Actually I think the knob just has a setting of 1-10 not an actual temp. <The thermocouple may not be sending the proper temp to the controller and/or the temp controller could be on the fritz. Just some more things to consider... Now I'm curious as to what it turns out to be...> I'll let you know, thanks again! <Good luck!> Thanks, can't have enough of that ;-)

Which begs the question why they'd put a temp on there that is unattainable? Actually I think the knob just has a setting of 1-10 not an actual temp. Remember that Spinal Tap had an amp that had a volume knob that went up to 11. They really appreciated the extra volume. Cheers Charlie From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of pw… [at] aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 1:42 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Fridge Question In a message dated 9/6/2011 1:28:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mi… [at] wahini.org writes: Paul, <Check the cooling fins that the fan blows over in addition to the vent for that area. I have seen quite a few that were clogged with lint on the blown side but you couldn't tell from looking at it from behind. > Will get down there with my air compressor an blow around it. When we bought the boat is was pretty dirty in places that don't get looked at a lot. <As for refrigerant leaks, 10:1 odds that if you have one, it's a flare nut fitting that has worked slightly loose over the years. A few turns of the wrench will fix that one. > Have not seen it any obvious leaks but will look closer and get my inspection mirror out. <Don't throw the baby out with the bath water just because of a leak. If it runs, keeps things cool and doesn't grind loudly it will probably last a long time. Would you replace an engine merely because it leaked oil at the drain pan? Of course not.> No, but if I could buy e a new one for a little more than the cost of repair I would ;-) <Something I didn't consider because I assumed... Where's your thermostat set? > Good question . . . we rarely use it as we mostly race. I don't know that I've ever messed with it. <Could someone have thought you needed colder beer and turned it to max? > Beer can always be colder so I may have done that LOL <It might be set at a temperature it cannot attain. > Which begs the question why they'd put a temp on there that is unattainable? Actually I think the knob just has a setting of 1-10 not an actual temp. <The thermocouple may not be sending the proper temp to the controller and/or the temp controller could be on the fritz. Just some more things to consider... Now I'm curious as to what it turns out to be...> I'll let you know, thanks again! <Good luck!> Thanks, can't have enough of that ;-)