Author Topic: New Fridge ideas (Read 14150 times)

singlefish · « **on:** April 07 2015, 14:15 »

Ok throwing in the towel ,

Bavaria 38 2003 existing fridge , coolmatic series 80 with VD15 evaporator

guess its done its due and not knowing much have decided to replace , prob with another waeco , but not same unit as guess overspec for west coast of scotland , something that will make ice too woould be nice , and fit in space without mods would be ideal , anyone done this

old unit regassed with new thermostat and fans top and bottom will be for sale for spares or repair on completion if anyone interested .

Thanks in anticipation

singlefish · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07 2015, 15:08 »

would a waeco cu55 fit and do the job

?

any ideas on volume of coolbox

Anthony · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08 2015, 01:49 »

I have placed an Engel portable fridge/freezer on the seat at the nav desk. I installed a simple lap-only seat belt, bolted discretely to the timber under the desk and the rear cabin bulkhead; this keeps the unit in place and it is easy to unbuckle and lift the unit off if I need to get to the locker under the seat. Obviously I have removed the seat cushion and stored it at home. The Engel is powered by the nearby 12volt cigarette lighter plug and the 240volt shore system also at that location.
Can send pic if required.

singlefish · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10 2015, 15:15 »

Am I only one to replac efridge

, if so , perhaps need to think again and throw more cash at it to get working properly

Stuart · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10 2015, 20:32 »

Hi Singlefish I replaced our fridge with a Frigoboat system and have been quite happy with it.
I also improved the insulation, installed vents in the locker and vented the heat away from the compressor area, added seals and installed slide bolts to secure the lid better than just gravity, hope that helps?

singlefish · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11 2015, 11:51 »

Hi Stuart

What unit did you fit ,any mods needed, what boat do you have ,

Cheers

Stuart · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15 2015, 04:54 »

Hi Singlefish it was the smaller compressor and the biggest mod was adding more insulation, we have a bavaria 42 cruiser

patprice · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15 2015, 05:13 »

Gooday Stuart...I also have a Bav 42 Cruiser based in Ionian Islands. hot, very hot, in summer and the fridge struggles, or rather the battery charging systems struggle.
You added more insulation. Did you have to modify the box ? Or were you able to fit better insulation around the existing box ?
I also have a yacht in Tasmania, a Swanson 36, which has a similar fridge. In cooler seasons it takes about 20 AH of power to keep it at 4 deg. C, but in summer about 50 AH. Clearly, insulation would make a difference.
It's all a bit annoying as insulation is relatively cheap, easy to fit during an initial installation. Only downside is volume. How big a fridge does one need? Mine are far to big !
Pat

Spirit of Mary · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15 2015, 22:26 »

On my BAV 38 2003 I added PU foam around the outside of the box. The sides and the front via the front panel, which on my boat I can remove. To add the PU foam at the backside around the box I drilled holes from the inside in a pattern such that I hope the foam spreads to fill all the voids. After filling I closed the holes with white plastic covers. At the inside of the box the top is not insulated at all. I added 3 cm thick isolating plates to the top from the inside, including the cover. Further I glued a hollow O-ring in the edge of the cover through which I got a much better tight closure. I think I reduced the running time of the compressor almost to half of before.

Ger

patprice · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15 2015, 23:03 »

Hi Ger.....that sounds like a job well done. When I get back to Greece (only 4 weeks away now and starting to get a bit cold in Tasmania) I will investigate a similar approach on Penelope.

What I did do towards the end of last summer was to turn off the fridge overnight. This was mostly satisfactory, and allowed for a coldie late in the day, but some foods do not like that.

Pat

Spirit of Mary · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15 2015, 23:28 »

Pat,
My boat is also in a hot Mediterranean environment near Alicante Spain.
I can place some pictures tomorrow evening
Before I increased the isolation I increased also the ventilation openings in the lower part of the front panel where the compressor and condensor is located. I used wooden ventilation frames which I found in a Dutch store. The ventilation area is now more than 200 cm2, which is minimum required acc. the Waeco manual.
gr,
Ger

Stuart · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16 2015, 02:21 »

Quote from: patprice on April 15 2015, 05:13

Gooday Stuart...I also have a Bav 42 Cruiser based in Ionian Islands. hot, very hot, in summer and the fridge struggles, or rather the battery charging systems struggle.
You added more insulation. Did you have to modify the box ? Or were you able to fit better insulation around the existing box ?
I also have a yacht in Tasmania, a Swanson 36, which has a similar fridge. In cooler seasons it takes about 20 AH of power to keep it at 4 deg. C, but in summer about 50 AH. Clearly, insulation would make a difference.
It's all a bit annoying as insulation is relatively cheap, easy to fit during an initial installation. Only downside is volume. How big a fridge does one need? Mine are far to big !
Pat

Hi Pat
I was able to cut the bottom of the fridge (Plywood inside where the compressor is installed and was able to put insulation around all the sides and at the bottom of the fridge. I used a Festool to cut out the plywood handy tool for tight places.
I also aded seals and insulation to the lid.
In the Bahamas it now runs for say 3/4 hour then sits idle for say 2 to 2 1/2 hours
Good luck

Baltic · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16 2015, 06:16 »

Hi

Bav 39 Cruiser -06.

Fridge look like this w/o front panel.
Space for extra insulation.
Both sides 15-20mm. , Back app. 20 to 60mm , Front. No more 10mm

Lazy Pelican · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16 2015, 14:13 »

Hi Baltic,

I also have a B39-2006. How did you remove the front panel?
I couldn't see any way to do this, so resorted to adding insulation (50mm blueboard) to the inside, but if I can insulate the outside also so much the better.

John

Spirit of Mary · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16 2015, 20:48 »

As promised the pictures:
1 -extra ventilation in the front panel.
2 - left and right outside additional PU foam approx 3 cm.
3 - Front isolated with PU foam ~3 cm
4 -backside isolated with PU foam via holes from the inside, thickness unknown.
5 -topside isolation picture from inside with cover closed.
6 -cross section of topside isolation and cover closing details (Dutch language)
7 -cover isolation with hollow o-ring in the edge.

Ger

patprice · « **Reply #15 on:** April 16 2015, 22:57 »

Wow thanks for all the above...look like great improvements.
Cheers especially Ger and Stuart.
Pat

landes_h · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17 2015, 08:50 »

Quote from: Lazy Pelican on April 16 2015, 14:13

Hi Baltic,

I also have a B39-2006. How did you remove the front panel?
I couldn't see any way to do this, so resorted to adding insulation (50mm blueboard) to the inside, but if I can insulate the outside also so much the better.

John

YES, same question from me to all the foam sprayers !!
How the h*** did you remove the front panel? There are no screws visible. Is it glued to the frame ?? Destructive removal

.
HELP

Baltic · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17 2015, 12:22 »

Hi

I will take some extra photo during weekend.
And as well send more info/instructions how to remove panel.

"Is it glued to the frame ??"

No.
Fixed only by screws..

Spirit of Mary · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17 2015, 20:57 »

My BAV 38 is building year 2003. The panel is one piece, so also required to reach the compressor and accessories. This must be removable. And mine is, with 4 screws.
I understand newer versions of Bavaria's have a separate panel below just to reach the compressor. So there is normally no need to remove the top panel. This might be glued on (just an assumption). No idea to get this off without damage.

Ger

Tikitikitwo · « **Reply #19 on:** April 18 2015, 08:01 »

i did the same mods as Ger but i also moved the compressor from beneath the fridge on the locker under the oven. But you have to dismantle the front wooden panel. I changed the condenser fan and added one on the front panel with two computer silent (very silent) fans. I cut a portion of the top panel of wood (pic 3 before) so air flows from the front to the rear of the locker that is open behind the cooker.
Now the compressor runs 20 min/ hour. (north Adriatic)
maurizio

Spirit of Mary · « **Reply #20 on:** April 18 2015, 20:58 »

Quote from: Stuart on April 10 2015, 20:32

Hi Singlefish I replaced our fridge with a Frigoboat system and have been quite happy with it.
I also improved the insulation, installed vents in the locker and vented the heat away from the compressor area, added seals and installed slide bolts to secure the lid better than just gravity, hope that helps?

Stuart,
How are your slide bolts looking like? Do you have a picture?
My hollow o-ring, which I put in the edge of the cover needs some extra force apart from the lid gravity, to sufficiently deform.

Ger

Stuart · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19 2015, 02:46 »

Hi Ger
I'll take some pics of the fridge and post them ASAP

Baltic · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20 2015, 07:08 »

Quote from: landes_h on April 17 2015, 08:50

Quote from: Lazy Pelican on April 16 2015, 14:13
Hi Baltic,

I also have a B39-2006. How did you remove the front panel?
I couldn't see any way to do this, so resorted to adding insulation (50mm blueboard) to the inside, but if I can insulate the outside also so much the better.

John

YES, same question from me to all the foam sprayers !!
How the h*** did you remove the front panel? There are no screws visible. Is it glued to the frame ?? Destructive removal .
HELP

Some photos.
It is fixed by using plastic corners and screws. 7 pcs
Just cut of screws by using metal saw blade. Numbers 1-5 (picture 1_7.jpg)
2 last one is possible to open by using extreme long screw driver.
Numbers 1-2. You have use little bit force the get enough space for saw blade.
(Use example larger screw driver as wedge.)

Better use some tape to protect wood parts when saw.

Last pic.
I have plan to add extra insulation bottom of the box.
Not inside but outside.
Probably bottom is most important. Not lid of the box.
Cold air is dropping down.
As we have used to see there in supermarkets.
Typically freezers are at all without any lid.

IMG_2534_.jpg Empty space behind of the box.
IMG_2536_.jpg Inspection holes.

Ziffius · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20 2015, 16:33 »

Hi Baltic, how on earth did you figure out how to get that front panel off? Looking at the 'fridge' it's a wonder it manages to keep anything cold the way it's installed. There is no way my wife would let me have a go at the front panel but maybe I can at least get some foam round the back and below.

Lazy Pelican · « **Reply #24 on:** April 20 2015, 17:59 »

Thanks Baltic- I'll investigate when I get back to my boat tomorrow.

John