400EC refrigerator replacement?

[Air O'Nautical]

Ok, who has replaced the Norcold in a 1992-1999 400EC?
Mine magically stopped working...

I like the Vitrifrigo 2600 but, will it fit?
The 400EC has no room to add spacer trim if it won't fit the original spot.

I tried searching but didn't see any 400EC replacements.

Pleasure boating,

Mark.

 

[Searaybio270]

I put the Vitrigrigo in mine and I love it. Mine fit fine.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

I put the Vitrigrigo in mine and I love it. Mine fit fine.

Cool our boats are the same so.....how did it get thru the cabin door?

Any problem mounting it in the original spot?

I've been lucky up til now as the Norcold was ok but, nothing lasts forever.

Thanks for the help,

Mark.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

I put the Vitrigrigo in mine and I love it. Mine fit fine.

Hey Joe,

I tried to PM but, mailbox is full.


So,
How did your cabin door come out to install the new fridge?
I see the new fridge in several pics installed in the 400EC but, that cabin door has got to come out to get the new fridge down there.....I'll do it but, would like some insight from one that's been there..

 

[h_gerry]

I would love to get the insight as well. My Norcold is operating on 110v only right now. It was not working on 12v when I bought the boat. I tried looking for a new power supply, but can’t find any replacements, not even on Ebay. I am hoping to squeeze out some more time before having to replace it, but I guess it is up the fridge.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

I would love to get the insight as well. My Norcold is operating on 110v only right now. It was not working on 12v when I bought the boat. I tried looking for a new power supply, but can’t find any replacements, not even on Ebay. I am hoping to squeeze out some more time before having to replace it, but I guess it is up the fridge.

Mine did the same last year and now is inop both AC and DC.
I really don't mind a brand new Vitrifrigo 2600 ($1600!) but, would love to hear how the door comes out. If we aren't enlightened, I will take pics as I do it.

Soo many boat projects for such a short season!! I need I move South..

 

[h_gerry]

FYI - I did a quick bing search of the Vitrifrigo 2600 and a website for Bay Marine Supply came up showing a price of $1,487. They are in San Diego and have the freight charge on the web page showing about $255 to ship east of Mississippi. Never dealt with them so I can't say anything that way, but could be a way to get a "matching price" from your supplier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[copb8tx]

I replaced mine with a Nova Kool quite a few years ago. It had a quality compressor and was a direct fit. I had to take the door off the rails to get it through but it fit, barely. You might want to check them out as well.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Defender has the Vitrifrigo 2600 for $1535+ tax or the Norcold DE0061 for $1350.

I'm hoping that their spring sale will help.

I like the Vit 2600 because, it seems to have better reviews than the Norcold.

 

[Ms. Mymoney]

I replaced the 'nevercold' on my vintage Chris Craft express a couple yrs ago with the Vit 2600. Little pricey but it's a really nice fridge. It breaks down fairly easily, the doors and door frame come off. Maybe that will make it a little easier to get in your boat. For what it's worth when I was looking around I found the Vit to be about 1.5" narrower and almost an inch taller. I had to mod the opening in the wall where mine mounts but it wasn't bad.
I got it from defender, best price and quick shipping.

 

[copb8tx]

Before purchasing the Nova Kool I purchased a replacement Norcold. It lasted only 5 or 6 years. I decided then it was money well spent to move up in quality. I specifically wanted to get something with a Danfoss compressor because I had read they were very qood quality. What compressor does the Vitrifrigo use?

 

[Searaybio270]

Mark, Sorry about the PM and the emails being full, which isn't the case.
As for the Vitro. The sliding door to the cabin come off. Not that hard to remove it. The cabinet around the fridge needs to be removed b/c you can't get the fridge passed the cabinet the fridge is in. There are several very long screws holding it in place.
Remove the old fridge first. Then remove the screws in the back wall and the side wall. For the side screws go through the steps as you come into the cabin. Once you move the cabinet then you can remove the old fridge and bring in the new one. Hooking it up is quite simple. I think the total time to do the job is about 2 hours or so. Mine took about 4 hours because of the beer.
I will check to see what Vitro I have. Not sure at the moment. I bought mine someplace around Baltimore area. I found someone that carried it and in talking with my wife she said she would pick it up that day. I think I paid $1200. I think.
Hope this helps.
Joe

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Thanks Joe,

So, the door and the cabinet need to come off and apart...wow, ok.
Did the shroud that the sliding door hides in when its open need to come off?
Or, is just the sliding door able to be removed?
I don't really see how the door is going to come off but, I haven't started yet either..

Thanks again,

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Before purchasing the Nova Kool I purchased a replacement Norcold. It lasted only 5 or 6 years. I decided then it was money well spent to move up in quality. I specifically wanted to get something with a Danfoss compressor because I had read they were very qood quality. What compressor does the Vitrifrigo use?

The Vit uses a Danfoss compressor.
I was looking for one with a Danfoss..
Not to completely knock the Norcold because, the one I have has worked great (until last year) for at least 10 years. Most years it was on for 12 months, not just the summer's 6 month season.
I think venting was its problem. I intend to add vents to the cabinet for the new install.

 

[Searaybio270]

Just the door. The guy that helped me figured it out and it has something to do with the rollers on the door.
You may need to build up around the cabinet to the fridge for a better fit depending on both of the aforementioned.

 

[rboreanaz]

The Norcold DE0061 will fit. Costs about $1200-1300. Fridge on bottom with 5.3 cu ft. and freezer on top with 1.7 cu ft.
Vitrifrigo DP-2600 about $1600. Same configuration but 6 cu ft for fridge and 2.1 for freezer.
Isotherm cruise 195 classic, sells for about $2300 but has fridge on top (4.3 cu ft.) and freezer (2.3 cu ft.) on bottom. Also has 2 compressors and should be quiet.

Expecting to replace mine soon and have no insight as to install.

 

[rboreanaz]

Can get Vitrifrigo from Coastal Climate Contols out of Maryland www.vfsales.net

 

[Air O'Nautical]

The Vit uses a Danfoss compressor.
I was looking for one with a Danfoss..
Not to completely knock the Norcold because, the one I have has worked great (until last year) for at least 10 years. Most years it was on for 12 months, not just the summer's 6 month season.
I think venting was its problem. I intend to add vents to the cabinet for the new install.

I read the latest new Norcold DE0061 has a Danfross compressor.
Now, I'll consider it for my replacement.

And, I was wrong about the ventilation on my old fridge....I don't know if its factory or not but, the enclosure has plenty of vents on top, side and vented onto the deck.

I pulled out the old one In hopes of a simple fix.
The power supply unit is visibly fried when I took a peek inside.
Couple if things look burned and some are greenish...yuck!

Joy,

 

[HIFI]

I just replaced refrig in my 400EC with the current Norcold DE0061R.

The door is removed by dismounting door from trucks that slide in tracks. There are four screws for the two upper trucks and, I think, three screws on bottom edge of door. Once released from track the door lifts out by angling up and out from right side with door in its almost closed position.

I dismounted the compressor assembly and duct taped it to top of new norcold. It will easily sit on top while you and a helper carry down in to cabin.

YOU DO NOT REMOVE THE CABINET THAT REFER WAS MOUNTED IN FOLLOWING THE AFOREMENTIONED R&R.

Additional note : I had to remove doors from old Norcold along with 2" thick door frame that is glued to face of old Norcold to get it out through cabin opening

 

[h_gerry]

I just replaced refrig in my 400EC.

The door is removed by dismounting door from trucks that slide in tracks. There are four screws for the two upper trucks and, I think, three screws on bottom edge of door. Once released from track the door lifts out by angling up and out from right side with door in its almost closed position.

I dismounted the compressor assembly and duct taped it to top of new norcold. It will easily sit on top while you and a helper carry down in to cabin.

YOU DO NOT REMOVE THE CABINET THAT REFER WAS MOUNTED IN FOLLOWING THE AFOREMENTIONED R&R.

Thanks for the info. Just curious, what did you buy as your replacement?
Harold