Cockpit Refrigerator – Ventilation Setup

[Alex F]

After wasting several weeks with MM and postponing the project I’ve decided to do it myself this spring. I’m finalizing my choice of the fridge, going with Isotherm instead of Norcold that was previously planned. I have an idea how I’ll approach the project by following these basic steps:

- Cutting the opening for the fridge.
- Cutting the opening inside the storage and move drainage and water supply for the wet boar.
- Moving existing outlet to the smaller storage where fridge will get 110AC and I’ll have 2nd half of the outlet for something else.
- Build the platform for the fridge to sit on.
- Connect the 12DC to breaker panel in the engine room where it’s says cockpit refrigerator.
- build ventilation.

Ventilation part is what I can’t find much info on and was hoping to get some tip from you guys. The only items I can find so far are the vents showing in the parts manual (see pic.). Can anyone tell me what’s involved in the ventilation setup? I don’t believe that SR installs only vents. There must be some sort of tubing from the vents to the fridge compressor to circulate some air. Is there a fan forcing the air? Does anyone have any pictures?

7 819243 VENT, LOUVERED 3 5/8"X 3 5/8" WHT
(OPT. REFRIGERATOR DUAL VOLT-120V/240-12V COCKPIT)

Any suggestions on the installation would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[HIFI]

You would want to ventilate and use a fan but from your drawing the vents looks too far away and too low. I assume Refrigerator is behind door #12. I would want the vent located maybe close but certainly towards the top of the cabinet containing Refrigerator. Is there room under leading edge of countertop?

Wire fan to a current sensing relay. You will likely have directions with new fridge on tying a secondary fan into electronic relay on board refrige. Ventilation should be easy. My set up is like yours. I mounted fan on inside of cabinet, left wall and high. It vents to my cockpit. This may vent to bilge for you and may not be an option.

 

[Alex F]

I found some pictures of another 320DA with installed cockpit fridge.

Here's the picture of two vents that are listed in the parts manual under the ports seat. I've never seen how they have it setup under the seat from the inside, but I assume that there're two flex docks going to the compressor. But, I've also never seen or herd about additional parts like fan. How is your fan hooked up to blow the hot air out or bring the cooler air in?

I found some documents I got from a broker at the time when I was buying the boat. These are MM installation docs. The confusing part is that the only thing that's mentioned about the vents are the louvered vents (2 pieces), no any kind of docks/hoses and/or fans. So, I begin to question quality of their installation, btw they charge pritty good money for it too.

As you can see in step #10 they only talk about installing the two vents and nothing else. Does it makes sense?

 

[HIFI]

If the photos in previous post are an example how Sea Ray is venting the heat from the built in frig I would redesign. The vents, if they are ducted, are blowing hot air on my ankles. I don't like this at all. If they are not ducted the hot air is filling the cabinet top to bottom. Either way not a real efficient system.

There is room for a vent just above the cabinet door right of frig. No ducting required as it will vent the hottest air rising to top inside cabinet.

 

[skolbe]

The vents are vents and nothing else - the storage area to the right opens to the inside compartment for the fridge as well at the top. So air in theory vents through the doors in the storage area as well. There is no fan or ducts.

 

[Alex F]

I just added some info to my previous post, could you take a look?

I know what you mean about hot air blowing on people's feet when they're sitting on the port lounge, so I'm not sure if leaving it trapped in the compartment is better idea.

Here's what my cabinet looks like where the fridge will go in.

As you can see there's plenty of room for the fan, but I don't know if it's necessary.

 

[skolbe]

I don't think there is that much heat in there, there is no fan that I have seen or heard. The compartment area is plenty of room for heat to dissipate. Would a fan improve ventilation - yes - but probably overkill. I have run a wire through that area and the fridge is always on and I never feel any heat.

 

[Alex F]

I don't think there is that much heat in there, there is no fan that I have seen or heard. The compartment area is plenty of room for heat to dissipate. Would a fan improve ventilation - yes - but probably overkill. I have run a wire through that area and the fridge is always on and I never feel any heat.

Thank you, that helps a lot. Can you tell me a little details about the platform you have under the fridge?

 

[HIFI]

After reviewing Skolbe's post I am sure this is a naturally vented area and Sea Ray installed two unattractive vents to make it work. Heat draft pulls air in from those two vents so no fan required. I can see in the photos the slots in the door, top and bottom, act as a heat draft vent. Do you need more? Good question. Can you look for another placement for draft vent other than in the base of your port lounge?

 

[Alex F]

After reviewing Skolbe's post I am sure this is a naturally vented area and Sea Ray installed two unattractive vents to make it work. Heat draft pulls air in from those two vents so no fan required. I can see in the photos the slots in the door, top and bottom, act as a heat draft vent. Do you need more? Good question. Can you look for another placement for draft vent other than in the base of your port lounge?

The pictures of the black fridge are for Norcold, which has the vent grill on the top. The Isotherm are different, but I think it b/c the compressor is setup differently. Here's the fridge I'm looking to install.

Here's the picture of similar Isotherm installed. Based on the picture I don't think there's much room for additional vent louvers and it also wouldn't look right.

The more I think about the more I feel that it should be fine just with those two vents under the port seat.

Based on the instructions I have it looks like 320 is prewired for the fridge. Does anyone know if the wires for 12v are actually there? I haven't noticed when I was taking pitures of the area, but I didn't look for wires, b/c I didn't know they might be there already.

 

[Vince_nj1]

Alex

I posted these pics once before. This is how SeaRay installed my fridge. Notice the nice clean straight cut. :grin: For 110 power, they just surfaced mounted an outlet box on the side panel and tied it into the outlet box inside the storage compartment. Not sure how they ran the 12v wires.

Pics of the fridge..

 

[Alex F]

Thanks Vince. I remembered those pictures and had them bookmarked. I like the box they've build on the left of the fridge. Is this something that's really necessary for the fridge installation?

 

[Alex F]

Can anyone suggest what type of material (StarBoard or can I use something else) should I use for building the platform for the fridge to sit on?

 

[jimdavi]

My 2007 does not have those vents. I have the Norcold and it vents out the front, (top of the unit) as in the previous 320 picture above.

 

[molding1]

Hi:

Can you tell me the model number of the Isotherm unit you plan to use? Also, do you know if it can be purchased with a white panel? The Norcold units don't seem to offer this as an option and trying to get information from Dometic which does have a white panel has been a battle.

TX

Ray

 

[Alex F]

Ray,

You're in luck, b/c looks like you're looking to get exactly what I ended up installing on my boat.

Isotherm/Indel Marine (Model Number: CR049NV563 - 1.75cu ft) - AC/DC 115/230v - 12/24v, Right Swing, White Door & Panel, 3 - Sided Inox Flange

I ordered it from these guys: http://www.sailorsams.com/mall/refrigerators-indel-front-opened.asp

go to #17.

Good luck with the install.

Alex.

 

[richcam1]

Lets see some Pix Alex!

My thought was just to do a slot or series of small vents above the refrigerator just under the counter.

Cheers,

Rich

 

[Alex F]

Lets see some Pix Alex!

My thought was just to do a slot or series of small vents above the refrigerator just under the counter.

Cheers,

Rich

Here you go Rich:

 

[skolbe]

Delete

 

[skolbe]

Here you go Rich:

Looks great Alex - on a side note - if you look at Vince's door to the right his storage door has vents or slots in it - Mine does as well. Which this all opens up to the back of the fridge area - I think between the white vents under the port side seat and the slots in the door ventilation is more than adequate. You may consider vents in your storage area door.