Replacing refrigerator advice please.

[BritLady]

Our cabin refrigerator has now packed up, always something It never did get very cold, the freezer compartment was okay but the rest of it was barely cool. Had a quote to fix it at a minimum of $400 and if it's fixed it still won't be any better we're sure. A boating friend suggested we just buy a regular stainless steel one and use an invertor. Not too sure about that and don't want it to look naff, although it would match the microwave. Has any body actually done that and was pleased with it? Also, has anyone replaced their fridge with a different marine model than that installed from new at all, what did you buy, where from and are you pleased with it please?


Thanks in advance!

Brenda

 

[Tman]

Not sure what you have in your cabin, but I did replace my originals with stainless ones from isotherm...

See picture.

I have dimensions and it's also posted on a thread....which I will post when I find it.

Tom

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[BritLady]

Not sure what you have in your cabin, but I did replace my originals with stainless ones from isotherm...

See picture.

I have dimensions and it's also posted on a thread....which I will post when I find it.

Tom

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Thanks Tom, that looks very nice. I think ours is a German make something like Waeco (not sure). I know what you mean about searching threads I tried to search refrigerators but came up empty. I will search for Isotherm online and see what comes back Thanks again!

 

[1956olds]

I used vitrifrigio from sure marine.nice fridge .and a good price even with shipping it was cheaper by $100 anywhere else.I belive waco used to be another company,kind of cheaper brand IMHO.Glen

 

[Zorba]

Brenda,

Is it totally dead, or just not cooling the refrigerator portion. This sounds crazy but try and remove the drip tray beneath the freezer. I took mine out and i think it allows the fan to circulate the air much more efficiently. I did this last year and so far the fridge has been colder than ever. It makes me think that the design overworks the fridge causing so many premature failures on these models.

 

[Alex F]

Brenda,

I've installed cockpit fridge on my 320DA and replaced main fridge in my 420DB. IMO, in projects like these you should invest in good quality units (unless you're ready to get rid of the boat soon).

When shopping for new units, one of the main items to look for in the new fridge is danfoss compressor. Those seemed to be greatest performers using minimum power. Also, pay close attention to the overall dimensions. When I swapped my salon fridge on 420DB, I was able to get a unit that had about 1 cubic foot extra room, and it was the same height and width (larger depth did the trick with extra room).

I agree with Tom, Isotherm makes great units. From my experience they get my #1 vote. My new SS Vitrifrigo is also pretty good, I'm just not happy that the freezer is icing up. But, others claim they don't have this issue. Granted that Italian brands will cost much more, but you pay for the quality and the look.

When taking all the measurements, keep in mind the cabin door opening dimensions. It's usually an issue with DAs. You can take some parts off the old unit, to get it out. But, make sure the new one fits in the opening.

 

[IanBat]

Brenda, I would stay away from 'regular' fridge. The marine / RV fridges are designed to run on an angle, take vibration etc.

A 'regular' fridge is designed to run on a flat floor and not move.


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[BritLady]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the tips! Will try the ice tray trick and the temp adjuster but it's dead right now. We really knew if we have to replace it that it needs to be a marine model. Don't think a regular one would look too good or fit the hole properly. Good tip on measuring the cabin door! LOL, we know it won't go out/in the window! I found an Isotherm that we think will fit for about $1,230 delivered which is not too bad, just have to measure up on Saturday. Also have to check to see if the Isotherm have the danfoss compressor. One of the things that concerned us about having a regular fridge, apart from the look of it/leveling issue, was the noise of it runing when trying to sleep at night. We even turn our little Igloo ice maker (which is just excellent) off

Thanks again!

Brenda

 

[Westie]

+1 on the isotherm. I put one in my last boat and the sound level from it was a lot lower than the stock one in my 260DA. Power consumption was lower too. It did have a Danfoss compressor. Mine was the 12 volt only model.

 

[Alex F]

P.S. I would highly recommend dual voltage model. Your batteries get a lot of use, so no need to have your main fridge constantly draw power from the batteries. It'll be a big relieve for the bats when you're plugged in to shore or fire up the generator and the fridge switches to 120VAC feed.

I can also confirm that the noise level is much lower with new units that have danfoss compressor.

 

[Bucit]

Brenda, have you tried looking for the cooling unit for your fridge? My Norcold went out about a year after I got the boat. I looked online and found a brand new cooling unit for my model. I took it apart in the cabin and repalced the cooling unit (which is really the entire working components of the fridge). The new unit cost me $200 and about 1 1/2 hours to repair. It's been great since.

 

[sporters78]

Let me know what you do with your old one if you replace, I need some of the interior parts for mine, ( freezer surround etc)
thanks
steve

 

[Tman]

Brenda,

My original unites were WAECO as well.

I installed a CR-130 and a Drawer 65, both from isotherm. Those are the units in the picture. They have Danfoss compressors and are exceptionally quiet and reliable. Dual voltage.

I have a 2005 390DA and the new units just fit through the cabin door....literally no more than a quarter inch clearance on either side. I had to remove the last stair tread to get the old fridge to slide out and the new one to slide in. Finally, I had to cut about 1/2" of cabinet to accommodate the height of the new units but this was very easily done with a jigsaw and a chalk line....took 1 hour of my time for the whole job.

On the Spousal Argument Meter (SAM), this ranked out an easy 2 out of 10.


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[BritLady]

Many thanks again everyone! Lots more useful tips, this site truly is the best! We're going to tinker with it this week-end and if we can't seem to fix it, expect will bite the bullet and buy a new Isotherm. Might try to do what you did Perry and get it to last a bit longer. I'm doing well, laptops on the fritz now! Any advice on what to replace it with please? Shame Isotherm don't do laptops It's a Dell Studio XPS (wasn't really cheap) and not been that happy with it. Has to be a PC for work progs. Will let you know Steve if we buy a new fridge.

Thanks again!

Brenda

 

[BritLady]

Brenda,

Is it totally dead, or just not cooling the refrigerator portion. This sounds crazy but try and remove the drip tray beneath the freezer. I took mine out and i think it allows the fan to circulate the air much more efficiently. I did this last year and so far the fridge has been colder than ever. It makes me think that the design overworks the fridge causing so many premature failures on these models.

Only managed a brief visit to our boat today but WOW Alex, we could hardly believe it, as it was totally dead! Removed the tray in the fridge like you suggested. Captain fiddled with the control and set it in the middle and she seems to be working! When we left it was getting cold so hopefully tomorrow when we go down will be working properly. Thanks so much for the tip!!!

Brenda

 

[Zorba]

Only managed a brief visit to our boat today but WOW Alex, we could hardly believe it, as it was totally dead! Removed the tray in the fridge like you suggested. Captain fiddled with the control and set it in the middle and she seems to be working! When we left it was getting cold so hopefully tomorrow when we go down will be working properly. Thanks so much for the tip!!!

Brenda

Glad it worked, or seems to be working. I had read that little tip somewhere on this site. Just goes to show how invaluable CSR is!


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[villain style]

Brenda - I replaced mine with this; Dometic DO CR1110U/F 3.8CF AC/DC from Beard Marine... Runs great!!

 

[BritLady]

Brenda - I replaced mine with this; Dometic DO CR1110U/F 3.8CF AC/DC from Beard Marine... Runs great!!

Thanks Mark, we're hoping this one will last a bit longer but will check that one out if she doesn't. Did the new Domestic one you bought fit in the space exactly like the one we have from new, or did you have to adjust it somehow? Thanks!


Brenda

 

[villain style]

It fit right in. The front panel is a different size so the wood grain sheet from the existing fridge did not fit in the new one so we just went used the standard black front it came with.....

 

[BritLady]

Well we spoke too soon- It didn't work for long, we think it needs a new control or inventor. Probably need to do what you did Perry and replace most of it's parts.


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