Transporting refrigerator

[Strecker25]

Hi all, I’m at the point where I need to bring my new Isotherm fridge down to the boat for install and it dawned on me that I’ve never considered whether it can be laid down for transport. A quick google shows varying results, mainly to let it sit for a period of time so the oil can settle.

the manual doesn’t have anything specific, what do you guys think? The ride to the marina is about 20 minutes so it would be horizontal for 30-40minutes total

I can stand it up in my pickup if I really have to…

 

[NotHerDecision]

If you Kay it down then it needs to be upright 24 hours before you plug it in.

 

[Chris-380]

Stand it up for the ride if at all possible. I never had the patience to wait 24 hours when I got the fridge where it needed to be. A 20 min upright ride is better than waiting 24 hours for the oil to settle back in the compressor.

Hi all, I’m at the point where I need to bring my new Isotherm fridge down to the boat for install and it dawned on me that I’ve never considered whether it can be laid down for transport. A quick google shows varying results, mainly to let it sit for a period of time so the oil can settle.

the manual doesn’t have anything specific, what do you guys think? The ride to the marina is about 20 minutes so it would be horizontal for 30-40minutes total

I can stand it up in my pickup if I really have to…

 

[Stee6043]

I transported mine vertically two weeks ago. With as many labels as they put on the box, I figured it was pretty clear any other orientation would be less than ideal

 

[Strecker25]

Thanks guys, as I suspected. Not a huge deal to take it down standing up so I’ll do that. It’s going to have to go sideways in the dock cart for 10 minutes and into the cabin that way but I’m sure that’s less impactful than a car ride

 

[Stee6043]

Thanks guys, as I suspected. Not a huge deal to take it down standing up so I’ll do that. It’s going to have to go sideways in the dock cart for 10 minutes and into the cabin that way but I’m sure that’s less impactful than a car ride

Mine did a full 360 over the course of the day I installed it. I read the entire manual and nowhere in it did they suggest a waiting period before firing it up post-install...

 

[dtfeld]

I was Uber the same impression that these things needed to be upright the whole time or sit 24 hours before running, but that might just be old “common" knowledge…has nothing to do with this specific compressor.

Specs on the compressor say they can be run up to a 30* angle which I’m sure makes them idea for mobile applications (think a bloboat heeled over)

I you only had it at an angle, I wouldn’t worry too much

 

[Blueone]

If it’s so damaged laying down for 20 minutes why does it take 24 hours to make it right again?

 

[Creekwood]

Thanks guys, as I suspected. Not a huge deal to take it down standing up so I’ll do that. It’s going to have to go sideways in the dock cart for 10 minutes and into the cabin that way but I’m sure that’s less impactful than a car ride

Since you will be putting it sideways getting it on the boat and down into the cabin, I wouldn’t worry about transporting it on its side or back in the crate. When I installed NovaKool a few years back it spent about 3 hrs on its side in my MDX getting to the boat and then upside down for a while when I got it into the cabin (I was alone so had to “roll” it down into the boat basically. No damage done, but I did wait about 8 hrs to start it up after I installed it (overnight).

 

[Fill Ess]

I transported mine vertically two weeks ago. With as many labels as they put on the box, I figured it was pretty clear any other orientation would be less than ideal

View attachment 146657

You would think so. Ask @Pirate Lady about transporting an outboard in the van

 

[Stee6043]

You would think so. Ask @Pirate Lady about transporting an outboard in the van

Hah. The warning labels on outboards are a lot smaller

 

[atrick]

If it’s so damaged laying down for 20 minutes why does it take 24 hours to make it right again?

The oil runs into the cylinder and if you start it it hydro locks with the oil and you blow the reeds out or blow a hole in the piston.

 

[PlayDate]

The oil runs into the cylinder and if you start it it hydro locks with the oil and you blow the reeds out or blow a hole in the piston.

Yup....this is the answer. The compressor contains oil and when in the wrong position oil takes longer to get back into the operating position. Same thing with window ac units.

 

[Strecker25]

That sounds like an unfortunate chain of events for my $3000 refrigerator. Maybe I’ll transport it standing after all

 

[techmitch]

That sounds like an unfortunate chain of events for my $3000 refrigerator. Maybe I’ll transport it standing after all

That's your best bet. Good luck with the install.

 

[Fill Ess]