What's better... any refrigeration peeps?

magster65

magster65

New Member
Dec 25, 2007
883
Saanichton BC Canada
Boat Info
2002 model 3788
Engines
Twin Cummins 6BTA's
Through the winter months I only use the boat... say... twice a month average... maybe 3 times. Is it better to leave the fridge(s) turned on (but down) or to shut them off and leave the door open between trips?
I'm connected to shore power so either way is fine... :huh:
Whatever makes my Norcold units last the longest!
 
Seems like off with the door open is best to me but what do I know - I'm curious too.
 
The more you leave it off , the longer it will last.... Be carefull as most Sea Ray boats the Norcold cant fit thru the door...................Make it last.........
 
whataride said:
The more you leave it off , the longer it will last.... Be carefull as most Sea Ray boats the Norcold cant fit thru the door...................Make it last.........
Click to expand...

I agree. We use our fridge only when we cruise. As soon as we return home I defrost it and give it a very good cleaning. After it is completely dried out, I close the door and forget about it until the next season. This time of the year we anchor out evey week end and we use our ice maker to chilll food in a cooler. We keep our boats about 10 years and have never had to replace a frige.
BTW, Norcolds can be rebuilt so you don't really need to get them out the door. But it is expensive to do.
 
I was refrigeration "peep" for 30 years. :grin:

Running a fridge in cold weather isn't great for it. The oil in the compressor thickens up somewhat during the off cycle. Larger systems have crankcase heaters....or an ambient temperature control that will prevent them from starting below around 50 degrees F....or both.

If you leave it plugged in and running....it will eventually reach it's "set point" and shut off. Then it's likely to sit there off for quite some time. When it goes to start with heavy oil in the crankcase....it's not terribly good for it.

All depends upon how cold it is in your area I guess. I haven't ever looked at the backside of a Norcold fridge. If you could get in behind and perhaps put something like a battery blanket around the compressor to keep it warmer...that would help.

If you...or someone you know knows anything about electricity.....you could visit a refrigeration supply house and try to find a little crankcase heater to wire into your system. There are some that just stick on to the side of the compressor body.

Failing that....I'd be inclined to just shut it off and leave it open...and not use it at all during the winter. Of course where I am...there's not a whole lot of boating going on through our winters. Your mileage may vary. :grin:

Good luck.

"I haven't ever looked at the backside of a Norcold fridge."

Now having said that.....do they even have a compressor? LOL LOL

I assumed they do for the 110V operation (and I guess we all know what "assuming things" does) but I just read something about a "coldpak" in them.

Guess I'd better "bone up" on them since I now have one. :)
 
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During the season ours is full of condiments etc and stays on inbetween visits. When we winterize the boat we shut down the fridge and leave it open.
 
sfergson727 said:
I like peeps too, especially when they get that just slightly stale texture. Can't wait until Easter, so I can sooth that peeps jones I've been having of late........but I do find peeps store better in the freezer rather than the refrigerator. :)
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My youngest niece likes to bake and cook. When she was very young, she made chocolate covered peeps. Everyone thinks "Eww." Then they try one.

Old Vet said:
Running a fridge in cold weather isn't great for it. The oil in the compressor thickens up somewhat during the off cycle. Larger systems have crankcase heaters....or an ambient temperature control that will prevent them from starting below around 50 degrees F....or both.
Click to expand...

I agree. I don't know what viscosity they use in the compressors, but viscosity can be anywhere from 40 to 525. Cold, that stuff just isn't going to flow. Better to leave the unit off in cold weather. Norcold doesn't engineer the units to run in the cold.

Old Vet said:
Now having said that.....do they even have a compressor? LOL LOL
Click to expand...

Yes, probably a Danfoss BD-25 or BD-35. I forget. Probably depends on size of the refrigerator.
 
"Yes, probably a Danfoss BD-25 or BD-35. I forget. Probably depends on size of the refrigerator. "

Kinda figured as much but my years were spent working on residential, commercial and industrial equipment and just never had occasion to mess with any of the RV type stuff much. One thing I do know for sure....refrigeration services do not come cheap...best to protect and maintain one's equipment as best one can to extend its life.
 
FWIW, mine is on 24/7/365. My interior is kept at 66*F in the winter unless I am on her then 70*F.

I would imagine if you are going to winterize, allowing the fridge to shut down on its own and then cutting power would not hurt. This is the first boat I have owned with a 12/120 fridge that stayed on all year.
 
I was wrong. Norcold uses Sawafuji compressors as described here.
 
My 29' Sundancer has an AC only fridge - standard Walmart variety. Could I just plug in a DC converter for a day trip? Thanks!
 
"Could I just plug in a DC converter for a day trip? "

I presume you mean an Inverter.

If its wattage rating is high enough I would say yes. You'd need to read the data plate on the fridge to see what its wattage rating is and ensure your inverter is large enough.

If the data plate doesn't give you a wattage rating....but gives you amps instead use this formula:

volts(110) x ?? amps = watts
 
times 2 or 3 for starting current.
 
Unfortunately I don't believe the starting amperage is often available on those dinky little compressor data plates.

Since I know next to nothing about inverters....I'm not sure what that momentary start amperage might do to it. If anything.:huh:
 
I replaced mine with a brand new and very Nice GE $89 college size unit. (using a Large inverter when needed) plus 2 new very large sized "Blue Top" Optimum Batteries. So I don't care if it dies, but I do shut it down for Winter and leave the door open...
 
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