ChromeDome
Well-Known Member
Just for inspiration:
The boat fridge, one of the IndelB variants at 85 litres (Isotherm but aka Webasto, Dometic, Waeco and more), has worked very well in the 11 years we have had it, the only thing that has been changed is the thermostat (£30 -ish) last year.
This summer the surprising thing happened that the natural law of cold falling down didn't work!?
The fridge is constructed so the condenser is actually the frost box, at the top of the fridge, which was -4 C while the mid shelf in the fridge was 7-9 C with the thermostat at 'coldest'. The compressor ran most of the time even though the fridge was almost empty.
No change over several days left with the door closed, monitored by a min/max thermometer.
Inspired by the fridge at home I made an experimental setup to recirculate the air inside the boat's fridge. Then could turn the thermostat notably back while the temperature kept an even and constant 5 C +/- 1.
I then fitted a 50x50x15 permanent fan at the top near the freezer box to direct the airflow down. The blower is controlled by a small digital timer/cycle box, set to start with the compressor and run for 40 minutes - regardless of the compressor stopping before that. If the compressor starts again while the blower is running, the timer resets and keeps the blower running for a new 40 min. period. Settings are stored and will work even after completely shutting the power off and on.
Much cheaper than replacing or repairing the fridge. Parts cost under a tenner + postage plus some wiring and connections from the shed
The boat fridge, one of the IndelB variants at 85 litres (Isotherm but aka Webasto, Dometic, Waeco and more), has worked very well in the 11 years we have had it, the only thing that has been changed is the thermostat (£30 -ish) last year.
This summer the surprising thing happened that the natural law of cold falling down didn't work!?
The fridge is constructed so the condenser is actually the frost box, at the top of the fridge, which was -4 C while the mid shelf in the fridge was 7-9 C with the thermostat at 'coldest'. The compressor ran most of the time even though the fridge was almost empty.
No change over several days left with the door closed, monitored by a min/max thermometer.
Inspired by the fridge at home I made an experimental setup to recirculate the air inside the boat's fridge. Then could turn the thermostat notably back while the temperature kept an even and constant 5 C +/- 1.
I then fitted a 50x50x15 permanent fan at the top near the freezer box to direct the airflow down. The blower is controlled by a small digital timer/cycle box, set to start with the compressor and run for 40 minutes - regardless of the compressor stopping before that. If the compressor starts again while the blower is running, the timer resets and keeps the blower running for a new 40 min. period. Settings are stored and will work even after completely shutting the power off and on.
Much cheaper than replacing or repairing the fridge. Parts cost under a tenner + postage plus some wiring and connections from the shed
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Or you can buy a relay with a Delay function from 12voltplanet.co.uk etc but the branded ones are more expensive.