Chest compressor cooler replacement

[pcatterall]

Our trusty old Waeco cf 18 has finally expired, its had bits replaced and been taken to bits more times than I care to remember.
I would try more repair work but cant get the parts.
The cooler was an exact fit into an out of the way place in the cockpit so we cannot fit anything larger ( L465 w 300 h 414)
The only one of similar size is the Dometec replacement but it is out of our price range (c£500), There are lots of coolers of similar capacity for half that price
but they are too long.
We have just fitted a small fridge so the chest is just for extra capacity. We may have to use a thermo/peltier ( name forgotten!) type and fit another solar panel!
Unless, of course, one of my dear forumites can help with some advice?

 

[Neeves]

We have a custom built freezer under the galley sole. Its powered (is that the right word) with an Engel compressor with, sort of wrap round cooling plates. The compressor is about 1.5m from the freezer box. The compressor is quite big - 12cm x 12cm and about 20cm tall. It has been faultless for 20 years and +. Our compressor works off 12v but I think (from memory it may also work off 240v)

We use the freezer when we go off for 3 months, fill it with pre-cooked meals and meat and then add fish as we catch them (tuna and crayfish). We have a Dometic which is our everyday fridge. As mentioned the freezer is in the cabin sole and has about 10cm of insulation all round, It does not really take up 'useful' space the only problem being you have to kneel down on the floor to access it, top opening. We would simply take out what we need for a couple of days and then not open it again for those 2 days etc.

I had a quick look but did not get as far as finding the website, just websites for distributors none of which listed our device.

I don't have a picture (I'm not into fridges and freezers) and I don't know what unit our is, number etc.

The controller for temperature is remote, wired in an easily accessible cupboard but you can set the Engel just to keep things cool or frozen. The Engel is also under the cabin sole between the deep freeze and one of the engines. I've ducted air from the anchor locket to the Dometic and then Engel and then into the engine bay using 2 computer fans and extractor hood ducting. We have vents just under deck height in the hull for the engine bays.

Sorry best I can do - I'm not on the boat.

My wife has told me that you used the wrong word - I'm not a dear forumite, just a very expensive one

Jonathan

 

[pcatterall]

We have a custom built freezer under the galley sole. Its powered (is that the right word) with an Engel compressor with, sort of wrap round cooling plates. The compressor is about 1.5m from the freezer box. The compressor is quite big - 12cm x 12cm and about 20cm tall. It has been faultless for 20 years and +. Our compressor works off 12v but I think (from memory it may also work off 240v)

We use the freezer when we go off for 3 months, fill it with pre-cooked meals and meat and then add fish as we catch them (tuna and crayfish). We have a Dometic which is our everyday fridge. As mentioned the freezer is in the cabin sole and has about 10cm of insulation all round, It does not really take up 'useful' space the only problem being you have to kneel down on the floor to access it, top opening. We would simply take out what we need for a couple of days and then not open it again for those 2 days etc.

I had a quick look but did not get as far as finding the website, just websites for distributors none of which listed our device.

I don't have a picture (I'm not into fridges and freezers) and I don't know what unit our is, number etc.

The controller for temperature is remote, wired in an easily accessible cupboard but you can set the Engel just to keep things cool or frozen. The Engel is also under the cabin sole between the deep freeze and one of the engines. I've ducted air from the anchor locket to the Dometic and then Engel and then into the engine bay using 2 computer fans and extractor hood ducting. We have vents just under deck height in the hull for the engine bays.

Sorry best I can do - I'm not on the boat.

My wife has told me that you used the wrong word - I'm not a dear forumite, just a very expensive one

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathon. Interesting and the 'proper' way to go. We are only 10m and no more space below. possibly we could 'build' a unit to fit the 'only available space' using one of the kits on the market. I'm sure we could do it for less than the price for the Waeco units on offer.

 

[Neeves]

Thanks Jonathon. Interesting and the 'proper' way to go. We are only 10m and no more space below. possibly we could 'build' a unit to fit the 'only available space' using one of the kits on the market. I'm sure we could do it for less than the price for the Waeco units on offer.

Waeco and Dometic, as far as I know are one and the same company but trading under their historic names. Our fridge gave up the ghost after about 20 years and the exterior door had started to corrode - looked distinctly grotty. The range of Dometic fridges are full of flashing lights (LED) and are very swish - but from retail outlets are expensive - we bought one from Ebay at a considerable discount (in Oz). It may have fallen off the back of a truck but it has worked flawlessly. We fitted it (easy - same size as the old one - but we are on a swing mooring - you only find out how big a small fridge is when you need to get it into the dinghy, take it to your boat and the biggest problem - getting it out of the dinghy! The old fridge had a remote compressor the new fridge (and I think all the range are the same) has the compressor at the back and top of the fridge in a little, or quite large rebate. As I think I mentioned we add cool air by ducting from the anchor locker and using computer fans.

We recently looked at the Waeco units for the car (we also camp) - but decided we could do without! and have not yet found any on eBay

Jonathan