Fridge Problem

[Ammonite]

I've just had my K35F fridge re-gassed and while the evaporator is now getting cold / freezing the main part of the fridge is not getting below 12 degrees centigrade and if I turn up the fridge so the compressor is running most of the time the pipe in the photo ices up all the way from the compressor to the evaporator and the fridge doesn't get any colder. The fridge is pretty well insulated and the drain plug is in place. Any ideas? Thanks

Edit: apologies for the extra images. It kept throwing an error when i tried to upload and wont let me delete them!

 

[MAURICE]

have you left the fridge running for 24 hours? it sounds as if it hasnt been gassed properly may be too much.

 

[Ammonite]

Its been running for 22 hours. I meant to add that now that the fridge has reached 12 degrees the compressor wont cut in until its on setting 4 or higher out of 7

 

[vyv_cox]

Look at this page on my website Recharging marine refrigeration systems This will answer your question.

 

[Ammonite]

Thanks Vyv. I suspected it had been over gassed after looking at the Penguin site and your link suggests the same. Im curious though. Why would the compressor cycle on and off in the normal way if the fridge is not cooling suficiently? Im going to speak to the Engineer on Monday but would like to better understand whats going on and whether this is normal if the fridge has been over gassed or whether there might be another problem. Thanks

 

[luke collins]

I've just had my K35F fridge re-gassed and while the evaporator is now getting cold / freezing the main part of the fridge is not getting below 12 degrees centigrade and if I turn up the fridge so the compressor is running most of the time the pipe in the photo ices up all the way from the compressor to the evaporator and the fridge doesn't get any colder. The fridge is pretty well insulated and the drain plug is in place. Any ideas? Thanks

Edit: apologies for the extra images. It kept throwing an error when i tried to upload and wont let me delete them!

. Looks like it’s over charged and it’s flooding back. The liquid should boil off in the evaporator and only vapour should return to the compressor. I would not run it too much as if the liquid enters the cylinder it can not be compressed like a vapour and could damage the compressor.

The only other reason I could think it’s flooding back is if you have a fan on the evaporator (inside the fridge) is this running as these symptoms can also be found when cooling fans fail.

 

[Ammonite]

No fan on the evaporator and the compressor itself is keel cooled

 

[luke collins]

Sounds over charged then. Must be a fair bit if it won’t go below 12 degrees.

 

[Daverw]

As said overcharged and evaporator plate fully flooded so little heat change possible. Compressor will not see much difference

 

[luke collins]

One thing to also get checked if it has an expansion valve l, this controls the flow of the gas through the evaporator. It may have one or may be controlled via a fixed restrictor called a capillary. If capillary will be over changed. If it has an expansion valve it could be set wrong or the sensor come off the evap outlet to the compressor.

 

[Daverw]

Very few small boat fridges will have an expansion valve but will have capillary