Replacing a knackered fridge

[l'escargot]

My fridge has packed up and it is the original and beyond it's best so I am just going to get on and replace it.

I am looking at the Isotherm GE80 which is for fridge compartments up to 80 litres and should be up to the job but would it be better to spend another 30 quid and get the next size up, the 2001, which is for fridge compartments up to 125 litres, even though mine is less than 80 litres?

Both draw the same number of amps, in fact I think it is the same compressor with just a bigger evaporater plate. My thinking is that the bigger one would get things colder more quickly so effectively use less power. Am I thinking right?

 

[Pasarell]

I fitted a Waeco kit a couple of years ago. Spec said suitable for a 130L space but after insulating mine was 60L. I normally run it on setting 1 (of 6). Temperature stays between 1 and 2 C and it run for about 30 seconds every 4 or 5 minutes. If I turn it up to 2 then ice forms and I have beer cubes if the bottles are close to the evaporator plate.

 

[pvb]

The GE80 has a flat plate evaporator; the 2001 has a "flat O" evaporator. Which would be easier to fit? If you were originally tempted by the GE80, I'd suggest paying £430 for a GE150, which has a bigger flat plate evaporator, and is suitable for fridges up to 150 litres. As you said, quicker cool down can't hurt.

 

[mcframe]

I fitted a Waeco kit a couple of years ago. Spec said suitable for a 130L space but after insulating mine was 60L. I normally run it on setting 1 (of 6). Temperature stays between 1 and 2 C and it run for about 30 seconds every 4 or 5 minutes. If I turn it up to 2 then ice forms and I have beer cubes if the bottles are close to the evaporator plate.

My Waeco in extended-insulated-then flow-coated ~60l space does that too - when SWIMBO turn it up.

Alas, I couldn't fit an ice tray, so I'm still looking for a small, low-current way to make a dozen ice cubes every 24 hours - it's kinda hard to chill the tonic when the fridge is full of 6l of milk (per day!) for the children...

 

[nigelmercier]

Another vote for Waeco.

 

[prv]

I'm still looking for a small, low-current way to make a dozen ice cubes every 24 hours - it's kinda hard to chill the tonic when the fridge is full of 6l of milk (per day!) for the children...

I often put a supermarket bag of ice in the bottom of the fridge at the beginning of a trip, to kickstart the cooling and to provide ice for the G&T. Even after a week, there's generally cubes left.

You do have to make sure that whatever's at the bottom doesn't mind being immersed, as the fridge has no drain.

Pete

 

[mcframe]

I often put a supermarket bag of ice in the bottom of the fridge at the beginning of a trip, to kickstart the cooling and to provide ice for the G&T. Even after a week, there's generally cubes left.

You do have to make sure that whatever's at the bottom doesn't mind being immersed, as the fridge has no drain.

Thanks, I'l try that. (hmm, a week! I was hoping for a PBO answer involving a fag-packet-sized compressor and a micro-generator ;-)

Before I fitted the fridge, we use to fill a small igloo hard coolbox with food and freeze blocks, but at ~90 mins to to boat, I think I should buy the ice in the last 15 mins.

A friend - on shorepower - has both a freezer and fridge, but only runs the latter at sea, transferring frozen bottles of water as required.

Back to l'escargot: Can you keep the larger fridge full and cool? An empty fridge is inefficient. Are you just replacing the plate & compressor?

 

[prv]

Thanks, I'l try that. (hmm, a week!

Bear in mind mine is a fridge, not a coolbox!

Pete

 

[stearman65]

My fridge has packed up and it is the original and beyond it's best so I am just going to get on and replace it.

I am looking at the Isotherm GE80 which is for fridge compartments up to 80 litres and should be up to the job but would it be better to spend another 30 quid and get the next size up, the 2001, which is for fridge compartments up to 125 litres, even though mine is less than 80 litres?

Both draw the same number of amps, in fact I think it is the same compressor with just a bigger evaporater plate. My thinking is that the bigger one would get things colder more quickly so effectively use less power. Am I thinking right?

What will hold a lot will hold a little, as the saying goes. Compressors & evaporators are matched, so you will not get a system with unequal sizes to operate correctly. Get what the supplier says.
Ex fridge man.
Stearman65.

 

[pvb]

What will hold a lot will hold a little, as the saying goes. Compressors & evaporators are matched, so you will not get a system with unequal sizes to operate correctly. Get what the supplier says.
Ex fridge man.
Stearman65.

But the Isotherm GE80 and GE150 both use the same Danfoss BD35F compressor.

And, incidentally, so do the similar sized Waeco units.

 

[l'escargot]

...Back to l'escargot: Can you keep the larger fridge full and cool? An empty fridge is inefficient. Are you just replacing the plate & compressor?

I am just replacing the plate & compressor, not increasing the size of the fridge (it is a built in top opener with no more available space) although I will look at improving the insulation whilst I have access. I do try to keep it full, in fact we sometimes have to remove bottles of beer to fit food in

 

[stearman65]

Fridge Capacity

But the Isotherm GE80 and GE150 both use the same Danfoss BD35F compressor.

And, incidentally, so do the similar sized Waeco units.

Supply a link to where you are getting your info & I will check them out.
Stearman65

 

[stearman65]

Danfos BD35 Compressor

The Danfoss BD35 is a variable speed compressor & therefore has a wider cooling range than a conventional single speed unit. With this you obviously get the disadvantage of the more speed the more power it consumes, so if you select an evaporator size at the mid capacity of the compressor you would get the best overall performance & power consumption. However , your evaporator has to be sized to the cooled space. Obviously, if you only run the compressor when connected to shore power it doesn't matter. I changed or fridge on our Moody 40 in Corsica, to one with a 12v Dafos vari speed compressor & with a 400amp battery bank, we used shore power each night & the only time we had problems was in Gib when I found the shore powered battery charger had died. Shepards supplied a replacement & off we went. The fridge I bought was a "packaged" unit as per your standard domestic type. In Spain we bought a new freezer with a 220v conventional compressor. Because if its design (chest freezer) & minimal use were were well able to maintain temperature for up to 7 days without having to connect to shore power. The better the insulation, the less amps you will consume. We also had two alternators, one for the engine battery & one for the house bank.
Stearman65.

 

[pvb]

Supply a link to where you are getting your info & I will check them out.
Stearman65

Just look up the specs yourself and you'll see.

 

[Ruffles]

But the Isotherm GE80 and GE150 both use the same Danfoss BD35F compressor.

And, incidentally, so do the similar sized Waeco units.

True. And the electronics is Danfoss too. Brilliant design.