Vitrifrigo fridge doesn’t stop running

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Jaylo38

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Hi there, I am having an interesting problem with my Vitrifrigo top loader fridge on my Lagoon 39 catamaran. The thermostat was replaced 4 months ago (as was door seal and a reglas) and because one can’t access the outside without breaking open the cabinet (any advice on how one does get in there would also be great) the sensor probe from the thermostat was fastened to the inside of the unit, where it ices up, and not directly on the evaporator. This initially worked fine but now (the last 2 weeks) the thermostat won’t switch the compressor off and the fridge keeps running. I swopped the thermostat around with my upright fridge to rule it out as faulty and no luck, top loader still runs constantly (and the upright switches off and on as expected). So if it’s not the thermostat then any ideas on what the problem could be?
 
Jaylo38 said:
Hi there, I am having an interesting problem with my Vitrifrigo top loader fridge on my Lagoon 39 catamaran. The thermostat was replaced 4 months ago (as was door seal and a reglas) and because one can’t access the outside without breaking open the cabinet (any advice on how one does get in there would also be great) the sensor probe from the thermostat was fastened to the inside of the unit, where it ices up, and not directly on the evaporator. This initially worked fine but now (the last 2 weeks) the thermostat won’t switch the compressor off and the fridge keeps running. I swopped the thermostat around with my upright fridge to rule it out as faulty and no luck, top loader still runs constantly (and the upright switches off and on as expected). So if it’s not the thermostat then any ideas on what the problem could be?
Click to expand...
Is it getting down to the correct temperature? Were these the symptoms that prompted the regas 4 months ago? If it had lost gas and the leak had not been found and fixed before the regas then this will keep happening.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Thanks all for the replies. Yes fridge is getting to the correct temperature, in fact colder than it should and quickly icing up because it doesn’t switch off. Turning the thermostat off, or disconnecting the wires does stop it running. Fan is also clean. I’m thinking the temperature probe doesn’t read correctly being connected on the inside so I’ve ordered a digital one online and will see if that makes a difference.
 
Jaylo38 said:
quickly icing up because it doesn’t switch off.
Click to expand...
That's not as consequential as you instictively think it is, because it might be icing up because it does NOT get as cold as it should.
If you don't already have it, buy an IR thermometer gun, which is one of the most essential bits to have onboard regardlesf of fridges, anyway.
And measure the temperature of the internal back wall of the fridge (after removing ALL ice, if any), while the compressor is running.
It should get as low as -10°C at least, and -15°C would be even better.
Which doesn't mean that the interior of the fridge should get that cold, mind.
Normal fridge temperature should be in fact somewhere between +5 and +7°C.
But in normal operation, getting the back wall as cold as I said is how it should work, in order to re-establish quickly the correct temperature after you open the door.
Of course, with the thermostat shutting the compressor off as soon as the internal temp is back to normal.
But what I mean is that it isn't necessarily a thermostat fault.
 
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