Those are the pros, now lets look at the cons. If youre hiring this work out, its important to inspect their work before you pay them. Nevada In a properly charged system, there should be a tinny, gurgling sound from the evaporator. With todays furlers, an read more, For years, Nautitech Catamarans has been doing things differently from other production cat builders, and it seems to be paying off. The amount of oil present in these cans may be harmful for small refrigerator compressors, although this is currently unknown. This is when the fridge temperature is close to the required temperature but the compressor is still running. Utah Saskatchewan The gas/electric absorption refrigerator plays a big role in these comforts. With the system idle and having not run for 10 15 minutes, allow a small amount of refrigerant to be discharged from the Charging Hose to purge air from the hose, then screw the end of the hose onto the suction side service valve. 6 After a few minutes, the pressure dropped to 7psi and then down to 3, so I gave the system another 5-second charge. Repeat the process as necessary until the system shows the symptoms of a correct charge as described in Section 1. If anyone is unsure please contact me via PM. undesirably, into the atmosphere). Northern Territory I have kept these very basic for emergency recharging but will also work on a more in depth document for those with all the correct tools. The purpose of this article is to provide a little history about the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator, how it works, and the pros and cons of owning one. Connecting to the refrigeration system.First, you need to confirm that undercharged condition exists, and not a seriously overcharged one, as described in Section 1. I would recommend that if you are removing the schaeder valve and refilling you should really vac out the system with a vac pump but if it runs ok down to the temperature of cutting off on the thermostat you have probably got away with it. Ocean Voyages Institute, a non-profit organization based in Sausalito, CA, uses read more, The days of multihulls being the weirdos of the sea are gone. 7 Holding steady at 6psi, but I figured a bit more refrigerant would not hurt. The suction side service valve is normally situated on a stub that is attached directly to the top of the compressor. Never seen a Danfoss based system with a capacity plate on it. Nebraska Slide the end of a screwdriver or similar tool under the rag or towel with your free hand, and depress the valve core for a short time (say 5 seconds). This heat starts a chemical reaction and the process of evaporation and condensation causes the refrigerator to cool. It is very important that you correctly identify the suction and discharge (if fitted) service valves. Thanks! However, if you boondock for extended periods of time in cold, predominantly overcast areas like the Pacific Northwest then having a generator as a backup to a solar power system or as the primary means of keeping your batteries topped off will probably be needed. you can get these here. Arkansas The 12 volt DC mode found in the standard three-way refrigerator can address some of these limitations, but this mode can also consume anywhere between 8 and 23 amps an hour, an overly excessive amount that would run an RV battery down in a single day. New York North Dakota I checked for overchargingindicated by frost forming on the suction tube more than a foot from the evaporator plateand all was well. I usually start with the gas pressure equalised as you have described however they usually require more refrigerant than this in the system and you may find that the fridge still is not 100% efficient although it will probably run ok. A well charged system should have all of the cooling plate freezing and a bit of the return pipe towards the compressor sweating. According to the Secop website, the maximum current draw of the Danfoss BD35F compressor is 4 amps. Many thanks Rick. If you decide to have someone look at it, call David Lehmann at Sea Freeze in Bellingham. The unit has a suction ("C" in diagram), process ("D") and discharge ("E") connector, and the canister I bought would allow me to connect it to anyone of these. In some cases, for access reasons, an extension hose will also be needed to attach the canister. Once the refrigerator is operating at the temperature you want, back off the setting a bit (we like to turn down the temperature to 4.5) to reduce compressor duty cycles. The consumption rate is typically 60 amp hours a day, which breaks down to 2.5 amp hours or 30 watts per hour. Mike has allowed me to post a link to my install video in my Lance 815. Charge gas(little can upright) not liquid (can upside down) and only add very little, check operation, then add more if necessary. Prepare the can of R134a for charging. To learn more about this program read here: Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 4, R134a Refrigerant Pressure Temperature Calculator. Thanks, Owen. Run the system long enough for the symptoms of an overcharge to exist and then remove the valve cap from the suction side service valve. South Dakota Alaska Doing this will allow you to monitor the refrigerators temperature and will allow you to adjust the temperature setting as needed. One common problem is poor performance on summer days when ambient temperatures are high (90 degrees and higher). After running for a time, there should be a slight coating of frost all over the surface of the evaporator with no condensation or frost on the exposed section of copper tube back to the compressor or condensation on the compressor itself. Eye and skin protection must be worn when working on refrigeration systems. If liquid is released it will immediately evaporate at very low temperatures, so all precautions must be taken to avoid contact between liquid refrigerant and skin or eyes. Some of the surface will have a coating of frost, but from the point where all the refrigerant has turned to vapour, the surface will just be cold and sweating. Make sure that the valve on the can of R134a is firmly closed after adding refrigerant. do this in short busts of say 5 seconds then allow a minute or 2 for the system to stabilise. I think refrigeration guys sometimes use a dye to help find leaks. Michigan Makes sense and this will determine whether it is refrigerant or the compressor. Basically, the ammonia absorption refrigerator uses heat to operate. Powered by WordPress. If you are unsure about your ability to safely accomplish any of the following procedures or if you cannot positively identify the low and/or high-pressure service valves, consult a marine refrigeration specialist. 4 After opening the dispensing and manifold valves just long enough to purge air out of the hose with refrigerant, I turned off the manifold valve and connected the hose to the Schrader valve. Ohio I have had him do repairs on my cold plate system. That said, these days they are more popular than ever on cruising boats, thanks to advances in sails, sailhandling technology and boat design in general. No special tools are required, but the following items will need to be purchased from an auto parts or hardware store. A communications expert and licensed ham radio operator, he retired from the U.S. Navy in 2004 as a CWO3 after 24 years, worked in project management, and now runs Truck Camper Adventure full-time. West Virginia Then I connected one of the two valves on the charging kit to the refrigerant canister, making sure the other onethe manifold valvewas closed. If youre planning to buy a truck camper from the factory, one of the most important decisions youll have to make is which type of refrigerator to have installed in it. Various experts on web forums warned direly of the dangers of getting air into the system, failing to purge the refrigeration gauges, overcharging with refrigerant and blinding oneself with escaping gases. I love the idea of not caring so much about being level, unfortunately it doesnt sound like its feasible without solar. More out of fear than knowing what I was doing, mind! Oklahoma So what are the operating numbers? Manitoba I will add a disclaimer that you should hold a refrigerant handling qualification to carry out this work and recommend that if you are unsure how to charge a system you should contact a professional. simply open the valve while the compressor is running and the gas will be sucked in by the compressor. These guidelines are intended for use by operators of R134a marine refrigeration systems in the UK prior to introduction of the new regulations, and laws covering the use of HFC refrigerants may vary in other parts of the world. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. As a rookie, what is a trimetric 2030? All items needed for correcting the charge are readily available online or from a refrigeration supplier. New Hampshire New South Wales Alberta Do not remove the valve cap from the discharge side service valve or connect anything to it. Oil-free R134a continues to be available outside UK, where these regulations have yet to be implemented. According to a Dometic representative, the disparity between the two figures is due to the other components in the refrigerator that require power to operate like the condenser fan and light. Massachusetts Wyoming The Danfoss compressor works in what are called duty cycles, the hourly period when the compressor is actually on and working. New Mexico If he doesn't have a clue then he is not qualified to work on a Danfoss/capillary tube system. RV Refrigerators: How Level Should They Be? Mississippi Owen holds the necessary qualifications for this activity. Screw the valve assembly on to the can of refrigerant, then screw the adapter on to the valve assembly. This means you can run a compressor refrigerator while driving without having to worry about the pilot light blowing out. For an evaporator system like this, the pressure will drop to 3 to 7psi as the box cools down. This means that there is still some of the refrigeration process going on inside the tubing and there will be a build-up of frost or ice on the exposed section. Add the refrigerant in small amounts (say 5 seconds) and then let the system settle down for approximately 10 minutes. New Jersey The quality of construction and the amount of insulation, or lack of it, is where the good units separate themselves from the mediocre ones. During the construction of our camper, we had the choice of installing either a Dometic CR-1110 Danfoss compressor refrigerator or the standard Dometic three-way absorption refrigerator. He's been RV'ing since 2002, is a certified RVIA Level 1 RV Technician, and has restored several Airstream travel trailers. This power saving measure is especially useful during the night when the door isnt being opened as much as it is during the day. Nothing illustrated this better than the 2021 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), which departed Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (in Spains Canary Islands) in November and wrapped up in December on the island of St. Lucia read more, There is, of course, nothing new about bowspritssailing ships have been using them for centuries. No refrigerant gauges are necessary for these adjustments, their use is not recommended except for major repairs and for evacuating the system No reference will be made to them in this guide. This is usually achieved by screwing in the handle on the top of the valve assembly to pierce the can, but follow specific instructions supplied with your equipment. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. Neither Danfoss nor Secop make refrigerators. Why do fools fall in love? Tasmania R134a is available in small cans that enable topping up or recharging, both in its pure form for domestic systems or with added oil for automotive air conditioning units. The gas I bought does have a gauge on it, and while I can probably find the pressure in the specs, do you know the range I should target? 3 Following instructions, I ran the compressor for 15 minutes to warm it up, with the thermostat set to the lowest temperaturethis keeps the compressor running at a constant speed. When the French company launched its Open series in 2013, it shrunk the saloon and dedicated more space to the cockpit where most catamaran living read more, From cockloons to SmartRooms and innovative nav stations, todays multihull builders are fine-tuning the layouts of their mid-sized cruisers in increasingly interesting ways. Nova Scotia Otherwise, its contents will emerge as a spray of freezing liquid. I suffered it myself for a short time last summer, after I accidentally discharged the refrigerant from the new fridge unit I had installed. So what are the pros of the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator? 5 With the compressor running, I opened the manifold valve and let the compressor suck in the gas for five seconds or so until the gauge indicated 20 psi. If the system is seriously undercharged due to a leak, the problem will need to be rectified and the system evacuated with a vacuum pump before re-charging. Now, however, I have to recharge my Danfos BD-35 compressor as it no longer gets the plate cold enough. Well I'm not sure how much help this will will help as I bought my gear when I was in Yemen, but a friend of mine has just bought the same gear here in India so I'm guessing it's easy to find the refrigerator gauge set. Mike, excellent report on your CR-1110 refrigerator. Where the pure gas is available the following guide is applicable. Its a Schrader valve, like those used on common bicycle tires. Well I managed it in the end anyway but I'd still be interested in getting hold of a good guide on this subject. Alabama Anyone know how to recharge my system? They all use the Danfoss DC compressor, so generally speaking, they all offer the same performance and reliability. If you are unable to positively identify the suction side service valve, consult a marine refrigeration specialist. Prince Edward Island The refrigerator has worked perfectly since its recharge. These are available from the same sources. Several months later, after having been repeatedly let down by not one, but two different professionals, and suffering a summer of having to tote heavy coolers on boardthe very thing Id hoped to avoid by installing a fridgeI decided it was time to man up and do it myself. At start up, turn the temperature knob to the maximum setting (for older Dometic CR-1110 models this is 7, newer models maximum). 8 The wonderful sight of frost forming on the walls of the box brought a smile to my face. Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Finally, I take it that I don't need to crack the discharge port, just pressurize the suction side a bit? California Such extremes are rare though. It pays to do some research ahead of time to see if theyre competent installers. Last but not least, the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator requires only minimal ventilation. All rights reserved. Whats its purpose? Gone are the days of having to turn on your absorption refrigerator the day before your trip to ensure its cold. If additional insulation has been added, it may be concealing this symptom and should be removed. As the name implies, the key component that makes this type of refrigerator possible is the Danfoss BD35F compressor. If you have any problems you can give me a call I have a vac pump you could borrow if needed as I see you are local. This is backed up by the very poor instructions that comes with my gauge kit. Vermont Hawaii Although the Danfoss DC compressor is much more efficient running on 12 volt power than the ammonia absorption type, it still consumes a considerable amount of amperage during a 24 hour day. South Australia After 45 days at sea, the sailing cargo ship KWAI has docked in San Francisco with 96 tons of recovered plastic, including ghost nets and derelict fishing gear from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Key features of this revolutionary compressor include rapid cooling, a low amp draw, and a whisper quiet operation. He currently rolls in a 4WD Ram 3500 outfitted with a SherpTek truck bed with a Bundutec Roadrunner mounted on top. All that changed with the release of the Danfoss compressor refrigerator in 1998. A standard car air conditioning top up kit can then be used to top it up. Labrador As a general rule refrigeration systems do not lose gas unless there is a leak so topping up is probably not the solution without repairing the leak first. It was time to find out. All content is copyright of Mello Mike and Truck Camper Adventure 2011-2022. Quebec Surely, if any doofus can top up a cars AC system, any doofus should be able to top up a marine fridge? Kentucky This is important in identifying if the system is undercharged or overcharged. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Mike, thats a nice clear explanation of both types of fridges. The adaptors are available from Ebay traders and from Kooltech. More than likely, this would have required the services of one of those elusive professionals. Refrigeration compressors are designed to compress gas only. Keep the can of R134a in an upright position while adding refrigerant so that no liquid is allowed to enter the system. This should allow some refrigerant gas to escape and maybe some refrigerant liquid. - KK7TCA. Run the system for a while, then add a small amount of refrigerant. Great article! As for the installation of the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator, insulation of the area surrounding the refrigerator is key. Moreover, the Danfoss compressor refrigerator takes only a couple of hours to reach its set operating temperature. Photo by Charles J. Doane. After reading all of the positives of the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator, you may be wondering which company makes the best one? I have a Danfoss compressor, a fridge gauge set, a can of 134a and Calder's bible. It will describe what symptoms to look for in a correctly charged capillary refrigeration system, and how to adjust the charge if an undercharged or overcharged condition exists. Here is the long awaited link for the recharging instructions. Before deciding which condition exists in your system, please read all of the following thoroughly. Replace the valve cap firmly. I sat down with a fridge specialist and learned how to charge the fridge but that was some time ago and my memory is rusty. This is usually achieved by backing off the handle on the top of the valve assembly, but check your specific instructions as some equipment may differ. Queensland This also means you can run it while fueling up at a gas station without concern of an explosion. I have a suspicion that there may actually be one of them that is correct. A simple guide (bullet point like mine) would be really useful. Arizona State/Province: The source of this heat comes from either a propane flame or from electricity (110 volt AC or 12 volt DC). Working with refrigerants involves potentially dangerous pressures and temperatures and precautions must be taken to avoid injury. Refrigerant removal should be done with a reclaim unit as gasses cannot be discharged to atmosphere. Newfoundland On a seriously overcharged system it may take repeated releases before the symptoms of a slight overcharge appear. This compressor is able to accomplish both of these tasks and use far less power than its predecessors, which is why its so special.
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