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FB

Frank Burrows

Mon, Jan 12, 2004 2:15 AM

I finally found a household refrigerator that will dimensionally replace
the current 23 year old Whirlpool refrigerator on my boat. The new model is
a new model Kenmore and according to the specs is Frost Free. I was pleased
at first but then I started thinking about the frost free cycle heaters
coming when the power is being supplied by the inverter. I assume that this
cycle uses a lot of extra power.

Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my
modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion
heaters??

thanks

Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking MY Piney Narrows Marina Chesapeake Bay

I finally found a household refrigerator that will dimensionally replace the current 23 year old Whirlpool refrigerator on my boat. The new model is a new model Kenmore and according to the specs is Frost Free. I was pleased at first but then I started thinking about the frost free cycle heaters coming when the power is being supplied by the inverter. I assume that this cycle uses a lot of extra power. Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion heaters?? thanks Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking MY Piney Narrows Marina Chesapeake Bay

RC

R C Smith Jr

Mon, Jan 12, 2004 3:09 AM

on 1/11/04 9:15 PM, Frank Burrows at fburrows@mail.com wrote:

Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my
modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion
heaters??

Frank,

I suggest the "wait and see" approach. I have the same situation. The reefer
pulls about 8 amps during its normal cycle. While frost freeing itself, it
draws in the low 30s (24v). It really does not seem to last long enough to
make a substantial difference IMHO.

OTOH, if the switch is an easy modification...

Bob

R C Smith Jr
M/V MARY KATHRYN
Hatteras 58 LRC
Marathon, The Florida Keys

on 1/11/04 9:15 PM, Frank Burrows at fburrows@mail.com wrote: > Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my > modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion > heaters?? Frank, I suggest the "wait and see" approach. I have the same situation. The reefer pulls about 8 amps during its normal cycle. While frost freeing itself, it draws in the low 30s (24v). It really does not seem to last long enough to make a substantial difference IMHO. OTOH, if the switch is an easy modification... Bob ___________________ R C Smith Jr M/V MARY KATHRYN Hatteras 58 LRC Marathon, The Florida Keys

A

Albin43SDtr

Mon, Jan 12, 2004 4:24 AM

Bob, Frank and all,

The frost free refrigerators I am familiar with only melt the ice/frost in
the freezer compartment (and some in the refrigerator compartment), that
is, they do not dry it. Therefore, any water is collected somewhere,
usually in a tray at the bottom of the refrigerator and left to evaporate.

Two possible problems could result.

If the boat rocks the water may spill out of the collection tray. This
would not be a problem in a house, but on a boat, especially in high
humidity (slow evaporation) conditions....????
If the unit had a switch, so that when operating off of a battery it
would not defrost on schedule, when the unit's defroster was finally turned
on, it may dump more water than the tray could handle.

Both problems could be solved with a drain line to a sump. I would suggest
making a loop in the drain line to hold water, like in a sink trap. This
would be to prevent odors from going back up the line and into the
refrigerator from the sump (presumably a shower sump or something such).
Constant/frequent defrost use should keep water in the line as it should
not evaporate quickly.

Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my
modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion
heaters??

Just a thunkin' 'bout th' possibilities...

Take care and be safe.

Wayne
M/V Celestial
Albin43 Sundeck

Bob, Frank and all, The frost free refrigerators I am familiar with only melt the ice/frost in the freezer compartment (and some in the refrigerator compartment), that is, they do not dry it. Therefore, any water is collected somewhere, usually in a tray at the bottom of the refrigerator and left to evaporate. Two possible problems could result. 1. If the boat rocks the water may spill out of the collection tray. This would not be a problem in a house, but on a boat, especially in high humidity (slow evaporation) conditions....???? 2. If the unit had a switch, so that when operating off of a battery it would not defrost on schedule, when the unit's defroster was finally turned on, it may dump more water than the tray could handle. Both problems could be solved with a drain line to a sump. I would suggest making a loop in the drain line to hold water, like in a sink trap. This would be to prevent odors from going back up the line and into the refrigerator from the sump (presumably a shower sump or something such). Constant/frequent defrost use should keep water in the line as it should not evaporate quickly. > > Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my > > modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion > > heaters?? Just a thunkin' 'bout th' possibilities... Take care and be safe. Wayne M/V Celestial Albin43 Sundeck

GZ

Glen Zwicker

Mon, Jan 12, 2004 8:59 AM

Hi Frank,
If you can gain access to the circuitry of the refrigerator the simplest solution would be to
disconnect power to the electro-mechanical timer that controls the defrost cycle (or install a
SPST switch in its feed line). Be sure that you do not stop the timer when "defrost" is active
or the fridge will perpetually remain in defrost mode. If it turns out that the fridge is
controlled by a microprocessor then a more creative solution is called for.
Glen Zwicker
Glen-L Yukon 36

Frank Burrows wrote:

I finally found a household refrigerator that will dimensionally replace
the current 23 year old Whirlpool refrigerator on my boat. The new model is
a new model Kenmore and according to the specs is Frost Free. I was pleased
at first but then I started thinking about the frost free cycle heaters
coming when the power is being supplied by the inverter. I assume that this
cycle uses a lot of extra power.

Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my
modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion
heaters??

thanks

Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking MY Piney Narrows Marina Chesapeake Bay

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Hi Frank, If you can gain access to the circuitry of the refrigerator the simplest solution would be to disconnect power to the electro-mechanical timer that controls the defrost cycle (or install a SPST switch in its feed line). Be sure that you do not stop the timer when "defrost" is active or the fridge will perpetually remain in defrost mode. If it turns out that the fridge is controlled by a microprocessor then a more creative solution is called for. Glen Zwicker Glen-L Yukon 36 Frank Burrows wrote: > I finally found a household refrigerator that will dimensionally replace > the current 23 year old Whirlpool refrigerator on my boat. The new model is > a new model Kenmore and according to the specs is Frost Free. I was pleased > at first but then I started thinking about the frost free cycle heaters > coming when the power is being supplied by the inverter. I assume that this > cycle uses a lot of extra power. > > Has anyone had any experience installing a switch to bypass this cycle my > modifying the refrigerator circuitry??? How about bypassing the mullion > heaters?? > > thanks > > Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking MY Piney Narrows Marina Chesapeake Bay > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-list > > To Unsubscribe send email to trawler-world-list-request@lists.samurai.com > Include the word "Unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.

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TWL: Frost Free Refrigerators