Idaho Among them are many remarkable people whove made contributions to the world of sailing through education, innovation and advocacy. This is important in identifying if the system is undercharged or overcharged. This is when the fridge temperature is close to the required temperature but the compressor is still running. Its a dreadful state of mind that consumes you when your reefer doesnt deliver the goods. Theres no doubt about it. 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. A qualified person will need to possess arefrigerant handling certificate that costs 500 to obtain. Mike, excellent report on your CR-1110 refrigerator. They all use the Danfoss DC compressor, so generally speaking, they all offer the same performance and reliability. On the other hand, I knew that topping up the charge in a cars AC system is such a simple DIY task that the refrigerant and hoses are readily available in auto-supply stores. 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. Basically, the ammonia absorption refrigerator uses heat to operate. Doing this can cut the refrigerators duty cycles and power consumption by half. Why do fools fall in love? It wasnt that long ago when the ammonia absorption refrigerator was the only choice for RV owners. That suggests you have a leak to find and fix before you add gas which would otherwise follow the last lot. Arizona Those are the pros, now lets look at the cons. This is a huge plus for overlanders and boondocking enthusiasts as getting a perfectly level campsite can sometimes be difficult. I don`t think it wears out or naturally diminishes. The evaporator will probably sound the same as a properly charged system. 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. The Danfoss compressor works in what are called duty cycles, the hourly period when the compressor is actually on and working. But the copper lines leading back to the compressor, and maybe even the compressor itself will be also be cold and sweating. Locate the end of the charging hose that has a valve stem depressor, screw the opposite end onto the adapter. simply open the valve while the compressor is running and the gas will be sucked in by the compressor. Louisiana What pressure should I be looking for? By the way, its important never to tip the can upside down while youre charging. As it was I did as you say, adding a bit at a time in short bursts. Last but not least, the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator requires only minimal ventilation. His cell phone number is 360-305-9573. Mello Mike is an Amazon.com associate. In Dec 2013 I installed a CR-1110 in my own camper and have never regretted it. A marine refrigerator is wonderful thing as long as its working. Although mobile air conditioning (automotive) systems are excluded, the regulations will make the purchase of R134a without oil impossible to an unqualified user. It helped that I knew why my fridge needed a charge: soon after installing the Isotherm fridge unit I had undone one of the Danfoss BD35 compressors quick-fit couplings to make room for the galley sink drain hose, and heard a distinct hiss as the gas made good its escape. 6 After a few minutes, the pressure dropped to 7psi and then down to 3, so I gave the system another 5-second charge. Thanks, Owen. Utah Manitoba Manufactured in Denmark, the Danfoss BD35F is a brush-less, variable speed, hermetically sealed compressor. The source of this heat comes from either a propane flame or from electricity (110 volt AC or 12 volt DC). Buy a refrigerator thermometer and place it inside your refrigerator. In all cases it is the duty of the person performing the service to verify that he/she is not violating any laws or regulations by following these guidelines. Neither Danfoss nor Secop make refrigerators. As the name implies, the key component that makes this type of refrigerator possible is the Danfoss BD35F compressor. The only recourse of the boat owner will then be to employa qualified person, at some cost. This is backed up by the very poor instructions that comes with my gauge kit. Maryland Every Danfoss label I have seen is limited to model number, serial, and refrigerant type. Missouri Another benefit, of course, is that theres no pilot light. Fan Mod: Giving Your Absorption Refrigerator a Boost, Life on the Road with a DC Compressor Refrigerator, Honda Launches new EU3200i Portable Generator, Breaking: KingStar Camino Updates Include New Dry Bath Slide-Out Option, 5 Best Truck Campers for the Ram Power Wagon, 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R Raises Bar in Off-Road Performance, For Sale: 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Duramax Diesel ($29,500), Sold: 2007 Ram 3500 2015 XPCamper V1 Flatbed ($154,900), Sold: Rare 2016 Livin Lite 10 Ford Ed. Ohio This is a potentially damaging condition as liquid may reach the compressor where it can damage the valves. Alabama Do not remove the valve cap from the discharge side service valve or connect anything to it. Australian Capital Territory Mike has allowed me to post a link to my install video in my Lance 815. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For an evaporator system like this, the pressure will drop to 3 to 7psi as the box cools down. The following is intended for the use of a boat operator with average mechanical skills. All content is copyright of Mello Mike and Truck Camper Adventure 2011-2022. Get it with Truck Camper Adventure's weekly newsletter. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. This compressor is able to accomplish both of these tasks and use far less power than its predecessors, which is why its so special. As for the installation of the Danfoss DC compressor refrigerator, insulation of the area surrounding the refrigerator is key. RV Refrigerators: How Level Should They Be? I can track with most of that, but when you say "purge the fill line", how is that done? Georgia Annoyingly Calder's guide doesn't really cover Danfoss and he refers to using both the high pressure and low pressure side of the gauge, yet I remember my fridge specialist using only the low pressure side. Makes sense and this will determine whether it is refrigerant or the compressor. Northern Territory Charge gas(little can upright) not liquid (can upside down) and only add very little, check operation, then add more if necessary. The evaporator may appear and sound normal, but will be at a higher temperature than desired, resulting in longer than expected run times. What this means is that your RV will require a minimum of two 12 volt batteries (about 200 amp hours) and a effective way to keep them charged, either a 200 watt solar power system or a generator. - KK7TCA. 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. 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. 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. 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. Alaska 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. R134a refrigerant canisters currently come with a 13 mm fitting, as used for car air conditioning systems. Saskatchewan Initial setup? Unfortunately, its poorly [read more], As most RV owners know, RV absorption refrigerators can sometimes be very finicky. Top manufacturers include Dometic, Norcold, Vitrifrigo, IsoTherm, and Nova Kool. With ambient temperatures in the upper 70s and at a temperature setting of 4.5 (1 lowest 7 highest), the refrigerator typically consumes about 30 watts or 2.5 amp hours DC. Thanks! Danfoss was recently bought out by the German company, Secop, but Secop still maintains the Danfoss manufacturing operation in Denmark. 1. Nearly all AC/DC compressor refrigerators in the RV and marine industries use the Danfoss compressor with the BD35F and BD50F (a larger version of the BD35F) being the most popular models. You should see the frosted area on the evaporator increase after adding some refrigerant. If you put in too much you will find that the suction pipe to the compressor will freeze up in this case it will be necessary to remove this refrigerant. Well, in contrast with the ammonia absorption refrigerator which must be level in order for it to operate efficiently, the Danfoss compressor refrigerator can temporarily operate up to 30 degrees out of level without risk of damage. 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. Minnesota Wyoming This ensures the contents of the refrigerator get cold sooner. This short length of insulation is installed to prevent any condensation that may occur as the cold tube leaves the refrigerated box and is exposed to hot, humid air. Victoria Thanks in advance! To avoid overcharging, its best to charge in short bursts and let the system settle down for a few minutes in between. 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. I have a Danfoss compressor, a fridge gauge set, a can of 134a and Calder's bible. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Too much refrigerant in the system will result in liquid still evaporating back to a gas past the end of the evaporator and inside the tubing going back to the compressor. Truck Camper ($35,000), For Sale: 2007 Okanagan 117 DBL Truck Camper ($35,000), For Sale: Ford F250 Moto-Hauler Camper ($23,000), Why the Payload Rating is Important for Truck Campers, How to Properly Charge an RV Lithium Battery, A Question About Removing Truck Campers at RV Parks and Campgrounds, Big Power in a Small Camper Going Lithium Cheap, Enjoying 2 Meter Ham Radio on Your Truck Camper Adventures, Truck Bed Mod: SherpTek Food Prep Grill Table, SherpTek Transforms Slide-in Truck Camper Into More Capable Overlander, OEV Aluma Tray a Popular Truck Camper Option, New Tag Axle Improves Truck Camper Hauling Options, Keeping Things Warm: Insulation Upgrades For Truck Campers, StableCamper Installation Report and Review, Going Lithium: LiFePO4 Batteries For the Truck Camper Adventure Rig. It was now the moment of truth. Too much or too little refrigerant will result in a system that will have some cooling effect, but will not be working to its full potential. 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. 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. This means you can run a compressor refrigerator while driving without having to worry about the pilot light blowing out. Eye and skin protection must be worn when working on refrigeration systems. Not only that but as the cruising multihull market continues to mature, the new features are not just read more, The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) announced its 12th class of inductees. Most small yacht refrigeration systems are capillary tube systems, requiring a precise refrigerant charge to work at maximum efficiency. The refrigerant used is R134a, a tertrafluorethane that has lower ozone-depletion characteristics than R12, which it replaced.