Adding Frig/ Freezer to the IceBox

NP336 · **Joined:** 16 Mar 2007 16:10 **Posts:** 143

Any recommendations for upgrading an icebox with perhaps an Adler Barbour frig/ freezer?
I see different systems out there with great spread in price. Is this a DIY project. What would professional installation run?
Thanks in advance for all comments.
Regards,

conch · **Joined:** 21 Jan 2010 12:57 **Posts:** 168

I'm in the process of replacing an air cooled 110 volt compressor/holding plate unit with a 12volt and either a holding plate or the evaporater/freezer. I'm interested in hearing what others have to say about the desirability of the holding plate vs the freezer/evaporater. In theory the latter would allow keeping items frozen at a lower tmeperature with the frozen items acting as a holding plate. I'm curious to know if Tartan installed insulated lids on any production boats. Mine (#258) has no insulation on the lid, an omission that needs to be remedied. I intend to perform the conversion/installation myself.
Regards

WayneH · **Posted:** 01 Apr 2015 23:01

We bought our refrigeration from Frigibar three years ago and are quite happy with it. We got the icebox conversion model.
http://www.frigibar.com/conversion-kit/ ... sion-kits/

The compressor is mounted on a custom shelf high and forward in the starboard cockpit locker. The biggest hurdle for us was the evaporator plate is pre-plumbed to the refrigeration tubing and it is nearly a three person job to get the tubing turned around the corner between the icebox and the hull. But we managed. Our evaporator plate is mounted in the high in the aft inboard corner of the icebox.

Running, it draws about 4-5 amps which is no problem for the solar panels. It's the house battery that is an issue. It no longer has the amp-hours to make it through the night.

Tortuga's Lie · **Joined:** 27 Oct 2006 10:32 **Posts:** 827

I'm sure this topic is somewhere on the forum, but am too lazy to search right now Shocked

I installed a KeelCooler unit from Frigoboat and have been very pleased with it. I used the evaporated bin which acts as our freezer and pretty much items stored directly below this will also be at freezing, or pretty darn near. I like the evaporator bin because of the ease of making ice. I use both the vertical ice trays and I also use a cylindrical, plastic storage bin from Rubbermaid with a screw top lid. I use this for small block ice which I use an ice pick on.

The Frigoboat compressor is whisper quiet and can barely hear it running. I have it on a custom shelf below the existing shelf under the galley sink. This was pretty much dead space for us and worked great running the lines under the stove. I also cut an access door under the stove for running these lines and we store small things here as well.

I was able to buy insulated panels directly from Tartan a number of years ago which I mounted under the lids (don't know if they would still sell these but you could call). You could build your own fairly easy with a little skill.

sord · **Posted:** 04 Apr 2015 15:55

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One of the biggest issues with converting or improving the Fridge/Freezer is getting the top off the counter top / lid off the old one. I have been asking for a couple of years now about doing this. I have had responses but everyone seems to have forgotten where they started. My wife wants better insulation as we have a cold plate but will kill me if this damages the teak. I have looked at the bolts and screws but cannot figure out if it is possible to to just remove some and pop off the top. I have been told that it was made upside down and then installed as one unit but this does not seem to work. I want to get the this point - (This is not my boat in the picture)

If anyone has solved this dilemma and can relay the process to me I would really appreciate it. Splice

Timshel · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2010 10:24 **Posts:** 191

OK, mine is apart right now. I took it apart with a bit of brute force and ignorance but now I think I see how it went together.It looks like it was built upside down,the formica top surface laid down,formica down,then the box put on top,1''X1'' wood battens put around the edge and screwed through the box rim into the 3/4'' ply top. Then the assembly put in place and screwed and plugged around 3 edges into the same 1''X1'' battens,then the fiddles screwed on.
You can probably remove the top by removing the fiddles,removing the cabinet behind the stove,then cutting through the screws with a occillating [sp?] saw like a fein.The pics may make it clearer.
I have built a new,smaller box with a seafrost ice bin at one end and the compressor unit under the box with an access hatch at front. Will post more pics as I progress,just waiting for the snow to melt !!! Bruce.

Timshel · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2010 10:24 **Posts:** 191

I have to add,the foam on the hull side was a previous owner project,he bored a hole in the bottom of the cabinet behind the fridge and poured in expanding foam,the whole project is fairly major surgery but my goal is for a small,efficient system that can run off 2 solar panels.

Down2TheC · **Posted:** 06 Apr 2015 14:44

If it fits your plans, I still have a Waeco Coolmatic 85 compressor in the box never used. They still have a variety of plates you can choose to pair with it.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=680

They still sell the unit at Defender
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 7&id=86594
but they've hiked the price and changed the link.

Tartan

Since you're planning to run off solar, it might be the ticket for you with it's low wattage.

NP336 · **Joined:** 16 Mar 2007 16:10 **Posts:** 143

Thanks,
I apprecaite the comments, feedback.
It appears that perhaps the Alder-Barbour may be my best bet as a DIY project,
I don't want to do open heart surgery on the icebox..
Regards,

Down2TheC · **Posted:** 08 Apr 2015 13:39

I should mention... Waeco bought Adler Barbour. And the easy install is to take the evap lines from the icebox wherever you mounted the evap under the lip of the top to the aft-outboard corner of the box. There you can drill through to route lines behind the stove, ultimately heading to the under sink area where you can mount your compressor.

That's the system I replaced. Old Adler barber out, new Waeco in. No major cabinets to take apart, though depending on your routing you may need to pop the panel off behind the stove. So one panel, a couple drilled holes, measure, purchase, mount, route, connect, and you're in business. You'll need some stuff to block the through holes in the icebox. In the navy we called it "monkey shit"... I think it would be a type of caulking in the real world. If there's a long run of evap lines under that lip in the box, you'll want to secure them so they don't get snagged by an overzealous sailor looking for a cold beer.

Tartan37.com

Adding Frig/ Freezer to the IceBox

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