Noisy fridge... time to update... suggestions

S

Snowday

New member
I have the typical under the steering station norcold fridge. Its pretty noisy. Enough to effect the experience of living aboard on our short cruising jaunts. What's the good stuff out there that can fit in this space? Or what are cruising types replacing them with? We would prefer something designed less for the dock and more for off grid. Cheers.
Todd and Susan
CD 25
 
Journey On has an original refridg, circa 2005. About a year after we got the boat, the thing became quite noisey. So I pulled the refridg and started wiring the loose parts, with padding. I do remember the heat exchanger coils, etc. So, if the refridg is still getting cold, it may just have something loose. Pull it out, have a look, wire up anything loose with wire and padding and try again. I also put a thin layer of rubber underneath. Still going strong.

That said, I guess that all the new refridgs have compressors and plumbing made in China, so whatever the brand your getting the same thing. Ours is made in China, but its lasted lo, these 12 years.

Judy starts the refridg at the begining of each trip and it doesn`t turn it off until we`re back in the driveway.

Boris
 
My fridge (2007) would get noisey from time to time. I would gently tap on the front top part and it would go away for a few days! There's my scientific and uber technical advice. Lol.

My 25 would have lots of noises that bugged me while underway. I always felt like the windows would rattle but I never could isolate the sound exactly.
 
I don't know what you meant by off grid. The refrigerator on our 25 will run on 110 or 12 volt. If we cruise for even a few hours a day we are able to keep everything on the boat running while not going below 50% on the batterys. We did put in LED lights to help keep down power usage. Our refrigerator made some rattling noises at first but for some reason it settled down. I think it's the dividers that my wife put in that keep the noise down now. We also insulated around the sides to keep it from starting up so often.

I always have my Honda 2000 generator on board but that's mainly for AC and the water heater. We anchor out a lot and I need my warm showers and if it's hot the AC for sleeping. Don't think I'll need the AC on the trip to Isle Royal!

Are you planing on joining the Clows on the trip to Isle Royal? Tom

Tom
 
But if you really want to replace it and you have a Norcold DE0751BB like I do you can replace it with a more efficient NR751BB. They fit the same opening according to the literature. Tom
 
You might give Nova Kool a look. They're made in Canada, use a Danfoss (high quality German built compressor), and offer superb service after the sale. The units are very quiet and energy efficient.
 
Forgot to mention that they sent us a replacement plastic surround piece for one that I had broken at no charge (refrigerator was three years old at the time). Great service.
 
I hate to say it, but we like the fridge and the water heater. And we use both. Yes, one has to watch battery power and that's why I installed a Balmar Smart Gauge. We carry a Honda gen too and my next upgrade will be a better battery charger than the Guest.

As to the noise, ours does rattle, hum etc and occasionally it does wake me up. I noticed the latch rattles; the spring is wearing out. But we've kinda just gotten used to it.
 
That on-again-off-again all night noise used to bother me too. This year I tried something obvious, but something I had never tried......I simply turned it off at night :wink: :)

By the time we go to bed and then wake up with light pouring in, the refer isn't off that many hours. I was surprised how cold (cool?) the refer remained (naturally it doesn't get opened at night....which helps). Saving batteries was just a bonus.

I'm in the Pacific Northwest. Probably wouldn't work in warmer climes.
 

We found the annoying buzz/rattle could be eliminated by tweaking and insulating the coils at the rear of the unit. Also, packing it chock full of food seemed to dampen the noises.
 
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