Yesterday was a BIG day!! I finally got up the nerve to unbox and put in the new refrigerator system. Somehow taking out a unit that still works and putting in a new one seemed a strange thing to do. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" has always been the norm but with the old unit using so many amps to run(5 to 6 amps) it needed to be replaced. We desperately need a system that uses a lot less especially once we are away from the dock and on our own power. The manufacturer (Technautics) guarantees that this new system will only use 2 amps to run which is a huge reduction in amps. It's running at just over 3 amps during it initial startup and cooling down phase which is a good sign.
It's not like living in a home where you can use as much power as you like and turn on all the lights and use every appliance in the kitchen at the same time. On a boat--even while plugged into shore power it has its limits. Most boats are set up on a 30 amp circuit. If you turn on something, it is important to know how many amps it uses. You may have to turn off another appliance to use it. If we want to use the microwave, we have to turn off the electric heater till the microwave is done. The combined power draw will blow the circuit if you get past 30 amps. but I digress from the days labor--but hopefully you better understand our power limits.
As you can see from the pictures, we really had to tear up Zephyr to get at all the wires and coolant lines. We had to take out the stove, all the drawers and everything under the sink to get to everything.
Out came the copper refrigerant lines and the cooler unit that was in the box. Then the thermostat and all its wires.
Out came the compressor unit.
It took a while and some careful measurements and a few redos, but the new cooler unit went in all in all quite easily.
Once we had had the new hatch installed, we had plenty of access to the area where the new cooler unit was to be put. Before, food was kept in baskets and had to be slide in and out under the counter top. Now all we have to do is lift the lid. Tracy loves it.
With the old one out, in went the new refrigerator unit. As you can see, it has a much small "foot print" which will give us just a little bit more storage space for supplies(every inch counts). By far, the hardest part was running the new copper coolant lines. Two copper pipes--one 1/4" and a 3/8" line had to be run from the compressor to the cooler unit. It took time to make the careful bends in them. We had to be careful not to kink the tubes. Where they run behind the stove, they are covered with a foam rubber cover to make sure there is no wear and tear from the stove.
We started at 0900 and quit about 1700. She is up and running and as of this morning is at 28 degrees for the entire box--not bad!
We did get another job done while we were at it. Zephyr came with an auxiliary water heater that ran on propane.
While it was under code when it was installed, the propane lines were now outlawed under current code. It was one of the few things the surveyor had found that needed to be changed during his inspection. The unit ran off propane that came in on the same line as the stove. New regulations make it a requirement that each appliance has its own propane line. No piggybacking on existing lines. While we were taking out the stove, we found the "T" where the propane line joined the one for the stove and took it off and took out the line and the heater.
I was surprised to see the propane line to the water heater was made from rubber, not copper as I would have thought.
We now have a good bit more space on the forward wall of the engine room and one of what could have been a potential problem out. If it had malfunctioned, we could have had propane leaking into Zephyr which could go boom(bad!). We installed a new hose for the stove that we had purchased while in Newport last year. It doesn't appear to fit properly so I will be out in search of a new fitting today.
Today, we will finish the job. We have to fabricate an insulation panel to separate the new freezer section from the refrigerator section. This way, we can have more frozen food that will keep longer and just a bit less refrigerator space. Better for food to keep long term than short which is one of the reasons we decided to install the new unit. The old one had just a small box (5.75" X 10") that acted as a freezer. Now we will have a dedicated section of the entire cooler box.
We already have the foam insulation panel and a large sheet of Formica to cover it. Now we just have to take measurements and get the last part of the job done. With luck, it won't take that long. Tracy is great at making things like this.
It's still blowing in the mid 20 knot range but it is sunny which makes the day much better, not that we will be seeing that much of it.
I spoke with Larry the mechanic about our transmission and was there when he called Great Lakes Marine to see if they had received it. They got it on Thursday and will be getting back to us early next week as to their inspection and what they have found and what they "might" cover in expenses. The waiting game continues.
Well, we've got work to do so I end here.
Have a great weekend everyone. Remember--"we're living the dream"!
(Remember, if you click on the pictures, you'll get to see them enlarged if you like.)
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