Fridge compressor / evaporator plate replacement

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   Hi all. I have a leak in my refrigerant pipe between the compressor and evaporator plate. Due to its location slightly behind and under the fridge and the fact that both pipes run inside one tube, the engineer has advised either cutting the pipes at the compressor and replacing the evaporator O plate and the entire pipe, or replacing the entire set up. The compressor dates from 2010 and appears to work well, although a little worn and rusty. 
My question for the experts out there is; has compressor technology moved on since 2010 to the extent that I would see a benefit in replacing the old one in terms of efficiency and noise? Or am I better off just buying the O plate and having this brazed onto the old compressor and refilled with refrigerant? I am also struggling to find a complete kit in the UK which includes the appropriate sized O plate evaporator (150l).

Thanks 

Edited by MartinR34 - 10 September 2025 at 13:24

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MartinR34 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 08 January 2025 Location: Portsmouth Status: Offline Points: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote MartinR34 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Fridge compressor / evaporator plate replacement Posted: 10 September 2025 at 11:44
	Hi all. I have a leak in my refrigerant pipe between the compressor and evaporator plate. Due to its location slightly behind and under the fridge and the fact that both pipes run inside one tube, the engineer has advised either cutting the pipes at the compressor and replacing the evaporator O plate and the entire pipe, or replacing the entire set up. The compressor dates from 2010 and appears to work well, although a little worn and rusty. My question for the experts out there is; has compressor technology moved on since 2010 to the extent that I would see a benefit in replacing the old one in terms of efficiency and noise? Or am I better off just buying the O plate and having this brazed onto the old compressor and refilled with refrigerant? I am also struggling to find a complete kit in the UK which includes the appropriate sized O plate evaporator (150l). Thanks Edited by MartinR34 - 10 September 2025 at 13:24
	Sapphire. 2010 400 #687

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 1275	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2025 at 16:02
	I'm in the middle of this exact problem with my 575. Two issues presented themselves: 1. No one seems to feel just replacing the evaporator is an option... The tubing comes with the evaporator, but the connection to the compressor seems to require soldering and that is not something they want to do. 2. Not replacing the compressor has risks. Once air gets into the system, the compressor could be contaminated. They usually recommend the compressor AND the evaporator get replaces as a combination. They first recommend just replacing the whole thing (the entire freezer), but in my case that isn't an option since the new units are bigger and don't fit.
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

MartinR34 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 08 January 2025 Location: Portsmouth Status: Offline Points: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote MartinR34 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2025 at 16:13
	Thanks. Connecting a new plate is even more difficult as it is supposed to be brazed rather than soldered, which requires significantly higher temperatures. The system can then be 'evacuated' via a vacuum pump to remove any air, before filling with refrigerant. Newer kits come with quick connect couplings so components can be replaced easily and without requiring evac and refill.
	Sapphire. 2010 400 #687

32mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 26 March 2020 Location: FLorida, US Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 32mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2025 at 17:58
	Just for reference, I had my fridge repaired about a year ago. It leaked the refrigerant so it wouldn’t cool at all while running. My local marine A/C guy was able to fix it. Don’t know exactly what he did but it’s worked fine since. The bigger problem was getting it out. Hanse didn’t cut the right cutouts to slide it out as designed. I had to hire a guy to do some carpentry work just so I could get it out and repeat that if necessary later on. I figured I could do it myself but it would be a hatchet job. The carpenter was a better esthetic.
	Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL

Coumeenole Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 08 September 2025 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote Coumeenole Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 September 2025 at 21:37
	What type of fridge unit is it? My 341 has an Isotherm fridge, and I replaced the evaporator when I bought it. The Isotherm has connections for the evaporator at the compressor. I purchased a fridge vacuum pump from amazon to vacuum the system of air before refilling it with refrigerant.

MartinR34 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Joined: 08 January 2025 Location: Portsmouth Status: Offline Points: 38	Post Options Post Reply Quote MartinR34 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 September 2025 at 10:11
	I have an Isotherm fridge - 135 litre built in version with top and side openings. My compressor is too old to have the quick connect couplings so a new plate would need to have the pipes brazed onto the compressor pipes. Certainly possible but I am questioning whether I would be better off to replace both the plate and the compressor. The difference in cost (after hopefully selling the old compressor and a spare evap plate) would probably be about £250-£300. What I don't know if whether a new compressor would be more power efficient than my old one, and therefore worth the cost.
	Sapphire. 2010 400 #687



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