Fridge Comprressor Cooling

 

I have always been impressed by the idea of insulating the fridge, but have not yet picked up the courage or find the time to do that task.

 

 

I did notice that the locker containing the compressor was getting very warm.. Suggestions such as opening up the locker hatch whilst sailing were not ideal, as we store our cockpit cushions on the seat when sailing. 

 

I therefore decided to add an extra fan to pull in air into the locker.  I fastened a standard 80mm 12v PC cooling fan to the cooler grid with cable ties and used a piece of 100mm plastic pipe  (as used on the down pipes outside houses) to link it to the ventialtion grill on the locker side.  The pipe is held in place on the locker side by a couple of small pieces of wood glued to the locker side.  By cutting small slots in the pipe, it just slides over the cooling fan sides.

 

 

 

The fan is just connected to the same terminals as the Isotherm fan, so it comes on when the compressor starts.  I have then sealed up any gaps with duck (duct) tape. To minimise any fan noise, I lined the plastic pipe with a type of felt used for protecting furniture and there is negligible increase in fridge noise.

 

I can now definitely feel air being pulled into the locker through the pipe and also out through the round grill to which some yachts have the heating ducted connected.  As the power of the fan is so small compared to the compressor motor, it only needs to have a small impact to be of benefit.

 

I now do open up the locker at night and also make sure all the ventialtiongrills are kept clear, as we store our cockpit tent behind the table when sailing.

 

It is definitely the cheapest modification to the boat I have done.  The fan cost me £1 from a PC repair shop (normal cost around £7, so it was probably one he had taken from a dead PC) and the pipe came from a distant relative in the building trade.