575 Vitrifrigo Freezer
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 575/588
Forum Description: 575/588 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12823
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 575 Vitrifrigo Freezer
Posted By: Awatea
Subject: 575 Vitrifrigo Freezer
Date Posted: 19 June 2021 at 10:42
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Gentlefolk I have a 575 Hull #82. I am having trouble with the freezer not getting below zero & using heaps of power! My question is how does the technician get into make repair? Is it safe to slide the unit out? Freezer on top 2 drawer fridge below. Regards John ------------- John RANGATIRA 575. #82 |
Replies:
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 19 June 2021 at 11:51
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Yes, I did this when I installed temp sensors in the refrigerator and freezer. You can slide it out by removing the screws in the trim panel all around. When you slide it out, be careful as there should be slack in the power cables that allow it to extend out of the cavity its mounted in. As you put it back, make sure this slack is maintained and available. One simple thing you may want to check is a build up of ice/frost on the inside due to a lack of proper seal when shut. Air laden with humidity gets in and then you have 2" of frost lining the box and its very inefficient at that point. My freezer doesn't click on all the time, but my monitoring tells me that all three (2 refrig, 1 freezer) on our 575 are drawing (MAX) 5.5amps. Not sure what "heaps of power" means so you probably want to measure. Also... the blue lights (on our Vitrifrigo) indicate the setting. Are yours set properly? ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: Awatea
Date Posted: 19 June 2021 at 12:56
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Thanks Rick, for your comments. I am drawing about 7.9 ams just with fridges and freezer working. Nothing else. I checked for frost and ice. Yes, I do have a mild build up.But seals are all good. Blue LED lights are correctly set. Good to know that the unit can be pulled out. I was hoping that was the case. ------------- John RANGATIRA 575. #82 |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 19 June 2021 at 16:59
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I take a bath carpet and put the unit on that to avoid scratching the sole. Again be careful of the wires. ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 19 June 2021 at 17:42
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John, We have had our set of two fridges out (I think after Rick advised how to do it- thanks Rick) and this gets you access to the fridge and, I think, the freezer compressor. We cleaned the air filter and the cooling fins on both the freezer and fridge compressor units which made a difference to their performance. Dust had been building up for about 6 years. We now do it yearly. ------------- Wayne W Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026. |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 20 June 2021 at 00:02
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I think you can get access to the filters from the door on the side of the cabinetry. At least on our boat. As an aside, the path to run a temp sensor from the back of the refrig/freezer is obviously down the back of the cavity and then under the sole to the port of the bilge, then across the bilge, thru the space below the settee in front of the nav station, and then up to the nav station. Not fun. Used a metal snake and a lot of my patience. I strongly suggest you run a messenger first and then pull thru a new messenger and then the cables at the same time. You might need it again someday.. FWIW ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 20 June 2021 at 09:58
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I am using a cheapo wireless sensor inside the fridge from the internet. No hazzle with cable routing, just a battery change every year as part of the spring maintenance schedule. BR Frank ------------- Frank |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 20 June 2021 at 10:43
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much smarter.... what make? ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: Nelson01
Date Posted: 20 June 2021 at 12:46
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We use SensorPush bluetooth thermometer at home for fridge and freezer(with remote wifi wich lets us know if problem when away),but I'll purchase 2 more for boat.....great idea to monitor temperature. https://www.sensorpush.com/products/p/ht1" rel="nofollow - https://www.sensorpush.com/products/p/ht1 Marc ------------- Marc H508#11 UNEVIE |
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 20 June 2021 at 13:56
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Hi Rick, all stuff made in China. Just google wireless temp sensor or weather station. I am using the latter which gives me fridge via wireless, atm pressure graph and humidity/temp in the cabin. BR Frank ------------- Frank |
Posted By: Gale Force
Date Posted: 21 June 2021 at 08:59
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Very interesting little gadget.My freezer works great until I load it up and put to sea.Then it slowly defrosts over a couple of days.I am not sure if this is because I do not keep enough charge in my batteries or there is another problem.Any this gadget will at least be able to tell me the moment it starts to go wrong. Are they waterproof. Cheers Duncan
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Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 21 June 2021 at 14:00
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check the voltage on your batteries.. In some cases the batteries can power lamps and some low draw devices (including AC outlets) but there isn't enough ooomph to start the compressor on the refrigeration or freezer. In the same vein, inverters normally have a minimum voltage (say 11.5V) for them to work. Generators are another indicator. Many Hanse gen sets are connected to the house bank and if you cannot start the gen set, you are not going to run a refrigerator. This sensor would give you notice of failure, but don't you want to prevent it in the first place? ------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |
Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 21 June 2021 at 14:56
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Duncan, You may want to check the voltage drop between you batteries and the freezer. I have seen on plenty of boats the cable sizing is not large enough and causes a voltage drop in this case possibly at the freezer. The freezer probably runs well on shore power because the batteries are at their highest voltage. As soon as you sail off the voltage at the batteries starts to drop and if there is a further voltage drop at the freezer performance will drop off to the point where the freezer compressor may not start. Just check the voltage at the freezer when the compressor is running and compare it to the battery voltage at the time. If there is a considerable drop you should run larger size cable. You may be able to use the original cables as pull throughs for the new cable. ------------- Wayne W Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026. |
Posted By: Gale Force
Date Posted: 22 June 2021 at 05:19
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Hi Wayne Many thanks for your input.I will check Cheers Duncan
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Posted By: Awatea
Date Posted: 28 June 2021 at 12:27
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hi Rick & others Thanks so much for the advice. My lad & I took out both fridge & freezer. Gave them a good clean & they appear to be running better Cheers John ------------- John RANGATIRA 575. #82 |
Posted By: marcopone
Date Posted: 22 August 2021 at 07:31
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Posted By: marcopone
Date Posted: 22 August 2021 at 07:40
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In my case I installed a new thermostat for the freezer. This because I wanted to use it also as fridge. It is nice because it gives you a continuous temp feedback. It is a simple work, the temp probe has to be changed. The original does not work with this thermostat. You can set and adjust the frequency of the motor on/off cycle. This by setting the temp gap, delay on switch on etc. Also defrost intervals can be set. I am happy with this modification. Last but not least with the integrared controls sometime I switch them off unintentionally while opening/closing the drawer.
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Posted By: SailingVoyager
Date Posted: 11 October 2021 at 21:58
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my freezer drains our battery too. Is colder the larger bars to the right or to the left. The freezer along with the isotherm are on the sane DC circuit breaker so I can’t really use the freezer as a refrigerator because the isotherm does not have an on/off switch. I only need one refrigerator so I rather have the freezer. If there is a switch then please share
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Posted By: marcopone
Date Posted: 12 October 2021 at 08:50
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I do not understand your problem. The freezer shoud be a separate unit/drawer. It has its own compressor/motor and a on/off switch together with temperature regulation.
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Posted By: Pzucchel
Date Posted: 12 October 2021 at 09:09
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I have installed a small vitrifrigo freezer in the bunk cabin of my 588. I am very happy, because I could add extremely good insulation and I have a separate space for the compressor on the top. It consumed less than 2A...therefore it doesn't heat up the cabin. (btw, i don't understand why pictures are always turned 90 deg here!) 😁  ------------- Hanse588#55 |