Norcold conversion kit

[Tayzach]

Anyone have experience with a Norcold conversion kit with the Sawafuji compressor? A friend of mine is thinking of installing one but he nor I know anyone who has used them. Any insight would be helpful.

[kbudd]

I have a Norcold conversion in my icebox but I am not sure what kind of compressor it uses. It has worked great for me although it uses bit of juice. The trick is good insulation in the icebox and using it to keep things cold not to get things cold. I will check the compressor this weekend and get back to you.

[Tayzach]

Thanks for the response. I look forward to hearing about the compressor. What is your average power usage?

[Richard Kollmann]

Norcold icebox conversion refrigeration units with Sawafuji (Swing vibrating compressors) are equal in performance to small Danfoss BD35 compressors when BD35 is operated at slow speed. Both compressors have a proven track record but the Sawafuji 40 and 60 watt models are for very small refrigerators. A Norcold with swing compressor system can refrigerate to 33 degree a 3 cu ft box or operate a drink 6 cu ft cooler south of Latitude 35N. Anyone selecting an icebox conversion refrigeration unit first must decide on what box temperature he wants to maintain, what amount of compressor capacity is needed to achieve box temperature in the climate conditions where boat will be operated. After determining box size in cubic feet you may want to do the math while watching Slide Show on my web site. There are no two boats the same and no two owners with the same refrigeration requirement, this is why there are almost one hundred options to chose from when it comes to selection of 12/24 volt refrigeration.

[Sumner]

The power thing is totally going to depend on the insulation. How much insulation is your friend going to have top, sides and bottom? Most of the units below the Danfoss BDF50's seem to use between 3-4 amps when they are running the insulation is going to determine how much they run.

Our portable that we use in the MacGregor ....



...has a compressor/condenser that runs at 3 1/2 amps, but when the boat is 85 degs or so inside runs about 40% of the time, so about 34 amp/hours a day.

The fridge we made...



...for the Endeavour also runs 3 1/2 to 4 amps, but even thought it is 1 1/2 cu ft. larger, around 4 cu. ft., and has a freezer section seems to only run about 10-15% of the time with the same interior boat temps so less than 15 amp/hours a day. The key is...



...this one has lots more insulation compared to the portable (3 inches top, 4 on the sides and 7 and 9 on the bottom)

It uses the more efficient of the two Danfoss 35 compressors, the coolmatic 84, and with the evaporator is a couple hundred more than the Norcold, but we really like it and it is sized for a box over twice the size of our box so feel that we aren't working it very hard. So far we are very happy with the frig and the Coolmatic.

More on our fridge build and install here....

Endeavour 37 Interion Mods Index

...and good luck,

Sum

[kbudd]

Originally Posted by Tayzach

Thanks for the response. I look forward to hearing about the compressor. What is your average power usage?

Mine draws about 3amps when running. The time running depends on how much stuff is in it etc. My icebox is pretty big and I haven't added any insulation so it isn't very efficient. I normally crank it up to high when the engine is running or when I'm plugged into shore power. Then when I'm sailing, I keep it on low. I figure I use about 20 amphrs/24 hrs. It is definitely the biggest draw on the boat. If you want cold beer and sail most of the time and anchor a lot you will need a pretty big battery bank - 400 aHrs or so and some way to charge the batteries like wind or solar or a honda generator.