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TJ D · 20-05-2016, 16:56

Hello CF,

Our Glacier Bay unit finally packet it in, and we now have to replace it.

We have a freezer with 2 holding plates, about 6cf, and the same size box for the fridge with 1 plate.

I am hoping to keep the holding plates from the GB system at least, maybe the thermostats too. The unit is a high draw/high capacity compressor, drawing 45 amps or so when running. This is fine with us, but a lower draw unit with longer running time would be ok too. At least we wouldn't have the shock of looking at the volt-meter when the big unit turns on.

Anybody got a good recommendation to accomplish this without ripping out every single component? SeaFrost's big unit looks pretty good, but it's spendy.

Maybe there's another solution that will work for us. We are running 12VDC to the unit, by the way.

Thanks for the help.

TJ

SV THIRD DAY · 21-05-2016, 09:16

Hi JT
We do these type of Holding Plate recycle projects all the time.
If you have the dreaded "spider plates" where you have a bunch of 1/8" copper lines leaving the expansion valve and diving into the holding plate, then honestly, those are best to just throw in the trash. But if you have Glacier Bay more traditional holding plates, those would be easily reusable.

Unlike the system you have now with a single compressor and solenoids sending the refrigerant gas to the freezer or refrigerator, you will need to install a single compressor unit for each Box. One for the Refrigerator plate and one for the two freezer plates. Each will be turned off and on by it's own thermostat in the box.

Since holding plates themselves rarely if every go bad and fail, we do about 4-5 of these conversions per month, so as a rough cost estimate, I can tell you it will be about $1800 to $2000 per box. You will need the following for each box:
Compressor/condensing unit
copper line set to connect the new compressor to the holding plates
new expansion valve for the holding plates
misc fittings and odds and ends

TheOffice · 21-05-2016, 09:32

CanGrunert plates be reused?

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SV THIRD DAY · 21-05-2016, 09:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOffice

CanGrunert plates be reused?

Doing two different sets now....

TJ D · 21-05-2016, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

Hi JT
We do these type of Holding Plate recycle projects all the time.
If you have the dreaded "spider plates" where you have a bunch of 1/8" copper lines leaving the expansion valve and diving into the holding plate, then honestly, those are best to just throw in the trash. But if you have Glacier Bay more traditional holding plates, those would be easily reusable.

Unlike the system you have now with a single compressor and solenoids sending the refrigerant gas to the freezer or refrigerator, you will need to install a single compressor unit for each Box. One for the Refrigerator plate and one for the two freezer plates. Each will be turned off and on by it's own thermostat in the box.

Since holding plates themselves rarely if every go bad and fail, we do about 4-5 of these conversions per month, so as a rough cost estimate, I can tell you it will be about $1800 to $2000 per box. You will need the following for each box:
Compressor/condensing unit
copper line set to connect the new compressor to the holding plates
new expansion valve for the holding plates
misc fittings and odds and ends

Thanks,

We do have the plates with all the copper lines, but I'm probably going to be stubborn and just keep them. They look like new, so we'll leave it be.

2 compressors? I'm not sure I have space for that. What brand are you talking about, and how big are they?

I wonder if SeaFrost's big unit will run both boxes? Any idea?

Why don't you send me a PM and I'll call you Monday about sourcing some of this stuff.

Thanks, TJ