Adler Barbour Refrigeration - Evaporator Clearance

[evm1024]

I installed a new SCM into an 7 or 8 cu ft fridge. Using the large horizontal evaporator.

The fridge will (someday) be torn apart and rebuilt but till then I have only about 1/2" clearance on the sides of the evaporator.

How much will this limit the cooling capacity? What is the recommended side clearance?

THe bottom is free and clear. I had thought that I could put a fan if needed to draw air past the top and sides.

Regards, Ethan

[engele]

I can't recall, but I seem to remember the manual mentioning clearances in it. We installed ours with a cold plate and didn't have the spec'd clearance on the sides, but did on the bottom. It works well for us. I do think that because the unit can cool a 15 cu foot fridge, it would likely work. It might not be as efficient, and your fan could be a good idea, but it will keep your box cold. Try it without and see how it goes.

[Richard Kollmann]

Because you have the large evaporator and it is not up against box liner 1/2 inch is not going to stop natural air movement needed to transfer heat into refrigerant. What will happen if there is a little less heat transfer is an improvement in delta T temperature between evaporator freezing chamber and refrigeration section by lower freezing chamber temperature without lowering refrigerator section temp. I am assuming evaporator is mounted high in box, if not a 10 cfm fan in box running all the time will force warm air to bottom of box normalizing overall box temperatures.

[GordMay]

You can take Richard’s advice to the bank.

See the Instructions ➥ http://www.raycotechnologies.org/adlerbarbour.pdf

“... Locate the evaporator vertically, as high as possible on any sidewall in the icebox. Template, standoffs (1”) and mounting screws (1-3/4”) are supplied ...”