Refrigeration problems

Typical electric compressure with heat exhanger. Note the fill niple.

Almost every cruising boat has a fridge, freezer or air condioners. These are usually electric run small compressor units with air or water cooling.

The most common problem with these units is that over time they loose some of there coolant and if not caught in time stop working all together. The first step is to see of the compressor is running. Sometimes the power supply may be the problem or the cooling fan. If every thing seems to run but the plates are not getting cold the problem almost always is low refrigerant. This is easy to fix with a small coolant refrigerant kit available at most North American hardware stores. They consist out of a can of refrigarent, hose kit and a gauge.

Firts mount the hose kit to the can. Detailed instruction are on the can.
All units have a refill nipple (see picture) and the hose kit couples to it with a common airhose fitting. Than while holding the can up side down release some refrigerant in the system. Do not apply to much and wait a few minutes and see of the plates are getting colder. If only part of the plate get frosty indicating that more is needed. Keep filling slowly till the indicator gauge is reading the right pressure and the plates get frosty over the whole area. Overfilling will result in frozen copper lines from the compressor to the plates.

Note: Check you plates from time to time. If they start getting defrosted on part of the plates refrigerant is getting low.

Rigging cleaning.

This is the dirt coming down while washing.

A small pressure washer is a great tool for this job.

In the tropics the SS rigging turns quickly brown. As SS needs to be clean to avoid pitting and cracking a good practise is to clean it with fresh water. We take the presure washer at it from time to time.

smoke and heat alarms

Two fire alarms in each cabin. A fire at sea is to prevented at all cost.

This is a well designed alarm panel. Monitors heat, smoke and bilgewater alarms.

As we are a small passengers ship we need to comply with the Canadian DOT standards. They state we need a heat detector over every heat source like engine, stove and heater. Also we need smoke detectors. They must installed in all sleeping quarters and be hardwired into the ships wiring system and are connected to a central alarm panel in the pilothouse. We also have the battery operated smoke alarms installed so we are fully backed up in case of a power failure.

Although we are required by law to carry these, no boat should be with out. A fire at sea is not a good thing and the outcome is often end in disaster.