Vitrifrigo fridge
Submitted: Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:13
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87827
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Member - Rick P (NT)
We finally have our Vitrifrigo fridge working properly after 18 months of putting up with it under performing especially in the tropics. The fan was starting to get very noisy so we took the fridge into Rado Refrigeration in
Darwin who put in a new fan, checked the gas level which was fine but they also changed the fan speed from 2,000 to 2,500 revs which is easy to do at the back of the unit. We are now happy to report that we finally have icy cold beer in the fridge and we have been having 32-33c days where we are at the moment. Thank you karl for also doing it in a 24hr turn around, we are now happy campers. Just another problem is they must have at least 8mm cable from the battery to the unit, 6mm can cause a voltage drop.
Cheers
Rick P
Reply By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:20
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:20
Hi Rick,
We have one of those - a 130 litre remote compressor model - in our rig.
I have made a water-cooled condenser for it to assist in hot climates. It's a fairly involved project, but definitely worthwhile.
As a result I was able to reduce compressor speed, which reduces power consumption. Also, duty cycle in hot weather went from 60% to 40%. Overall increase in efficiency was close to 50%.
If you're interested in more details let me know.
Cheers
Frank
AnswerID:
461128
Follow Up By: Al-one - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 19:43
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 19:43
Hi Frank,
I would like to get more details if you wouldn't mind please.
Cheers,
Al-one
FollowupID:
734878
Follow Up By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 20:41
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 20:41
Al-one,
Send me an email to frankp79@hotmail.com and I'll email back to you.
It's too big to post here.
Cheers
Frank
FollowupID:
734885
Reply By: Member - Nolo (Brisbane) - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:52
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:52
Our 65L Vitrifrigo also had this cycling problem which was caused by a setting of too high a "low voltage cut out" combined with voltage loss in the cable connection. Reset and hard wiring by cutting out the push in plug fixed the problem. Now a very efficient and quiet frig.
AnswerID:
461131
Reply By: P2D2 - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:58
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:58
Turfed out the Vitrifrigio 130l ongoing failure to perform. Cheaply made, poor door seal and insufficient insulation. Had to put compressor speed up to max in summer to keep cold and run 80% duty cycle. Fitted Waeco CR140 which has auto 240/12v switch over built in. Waeco with good insulation saving 40% power consumption.
AnswerID:
461132
Reply By: Ozhumvee - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:41
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:41
I wrapped our 130l Vitrifrigo in an additional 30mm of insulation which dropped the duty cycle by 30%
AnswerID:
461142
Follow Up By: The Original JohnR (Vic) - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 13:23
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 13:23
That is the key Peter. Insufficient insulation and if you install a computer fan to distribute the air past the evaporator plate better powered by the terminals live while the fan and compressor are going.
FollowupID:
734848
Reply By: Motherhen - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 15:25
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 15:25
Hi Rick
We had a bit of trouble when we installed a new remote compressor Vitrifrigo in place of the same model. For starters, we discovered we have faulty solar panels. Even when these were replaced, it occassionally would stop thirty seconds after starting when batteries were still on a good charge. Direct wiring to battery (as advised by vendor) helped. Removing the rectifier (put in with the new fridge to give option of running on 240 volt) solved it all. No problems since, even in hotter weather.
Motherhen
AnswerID:
461158
Follow Up By: Member - Rick P (NT) - Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 18:34
Thursday, Jul 28, 2011 at 18:34
Thank you for all the advice guys, sounds like we have still got work to do especially on the insulation, pity we didn't do that when the fridge was out.
Cheers
Rick P
FollowupID:
734874