www.iFourWinns.com

Hello everyone, has anybody had to swap out their NORCOLD cockpit fridge...last weekend after 6 days of boating my gave out...compressor running constant, draining the house batts, and no longer cooling. Ordered new model, and going to try and replace myself this coming weekend, just wondering what I am getting my self into? Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.

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2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon

If it is same frig as the existing it is no big deal at all. Four screws around the perimeter it slides out and the plug is behind. The hardest part is getting to the screw heads on the side that the door hinges to.
Good luck.

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

Thanks Dave, that is what I thought, just did not know if there was going to be some re-wiring or "plug". Also did not know if I was going to have to try and take the bar sink off to access behind. I appreciate the input.

_________________
2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon

Replace it whole? Why not just have it repaired? There's not a lot to go wrong with a fridge that'll make it unrepairable. Yes, at some point it's going to get close enough to justify replacement. But I'd check on repair costs first.

Replacing them is easy enough, just lots of screws. The good part is you're replacing the one already above decks. Getting the ones in the cabin out is sometimes a lot more work. There's just BARELY enough clearance to get one out from below on the 348. You end up having to remove the entire face frame around the fridge box, and even the it's still tight.

When it's just 110vac the connections are simple, it's just a regular wall plug. For the 12v you may have to make a new connection. I don't think anyone uses a 'standard' connector for the 12v side. It seems like FW uses molex type connectors everywhere. Personally I don't like those for marine environments. Whenever I have to replace or add something I prefer to use more modern water-resistance connectors like those from Weatherpack or Metripack. They have a much more secure and moisture-resistant connection. If I had to add a connector to bare wires I'd just replace both sides with Metripack instead.

I've done it a couple of times. On the shower sump, the NMEA connection to the VHF and for some trim tab lights. I plan on doing the ones on the bilge pumps and the autopilot rudder control as I'm already seeing some rust in the Molex ones. Given their location in the engine room bilge it's just dumb to use plain molex there.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Not to hijack the thread, but it appears my salon fridge isn't running of 12v properly. Cripes, if it ain't one thing it's another... No breakers are tripped. Now I'll have to yank the fridge to see if the connector is actually getting 12v properly.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill -- do you have the AC plug that's just next to the fridge? You might also have a DC plug there. If you can validate power to both of those - you may not have to yank the fridge.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

As fellow members can attest, I've become well acquainted with just about every system on the 348. Unfortunately there's no DC outlet at the fridge. Now, there is one up inside the galley cabinet behind the TV. In looking at the schematics they're not on the same circuits. I should be so lucky as to have that easy a place to test it. But no... I'm guessing it's either that the connector has gotten loose or the fridge has crapped out. I hoping it's a simple connector issue. I hate the coincidences of things failing when something completely unrelated happens...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill, no problem on the thread...yep, going to replace the whole fridge...going to attempt it this weekend! the old one has drained my batteries several times now! I am going to pull the old one and see how much to repair and then hold it for the future! Sorry to hear about the problems with yours...all these little systems are very frustrating!

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2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon

Eh, they're no greater a range of problems than you'd expect for what's essentially a second home. A boat with lots of systems is just like a vacation house. Stuff, that since it doesn't get used all the time, has a tendency to catch you by surprise when you least expect it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

But Bill, at least you dont have to cut the grass.........

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

True. But a house won't sink. Well, not as a daily risk that is.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Leaving this afternoon for the marina...my only remaining concern is, after I inspected the new fridge, it appears the 12V on the fridge as a connector, is there a Male/female connected already on my boat, and how long is it, or do I have to be concerned about trying to remove the cockpit sink/counter top to gain access?

_________________
2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon

Well, yeah, if your old fridge ran off 12v then it certainly had a connector. What kind is the question. Most seem to be two pin AMP connectors (see the electrical schematic part of your manual for more info). You cannot remove the connector from the old wiring. Well, you could remove just the shell, but the pins are going to be crimped onto the wire and you can't uncrimp them. You could, I suppose, just crimp some new pins and re-use the old shell (assuming you can get the old wires out of it). But more than likely you'd just use a whole new male or female side of the connection and plug right into the factory harness.

DO NOT use any sort of household or automotive wiring wire nuts or crimps. They're not designed for the marine environment. They'll corrode. You'll end up with a weak connection that will overheat, or worse cause the new fridge to overheat due to low voltage through the bad connection. Trust me on this.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Well, installed new fridge...replacement was 1/2 inch bigger (deeper) than the old one, with some finesse, and big hammer, I got it in! The connectors are different on the new one, had to remove both the old connector (2 pin) and the new one, and had to use a totally new connector. All went pretty well, and the fridge is working properly. Total time took about 2 hours. The interesting thing, is the drainage hose from the cockpit sink was the obstruction I had to work with. The new models have the 110V box on top of the fridge in a different place than the original fridge from 2005, so I had to move that to a different place on the top of the new fridge, and then secure it. After that it fit fine! Thanks for the suggestions.

_________________
2008 378 Vista
"Not 2 SHABI"
IPS 500 Volvo-Penta D6

Previously
'06 318 Vista
'97 258 Vista
'98 195 Sundowner
'87 180 Horizon