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Relocating Cold Plate compressor unit

Tim Eichel

Member
Currently my cold plate is located in the floor of the port lazarette. See pic below.

I would love to hear other location options. This is in my way most of time and I am afraid of it being damaged. I installed a wire basket to protect it from something falling on it. See pic below.

View media item 759
 
Mine is on a platform aft of the port lazarette opening and just port of centerline. Very hard to get to, but totally out of the way.
 
Tim , my compressor is under the Captains seat on a 12x12 shelf. My sail locker has a generator in it so there is no room there.
I would put it in the sail locker on a shelf against the hull on a shelf . Easily to get to for service.
 
Tim,
I located the compressor on 2 aluminum arms underneath the port coaming. Although it puts weight higher than I would like it is out of the way. The evaporator is cooled by a 4" box fan. After a square to round transition I routed a short 4" piece of aluminum dryer venting to 4" Beckson deck plate on the backrest of the coaming. The air flow is out into the cockpit. I use the system when motoring or at anchor. When under sail the system is off and the deck plate cover is in place.
 
Small shelf on the fwd bulkhead of the port locker, under the combing. Out of the way with a clear lexan vented cover for additional protection.
 
Tim
The photo shows the compressor for our Frigaboat keel cooled system. It is in the port cockpit locker on a shelf on the forward bulkhead. It is protected by a 1/4" plexiglass
 

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Tim , my compressor is under the Captains seat on a 12x12 shelf. My sail locker has a generator in it so there is no room there.
I would put it in the sail locker on a shelf against the hull on a shelf . Easily to get to for service.

Thanks Lee, I will see what room I have there.
 
Tim,
I located the compressor on 2 aluminum arms underneath the port coaming. Although it puts weight higher than I would like it is out of the way. The evaporator is cooled by a 4" box fan. After a square to round transition I routed a short 4" piece of aluminum dryer venting to 4" Beckson deck plate on the backrest of the coaming. The air flow is out into the cockpit. I use the system when motoring or at anchor. When under sail the system is off and the deck plate cover is in place.

Hey John, my 382 had a similar set up, I'll definitely consider.
Thank you
 
Tim
The photo shows the compressor for our Frigaboat keel cooled system. It is in the port cockpit locker on a shelf on the forward bulkhead. It is protected by a 1/4" plexiglass

Hi Jim, thanks for the pic! Nice job on the install! I have a couple of questions;

1) How high from the floor is it located?
2) Do you have a vent system for fresh air set up or does it get adequate air flow without?

Thank you
Tim
 
Tim
The Frigaboat system is cooled by the keel cooler outside the hull. It doesn't require a supply of fresh air. The Espar heater next to it in the photos does require air so we keep the garbage door to the galley open when we are operating the system. That way it is getting the warmer air from the cabin to reheat. the Espar is hydronic, it heats and distributes hot water.

Jim
 
Tim

Without being at the boat to measure, I'm going to guess it's 8" up from the floor. Next time out to the yard, I'll measure it for you.

Jim
 
Tim, I mounted my Frigoboat compressor beneath the wooden floor of the port side cockpit locker - in the space between the hull and the wooden "floor." It's the space directly under the wooden floor you have shown in your photo. There was plenty of space. I removed the screws from the floor panel, and it came right out. I then cut the floor panel in half athwartship, and screwed the aft half back down. The forward half is not screwed down; it lifts out for maintenance. I also moved my engine start battery to this location. This is also where I installed the keel cooler for the fridge.

I had to build a shelf for the battery - the shelf is fastened to the hull with thickened epoxy. The compressor is mounted to the vertical piece of wood that is part of the original wooden assembly. I used the mounting shelf sold by frigoboat. This has worked out great for the last few years of living aboard. It was unused space. The compressor is out of way and protected. Win/win/win.

I'll look, but I don't think I have photos.

Ken
 
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Wow! Thanks Ken! I had no idea there was that much space under there!

That might be the best option! Does it get ample air supply or is it a water cooled system?
 
Wow! Thanks Ken! I had no idea there was that much space under there!

That might be the best option! Does it get ample air supply or is it a water cooled system?
Mine is water-cooled. However, it's essentially the same space as your current installation. It's open to the entire area below the cockpit - essentially the back quarter of the boat. Obviously the space is shared with the diesel engine, but, aside from a board... you have that now.
 
I mounted a shelf above the movable floor that cover the steering Inside that locker. Like 10 inches above the false floor. I did mount 2 air grills port and starboard side of that space to attempt to remove heat . I love the idea of a fan . ! A computer mifflin fan wired to the compressor so when its on the fans on . Great idea !
 
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