Refrigeration redo

[mroc]

Hi All,
Always had good advise here, so I hope for one now.

I am to replace my 22 yrs old A-B Cold Machine on my 2001 Bene 331 Oceanis. It runs 24/7 does not cool much in Ontario climate. After $750 pro service call and my numerous trials with refrigerant, I am done with fixing.
I considered a domestic fridge/inverter, but opening the door in rough weather may be messy not to mention guessing game what would fit there. No reasonable drawings what's behind the insulated box appear to be available). And it is a one way ticket. Restoring the cool box may be a though call.
I am reluctant to do one to one replacement as these units are apparently undersized, so something more substantial would be better as I plan to go to warmer places one day.

I am looking at DIY kits with pre-charged items and a friendly supplier recommended Nova Kool kit, that is less expensive. I like lower cost, but I want a good reliable and lasting fridge too. Not much info on this forum about the Nova Kool either. People believe A-B is the way to go.

Any comments or suggestions?

[kenbo]

Nova Kool uses the same components as A-B and others. Nova Kool is a reliable, simple system that works.

[mroc]

Thanks kendo. Do you by any chance have one? If so what size of the evaporator/vs cool box size.
Regards

[kenbo]

I used this unit for an 8 cu ft box with middling insulation.

https://www.suremarineservice.com/Ga...201-RT4_2.html

I did swap out the standard electronic control unit for a 101N0340 AEO.

[s/v Jedi]

Your attention to the active components is misguided: the problem is the box insulation, the lid seals, maybe a drain etc.

You will have to rebuild the box or buy another unit incl. box.

I have done both. First rebuild the box and it worked gloriously for 15 years when everything except the compressors started failing and I decided I wasn’t gonna rebuild again, so I went for SnoMaster boxes which meant I had to rebuild half the galley.

Here is a photo album from the rebuild of our three boxes: https://sv-jedi.smugmug.com/Projects...Refrigeration/

And attached some pictures of the new system, which is in the same spot.