Big THANKS to Jim, who commented on my post regarding the results of testing the 1/2 amp refrigerator changes. Jim’s suggestion (DUH!!!!!!) was to make sure to plug the drain hole in the “icebox” side – otherwise the cold air falls right into the bilge while the warmer air in the bilge infiltrates up the drain hole.
So while we’re pondering away on how to re-insulate – or insulate in the case of the icebox side – the refrigerator, lots of our precious chilly air is draining away through the open drain hole. 🙁 Probably the first thing we should have done, but we have never claimed to be expert live-aboards. And when we used it as an icebox, we needed that drain. DUH.
Unfortunately, while I can stick my pinky in the hole and plug it, that lets all the cold air out the front door. And we don’t have anything with us that will adequately plug the hole, so until we get back to the dock – and stores reopen after Christmas Eve and Christmas – DUCK TAPE will fit the bill. I wadded up a small piece to stick in the hole and then taped it over with several more pieces of duck tape. I’ll probably end up with sticky residue, but at least for now, the cold air loss should be reduced.
In our defense, the drain hole is underneath a plastic bin containing drinks, so it’s not immediately obvious every time we open the icebox/now refrigerator side. But it still grates that we could have overlooked something so very obvious. 🙁 THANKS again, Jim! Cheers! Jan
We use a rubber cork (for lack of a better word). When I lost that, I used a real cork and shaved it down.