Replacement for Norcold DE-541 Fridge

BVasily

BVasily

Member
Jan 5, 2007
66
Kingston, Ontario
Boat Info
420 DA
Engines
Cummins 450C
Its finally time of me to replace our Norcold DE-541. Can anyone recommend a unit they like? Critical dimension for getting the unit down into the cabin is the 22.25" width of the doorway.

The fridge opening is 23"X31" but any new unit will have to be able to be stripped down to that 22.25" max on one dimension.
 
You might want to consider just replacing the "guts" of the refrigerator. This elliminates the issue of trying to fit a different unit into your space. This is what I did when my refrigerator needed replacement. Of course, the "box" has to be in good shape.
 
BV,

This is a horrible project. I did the same thing in the same boat. The Norcold DE0041 will fit in the opening <you'll need to drill some new holes and do some modification, but it will fit in the opening>, but will not fit through the salon door without a lot of work.

First, you'll have to completely disassemble your new $1,000 fridge <and hope you don't break anything, because it will not be covered under warrantee>, and I mean completely <door off, cooling unit out, trim, etc>. Then you will need to remove the salon door, which means removing the pastic cover that covers the door on the port side when it is opened. Then you will need a friend and a crow bar to you wedge your new box through the door down into the salon. And you will tear some vinyl and/or scratch some trim in the process <The old one will need some disassembly to get it out of the salon first>.

Between the work and the research, it was a 3 day project.

As stated, if the current "box" is in good shape, I would just replace the cooling unit <it is all the electical & mechanical components. It is all one piece and doesn't need to be charged with freon>. This will be easier and only cost $500-$600. You can do it yourself, just be patient and careful. The old refrigerator actually has more usuable space for us <It is layed out better then the new one, 2 shelves vs 1>. The only good thing about the new one is that there is a light inside, just like a real refrigerator <good in the middle of the night when you need a swig of something> And don't get me started about how the new one froze up all the time because the door would'nt close properly.....And if you're afraid of dealing with the cooling unit for the old one, don't worry. You'll have to remove one with the new fridge anyway

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'll be happy to help if I can.
 
WOW. This does not sound fun at all.

I dissasembled and removed the old DE-541 ... but that was pretty straight forward; door and trim off with about 10 screws, and simply unbolted the cooling rad on the back and pushed it up against the back wall of the fridge. This gave me about 1/2" clearance through the salon door ... no door removal necessary. The critical measurement is 22.5" for the salon door. I am heading to the Toronto Boat Show tomorrow, and looking at fridges is one of my priorities. New units appear to be available for $800-1000 so this would be my first choice.

Wish me luck :)

BV
 
If 12v isn't necessary, you may also consider home based units. Most likely cheaper, although probably more challenging on fit.

Also, look at RV stores/sources for options. Most marine unit makers also make equal/similar units for the RV market.

Esteban
 
When I replaced the Norcold in my old 340 I looked at Tundra and Isotherm. Both were a much better unit. I decided on Isotherm, and love it. Very low power usage on the 12v side.

Simply go to each website and find dimensional info to determine which will be close to your old fridge.
 
Hi - We have to do the same in our 1998 330DA. After many discussions with the local Sea Ray Dealer here in Ottawa, who initially stated they could not only get a replacement fridge but get it into the boat, (they did get a replacement - they could not get it into the boat), I think we will look at either the Tundra, which was actually already in the boat but leaked badly, or one from Vitrifrigo America, (see link at the nd). Got that from a different forum where someone had seen these at the Toronto Boat Show.

Regards....BP

http://www.vfamerica.com/eng/catalog.asp?catid=433&n=ocean
 
Esteban and John hit the nail on the head IMO. There are a number of boaters around here that find no need for the 12V side of the fridge as they run their gennies from departure to arrival. IF they shut them down at night. the fridge is fine as long as it is sealed over night.

I have never heard of any person complain of the quality of the Tundra replacement.
 
I replaced my 541 with an Isotherm. I had to remove the door and the hinge on both to get it in and out of my cabin door. I highly recommend an isotherm or anything with a danforth compressor. They use 1/3 the power of the nevercold and are silent...
 
Danfoss not Danforth. Danforth is an anchor
 
Second the Isotherm recommendations. Very low power consumption as many models have cold plates that charge any time the engines are running. The cold plate holds the temps for a long time, and when the unit comes on, you can not hear it run. This is a particulary good choice if you anchor out much.
 
The fridge in my boat - as go aweigh called it the "nevercold" works, but it uses a lot of juice on the 12v side and it's loud. I thought about replacing it also, what is the cost for one of those Isotherm replacements?
 
Not sure what they cost as my boat came with one. Why not google their home page and look at the size that works in your boat?
 
The Vitrifrigo America fridge is available in Canada from Northland Supply, who are in North Bay, I believe...Info from Northland follows:

Size of the T4.2 fridge.

The total Width is 23" with flange
The total Height is 30 1/2" with flange

Also, the flange may be removed to get it in though the doorway(screws hold it on)

Height 30 1/8
Width 21-1/8
Depth 21-5/8
The plus's on this fridge are it's an AC/DC and will only draw 3.2 amps at 12 volts.
You will also fine it very quiet.

Your cost on this marine fridge is...$1257.94 Canadian

Regards...BP
 
Go Aweigh2452 said:
I replaced my 541 with an Isotherm. I had to remove the door and the hinge on both to get it in and out of my cabin door. I highly recommend an isotherm or anything with a danforth compressor. They use 1/3 the power of the nevercold and are silent...
Click to expand...

Go Aweigh2452,

I'm looking to install Isotherm unit in the cockpit. Does your unit have ASU system or does it perform that well with out ASU?
 
After replacing my original "nevercold" with another one, I finally got a Vitrifrigo and it's great. It is quieter, colder and comes with and internal light. It has a Danfoss compressor running on 12V DC. The Norcold had a 120 AC compressor running through an inverter that broke on each unit I had!
 
Our boat has a section of the upper helm floor that you can remove to pull the engines. No idea if you have a similar opening.
 
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