Nova Kool installed

[rideadeuce]

Thanks to everyone before me who did this install and shared it on the forum. Especially, a big thanks to @mountainoliver, @Geronimo John for all the info and pics. The install was pretty straight forward but not as refined as some. So happy to have gotten rid of the absorption fridge. Nothing to add except some pictures. I did end up copying a lot of things. Ended up using a little bit of VHB tape on bottom supports, 3/8 in HDPE for side brackets and used some better plastic to plastic epoxy. The other stuff I used did end up failing @mossemi (you sir were correct!) and ended up screwing (6) 1 1/4 in. SS screws through the backside for stabilization of the MPII. Glad I had the aluminum mount for backup. This time I used https://a.co/d/5IrB3w2

 

First part of install was quick and I forgot to take pics. Destroyed the Dometic fridge getting it out!. I will be done once I caulk and source some SS vents to cover the top and bottom holes. 

Edited August 10 by rideadeuce

[SeaDawg]

Looks great! Glad you left room for ventilation, top and bottom.

We just used wood blocks tabbed in with epoxy. 

The novakool is a great fridge. Too big to get through the narrow space between the microwave/fridge compartment and the shower wall in our older elite. You'll love it, I'm sure. Same bd35 compressor as all our indel b fridges, but you get a bigger capacity, and bigger freezer compartment. 

Nice work!

[mountainoliver]

Mike, nice work! The installation looks perfect. I know you’ll love it. These fridges are like your home fridge, they just work no fiddling to keep it cold inside!

[jd1923]

Mike @rideadeuce so you’ve been an Oliver owner for 7 years? (If bought new). OMG, what you have done re mods in just the last year. My humble respect.

Great project and professional installation. This model has a similar attribute to the Isotherm, in that it has a very small freezer. Are there any modern RV compressor fridges with a large freezer? For us we would give up 2 CF of fridge space for 1 CF of freezer. We have this old, inefficient absorption fridge that has a freezer the width of the fridge and we use every square inch. Hope it keeps working.

Great work! Can’t wait to read re your next project!

[mossemi]

12 hours ago, rideadeuce said:

The other stuff I used did end up failing @mossemi (you sir were correct!) and ended up screwing (6) 1 1/4 in. SS screws through the backside for stabilization of the MPII.

Thanks Mike, but this is one of the times when I wish that I wasn’t right!  Great install and write  up as we have come to expect from you!

Mossey

[gbergh]

Has there been any thought given to upgrading the Norcold refrigerator by having the  Danfoss compressor installed in the Norcold unit? The mechanical engineering involved installing the Nova Kool or Isotherm would seem to be much less arduous. Clearly way beond the capability of the average Oliver Owner.  Those who do accomplish that Herculean feat are Master Mechanics.

[Ty J]

My Nova Kool has been working great have not turned off since april. First season. Only issues I have is that the door shelve braces seem flimsy. I shoe gooed the door shelf braces. Not they dont pop off. FYI. - Two cents for what its worth. GREAT JOB!

 

[SeaDawg]

On 8/10/2024 at 11:20 AM, gbergh said:

Has there been any thought given to upgrading the Norcold refrigerator by having the  Danfoss compressor installed in the Norcold unit? The mechanical engineering involved installing the Nova Kool or Isotherm would seem to be much less arduous. Clearly way beond the capability of the average Oliver Owner.  Those who do accomplish that Herculean feat are Master Mechanics.

Remote compressor is quite usual in boat installations. Could be an interesting option.

As you indicated, requiring some skills.

Lots if boat owners upgrade ice boxes or cold plate fridges with remote compressors .

Edited August 12 by SeaDawg

[rideadeuce]

So update on install and vent closure. We have had high humidity here in TN and since closing the outside vents I have been getting alarms from my Ruuvi sensors. Cabin humidity has been climbing into the 70s and even 80s at night despite trialing the dehumidifier mode on Atmos. This is concerning to me. Anyone else that has closed their vents seen this issue. Thinking about maybe opening one of the vents to the outside. Any ideas? Prior to fridge replacement and closing vents humidity was staying in the 40-60% range  

Edited August 15 by rideadeuce

[Ronbrink]

18 minutes ago, rideadeuce said:

Any ideas?

How is the unit setup to handle condensate, is there a tube to expel water or a means for it to run out?

[rideadeuce]

External. Just drips outside. Which is working normally. Humidity was fine after Atmos installation. It was only after Nova Kool install and external vent closures that humidity began to rise. 

Edited August 15 by rideadeuce

[CRM]

21 minutes ago, rideadeuce said:

So update on install and vent closure. We have had high humidity here in TN and since closing the outside vents I have been getting alarms from my Ruuvi sensors. Cabin humidity has been climbing into the 70s and even 80s at night despite trialing the dehumidifier mode on Atmos. This is concerning to me. Anyone else that has closed their vents seen this issue. Thinking about maybe opening one of the vents to the outside. Any ideas? Prior to fridge replacement and closing vents humidity was staying in the 40-60% range  

Something that doesn't make sense to me is that your Bay and WH sensors are reading lower humidity than your cabin sensor is. You would think they would be reading higher than cabin since they are in a less conditioned space than the cabin is- especially when you say that it's high humidity outside. Maybe I'm missing something?

[rideadeuce]

2 minutes ago, CRM said:

Maybe I'm missing something?

No, I agree. My only thinking is that the basement and bay areas are sealed off from the cabin and the Truma is vented to the outside. So you would think that since ambient humidity is higher that the humidity would be the same. But it is definitely quite higher in the cabin. Humidity is coming from the Nova Kool due to closing the vents? Not sure.  

[CRM]

1 minute ago, rideadeuce said:

No, I agree. My only thinking is that the basement and bay areas are sealed off from the cabin and the Truma is vented to the outside. So you would think that since ambient humidity is higher that the humidity would be the same. But it is definitely quite higher in the cabin. Humidity is coming from the Nova Kool due to closing the vents? Not sure.  

Unless the Nova Kool was draining into the cabin I don't see how it could be adding humidity into the cabin. I also don't see how opening the vents would help when it's humid outside since it would just give the outside humidity an easier path into the cabin. I think what I would try is swapping that cabin sensor with the bay sensor to confirm that it's reading correctly. I would also make sure that there aren't any water leaks nearby that could be making that cabin sensor read higher than the surrounding area actually is..

[rideadeuce]

I will update after some of your suggestions. Doesn’t make sense to me either. But definitely changed dramatically after install. 

[CRM]

1 minute ago, rideadeuce said:

I will update after some of your suggestions. Doesn’t make sense to me either. But definitely changed dramatically after install. 

But was the outside humidity lower before the install? Maybe not apples to apples?

[rideadeuce]

Humidity has been high all summer during the night here in TN. But, yes, it has rose a bit higher in August. 

Edited August 15 by rideadeuce

[mountainoliver]

I would continue to search for the source of the high humidity before you open up one of the outside vents. I think opening up one would be a mistake. Originally the outside vents never were in any way connected to the inside of the camper. They just vented to the back area of the old absorption fridge. Opening the outside vents now will allow the outside environment direct and unfiltered access to the inside of the camper. Including water intrusion, dust, dirt, insects, and anything else that can get through the outside louvers. I really can’t imagine the new fridge is creating moisture inside the camper. The condenser coils on the back of the fridge only get warm and transfer that warmth to the surrounding space. Inside the fridge stays fairly humid but that will eventually collect on the freezer supply lines and need to be periodically manually defrosted. I really have not noticed an unusual increase in humidity since I installed my Nova Kool fridge five years ago. The camper is a small space with a lot of hard surfaces, humidity does rise and drop somewhat rapidly. I do use a dehumidifier periodically and use the Maxxfan and bathroom vent as needed. It is a balancing act at times. Just my opinion of course.

[mountainoliver]

Just for an additional reference point we’re currently camping in Winslow Arizona so take into account the local weather conditions. These are screenshots from my various camper sensors. 

[Ronbrink]

52 minutes ago, CRM said:

Cabin humidity has been climbing into the 70s and even 80s at night despite trialing the dehumidifier mode on Atmos.

The Atmos is a fairly new installation, as well. Despite the claim they don’t draw-in outside air, you may want to experiment using another dehumidifier at night while using the A/C in Sleep mode, or some other means to rule out the Atmos as the culprit. Just say’n.

[rideadeuce]

I am trying to take everything in to account for the change. Atmos AC was installed mid July and cabin humidity never was outside the 40-60% range until I installed the fridge and closed the vents. Ambient humidity was 89% last night. Cabin humidity drops to 40-60% during the day. 
I will start experimenting, I suspect the balancing act of fresh air, AC usage and a dehumidifier maybe will just be different than before. I had the same setup for almost 7 Years and did not have to think about anything. I have made a lot of changes so I will have to make some adjustments. 

[CRM]

2 minutes ago, rideadeuce said:

I am trying to take everything in to account for the change. Atmos AC was installed mid July and cabin humidity never was outside the 40-60% range until I installed the fridge and closed the vents. Ambient humidity was 89% last night. Cabin humidity drops to 40-60% during the day. 
 

If the problem goes away during the day you could be seeing the rise in humidity at night due to shorter compressor run times when it's cooler out, especially if the fan is always running. That would make some sense of your readings since the cabin humidity might go up faster than the underneath where your bay sensor is. And if the cabin sensor is directly catching the air from the AC when the fan is on but the compressor is off you can read even higher.

 

[Ronbrink]

46 minutes ago, rideadeuce said:

I am trying to take everything in to account for the change. Atmos AC was installed mid July and cabin humidity never was outside the 40-60% range until I installed the fridge and closed the vents. Ambient humidity was 89% last night. Cabin humidity drops to 40-60% during the day. 
I will start experimenting, I suspect the balancing act of fresh air, AC usage and a dehumidifier maybe will just be different than before. I had the same setup for almost 7 Years and did not have to think about anything. I have made a lot of changes so I will have to make some adjustments. 

I ask myself way too often, ‘Why do things always have to be so difficult?’. Good luck!

[John Dorrer]

Thanks for sharing this. This is on our list of planned upgrades.

[Ronbrink]

On 8/15/2024 at 11:33 AM, rideadeuce said:

I am trying to take everything in to account for the change. Atmos AC was installed mid July and cabin humidity never was outside the 40-60% range until I installed the fridge and closed the vents. Ambient humidity was 89% last night. Cabin humidity drops to 40-60% during the day. 
I will start experimenting, I suspect the balancing act of fresh air, AC usage and a dehumidifier maybe will just be different than before. I had the same setup for almost 7 Years and did not have to think about anything. I have made a lot of changes so I will have to make some adjustments. 

Did you ever determine a reason for the high humidity issue or a resolution?