Cold plate question for Cruisers.

[Joe Shipes]

Have a Grunart 110 volt, raw water cooling pump/ compressor refrigerator system, separate cold plates in each side. Counter top box access system.

How many our hours/ times a day do you need to run system to maintain proper box temps?

Thanks
Joe

[Typhoon]

Depends entirely on the amount of insulation you have and the ambient temperatures , if there is great insulation it may run once every 24 hrs , or there is no insulation it may run steady . Size of box plays a huge roll in the equation as well. So experimentation is your only way to determine this.

Regards John.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Hi Joe
Here is a Temp graph for a holding plate in a R30 test box. You can see the temp ranges and that the compressor cycled on/off a total of 4 times in a 24hour period. Typically the compressor on time is about 45 to 90 minutes and then how long the compressor stays off is totally a function of the insulation valve. Better insulation will give you longer off cycles.

[Richard Kollmann]

I have designed well over 100 of these systems with eutectic holding plates; the daily running time has less to do with insulation as long as exterior of insulation is free of condensation. If plates are sized correctly ½ gallon of eutectic solution per cubic ft of refrigerator and one gallon per cu ft of freezer daily compressor running time is normally one hour. In tropical waters ½ hour running time twice a day.

For a more precise answer I would need to know compressor size. Size of holding plates. Approximant box size. Desired box temperatures. And planed cruising climate area,
If you do not know compressor size how many amps does it draw.

[OzePete]

Like John said your run time and power consumption is mostly to do with the insulation and the box size. There are two major things that a refrigerated box does: One, it has a refrigeration unit removing heat, and two it has insulation resisting the constant effort of heat trying to enter the cabinet. A well insulated cabinet is the most important of these. Only knowing your cabinet's size and insulation qualities, how & where you intend to use it etc., can a run time and power consumption estimate be provided. Cheers!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Joe.
ALL of the previous posters are EXPERTS.