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Old 22-12-2007, 15:03   #1
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Ice box conversion?

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me about converting a built-in ice box ( 1980 Newport 30) to an effective refer? Cold plate? 12-volt? Too expensive?

Thanks very much!
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Old 22-12-2007, 15:40   #2
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Eric,
Converted a rather large ice box on a Hunter 34. Worked out great. Used 2 separate grp24's that I switched in and out with the house. Switch in to charge, out to keep it cool. Ran on AC at the dock. We used the Norcold conversion unit http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|406|10789|322424&id=10854

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Old 22-12-2007, 16:30   #3
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insulation

Almost certainly the insulation on your boat is insufficient to gain high energy efficiency with a cold-holding plate or other conversion. If you have doubts you can make an ice melt test which is easiest to make when the ambient temperature is relatively high, like 80 deg. F or more. Do an internet search on this test.

If the insulation is not good then one removes the liner and all of what might be in there for insulation and put in a good vapor barrier, proper insulation and a new liner. More than likely you will have to add more thickness than your old insulation had which means that the resulting interior dimensions will be less and a new liner must be fabricated.

There are several good sources for advising just what insulation you might opt to buy. The difference in battery energy consumption in warm weather can be huge when you do a good job on the insulation.

I converted one box which had an Adler Barbor type of cooling system. In the winter it seemed to run more than desirable. In the summer it ran ALL of the time and still couldn't keep the inside as cold as it should.

After putting in good insulation and a cold-holding plate I used only 13Amp-hours per day in the tropics to have good cold inside.
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Old 22-12-2007, 17:30   #4
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I agree with Rick. Gut it and start over. It's not rocket science, just messy work.

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Old 22-12-2007, 21:47   #5
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Any recommendations on the insulation type, thickness and costs? I'm doing a convertion also with a Nova Kool double plate.
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Old 23-12-2007, 05:49   #6
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Hi i did a conversion to a 1977 newport 30 exactly as you describe but i did not add any extra insulation and to be honest it is useless. At the moment i have a seperate fridge and will be totally removing the origanal ice box and remaking a new one with the cold plate i used the first time. the idea in itself is a good one as there is a lot of space to be used where the origanal ice box is.
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Old 23-12-2007, 05:54   #7
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oh i bought a book from this guy and it has given me a good insight into what is needed in the way of insulation etc
KollmannMarine Boat Refrigeration Specialist
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