Refrigeration

[KathleenB]

Feeling fairly pleased with myself. several years ago I did some research on retrofitting refrigeration kits to ice boxes on boats and settled on a Waeco Kit for my Magnum 8.5 trailer yacht. It worked a treat and is still working well. So when I purchased a Peter Cole Traditional 30 last year one of the items on my wish list was to do the same again. I had to consider that the icebox in the Traditional 30 is much larger so a larger compressor and evaporator plate would be required.

The existing top loading box in the galley fortunately was well made and insulated with 50mm of polyurethane foam. I settled for a larger L shaped evaporator plate and once I got this in and mounted with the suction pipe routed to the bottom of the galley cupboard and compressor and condenser mounted on a shelf the rest was straight forward. I also purchased a mains power controller and the unit is proving very efficient and is quite capable of freezing if I turn it up to high. I did look at the option of an Engle unit but they do not make a system large enough. Waeco seem to have a broader range. Thank Neptune I no longer have to but and cart ice and clean water from the bottom of my icebox and I can leave the fridge on 24/7 as long as I have shore power. Battery consumption is low so a couple of 100 Amp/hour deep cycle batteries with the 100 amp alternator means that even running off house batteries is not a problem. Ice is great for mixed drinks but a pain for trying to keep food and drinks cold and fresh.