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11-01-2020, 18:00
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Boat: A185F, Mystic 30’ Cutter
Posts: 705
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Name my fridge!
Hey guys,
Looking at the best option for a fridge and freezer
Seems like option 1 is cut out ether the top to install a top load fridge, or loose my cabinets for a front load fridge/freezer
Option two would be a cold plate setup and cold plate freezer, both in the existing iceboxes with the compressor in the dead space underneath
I’d like something efficient as this is one a 33’ cutter, she’ll spend a good amount of time in the marina but also decent stretches in pretty remote areas.
Cooking wise, I’m not exactly a huge cook, maybe freeze some fish I catch, fruit and a little veg and some drinks type thing.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
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12-01-2020, 07:07
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#2
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Name my fridge!
Re-insulate the box, even if it means a lot of work.
You may lose fridge space but that's worth it.
Technautics CoolBlue / CruiseRO for your holding plate idea, genuinely stellar tech support
Rich Boren Rich@cruiserowater.com
cell 619-609-3432
Skype Username: CruiseROWater
If you go stock evaporators instead
John Tully, ColdEh Marine Refrigeration http://www.coldeh.com
also uses Danfoss, and TXV like Rich's CoolBlue, they are the only two afaik
If you need more freezer space, then a portable unit like Engel is versatile and good value.
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12-01-2020, 07:16
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#3
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 1,885
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Re: Name my fridge!
First you need to determine the amount of daily energy required and where this energy is going to come from.
Amount, condition and age of insulation from pictures will be questionable if you expect to have much of a freezing area.
The ambient air and water temperatures where you plan to operate boat will determine the size of your refrigeration unit along with boat’s electrical power grid size.
Without more detailed information I would consider a 12/24/110 volt system with large bin shaped evaporator for the present ice box similar to the $900 Danfoss BD50 compressor Nova Kool. I would not recommend Eutectic evaporator plate do to shape of box. And operate existing box as a drink cooler plus refrigerator. Now for a good zero degree F freezer I recommend a 45 Qt Engel portable 12/24/110 volt or similar unit.
Having both units capable of operating on AC power at the dock will not over stress house battery bank.
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12-01-2020, 09:14
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#4
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Name my fridge!
Welcome back Richard!
There is no stress on anything with the bank sitting Floating on shore power, no current is even drawn from the bank as long as the charger(s) current capacity is greater than the loads' amps draw.
Being able to switch over to mains-style AC might make sense on a big boat running the genset many hours per day, but not here.
I agree eutectic holding plates do take some space away from contents capacity, but if there happens to be "free" excess solar most days that is an alternative to going to a bigger bank.
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12-01-2020, 09:52
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,398
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Re: Name my fridge!
Well that's quite a good space for the size of boat, but I don't think you have much other space available elsewhere for a separate freezer. So how about a spill over system. I thought the freezer should go as marked because it is likely you would have better access to increase the insulation there. Also do you access the fridge or the freezer more? if its the fridge then makes sense to have access via the little hatch rather than constantly having to open the big one which also gives a nice work area when cooking.
How much access do you have from inside those cupboards? Oh and find a bath plug for that drain vent, doesn't need to be constantly open. Ours has a sink plug plus a large rubber seal I found in a home depot type plumbing section. Fits perfectly keeping the heat out.
Pete
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12-01-2020, 10:19
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Boat: A185F, Mystic 30’ Cutter
Posts: 705
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Re: Name my fridge!
12v and 110 would be manadatory
Could I just go 12v and let my shore power charger handle it?
For power I’m going to be installing a couple of removable rear solar panels for when I’m cruising, thinking if I’m on the hook or out I’d be ok with possibly loosing the sub zero and just having a fridge if needed.
I would like it all factory looking, she is a live aboard but i can’t handle a external portable freezer looks wise lol
So I’d be running two compressors under the ice boxes?
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12-01-2020, 10:27
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,398
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernMac
Could I just go 12v and let my shore power charger handle it?
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That's how our DB fridge kit in the cool box works. The charger provides a constant 13.5v which the fridge likes and the batteries aren't affected.
Pete
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12-01-2020, 10:29
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Boat: A185F, Mystic 30’ Cutter
Posts: 705
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Re: Name my fridge!
Almost forgot it’ll be up and down the east coast, so FL in the winter and summer up north.
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12-01-2020, 10:32
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#9
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernMac
12v and 110 would be manadatory
Could I just go 12v and let my shore power charger handle it?
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Yes exactly, as long as its current output carries all the loads running, the energy stored in the bank isn't touched.
Some boats are set up that way for **all** shore power going through the charger, nothing direct AC from shore, everything AC through inverter(s) so 110V/240V 50 vs 60Hz doesn't matter.
Something huge like aircon usually gets a separate AC-only connection.
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12-01-2020, 10:33
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#10
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernMac
Almost forgot it’ll be up and down the east coast, so FL in the winter and summer up north.
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Design assuming hottest ambient temps and poor insolation.
Plus new insulation will decline over the years.
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12-01-2020, 10:40
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#11
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 1,885
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct
Welcome back Richard!
There is no stress on anything with the bank sitting Floating on shore power, no current is even drawn from the bank as long as the charger(s) current capacity is greater than the loads' amps draw.
Being able to switch over to mains-style AC might make sense on a big boat running the genset many hours per day, but not here.
I agree eutectic holding plates do take some space away from contents capacity, but if there happens to be "free" excess solar most days that is an alternative to going to a bigger bank.
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Twelve volt refrigeration operating from most battery charging devices will be forced out of float charge when refrigerator compressor starts. It may be true that some charging devices remain in float but those that do not shorten battery life. When a boater indicates refrigerator may be let on at the dock I always direct them to select variable voltage units, a $35 option when purchasing a new system is a good investment if it may extend battery life.
Eutectic plates have a number of disadvantages in this boater's ice box's shape that does not lend itself to induction heat transfer. With small 12 volt refrigeration even with alternative energy from wind, solar, or water power it does not matter whether energy is stored in eutectic ice or in battery bank.
I have not been away I spend my surplus time now at age 86 with a few emails a day.
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12-01-2020, 11:08
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Boat: A185F, Mystic 30’ Cutter
Posts: 705
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Re: Name my fridge!
Should have included a photo with the lids on
To everything goes to batteries and the charger keeps the at a float voltage?
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12-01-2020, 12:51
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 1,885
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorthernMac
Should have included a photo with the lids on
To everything goes to batteries and the charger keeps the at a float voltage?
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The question is how to charge batteries and at the same time allow small DC current refrigeration to operate without battery overheating stress. With all variables in battery sizes and differences in each cells float voltage an expensive charging device may or may not be the answer to battery and refrigeration compressor stress while at the dock. My answer to the wear and stress problem was solved by Danfoss with their DC/AC module that automatically converts the compressor from 12 volt battery anytime AC power is available on boat. When this DC to AC conversion takes place compressor will operate at 24 volts and condenser fan will still be 12 volts.
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12-01-2020, 15:49
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Boat: A185F, Mystic 30’ Cutter
Posts: 705
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Kollmann
The question is how to charge batteries and at the same time allow small DC current refrigeration to operate without battery overheating stress. With all variables in battery sizes and differences in each cells float voltage an expensive charging device may or may not be the answer to battery and refrigeration compressor stress while at the dock. My answer to the wear and stress problem was solved by Danfoss with their DC/AC module that automatically converts the compressor from 12 volt battery anytime AC power is available on boat. When this DC to AC conversion takes place compressor will operate at 24 volts and condenser fan will still be 12 volts.
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Do you have a link to this system, does it do fridge and freezer?
Also what all is involved in the install?
Thanks for all the info!
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12-01-2020, 15:59
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#15
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Name my fridge!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Kollmann
The question is how to charge batteries
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Yes.
> and at the same time allow small DC current refrigeration to operate without battery overheating stress.
There is no such "overheating stress" I know of. Do you mean from a particular source type like genset or alternator? Certainly can't imagine any with solar?
Sure, if Danfoss' DC/AC module is only $35, that's fine why not.
But really,
> With all variables in battery sizes and differences in each cells float voltage an expensive charging device may or may not be the answer to battery and refrigeration compressor stress while at the dock.
there really is no such issue with mains power.
Of course if the boat's systems are such that the battery bank can be completely isolated while the boat is in "storage mode" at the dock, and the fridge would be the only DC load device,
then yes, that would be a real benefit of that device.
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