Refrigeration on a budget

[Shanachie]

You can buy a new Cold Machine for $839 at Defender. I don't understand why you would consider Rube Goldberg contraptions that are admittedly imperfect to save a couple of hundred dollars.


Those mini-fridges are cheap for a reason. They are built with the least expensive and reliable parts. How long do you think they will last in a saltwater environment?


Another issue is that they are not wired to marine ABYC standards. This means you can accidentally electrocute yourself, once the unit deteriorates, because of the way the neutral and ground wires are set up.


I would have saved a small fortune over many years if I had resisted the occasional urge for cheap solutions. Take a lesson from me.

[Rotan]

Originally Posted by Shanachie

You can buy a new Cold Machine for $839 at Defender. I don't understand why you would consider Rube Goldberg contraptions that are admittedly imperfect to save a couple of hundred dollars.


Those mini-fridges are cheap for a reason. They are built with the least expensive and reliable parts. How long do you think they will last in a saltwater environment?


Another issue is that they are not wired to marine ABYC standards. This means you can accidentally electrocute yourself, once the unit deteriorates, because of the way the neutral and ground wires are set up.


I would have saved a small fortune over many years if I had resisted the occasional urge for cheap solutions. Take a lesson from me.

No links
No mention of source for coolint plates
No explanation of "the way the neutral and ground wires are set up" fearmongering statement of death
Closing line of "trust me"

sigh...

I presume this is the unit you mention

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=1599545


You cleverly forgot to mention the plate is anot 2000 usd
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...-holding-plate

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Rotan

No links
No mention of source for coolint plates
No explanation of "the way the neutral and ground wires are set up" fearmongering statement of death
Closing line of "trust me"

sigh...

Calm down.

The forum members can help, but it would help if you filled your profile in and told us were you are in the world. This is after all an international forum.

For a starters, I fitted one of these to our cool box 14 years ago. I also added extra insulation to the part of the box I could reach. Still working today.

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/ref...e80-fridge-kit

[Rotan]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Calm down.

The forum members can help, but it would help if you filled your profile in and told us were you are in the world. This is after all an international forum.

For a starters, I fitted one of these to our cool box 14 years ago. I also added extra insulation to the part of the box I could reach. Still working today.

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/ref...e80-fridge-kit

BINGO! perfect. THANK YOU! Where have you been for two pages??
Is there a European outlet for these parts?

[Shanachie]

Against my better judgment, I'll make one more post to point out a couple of things.


The Isotherm unit you are excited about is designed to cool about 2.8 cubic feet. You said in your original post you had ice boxes of 6 cubic feet and 4 cubic feet.


You see a problem there? The unit will run continuously, eat up a bunch of amp hours and never cool even one box to a proper temperature. That likely would also be the result of you converting an AC voltage mini-fridge.



Also, if you don't understand marine electronics, you shouldn't be messing around with installing systems, particularly 110 and 220 volt systems. They can kill you.


At the very least, take the time to go on the Internet and read some of the many web sites that discuss how to design, build and maintain proper electrical systems.


I believe your problem is not cranky CF posters. It's that you don't have/don't want to spend the money to do the job properly. In that case, buying ice and pumping out the melt every few days is better than spending money on things that don't work.


By the way, the cost of an evaporator for a Cold Machine is $500-600, not $2,000.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Rotan

BINGO! perfect. THANK YOU! Where have you been for two pages??

Is there a European outlet for these parts?

Several try SVB.de or

https://picclick.fr/Isotherm-GE-80-R...html?refresh=1

Around about 550 euros.

These are speced upto 80 litres but realistically 60 would be the limit.

[triibutu]

These Isotherm Compact Classic units are available for at least up to 400 litres, from many places in Europe. I just fitted a CC2001 (rated for up to 125 litres) in our small 60L fridge this summer and it works really well, especially compared to the SuperCool (yeah, right!) thermoelectric unit it replaced.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Shanachie

By the way, the cost of an evaporator for a Cold Machine is $500-600, not $2,000.

Even $500>600 is a total rip-off, it's like getting a Kubota part from the "marine" dealer instead of the "tractor" dealer;
To wit;
https://www.rparts.com/index.php?cPa...vm5hjef7u99ci5
I'm sure that their are also other places too.
Of course the "Cold Machine" "authorized" part probably has the "Quick Connect" fittings already soldered on,, but those fittings are available and easily soldered on.
Being able to do a simple "tube-to-tube" solder job should be in the skill-set of any serious cruiser.
Whatever path is chosen, their will still be the evac/re-charge procedure.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Shanachie

The Isotherm unit you are excited about is designed to cool about 2.8 cubic feet. You said in your original post you had ice boxes of 6 cubic feet and 4 cubic feet.

Also, if you don't understand marine electronics, you shouldn't be messing around with installing systems, particularly 110 and 220 volt systems. They can kill you.

The kits are 12v. However, you make a good point about size. They are of course available in larger sizes:

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/ref...t-with-o-plate

Originally Posted by Rotan

BINGO! perfect. THANK YOU! Where have you been for two pages??
Is there a European outlet for these parts?

Last time I checked the UK is still in Europe, well sort of. However, you may find the SVB site easier to order from if you are in Europe.

One thing I have learnt about this sort of kit is it needs good quality wiring of the right size. Skim on this and all sort of problems are likely down the road. Ours has 4.5mm wiring for the run to and back from the fridge. There is a calculator half way down this page to help work out the losses with different sized cables.

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/cable...selection.html

Pete

[Rotan]

Originally Posted by Shanachie

Against my better judgment,

Please listen to your better judgement ..... PLEASE!

I have grabed 220v live wires on more than one occasion... twice as much fun as 110v

[Rotan]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Even $500>600 is a total rip-off, it's like getting a Kubota part from the "marine" dealer instead of the "tractor" dealer;
To wit;
https://www.rparts.com/index.php?cPa...vm5hjef7u99ci5
I'm sure that their are also other places too.
Of course the "Cold Machine" "authorized" part probably has the "Quick Connect" fittings already soldered on,, but those fittings are available and easily soldered on.
Being able to do a simple "tube-to-tube" solder job should be in the skill-set of any serious cruiser.
Whatever path is chosen, their will still be the evac/re-charge procedure.

Yes I agree. I dont see the need for 12v compressor with modern inverters running at 98% efficiency and useful for many other appliances.

What are the pressures in the tube? and vacuum to what level?
There must be blog soemwhere of someone that has done this

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Rotan

What are the pressures in the tube? and vacuum to what level?
There must be blog soemwhere of someone that has done this

Pressures? Several variables; state of charge, evaporator heat load, type of refrigerant, condensing temperature, matched, (or not,) components,, to name the most common.
Vacuum? Vacuum pumps "are what they are", some do better than others, all will work better with a fresh oil charge.
Don't put the cart in front of the horse, get an operable system first.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Pete7

The kits are 12v. However, you make a good point about size. They are of course available in larger sizes:

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/ref...t-with-o-plate


Last time I checked the UK is still in Europe, well sort of. However, you may find the SVB site easier to order from if you are in Europe.

One thing I have learnt about this sort of kit is it needs good quality wiring of the right size. Skim on this and all sort of problems are likely down the road. Ours has 4.5mm wiring for the run to and back from the fridge. There is a calculator half way down this page to help work out the losses with different sized cables.

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/cable...selection.html

Pete

Shipping anything from the U.K. into the EU is a nightmare customs charges vat clearance fee. Much better to order it from inside the customs union

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Rotan

Please listen to your better judgement ..... PLEASE!

I have grabed 220v live wires on more than one occasion... twice as much fun as 110v

Why ?

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Rotan

...
I have grabed 220v live wires on more than one occasion...

What an interesting post. Entertaining sometimes, and it shows that some of us have a lot of patience...
But I was trying to figure out why go to so much trouble trying to beat the current with only one paddle, now I have the answer