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05-11-2022, 13:25
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Rochester, NY
Boat: Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Posts: 6,284
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotu
I guess so. Probably is the way I am going to have to do it. There were so many people using regular refrigerators on Catamarans and even on monohulls in recent years on these threads that I figured somebody just had one they liked. And I would just order it.
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You might be able to do that same shopping virtually from any big appliance retailer that gives enough info (including dimensions) on their website. Find one with a good looking efficiency sticker, appropriate dimensions, etc. and click the "buy" button.
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05-11-2022, 13:39
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rslifkin
You might be able to do that same shopping virtually from any big appliance retailer that gives enough info (including dimensions) on their website. Find one with a good looking efficiency sticker, appropriate dimensions, etc. and click the "buy" button.
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Basically that’s exactly where I am at this point. I found a couple. They are more like dorm fridge size. It’s unfortunate. 4.4. 4.7 cuft. But, I guess I will make do. The deep chest freezer holds most of the stuff anyway.
Refrigerator is pretty much for milk, vegetables, fruit and a few condiments.
Everything else can live in the freezer.
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05-11-2022, 13:43
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wherever the boat is.
Boat: Bristol 29.9
Posts: 626
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
We have had an Engel for 3 years now full-time. Low power consumption, no problems with it.
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05-11-2022, 13:57
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Boat: TRT 1200
Posts: 7,271
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
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05-11-2022, 14:43
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,706
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Chotu, every time I hear "refrigeration" I think of this wonderful contribution to boating:
Sailorchic34's New Dorm Fridge - inverter driven dorm fridge
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ge-180007.html
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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05-11-2022, 15:52
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#22
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2019
Boat: Beneteau 432, C&C Landfall 42, Roberts Offshore 38
Posts: 6,364
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
You might want to try the travel camper industry.
They provide all manner of small 110v fridges for the camper market.
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05-11-2022, 16:20
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Jackson
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That’s her!!!
Thank you. Sailorchic34. She did the dorm fridge quite well.
Wish she stuck around. Great posts.
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05-11-2022, 16:23
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Quote:
Originally Posted by smj
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Holy cow, that’s brilliant!!!
This is a great idea. You get all the thermal efficiency of a freezer thanks to freezer level insulation, but run it at low power refrigerator temps.
This has to be the least expensive, most roomy and most efficient solution.
Thank for posting this one. I’m going to look into it right away.
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05-11-2022, 17:20
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Boat: Island Packet 40
Posts: 6,451
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotu
Holy cow, that’s brilliant!!!
This is a great idea. You get all the thermal efficiency of a freezer thanks to freezer level insulation, but run it at low power refrigerator temps.
This has to be the least expensive, most roomy and most efficient solution.
Thank for posting this one. I’m going to look into it right away.
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To make a valid comparison you need to look at the properties of the different refrigerants which may be used in freezers at the temperature range it will operate as a refrigerator.
__________________
Satiriker ist verboten, la conformité est obligatoire
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05-11-2022, 17:43
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#26
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaymondR
To make a valid comparison you need to look at the properties of the different refrigerants which may be used in freezers at the temperature range it will operate as a refrigerator.
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OK, my knowledge of refrigeration is spotty.
But when I have worked on refrigerators before that were a bit more standard types on boats, it was always R134A.
It didn’t matter if it was the refrigerator or the freezer. The expansion valve was working the same way for both. And use the same refrigerant.
Is this not the case for the home units?
Of course, these were holding plate systems that I was working on. So, technically maybe they were acting as freezers? Because they were freezing the eutectic solution in the cold plates?
And given that it may not operate at refrigerator temperature, but only at some freezer temperature, is that actually a problem? Because it would be cycling. So it would cool down quickly, then turn off. Is that a problem?
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05-11-2022, 17:56
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#27
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2019
Boat: Beneteau 432, C&C Landfall 42, Roberts Offshore 38
Posts: 6,364
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
You may laugh...but the first few years of my cruising life, I was entirely dependent on ice for my refrigeration needs.
With care, I could squeeze two weeks out of my old icebox.
In later years, I upgraded to a 12v volt system. This allowed for a small freezer unit in the icebox. I never froze food in there, but would freeze bottles of water into ice, thus the entire freezer unit became my "block of ice". This way I needed to run my engine only long enough to make ice, after which I shut it off. This worked quite well for me, as I was, at the time, without solar panels, wind chargers, etc. I'd get several days out of my "block ice", before having to refreeze it.
Your typical stand up fridge will likely only have 1 1/2" of insulation, whereas my ice box had 6".
I get that you have ample solar panels, etc, but nothing beats a well insulated box.
Were I to install an off the shelf mini-fridge, I would endeavor to place it inside an " insulated" cavity, leaving only some air space for the"machinery at the back of the unit.
Prior to penning this response, I went online, and was surprised to read many different solutions to keeping your beer cold, so it's worth it to spend some time online to digest the countless ways to deal with it.
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05-11-2022, 18:22
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,714
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
I have purchased two different Summit fridge/freezers, both 24" wide for rental units. One is under counter - approx 4.5. The other is 66" tall and about 10cf. I don't recall the exact prices but were mid-grade. Sometimes smaller costs more. Probably in the $700 range. Purchased both from AJ Madison. They have a good sort function on their website. They have held up well to rental usage. I cannot speak to energy efficiency but would expect most moderate quality to be approx same, though newer inverter motor ones are likely better.
__________________
_______________________________________
Cruising our 36-foot trawler from California to Florida
Join our Instagram page @MVWeebles to follow along
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05-11-2022, 18:37
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#29
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 18,956
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Re: What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
Whatever you do, stay away from those RV fridges that run on electric and on propane. They are sure to burn your boat down, even on electric. Added to that, they don’t cool.
__________________
“It’s a trap!” - Admiral Ackbar.
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05-11-2022, 18:51
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#30
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Boat: TRT 1200
Posts: 7,271
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What off-the-shelf refrigerator are you using?
I don’t recall exactly but I believe his large 110v chest freezer run as a refrigerator had a dc draw of about 1.5 amps per hour. I also recall the recommendation to check the energy star rating before purchase.
I believe he changed out the thermostat in the freezer to one that could cool to refrigerator temps, the Amazon 110v thermostat was my idea and may not be as efficient.
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