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Old 05-10-2020, 14:11   #1
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Frigoboat? Isotherm?

Hi all, we are planning on upgrading our cold storage. We currently have the standard fitment of a fan cooled refrigerator and an adjacent coolbox. The plan is to turn the coolbox into a fridge/freezer. I have read that frigoboat systems work well generally and have lower power requirements than our current fan cooled set up. The only wrinkle for me is additional holes in the hull. Enter the Isotherm option. Same principle but no extra holes.

Does anyone have experience of how the two set ups compare? Performance and efficiency? Pros and Cons for each system?
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Old 05-10-2020, 14:21   #2
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

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...The only wrinkle for me is additional holes in the hull. Enter the Isotherm option. Same principle but no extra holes.

Does anyone have experience of how the two set ups compare? Performance and efficiency? Pros and Cons for each system?
Presumably everyone will chime in with what they have; rare to see people complain about any particular system.

When I get around to rebuilding by spillover system box my plan is to install a Ozefridge system that uses the freshwater tank as a coolant...no extra holes in the hull. Ozefridge is just another system to be familiar with.
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Old 05-10-2020, 14:25   #3
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

Since at the heart of all the systems is the Danfoss compressor and all the system manufacturers do are the plates/evaporator, tubing, and packaging what difference really does one expect between the systems?
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Old 05-10-2020, 14:47   #4
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie View Post
Hi all, we are planning on upgrading our cold storage. We currently have the standard fitment of a fan cooled refrigerator and an adjacent coolbox. The plan is to turn the coolbox into a fridge/freezer. I have read that frigoboat systems work well generally and have lower power requirements than our current fan cooled set up. The only wrinkle for me is additional holes in the hull. Enter the Isotherm option. Same principle but no extra holes.

Does anyone have experience of how the two set ups compare? Performance and efficiency? Pros and Cons for each system?

We have the frigoboat w/the keel cooler in a stand alone fridge and it works well. We looked at the isotherm w/drain heat exchanger before purchasing the frigoboat and if my memory is correct, the BTU exchange off the keel cooler was greater than the drain heat exchanger. I took this to mean less run time to remove the same amount of heat from the box.
Our 6 cu. ft. box is only a fridge and now w/the water temp at 70F we use less than 30 ah/day to keep the box at ~35F. Maybe 35-40 ah when the water temp is up to 85F in the summer.

Not sure if the isotherm is a capillary system also.
W/the keel cooled frigoboat (probably the isotherm also) if you haul out, you will need the auxiliary fan to run the fridge on the hard. Can do a fan "add on", but if buying a new system would get the combo right off the bat.
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Old 06-10-2020, 02:11   #5
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

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the BTU exchange off the keel cooler was greater than the drain heat exchanger.
That was my suspicion, smaller area of conductive material exposed to water.
The water tank system mentioned by Bill O is intriguing, worth a look but with a smaller volume of water involved I suspect it would be less efficient.
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Old 06-10-2020, 02:29   #6
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill O View Post
We have the frigoboat w/the keel cooler in a stand alone fridge and it works well. We looked at the isotherm w/drain heat exchanger before purchasing the frigoboat and if my memory is correct, the BTU exchange off the keel cooler was greater than the drain heat exchanger. I took this to mean less run time to remove the same amount of heat from the box.
Our 6 cu. ft. box is only a fridge and now w/the water temp at 70F we use less than 30 ah/day to keep the box at ~35F. Maybe 35-40 ah when the water temp is up to 85F in the summer.

Not sure if the isotherm is a capillary system also.
W/the keel cooled frigoboat (probably the isotherm also) if you haul out, you will need the auxiliary fan to run the fridge on the hard. Can do a fan "add on", but if buying a new system would get the combo right off the bat.

Ditto, we have Frigoboat a 35 unit for our fridge 30-35 ah/day and a 50 unit on our 4 cu ft freezer 24 ah/day. Getting the speed setting correct on the compressor takes some trial and error but otherwise these are fit and forget. Only downside no cooling on the hard.
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Old 06-10-2020, 10:26   #7
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

I’ve just had a phone call with our local refrigeration dude, he recommended keel plates, didn’t rate the Isotherm heat sinks.
So, he’s booked in for November.

Thanks for the replies chaps.
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Old 06-10-2020, 11:01   #8
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Re: Frigoboat? Isotherm?

I've had both and prefer the Isotherm.


Seems to exchange more heat (more area exposed to water because of tubes instead of plate; and the clever "self pumping" design keeps water moving through even not underway in calm weather). The plate type Frigoboat seemed to work better underway, however.


Lastly -- Isotherm works on the hard, because air circulates over the coils by convection very efficienctly up the deck drains. Seems to work almost as well as when the boat is in the water.


YMMV, but that's my experience.
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