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"John Cassara" wrote in message .net...
RV units are often have three power options, 12v/120v/propane. The propane side is an open flame so don't atempt to use it or spend extra because it there. Look for the dual power only units. Maybe it would be more accurate to view refer selection as usage-driven, but I personally have never seen the ultimate sense in a 12vdc refer, whether RV, marine, cheap, very costly, or otherwise. This is after living with one of the RV variety. ISTM that low-volt DC operation is more suited to casual gunkholing or limited coastal cruising, also where corrosion-proof marine construction is relatively unimportant - and the ease of running any small shoreside AC unit from an inverter & its far lower cost outweighs the large price difference for RV or marine 12v units. ISTM that for blue-water, and where ship's engine is routinely run daily to charge batteries & such, an engine-mounted compressor (even a salvaged & adapted auto airconditioning unit if one is on the cheap & is handy) with a suitable evap is a much better deal all the way around when used to recool a well-insulated icebox & make ice. It is also one less separate machine to fail & fool with, versus an easily-accessible compressor. It is unfortunate that "kits" of these simple parts sold for yachts are quite costly, but there is a lot of room for doing the same without them at low cost (given some hands-on knowledge of refrigeration). I have 2 of the Peltier coolers, one a large famous Kool-whatever & the other a small $20 closeout special whatever. I find them next to useless versus the space they occupy where refrigeration is really needed (YMMV), as they will only cool to around 40F below ambient (and that on a good day, with a lot of time, pre-cooled contents, almost never-opened, optimal ventilation and a little luck thrown in). When I first started casual coastal dubbing around I used the big one for the first trip, then went back to block ice. They are good for using in the back of your 4WD on summer off-road jaunts to make the soda & beer warm up more slowlyg, and the small one lives in my little Geo Tracker where it hold exactly 9 cans that you may need a tool to pry out of it unless you turn it upside down. This is good because it keeps the riff-raff from snitching your cold ones. They cool very unevenly. A constant 4 amp drain can be a serious matter, and also is remarkably energy-inefficient in terms of refrigeration compared to a compressor. And if one is cruising & catching or foraging seafood/etc. for real when opportunities arise, yes, one wants ice. Besides, ice (or its equivalent) is what keeps food safely refrigerated when any unit is not being powered - which happens all the time at sea without notice for one reason or another. IMHO anything which cannot make ice (i.e., remove heat to below freezing to provide latent storage capacity) isn't practical as refrigeration for the power & space it usurps, no matter how low-budget one may be (as I am). Again YMMV. If one is set upon having 12vdc refrigeration, there is a 3rd alternative: highly efficient new chest fridges & freezers in the 5 ft/cu variety marketed by the solar pwr industry. They are bigger than marine or RV units (due to much more insulation), and comparable in price but far more efficient. I am certain one would not fit through the companionway of S/V Free Three II, but may be perfect for motorcraft. These draw little enough to run directly from panels, and with certain usage patterns no battery may be needed. |
#12
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Adam wrote:
Thanks Peggie; To adopt this for dual voltage is not a problem and it cost less than $100 Still looking for $600 Adam "Peggie Hall" wrote in message ... Adam wrote: The Norcold dual voltage frig and also small Norcold chest freezer that I have use a 40 volt AC compressor to better accomodate power convesion Each has a special inverter that transforms the 112 vac to 40 vac and converts 12 vdc to 40 vac to operate this super efficient little compressor. For such a small frig or freezer compartment these unit still have a larger (than domestic) evaperator which does a quicker and more efficient cooling/freeze cycle. If you go ahead and use a domestic frig, be sure to disable the automatic defrost system and any stip heaters in the door seal. Very wasteful of boat battery power. Do a manual deforst at the dock. Steve s/v Good Intentions |
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