As a new owner of a Hunter 33, I bought an AC refigerator and an inverter. It trips the breaker. Should I return it for a DC one?
Refrigerator Replacement
- Thread starter lweeks
- Start date
Number ? Numbers ?
Without numbers this is strictly a guessing game.
And the people on this site who know about electrical matters don't guess.
Without numbers this is strictly a guessing game.
And the people on this site who know about electrical matters don't guess.
Very true. Also didn't explain what breaker popped...
Sailorchic34's New Dorm Fridge - inverter driven dorm fridge
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f115/sailorchic34s-new-fridge-180007.html
Here's an example of what does work:
Sailorchic34's New Dorm Fridge - inverter driven dorm fridge
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f115/sailorchic34s-new-fridge-180007.html
Running an AC load off of DC is a very inefficient way of running a refrigerator. At best the inverter is only about 90% efficient, every time the refrigerator comes online about 10% of the energy being used is wasted, turned in to heat.
What size inverter do you have? It may not be able to handle the inrush current when the compressor kicks on, which would cause the circuit breaker to blow.
As @Ralph Johnstone said, we need to know more about the electrical setup on your boat.
What size inverter do you have? It may not be able to handle the inrush current when the compressor kicks on, which would cause the circuit breaker to blow.
As @Ralph Johnstone said, we need to know more about the electrical setup on your boat.
Dave, you're right, however the reason i saved Sailor Chick's article was it includes her load analysis, which shows that as far as ah are concerned it's not so bad. I was surprised. That's why I saved and share it often. Might work for this skipper who already bought an AC. AC something is the question now, among others...
Stu, the point I was making was all other things being equal, using an AC appliance running off of a DC Inverter is inefficient. It is more efficient to run a DC appliance off a DC source than an AC appliance off a DC inverter.
With that said, as we both know in the world of marine refrigeration nothing is equal. There are so many factors involved that affect efficiency, including the box design, insulation, compressor style and build, door seals, refrigerator location, and so on, that confound any attempt to simply answer the OP's question. Ralph was correct (again) that we need more information about the installation.
With that said, as we both know in the world of marine refrigeration nothing is equal. There are so many factors involved that affect efficiency, including the box design, insulation, compressor style and build, door seals, refrigerator location, and so on, that confound any attempt to simply answer the OP's question. Ralph was correct (again) that we need more information about the installation.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,750
The query provides a choice without any context of your intended needs.
NovaKool provides a wide range of refrigerator/freezers in both AC, DC and auto switchable units. I have one on my boat.
It was easy to build it into the boat. Is miserly on DC power consumption. When docked at the marina, it switches to AC. I chose a freezer unit that I adjust to 36º F. I figured that a freezer design would be beefed up to accommodate sub-Zero demand. Running it at 36º is like letting it walk not forcing it to run all the time. So far it has worked out meeting my needs for a dual use system.
Figure out what you want in a system and how you will utilize it’s capabilities, then select a system that will fulfill your demands.
NovaKool provides a wide range of refrigerator/freezers in both AC, DC and auto switchable units. I have one on my boat.
It was easy to build it into the boat. Is miserly on DC power consumption. When docked at the marina, it switches to AC. I chose a freezer unit that I adjust to 36º F. I figured that a freezer design would be beefed up to accommodate sub-Zero demand. Running it at 36º is like letting it walk not forcing it to run all the time. So far it has worked out meeting my needs for a dual use system.
Figure out what you want in a system and how you will utilize it’s capabilities, then select a system that will fulfill your demands.