260 12v Cooler

centerline · Sep 28, 2014

langstraatp said:
I am thinking of replacing my Coleman ice chest cooler on my 260 with a 12 volt cooler. My concern is air circulation for the 12 volt cooler in the enclosed ice chest space on the 260. Also wondering if 12 volt cooler will be damaged by heeling underway.
Does anyone have experience with 12 volt coolers and, if so, do you have any recommendations for which cooler to purchase?[/QUOTE,

12v "ice chest" style coolers are power hungry units but can be operated in any position without harm to them.
As for the ventilation it needs to work the most efficiently, it will create heat in an enclosed area, and the warmer the area gets, the less cooling you will get inside the cooler.... but if the compartment is open towards the top, the heat that is created will rise out.... or a small "computer" type fan can be installed and used to cycle every 15minutes to help purge the heat with cooler air...

Crazy Dave Condon · Sep 28, 2014

The big questions will the 12 volt cooler fit the area where the normal cooler goes. The second question, how long are you going to be out as there are coolers now that ice can last up for 2-3 days now. The third question, how much will it draw from the battery as it will drain the battery. Suggest you have dual batteries with one as a back up without being used for as house battery.

I can say I installed the very first one on the 260 as a dealer and these were the questions posed to the owner.

seadaddler · Sep 28, 2014

12volt cooler

The better 12volt ref/freezer so much better but pricy for sure but use
very low power and ref or freez very well.
Engel one of the best but higher priced and edgestar also very good a little
less $$$$$.
I have both and the edgestar was less $$$$ than the engel and the cheaper ones like we had was a cloeman used lots power and barely cooling.
I can make ice cubes when in freezer mode but

when you see the price.
We do a lot of cruising 3 weeks out and my wife and I like our cold drinks and real food like at home so we bite the bullet and very happy.I do have solar
keeps batteries charge so i can run 12volt ref 24/7.
Nick

ben solomon · Sep 28, 2014

I have the large Koolatron 12 volt cooler/heater. After it get cool, stuff may actually freeze at the bottom of the cooler. I have a 37.5 legend, and I use this as my auxillary fridge/drink cooler.

Ben

Bob 04 H260 · Sep 28, 2014

To have refrigeration on a boat you need to generate electricity. A 260 does not have enough real estate for solar panels to do that job, and even a Honda outboard has too small an alternator. You will need a Honda generator as well as the Engle, a couple of deep cycle batteries and a good battery charger.

We used a 5 day cooler on our 260 and lived on it full time for over 2 months at a time. We had a few long walks carrying a block of ice, it got lighter as the day got hotter

.

We did have a Honda EU2000 and found it helped keep the batteries up when anchored out or on a mooring ball.

We learned to only keep what we really needed in the cooler. Lots of things we keep in the fridge at home aren't in the fridge on the boat. There are lots of good galley sites that have ideas for living on an ice box.

Good luck, Bob

Benny17441 · Sep 28, 2014

Them 12V coolers are a poor choice for boats both in power consumption and performance. Keep the ice cooler and freeze water bottles and freeze and pre-cool your supplies.

Kestle · Sep 28, 2014

Bob 04 H260 said:
To have refrigeration on a boat you need to generate electricity. A 260 does not have enough real estate for solar panels to do that job, and even a Honda outboard has too small an alternator. You will need a Honda generator as well as the Engle, a couple of deep cycle batteries and a good battery charger. We used a 5 day cooler on our 260 and lived on it full time for over 2 months at a time. We had a few long walks carrying a block of ice, it got lighter as the day got hotter . We did have a Honda EU2000 and found it helped keep the batteries up when anchored out or on a mooring ball. We learned to only keep what we really needed in the cooler. Lots of things we keep in the fridge at home aren't in the fridge on the boat. There are lots of good galley sites that have ideas for living on an ice box. Good luck, Bob

Some suggestions please?

Jeff

Bob 04 H260 · Sep 28, 2014

Kestle said:
Some suggestions please?

Jeff

Suggestions concerning what ?

Is this what you are asking for ?

http://theboatgalley.com/without-refrigeration/
http://www.microcruising.com/lc1.htm
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f91/what-food-to-buy-without-refrigeration-104963.html
Google cruising without refrigeration

Bob

ben solomon · Sep 29, 2014

The koolatron uses the Pelletier plate method of cooling. No compressor. Very low current draw. It won't make ice cubes, but it will keep your food and drinks cold.

Ben

kloudie1 · Sep 29, 2014

Two problems with the inexpensive Peltier Effect coolers. 1, They can cool only to about 40F below the ambient temperature around the cooler.. They are not useful here in the south, but may be ok where you are. 2 They draw between 3 and 4 amperes most of the time.. It will deplete a 100 ampere hour battery every day, and that is with no other loads like instruments, stereo or autopilot.
More useful if motoring or used in a car when engine is running.

ben solomon · Sep 29, 2014

kloudie1 said:
Two problems with the inexpensive Peltier Effect coolers. 1, They can cool only to about 40F below the ambient temperature around the cooler.. They are not useful here in the south, but may be ok where you are. 2 They draw between 3 and 4 amperes most of the time.. It will deplete a 100 ampere hour battery every day, and that is with no other loads like instruments, stereo or autopilot.
More useful if motoring or used in a car when engine is running.

I agree. There is no way around power for refrigeration.

Ben