Appropriate Battery Size / Capacity for AB Refrig

[BigEasy]

I plan to install an AB Cold Machine ice box conversion kit in my 1988 H33.5 Insulation upgrades are also in the works. I currently have two AGM group 27 batteries; one for the house and one for the yanmar diesel. The charger is a true charge TC20 microprocessor controlled unit. I plan to use the regrigerator dockside only and plan to allow the unit to remain "on", while I am away from the boat during the week. What is the appropriate size house battery to run the cold machine under afore mentioned conditions?

 

[Ken Palmer]

You are OK with what you have.

I have a similar set-up with my 33.5 and find that the charger keeps the size 27 battery charged while it is running the refrigerator. If anything, you need to watch your thermostat. It seems that the refrigerator will freeze up advancing the dial more than 1/3 clockwise.

 

[GailForce]

Wear

I too have a similar set up on our H33.5. I'd love to have cold beer when arriving Friday night. How would you suppose wear and tear figure in. We have an old frig at home that's been running 24/7 for 15 years with out a problem. I don't think the A/B unit is in the same league. Isn't constant use going to wear the A/B compressor out sooner or does the constant lubrication of the internal seals make the unit last longer without servicing.Jeff

 

[Richard Kollmann]

Refrigerator Service life and Battery Capacity

I have a 12 volt Adler Barbour Cold Machine that was removed by the original owner do to its age. I installed it nine years ago in a pontoon boat where it has been running 10 to 20 hours a day ever since. The only maintenance it required was to vacuum dust out of the condenser coil. Operating one of these units at dock side does stress the battery bank as it causes most chargers to over charge batteries when the refrigerator is running. If your charger comes out of float charging mode when the refrigerator is running battery water will boil excessively. For more information on this subject see Battery Stress section at; http://www.kollmann-marine.com.When operating a 12 volt refrigerator at the dock check the battery water level every two weeks.