Caframo

[Mark Maulden]

I‘m sure most of us know the Caframo products. Fans, heaters, air dryers and such. Awhile back, I ordered a Caframo Stor-Dry air dryer. The one with a circular case and a little 100 watt heating element with a little fan above it. It also comes with the Cafamo and West Marine placard on the top. I plugged it in at home and noticed the fan turning very slow. So I popped the top and noticed the motor shaft was off by about 20 deg to the motor. Shipped it back and received a replacement. Worked fine for several days. I use two of these in the boat during winter and every time I visit the boat, I lift them off the sole and look through the ventilation holes in the case expecting to see the fan turning. This last time, there was no fan turning. Brought it home and said screw it. Out came tools and VOM. The motor was fried. Melted plastic on one of the windings. I have an email into Caframo with some very pointed questions as this has always (40 yr) been a trusted company leaving it plugged in 24/7. Made in Canada. Or is it “assembled” in Canada….

 

[thinwater]

You would be MUCH better off running a small dehumidifier. The power draw is the same and they actually remove the water, not just warm the air 2-4 degrees.

Install a small hose in the tank and drain to the sink. Also 100 watts.
small dehumidifier.

 

[Mark Maulden]

Not really interested in dehumidifying. All thru hulls are closed. Just moving some air around. One dorade vent pointed into the wind and the other 180..Has always worked for me!

 

[kloudie1]

Bought a Caframo Sirocco cabin fan a few years ago. They were on sale from West Marine .. Love the fan but it stopped working after 6 months. I disassembled the thing and found a bad wire solder joint on the control circuit board. I repaired it and it has worked fine .. I like their products but I think that their quality control may need some help.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

You would be MUCH better off running a small dehumidifier. The power draw is the same and they actually remove the water, not just warm the air 2-4 degrees.

Install a small hose in the tank and drain to the sink. Also 100 watts.
small dehumidifier.

Those Pelletier cooled units are only effective down to about 52-degrees F ambient. I read they lower the cooling element by surface about 30-degrees, and in cooler weather that would cause ice accumulation. So they’re not effective for northern winter storage.

 

[rgranger]

It does not make sense to me that you would want to run the fan 24/7. Things start to heat up and over time go bad.... I'd add a timer switch like this to the mix

https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Plusmart-Waterproof-Mechanical-Grounded/dp/B08XYVV6XX/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=2ZZS5GCRNIZNU&keywords=electric+timer&qid=1671028804&sprefix=electric+timer%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-4-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyR0kxODM2WTZRMk1ZJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjkyMjE4M05ZQlNPWFVZWU1JTiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTk3ODI0MTBKTjE3OVBQNE0xMiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[Head Sail]

I used the Caframo heater. It has a "frost" setting. Turns on when temp goes below a certain temp (40 drgrees?).

 

[Calif. Ted]

Surprised to hear that, mine's over 20 years old, every time I plug it in I'm happy to hear the fan running.

 

[Hello Below]

I have an email into Caframo with some very pointed questions as this has always (40 yr) been a trusted company leaving it plugged in 24/7. Made in Canada. Or is it “assembled” in Canada….

Bad luck or crappy QC??? Their website and documentation says "Made in Canada". Please let us know how Caframo responds. I hope they treat you right.

Surprised to hear that, mine's over 20 years old, every time I plug it in I'm happy to hear the fan running.

I have 3 Stor-dry that are into their 23rd winter of service and have worked flawlessly over that time (1 in V-Berth, 1 in Aft Cabin feeding the engine room, 1 in Head). I also have a True North heater set to the Frost mode this is located in the salon That unit was replaced under warranty without question when the little LED started to flicker. I sent a video clip to Caframo and a week later I had a new heater. The only thing they asked of me was to cut the cord making the heater unserviceable and send them a photo.

 

[thinwater]

Those Pelletier cooled units are only effective down to about 52-degrees F ambient. I read they lower the cooling element by surface about 30-degrees, and in cooler weather that would cause ice accumulation. So they’re not effective for northern winter storage.

Not exactly true. Not even close to true in the 50s.

Yes, starting in the 40s they build ice (without harm), but will thaw when the cabin temp goes above freezing during the day (green house effect) if they are cycled off, like your home freezer. The best plan is to run it at night for ~ 8 hours, knowing it will freeze, and then let it defrost during the day (cheap 24-hour timer). Works right through the winter in MD. Yes, the air is colder some climates, but the boat is moderated by the water and the OP is in Washington, which is warmer (lowest low) than, or about the same as, Maryland.

Not guessing, have done this for 15 years. It holds the RH in the boat in the low 40s.

 

[thinwater]

I used the Caframo heater. It has a "frost" setting. Turns on when temp goes below a certain temp (40 drgrees?).

Many (most?) marinas do not allow unattended heaters, even with a frost setting. Fire hazard because of the high wattage.

 

[ggrizzard]

I second HELLO 's request to advise the group of any response from Caframo.

 

[TimFromLI]

You would be MUCH better off running a small dehumidifier. The power draw is the same and they actually remove the water, not just warm the air 2-4 degrees.

Install a small hose in the tank and drain to the sink. Also 100 watts.
small dehumidifier.

I tried a dehumidifier one winter, it didn't work below 60 degrees.

 

[Terry Cox]

Very pleased with our Caframo flat style boat heater that has a frost setting. Been using it for years during the winter months to help protect the boat from sub freezing temps. A very dependable product.

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[Ralph Johnstone]

Many (most?) marinas do not allow unattended heaters, even with a frost setting.

Nope. Everyone in our marina has something like a small Caframo which they use to raise the internal temp, a couple of degrees above the O/S temp. Each of my two Stor-Dry heaters draw 80W each. Runs 24/7 from Nov. to Feb. for the last 24 years without a hiccup.

Fire hazard because of the high wattage.

0.66W is a fire hazard ? Only as much as the cord presents. Remember, we're talking a Caframo Stor-Dry heater as per the OP.

Not guessing, have done this for 15 years. It holds the RH in the boat in the low 40s.

RH in the low 40's ? Bad guess.

Outside RH here in the winter is in the high 90's in the winter according to the weather reports. That figure would be guaranteed every day on the water during winter. Using a Peltier thermoelectric unit, the boat would have to be airtight with a high wattage heater to get the RH down into the low 40's.

Taken from your post #2

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Breeze-Electric-Dehumidifier-Portable/dp/B01DC5PPWM/ref=sr_1_20?crid=1Z6EB5FFMJB1L&keywords=dehumidifier+small+eva-dry&qid=1670994114&sprefix=deuhmidifier+small+eve%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-20

Save your money. These little curiosities are not intended for use in unheated cold boats at low winter temperatures. As the advertisement for your above recommendation says, they are intended for use within heated houses. By the time the O/S temp. is down to 41° F. (5° C.), they've stopped working. Efficacy at O/S temp. of 50° F. (10° C) probably not much better. That eliminates most of the winter here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

[Mark Maulden]

As the OP, all I'm after is some convection current of air. Not trying to heat the boat. Not trying to control RH. Just moving air via temp differences. I’ve used this practice in the PNW for some 40 years with no molds etc. I do rumple the cushions etc for air movement. I also have an older model and it still works fine. I do put a drop of “one drop” on the motor shaft to run into the shaft bearings. The new “version” did not last a week.. so far, no response from Caframo..

 

[thinwater]

Nope. Everyone in our marina has something like a small Caframo which they use to raise the internal temp, a couple of degrees above the O/S temp. Each of my two Stor-Dry heaters draw 80W each. Runs 24/7 from Nov. to Feb. for the last 24 years without a hiccup.



0.66W is a fire hazard ? Only as much as the cord presents. Remember, we're talking a Caframo Stor-Dry heater as per the OP.



RH in the low 40's ? Bad guess.

Outside RH here in the winter is in the high 90's in the winter according to the weather reports. That figure would be guaranteed every day on the water during winter. Using a Peltier thermoelectric unit, the boat would have to be airtight with a high wattage heater to get the RH down into the low 40's.

Taken from your post #2

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Breeze-Electric-Dehumidifier-Portable/dp/B01DC5PPWM/ref=sr_1_20?crid=1Z6EB5FFMJB1L&keywords=dehumidifier+small+eva-dry&qid=1670994114&sprefix=deuhmidifier+small+eve%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-20

View attachment 211664

Save your money. These little curiosities are not intended for use in unheated cold boats at low winter temperatures. As the advertisement for your above recommendation says, they are intended for use within heated houses. By the time the O/S temp. is down to 41° F. (5° C.), they've stopped working. Efficacy at O/S temp. of 50° F. (10° C) probably not much better. That eliminates most of the winter here in the Pacific Northwest.

I've been operating one for 15 years in the same climate. I am operating one right now (freezing rain); it will frost at night and defrost during the day, just like your fridge. If this were not true, a frost free fridge would not work. I am not guessing. My pillows stay fresh as home.

A Caframo Stor-Dry is not the same as a heater with a frost setting (750W). Nothing wrong with the Caframo, just very little heat and very little dehumidifying effect.

I have used the Caframo-type drier. You could try what I suggested, with a timer, and you would learn that it is better. That's all.

 

[sesmith]

Concerning the peltier dehumidifiers, my solution for one of our boats located in SC is to use a smart plug that I set up to shut off the unit when the temp drops below a threshold I set at 50 degrees. This is in my driveway where it has wifi access and gets the temp info off the web. It worked well set up this way and keeps the humidity under 60% in the boat, until my unit crapped out after 2 years of use. I had to modify the tank to dump continuously into the galley sink.

For our boat up on the great lakes, I doubt this solution would work very well most of the off season, so I use a couple of doubled 5 gal buckets with bulk damp rid in them (top bucket has holes drilled in the bottom so water drains into the 1 below). Not sure
how effective this really is. It makes me feel good in the spring when I find all the water in the buckets, though, so I keep doing it each fall.

 

[jssailem]

I have the camframo ceramic heater on the boat to keep the cabin above 32 during the winter chill.

I also picked up a Hisense 25-Pint 1-Speed Dehumidifier ENERGY STAR when it was on sale a couple of years ago.


I had a window leak and I have been pulling so much moisture out of the boat I took the drain hose and ran it to a thru hull fitting on the side of the boat.

This dehumidifier manufacturer states it can operate at temperatures as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[Hello Below]

I also picked up a Hisense 25-Pint 1-Speed Dehumidifier ENERGY STAR when it was on sale a couple of years ago.

Cool. It works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. So says the product specs.