I am about to go out on the hook and am in need of DC refridgeration. What is the bestway to insulate my ice box? Any suggestions as to what type of refridgeration unit to use would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
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J
Jim Rushing
Isotherm and SP
For minimum amps, take a look at the Isotherm with the SP heat exchanger. Be aware that there are two versions, one that automatically defrosts every ten days and one that only defrosts when you turn the unit off.
For minimum amps, take a look at the Isotherm with the SP heat exchanger. Be aware that there are two versions, one that automatically defrosts every ten days and one that only defrosts when you turn the unit off.
D
Debra B
Insulation
You can buy some very expensive high tech insulation - VACUUM FOAM - from the company that makes the Red Baron Wind Generator (also makes the Four Winds). Best if you have to insulate on the inside of the box. (Some type of NASA developed insualation - very thin, but expensive. 1 inch = 5 inches urethane foam). I was able to get to the outside of most of my icebox so I went a cheaper. I bought rigid insualation at a home improvement center and used construction adhesive to cover as much of the outside of the box I could get too. There seems to be a real advantage to getting the stuff with the thermal barrier - looks like foil - glued to one surface. Don't forget to add some weather seal to the lid. I also picked up some rolls of a blue foam insualation and some thermal barrier - again and Home Depot - and added that to the inside of the box - the sides and bottom seemed to be OK, but the top was just 1 inch marine ply. I also insulated the lid itself. Now my Grunnert runs about half the time - a little more in the day, a little less at night. And I don't get too much frost from condensation. What will work best for you will depend on how well it is insulated to begin with, and whether or not you can get to the outside of the box w/o taking the galley apart. Mine backs into a sail locker, and one side is behind the drawers in the galley, and the front is next to the stove. The outside (against the hull) was problematic, and I ended up adding some of the blue foam and thermal barrier (in a sandwich arrangement) in the one area where there was a problem.
You can buy some very expensive high tech insulation - VACUUM FOAM - from the company that makes the Red Baron Wind Generator (also makes the Four Winds). Best if you have to insulate on the inside of the box. (Some type of NASA developed insualation - very thin, but expensive. 1 inch = 5 inches urethane foam). I was able to get to the outside of most of my icebox so I went a cheaper. I bought rigid insualation at a home improvement center and used construction adhesive to cover as much of the outside of the box I could get too. There seems to be a real advantage to getting the stuff with the thermal barrier - looks like foil - glued to one surface. Don't forget to add some weather seal to the lid. I also picked up some rolls of a blue foam insualation and some thermal barrier - again and Home Depot - and added that to the inside of the box - the sides and bottom seemed to be OK, but the top was just 1 inch marine ply. I also insulated the lid itself. Now my Grunnert runs about half the time - a little more in the day, a little less at night. And I don't get too much frost from condensation. What will work best for you will depend on how well it is insulated to begin with, and whether or not you can get to the outside of the box w/o taking the galley apart. Mine backs into a sail locker, and one side is behind the drawers in the galley, and the front is next to the stove. The outside (against the hull) was problematic, and I ended up adding some of the blue foam and thermal barrier (in a sandwich arrangement) in the one area where there was a problem.
D
Debra B
DC Units
Which one you ultimately get depends on how big the box you have. I have a small icebox, and so I have the small Grunnert Polar mate (exactly the same as the A/B Coldmachine). Mine is small enough I did not need the water cooled option. I went with the evaporator model so I could make ice. Some days I am happy, others I wish I had purchased a holding plate. (Isotherm makes a nice DC holding plate system, as do others.) There are a couple of boats in this marina that have HUGE iceboxes. An Irwin 38 has an icebox as big as the trunk of my car. Morgan O/I 41 has something similar or larger. In this case you may want to look at a dual compressor setup like Frigiboat, that can manage a freezer/refrig for minimum power consumption. You also probably want some way to generate power (charege batteries) aside from running the engine). I am getting ready to add solar power. If you decide to go with solar, don't purchase through the marine suppliers; they don't do enough business in solar to get the deep discounts. Due a search on "solar panel" through Yahoo or Google etc. You can get some good deals right now on solar.
Which one you ultimately get depends on how big the box you have. I have a small icebox, and so I have the small Grunnert Polar mate (exactly the same as the A/B Coldmachine). Mine is small enough I did not need the water cooled option. I went with the evaporator model so I could make ice. Some days I am happy, others I wish I had purchased a holding plate. (Isotherm makes a nice DC holding plate system, as do others.) There are a couple of boats in this marina that have HUGE iceboxes. An Irwin 38 has an icebox as big as the trunk of my car. Morgan O/I 41 has something similar or larger. In this case you may want to look at a dual compressor setup like Frigiboat, that can manage a freezer/refrig for minimum power consumption. You also probably want some way to generate power (charege batteries) aside from running the engine). I am getting ready to add solar power. If you decide to go with solar, don't purchase through the marine suppliers; they don't do enough business in solar to get the deep discounts. Due a search on "solar panel" through Yahoo or Google etc. You can get some good deals right now on solar.
K
Ken
Part of your choice depends on your....
Ken: Part of your choice depends on your budget too. We have a Technautics Marine unit and have been very happy with it. We leave it on 24 x 7 so we always have cold beer. Do some research on all of the mfg. claims before you decide. All of them are pretty good now adays, but I think that there is a difference in their power consumption with all other things being equal.
Ken: Part of your choice depends on your budget too. We have a Technautics Marine unit and have been very happy with it. We leave it on 24 x 7 so we always have cold beer. Do some research on all of the mfg. claims before you decide. All of them are pretty good now adays, but I think that there is a difference in their power consumption with all other things being equal.
D
Dennis Thomas
Keel Cooler
Insulation is important and Debra B had good advise. To get to the area between the hull and icebox I used “Great Stuff” the foam in a can. To reach the area I bought about 6 feet of the plastic water line used for the old “swamp cooler” air units or icemakers. I picked up a can of the insulation and went to the plumbing department and tried lines till I found one that fit the nozzle. You must glue it onto the nozzle or the pressure will force it off, then you have a real mess. Take my advice on this. I have done it twice. Like Debra, I used the foil backed foam boards where I could reach. At the corners I used the foil tape to seal the gaps. Where I could tape the gaps I used the foam stuff to seal the leaks. It’s important that no warm air can get to the other side of the insulation you install. You should look at the Frigoboat Keel cooler. It uses the water temperature without having extra pumps and does away with the fan. It uses the same compressor as A/B cold machine so without the fans running it should save amps. Dennis S/V Anodyne Catalina 36' #34
Insulation is important and Debra B had good advise. To get to the area between the hull and icebox I used “Great Stuff” the foam in a can. To reach the area I bought about 6 feet of the plastic water line used for the old “swamp cooler” air units or icemakers. I picked up a can of the insulation and went to the plumbing department and tried lines till I found one that fit the nozzle. You must glue it onto the nozzle or the pressure will force it off, then you have a real mess. Take my advice on this. I have done it twice. Like Debra, I used the foil backed foam boards where I could reach. At the corners I used the foil tape to seal the gaps. Where I could tape the gaps I used the foam stuff to seal the leaks. It’s important that no warm air can get to the other side of the insulation you install. You should look at the Frigoboat Keel cooler. It uses the water temperature without having extra pumps and does away with the fan. It uses the same compressor as A/B cold machine so without the fans running it should save amps. Dennis S/V Anodyne Catalina 36' #34
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