Wondering if it was ok to leave the refrigerator on while connected to shore power our Hunter 340 (1999) on between visits. We ususally sail mostly on weekends, and wanted to leave items in the fridge during the week. Pro's or con's?
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No a problem
Not a problem. This is our second season with our 340 and we always leave it connected to shore power.
Not a problem. This is our second season with our 340 and we always leave it connected to shore power.
Leave it on.
Stuart: We also leave ours on all the time. I cannot see ANY reason for turning it off. I would think that leaving it on is easier on the system anyway. This is surely easier on the unit from the respect that it does not need to cool the unit down from 80-90 degrees to the 35-45 degrees that you need to keep stuff fresh. I assume that your Reefer unit is DC anyway. The battery charger is keeping the batteries topped off. If you have a Norcold unit or one with a switching device then it is running off the AC when hooked to shore power. Batteries do not last any longer by not using them. Nothing like a coooool beer when you hit the docks.
Stuart: We also leave ours on all the time. I cannot see ANY reason for turning it off. I would think that leaving it on is easier on the system anyway. This is surely easier on the unit from the respect that it does not need to cool the unit down from 80-90 degrees to the 35-45 degrees that you need to keep stuff fresh. I assume that your Reefer unit is DC anyway. The battery charger is keeping the batteries topped off. If you have a Norcold unit or one with a switching device then it is running off the AC when hooked to shore power. Batteries do not last any longer by not using them. Nothing like a coooool beer when you hit the docks.
Leave it on!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving the fridge on all the time. We do not shut off our home fridges every time we leave the house, why shut off the boat fridge? If there is concern about unreliable dock power, then just make sure any thing highly perishable or valuable is removed.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with leaving the fridge on all the time. We do not shut off our home fridges every time we leave the house, why shut off the boat fridge? If there is concern about unreliable dock power, then just make sure any thing highly perishable or valuable is removed.
Here's a hint...
...if you're concerned about power loss. IF your fridge has a freezer, leave an ice cube in a small bowl in the freezer. If any melting occurs, you will see it refrozen as a puddle in the bowl. This will be a sure sign of defrosting. I don't have a freezer in my ever-running Norcold, but I watch the frost on the plate. If it has dissipated, then I would know if I lost power. Fortunatlly, I haven't had any problems until last year when I told the yard to haul the boat to change a thru-hull. They unplugged the boat and left it in the slings overnight without plugging it back in. Boy was I mad - my beer got warm
...if you're concerned about power loss. IF your fridge has a freezer, leave an ice cube in a small bowl in the freezer. If any melting occurs, you will see it refrozen as a puddle in the bowl. This will be a sure sign of defrosting. I don't have a freezer in my ever-running Norcold, but I watch the frost on the plate. If it has dissipated, then I would know if I lost power. Fortunatlly, I haven't had any problems until last year when I told the yard to haul the boat to change a thru-hull. They unplugged the boat and left it in the slings overnight without plugging it back in. Boy was I mad - my beer got warm
Refrigeration
On our 310 we are leaving it on. The only thing no one mentioned is where to leave the battery switch. Our dealer recommended to leave it on "all" so it will draw evenely from both batteries while on shore power. (yes the beer is cold)
On our 310 we are leaving it on. The only thing no one mentioned is where to leave the battery switch. Our dealer recommended to leave it on "all" so it will draw evenely from both batteries while on shore power. (yes the beer is cold)
If the beers cold who cares?
John: It is my understanding that we leave the battery switch on both ALL the time except when we are at anchor or sailing without the engine on. Then you want to switch to the HOUSE side of the system. This would leave the system with the starting battery ready to start your engine.
John: It is my understanding that we leave the battery switch on both ALL the time except when we are at anchor or sailing without the engine on. Then you want to switch to the HOUSE side of the system. This would leave the system with the starting battery ready to start your engine.
Battery Switch
Steve D. is correct. The Switch should only be on ALL when the engine is running. If you draw off of the engine start battery when at anchor or plugged into shore with the charger operating, you may drain it enough to flatten it, and be unable to start the engine. Leaving the start battery charged, you will always be able to start and recharge the house bank with the alternator.
Steve D. is correct. The Switch should only be on ALL when the engine is running. If you draw off of the engine start battery when at anchor or plugged into shore with the charger operating, you may drain it enough to flatten it, and be unable to start the engine. Leaving the start battery charged, you will always be able to start and recharge the house bank with the alternator.
Leave it on only if it is full
At last years Catalina Rendezvous at Solomon Island Md., the Adler Barbour technician, confirmed leaving the fridge on in between weekends was okay only if you kept a sufficient amount of food and beer in it. This allows for the items in the fridge to retain some cold keeping the unit from cycling on and off.
At last years Catalina Rendezvous at Solomon Island Md., the Adler Barbour technician, confirmed leaving the fridge on in between weekends was okay only if you kept a sufficient amount of food and beer in it. This allows for the items in the fridge to retain some cold keeping the unit from cycling on and off.
Thoughts On Using "All"
Leaving the battery switch on "all" when a boat is unattended and with refrigerator and battery charger operating creates a couple of issues: In this configuration, the batteries are wired in virtual parallel. To the charger, all the batteries appear as one bank, and it charges on that basis. If the batteries are not identical in every way (battery brand and model, connector and cable resistance, etc., neither bank will receive optimum charge voltage and all will age more quickly. Even identical batteries suffer because they don't age equally, so over time the become electrically unidentical. When wired in parallel, this always results in at least one battery becoming overcharged. If a battery develops an open cell or other failure that causes the charger to not shut down, all batteries in the same charge circuit will be quickly destroyed from overcharging. The second issue is that when batteries are in parallel and shore power is lost for any length of time, the fridge will pull down the whole system. If not corrected, this leaves the boat less able to deal with any need for an automatic bilge pump, or to start the engine until the power can be restored and at least one battery is recharged. It's also a good idea, especially in an "always in use" circuit, to fuse the batteries to reduce risk of a failure starting a fire.
Leaving the battery switch on "all" when a boat is unattended and with refrigerator and battery charger operating creates a couple of issues: In this configuration, the batteries are wired in virtual parallel. To the charger, all the batteries appear as one bank, and it charges on that basis. If the batteries are not identical in every way (battery brand and model, connector and cable resistance, etc., neither bank will receive optimum charge voltage and all will age more quickly. Even identical batteries suffer because they don't age equally, so over time the become electrically unidentical. When wired in parallel, this always results in at least one battery becoming overcharged. If a battery develops an open cell or other failure that causes the charger to not shut down, all batteries in the same charge circuit will be quickly destroyed from overcharging. The second issue is that when batteries are in parallel and shore power is lost for any length of time, the fridge will pull down the whole system. If not corrected, this leaves the boat less able to deal with any need for an automatic bilge pump, or to start the engine until the power can be restored and at least one battery is recharged. It's also a good idea, especially in an "always in use" circuit, to fuse the batteries to reduce risk of a failure starting a fire.
This is what battery combiners are for!
I would not leave both of my batteries wired together for exactly the reasons Dick points out. It is nice to have both charge off the shore power, however. I would add a battery combiner (available from your favorite marine supplier for less than $50). This device essentially splits the charging current. Dirrecting it to the battery that needs it, and not over charging either. Justin - O'day Owner's Web
I would not leave both of my batteries wired together for exactly the reasons Dick points out. It is nice to have both charge off the shore power, however. I would add a battery combiner (available from your favorite marine supplier for less than $50). This device essentially splits the charging current. Dirrecting it to the battery that needs it, and not over charging either. Justin - O'day Owner's Web
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