I am looking for reviews/recomendations/and experience with portable compressor coolers. I have found one brand in the Boat US catalog (Waeco Coolmatic). I have searched the arcives but have only found notes on thermoelectric models. I don't believe these will suit my purpose because the ambient temp. can get as high as 90-100 in summer. I have already created a space for a cooler below decks which is curently occupied by a standard cooler (this is used in addition to the built in cooler in my 78 Hunter30). I use this increase capacity. I have been thinking it would be nice to have some refrigeration while at the dock so I don't have cool everything down each time I go to the boat. Thanks Nick
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
R
Ron
At the dock
If you just want something at the dock, consider a 120Volt apartment refrigerator. You can pick them up at any of the Lumber/hardware stores or Walmart K-Marts for well under a hundred bucks. For use away from the dock add a 1000watt inverter. The amp draw is slightly more, but not a whole lot. An 80 watt refrig will draw about 6 to 7 amps. Using the 50/85% rule you can run it on 2 100 amp/h batteries for 10 hours between charges out the engine. If you charge your batteries from an AC charger you can run it for 14 hours before hooking back up to your charger (forget the 50/85% rule)at the dock.. Of course, at the dock on 120V power it stays on forever... Ron/KA5HZV
If you just want something at the dock, consider a 120Volt apartment refrigerator. You can pick them up at any of the Lumber/hardware stores or Walmart K-Marts for well under a hundred bucks. For use away from the dock add a 1000watt inverter. The amp draw is slightly more, but not a whole lot. An 80 watt refrig will draw about 6 to 7 amps. Using the 50/85% rule you can run it on 2 100 amp/h batteries for 10 hours between charges out the engine. If you charge your batteries from an AC charger you can run it for 14 hours before hooking back up to your charger (forget the 50/85% rule)at the dock.. Of course, at the dock on 120V power it stays on forever... Ron/KA5HZV
N
Nicholas Julga
thanks ron
However the footprint that exists is more suited to a rectangle, and acess would be difficult with a door that opens from the side instead of the top. Also I would like to assume that the cooler would maintain it's cold longer than a mini frig. after power was shut off (but I have learned to never assume) Nick
However the footprint that exists is more suited to a rectangle, and acess would be difficult with a door that opens from the side instead of the top. Also I would like to assume that the cooler would maintain it's cold longer than a mini frig. after power was shut off (but I have learned to never assume) Nick
R
Ron
Okay Nick
I live down here in slightly warm Houston. I use an electric cooler (right now). Refrigerators fall in the category of mid range cooling, high being A/C and low being freezers. The temps in mid range are from 35df to 45 df. Above 45degrees F food begins to spoil and below 35 the same results (freezer burn, wilting lettuce, etc.) Assuming (there's that word again)your cooler will cool to 40 degrees below ambient air temps you can maintain between 40 and 50 degrees in your electric cooler. This works well for me down here. As for leaving one running, I used one in my 18 wheeler for 8 years. It ran for three weeks at a time and is still working. I wouldn't leave perishables in it for that long, but I did leave them in there for a week with no problems. I hope some of this is of interest to you. My point here is that the portable compressor coolers seem a little high ($$$). Some have taken the workings of the small apartment refrigerators and built them into their permanent onboard coolers. I've even seen them built into an ice chests... Check past posts. Hope it all works out for you.... Ron/KA5HZV
I live down here in slightly warm Houston. I use an electric cooler (right now). Refrigerators fall in the category of mid range cooling, high being A/C and low being freezers. The temps in mid range are from 35df to 45 df. Above 45degrees F food begins to spoil and below 35 the same results (freezer burn, wilting lettuce, etc.) Assuming (there's that word again)your cooler will cool to 40 degrees below ambient air temps you can maintain between 40 and 50 degrees in your electric cooler. This works well for me down here. As for leaving one running, I used one in my 18 wheeler for 8 years. It ran for three weeks at a time and is still working. I wouldn't leave perishables in it for that long, but I did leave them in there for a week with no problems. I hope some of this is of interest to you. My point here is that the portable compressor coolers seem a little high ($$$). Some have taken the workings of the small apartment refrigerators and built them into their permanent onboard coolers. I've even seen them built into an ice chests... Check past posts. Hope it all works out for you.... Ron/KA5HZV
M
Mark
refrigeration option
I recently saw a site where an apartment type 'frige cooling system was installed into the ice box of a boat. The compressor, etc. was put under a bunk, and "freezer" part of frige, the cooling part, was installed in the vertical ice box. I was thinking of doing the same, after adding some more insulation. Wish I could remember where the site was, as they had photos of the install. Good luck.
I recently saw a site where an apartment type 'frige cooling system was installed into the ice box of a boat. The compressor, etc. was put under a bunk, and "freezer" part of frige, the cooling part, was installed in the vertical ice box. I was thinking of doing the same, after adding some more insulation. Wish I could remember where the site was, as they had photos of the install. Good luck.
B
Bob Camarena
Here's the link
The article on converting your boat's icebox to a refrigerator using the inards from a dorm type refrigerator is in the Photo Forum on this website. Here's the link to the article.
The article on converting your boat's icebox to a refrigerator using the inards from a dorm type refrigerator is in the Photo Forum on this website. Here's the link to the article.
Day sailor or extended voyager?
Nicholas: Are you generally a day sailor or do you go places? Their solution to take the guts out of a bar refrigerator makes some sense for a day sailor. Keeps the beer and mayo cold during the week and you are ready to go on Sat. morning. If you go sailing and anchor out then you may have some different criteria. Then you may be better off with one of the popular units that runs off of your DC system. Then you can keep your portable ice chest for carrying the stuff back and forth from home. Just remember that all of these systems need DC juice to run when you remove the cord from the dock. Some just need more than others. One advantage to your icebox is the fact that you can add insulation fairly easily. Not all boats have this advantage.
Nicholas: Are you generally a day sailor or do you go places? Their solution to take the guts out of a bar refrigerator makes some sense for a day sailor. Keeps the beer and mayo cold during the week and you are ready to go on Sat. morning. If you go sailing and anchor out then you may have some different criteria. Then you may be better off with one of the popular units that runs off of your DC system. Then you can keep your portable ice chest for carrying the stuff back and forth from home. Just remember that all of these systems need DC juice to run when you remove the cord from the dock. Some just need more than others. One advantage to your icebox is the fact that you can add insulation fairly easily. Not all boats have this advantage.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.