RE: Low Cost Refrigerator
I have spent twenty years dealing with the subject of do it yourself boat refrigeration and all of my books are on that subject. Yes you can use these small 110 volt refrigeration units on a boat. Here are three separate concepts that use a 110 volt refrigerator and each will require a compatible 12 volt DC to AC inverter: 1. Buy any one of the small one to three cubic foot 110 volt refrigerators. Find a spot in the boat to locate it. Purchase a 600 watt inverter that will handle an inductance motor. These compressors draw 100watts to 170 watts but the inductance starting load may reach over 600 watts. Because these cabinet refrigerators are not designed to be operated in warm areas they will need a fan to increase the airflow across their statically cooled condenser. 2. It is possible to use the refrigeration assembly removed from one of these small 110 volt refrigerators if space is available inside and outside the ice box for the components. These small cabinet refrigerators are constructed as two separate units then assembled together. To separate the refrigeration unit from the cabinet, remove the compressor mounting bolts, screws, retaining condenser and all back plates. Very carefully remove the foam so that the complete unit will separate from the cabinet. The thermostat and its thin capillary tube must be removed with the unit to keep the refrigeration unit intact. Now, if there is room, mount the assembly as is in an insulated box and you will have a refrigerator for under $100. 3. All the components removed from a small 110 volt refrigerator can serve to produce the same results as a $1000 twelve volt ice box refrigeration conversion unit. The separation of each of the 110 volt refrigerator components and reassembling and servicing them is a difficult project for even a skilled repairman. I believe in do-it-yourself refrigeration but I don’t recommend this one.
I have spent twenty years dealing with the subject of do it yourself boat refrigeration and all of my books are on that subject. Yes you can use these small 110 volt refrigeration units on a boat. Here are three separate concepts that use a 110 volt refrigerator and each will require a compatible 12 volt DC to AC inverter: 1. Buy any one of the small one to three cubic foot 110 volt refrigerators. Find a spot in the boat to locate it. Purchase a 600 watt inverter that will handle an inductance motor. These compressors draw 100watts to 170 watts but the inductance starting load may reach over 600 watts. Because these cabinet refrigerators are not designed to be operated in warm areas they will need a fan to increase the airflow across their statically cooled condenser. 2. It is possible to use the refrigeration assembly removed from one of these small 110 volt refrigerators if space is available inside and outside the ice box for the components. These small cabinet refrigerators are constructed as two separate units then assembled together. To separate the refrigeration unit from the cabinet, remove the compressor mounting bolts, screws, retaining condenser and all back plates. Very carefully remove the foam so that the complete unit will separate from the cabinet. The thermostat and its thin capillary tube must be removed with the unit to keep the refrigeration unit intact. Now, if there is room, mount the assembly as is in an insulated box and you will have a refrigerator for under $100. 3. All the components removed from a small 110 volt refrigerator can serve to produce the same results as a $1000 twelve volt ice box refrigeration conversion unit. The separation of each of the 110 volt refrigerator components and reassembling and servicing them is a difficult project for even a skilled repairman. I believe in do-it-yourself refrigeration but I don’t recommend this one.
