I own a 2004 Catalina 34MKII and have standard factory refrig. I was curious on what is the power consumption range on the refrig. I realize that there are many factors such as temperature, humidity, opening, etc. But what type of allowance should I allow?
Power Consumption
- Thread starter LQ
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Fridge Energy
Don Figure 5 amp draw, runs 50% of the time. 5 amps, times 0.5 times the # of hours you use the boat per day. Some of us turn the fridge off when we're sleeping. Stu
Don Figure 5 amp draw, runs 50% of the time. 5 amps, times 0.5 times the # of hours you use the boat per day. Some of us turn the fridge off when we're sleeping. Stu
and, Gary...
...in addition to the great idea of increasing your house bank capacity, have you done anything with your stock alternator? Our experience is similar to yours. With just a stock alternator, there is a daily steadily diminishing law of return unless you motor an awful lot. Basic energy budget stuff. Hope you had a great season. Stu PS for Don: check out, if you haven't, the C34 website, very good info. See the link, and check the forums and search engines
...in addition to the great idea of increasing your house bank capacity, have you done anything with your stock alternator? Our experience is similar to yours. With just a stock alternator, there is a daily steadily diminishing law of return unless you motor an awful lot. Basic energy budget stuff. Hope you had a great season. Stu PS for Don: check out, if you haven't, the C34 website, very good info. See the link, and check the forums and search engines
charging system upgrade
Don, I agree with Stu. The charging system is certainly part of the equasion. My 1982 AB sytem was killing my 400 amps house bank last year, while cruising. I upgraded my system with an Ample power 3 step alternator, upgraded the main wiring and installed a battery monitor. With no passive energy system on board, I managed to keep my house bank at 80% with less than an hour of motoring per day in a temperate environment (latitude 43). Bert
Don, I agree with Stu. The charging system is certainly part of the equasion. My 1982 AB sytem was killing my 400 amps house bank last year, while cruising. I upgraded my system with an Ample power 3 step alternator, upgraded the main wiring and installed a battery monitor. With no passive energy system on board, I managed to keep my house bank at 80% with less than an hour of motoring per day in a temperate environment (latitude 43). Bert
Reducing energy usage
Factory installed Icebox conversion refrigeration units are not usually setup for maximum performance and efficiency. On older conversion units one size fit all, there were limits to how we could reduce their daily amp-hrs. With the new models and options available for them, the old power consumption figures for many installations can be cut in half, if the unit is properly fine tuned. Most boat manufacturers are using ice box conversion refrigerators powered by 12 volt Danfoss BD35 and BD50 compressors. The Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of these compressors is greatly improved by operating them at slower speeds. If a boat is cruising in the tropics, with a refrigerator larger than four cu. ft. reducing the compressor speed might not reduce its daily amp-hrs. If the same boat were operating north of Latitude 26N compressor speed reduction will cut daily amp-hours used. For more information on compressor performance see The Slide Show on my web site.
Factory installed Icebox conversion refrigeration units are not usually setup for maximum performance and efficiency. On older conversion units one size fit all, there were limits to how we could reduce their daily amp-hrs. With the new models and options available for them, the old power consumption figures for many installations can be cut in half, if the unit is properly fine tuned. Most boat manufacturers are using ice box conversion refrigerators powered by 12 volt Danfoss BD35 and BD50 compressors. The Coefficient Of Performance (COP) of these compressors is greatly improved by operating them at slower speeds. If a boat is cruising in the tropics, with a refrigerator larger than four cu. ft. reducing the compressor speed might not reduce its daily amp-hrs. If the same boat were operating north of Latitude 26N compressor speed reduction will cut daily amp-hours used. For more information on compressor performance see The Slide Show on my web site.
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