New boat, new toy---refrigeration w/freezer! Is it ok to leave on all week when you're not there? We spend every weekend there, but wonder if it's a good idea to leave it on during the week, or not.
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Absolutely leave it on!!
What good is having a refrigerator on board if every time you come back to the boat the beer is warm. Seriously, I turn mine on first thing in the spring and let it run continuously until I decommission the boat in the fall. But as Steve says, if it's a DC unit, make sure the charger is on. Good luck with the new boat.
What good is having a refrigerator on board if every time you come back to the boat the beer is warm. Seriously, I turn mine on first thing in the spring and let it run continuously until I decommission the boat in the fall. But as Steve says, if it's a DC unit, make sure the charger is on. Good luck with the new boat.
as a matter of fact.
We have never turned ours off, except when we put the boat in the yard for a repair. It's been about 4 years now.
We have never turned ours off, except when we put the boat in the yard for a repair. It's been about 4 years now.
Leave it on all the time
The compressor doesn't have to work hard at all to keep a fridge cold, but it has to work VERY hard to drop the temperature in a warm fridge. And, when it sits off for days, all the fluids--coolant and lubricants--settle, putting additional stress on the system. Left running continuously, it'll last for 20+ years... "starting over from scratch" repeatedly can wear out the compressor in as little as 5 years.
The compressor doesn't have to work hard at all to keep a fridge cold, but it has to work VERY hard to drop the temperature in a warm fridge. And, when it sits off for days, all the fluids--coolant and lubricants--settle, putting additional stress on the system. Left running continuously, it'll last for 20+ years... "starting over from scratch" repeatedly can wear out the compressor in as little as 5 years.
I'd be Careful with the leaving the battery charge
I don't think I would leave a battery charger "on" all the time, unless we were on the boat. We recently had our starter battery short and cook. Luckily we were on the boat when it happened. It could probably have burned the boat. We have a Grunert DC refrigeration unit. When we lived aboard at a dock we bought a 10 amp DC power supply and powered the refrigeration with it. Kept the load off the batteries. Before we got the Grunert we had a small "dorm" refrigerator that ran on AC dock power. Worked great and it was "throw away" cheap. Stay cool! Roger Mummah remummah@worldnet.att.net
I don't think I would leave a battery charger "on" all the time, unless we were on the boat. We recently had our starter battery short and cook. Luckily we were on the boat when it happened. It could probably have burned the boat. We have a Grunert DC refrigeration unit. When we lived aboard at a dock we bought a 10 amp DC power supply and powered the refrigeration with it. Kept the load off the batteries. Before we got the Grunert we had a small "dorm" refrigerator that ran on AC dock power. Worked great and it was "throw away" cheap. Stay cool! Roger Mummah remummah@worldnet.att.net
Roger, dumb question -
For those of us who are technically challeneged, what's a "10 amp dc power supply"?
For those of us who are technically challeneged, what's a "10 amp dc power supply"?
10 amp dc power
This is a transformer that converts ac (shore power) and transforms to DC battery power. This way you do not need to leave your battery charger on to keep the reefer going.
This is a transformer that converts ac (shore power) and transforms to DC battery power. This way you do not need to leave your battery charger on to keep the reefer going.
Steve...
You speaking of an inverter, right? I know about those but didn't get the 10 amp ref. thanks.
You speaking of an inverter, right? I know about those but didn't get the 10 amp ref. thanks.
A Little Protection
Just to be safe, I've always heard that you should leave an ice cube in a small cup in the freezer section. Power does go off sometimes in Marinas, and could cause food to spoil. If you come to the boat and the ice in the cup has melted, throw away any food that could have spoiled. Might save you from getting sick.
Just to be safe, I've always heard that you should leave an ice cube in a small cup in the freezer section. Power does go off sometimes in Marinas, and could cause food to spoil. If you come to the boat and the ice in the cup has melted, throw away any food that could have spoiled. Might save you from getting sick.
Defrost
I leave mine on all the time (of course with charger on). About every six weeks or so I turn it off to defrost it and clean it. Really good idea about the ice cube to test for power outage and potentailly spoiled food. w
I leave mine on all the time (of course with charger on). About every six weeks or so I turn it off to defrost it and clean it. Really good idea about the ice cube to test for power outage and potentailly spoiled food. w
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