24/7 or not? Is there a general opinion on whether you should keep running the refrigerator all the time? Some people have told me to turn it off if I was not going to be on the boat for a while and others say to keep it running all the time. Any thoughts out there? Chip
refrigeration
- Thread starter Chips Ahoy
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Depends
Depends, now there's an answer for you. We keep our boat in marina, with power available and about 25 minutes from home. When we plan to be out for a weekend or more, and want to have the reefer available, I'll stop by about Tuesday or wednesday and turn it on, running off DC, but with the battery charger keeping the batteries charged. This ensures that the box is all down to a good operating temperature when we arrive. I also try to bring stuff already at an appopriate temp - frozen stuff frozen, cold stuff cold - so that the reefer doesn't have to work extra hard to overcome being filled with warm stuff. Upon leaving the dock - depending on how long we are going to be gone, how warm it is outside (we sail year round in Puget Sound, and it can be refrigerator temps in the winter, and kinda warm (80's) in the summer) and how long I'm going to be away from power, I might turn the unit off during the night to save juice. In general, I've been happy with our refrigeration unit. I haven't really had any of the complaints that some have expressed re: the unit's ability to cool down/keep cool the box, and insulation. Much improved over the small, odd shaped ice box on my C27. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
Depends, now there's an answer for you. We keep our boat in marina, with power available and about 25 minutes from home. When we plan to be out for a weekend or more, and want to have the reefer available, I'll stop by about Tuesday or wednesday and turn it on, running off DC, but with the battery charger keeping the batteries charged. This ensures that the box is all down to a good operating temperature when we arrive. I also try to bring stuff already at an appopriate temp - frozen stuff frozen, cold stuff cold - so that the reefer doesn't have to work extra hard to overcome being filled with warm stuff. Upon leaving the dock - depending on how long we are going to be gone, how warm it is outside (we sail year round in Puget Sound, and it can be refrigerator temps in the winter, and kinda warm (80's) in the summer) and how long I'm going to be away from power, I might turn the unit off during the night to save juice. In general, I've been happy with our refrigeration unit. I haven't really had any of the complaints that some have expressed re: the unit's ability to cool down/keep cool the box, and insulation. Much improved over the small, odd shaped ice box on my C27. Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
We may not be the norm...but we leave ours on 24/7. When we leave on Sundays, I do turn it down then turn it back up to high when we arrive on Friday's. I have had the boat 8 years and have yet to have any problems. As for ice build-up, once a month I turn it off for a couple of hours and bam! the ice is gone. There is nothing like an "ice" cold beer on Friday night after a long week at work.
24/7
Assuming you are at a dock with AC power. One of my best friends is in the commercial refrigeration business...second generation, engineering degree. His answer to my identical inquiry, last year, was that reefers are designed for 24/7 operation, including lubrication systems. They are also primarily designed to maintain temperature as opposed to regularly bringing a box from ambient temperature down to 40 deg. It is his opinion that they run longer with less problems when so operated. Catalina 320's come with a OEM battery charger that has a reputation for cooking batteries. Running the reefer seems to mitigate this issue significantly. I went from adding a half a gallon of water a month to a pint every six months. This does impose a requirement that you check your boat frequently... let me say that again...often. I have discovered my power cord disconnected on two occasions. In fact, last night was the second time. Batteries had not dropped out of the green, so it must have occurred very recently. My house batteries will run the reefer for at least 4-5 days, so I try to check it, at least, every three days.
Assuming you are at a dock with AC power. One of my best friends is in the commercial refrigeration business...second generation, engineering degree. His answer to my identical inquiry, last year, was that reefers are designed for 24/7 operation, including lubrication systems. They are also primarily designed to maintain temperature as opposed to regularly bringing a box from ambient temperature down to 40 deg. It is his opinion that they run longer with less problems when so operated. Catalina 320's come with a OEM battery charger that has a reputation for cooking batteries. Running the reefer seems to mitigate this issue significantly. I went from adding a half a gallon of water a month to a pint every six months. This does impose a requirement that you check your boat frequently... let me say that again...often. I have discovered my power cord disconnected on two occasions. In fact, last night was the second time. Batteries had not dropped out of the green, so it must have occurred very recently. My house batteries will run the reefer for at least 4-5 days, so I try to check it, at least, every three days.
Still differing opinions
I also have left my reefer on 24/7 while at the dock hooked to AC power. I leave the cooling level at the max on both reefer and freezer. A friend of mine who has a four year old beneteau just lost his compressor. He has been turning his off when he leave the marina for a week or more and then turns it on when he comes back. I figured that I don't turn my home fridge off when I go away so why should I turn my boat off when I'm away.
I also have left my reefer on 24/7 while at the dock hooked to AC power. I leave the cooling level at the max on both reefer and freezer. A friend of mine who has a four year old beneteau just lost his compressor. He has been turning his off when he leave the marina for a week or more and then turns it on when he comes back. I figured that I don't turn my home fridge off when I go away so why should I turn my boat off when I'm away.
Great question
Incredible amount of answers, none of which will EVER answer your question. Try the link for more fun and games. Sty
Incredible amount of answers, none of which will EVER answer your question. Try the link for more fun and games. Sty
On since 95
I have been running mine 24/7 since the boat was new in 95 (except during the winter). Two repairs to the temp control unit in the early years had nothing to do with this, I was told. The parts were defective. I have replaced my batteries twice during that period and both sets lived through their life expectancy. Drinks are cold when I arrive and I leave condiments in the fridge as well.
I have been running mine 24/7 since the boat was new in 95 (except during the winter). Two repairs to the temp control unit in the early years had nothing to do with this, I was told. The parts were defective. I have replaced my batteries twice during that period and both sets lived through their life expectancy. Drinks are cold when I arrive and I leave condiments in the fridge as well.
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