3 way gas/12v/240v fridge

mad_boater

mad_boater

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Oct 2002
Messages
616
Location
staffordshire
Visit site
anyone had any experience of fitting a gas powered electrolux fridge rm 212 or similmilar.I have an engel one that uses 6 amps per hour. I am thinking of fitting one for the usual reason, to save battery power. the boat is a birchwood 35(same position in galley as the 33) this requires some exhaust pipework as it is not agaist the hull,also can anyone recommend a 12v coolbox that has a thermostat so its not running all the while.
thanks
 
Forget these 3way ones, they are bad enough to use in campervans etc as they like to be level or within 5%, so a bit of a problem on a boat.

Need a flue for gas use and these are a specific length etc etc. performance on 12v dismall, need I go on?
get a modern compressor unit
Mike
 
Bought a portable Waeco fridge a couple of weeks ago. It has a digital thermostat and runs on very little juice. Would definitely recommend the CF25.
 
gas fridge seriously dangerous on any boat


There was a Petrol fire in a lock 6/7 years ago where the gas fridge off one boat had ignited the Petrol on another boat.

I think it was near Goole/three rivers ?, one boat was filling his outboard tank and BOOOOM
 
Forget all the foregoing nonsense. I have had one of these fridges on the boat for 20 years. If you are aware of the danger there is no problem. They also work at sea in very rough conditions, the level to 5% is of no consequence as the boat rolls the heat continues up the flue and keeps it working OK. This is from 20 years experience! Not suitable for BSS boats as they don't comply. Dometic do make a compliant gas model but this has to be professionally installed.
You may also like to look at Thermocool electric coolers for fitting into cool boxes. They have various settings including a voltage sensor which automatically switches to maximum cooling when the batteries are being charged.
 
thanks for that pcuk.i once met a guy at weymouth with a 33 birchwood similar fridge fitting to mine.he had a elelctrolux rm4217. kept. his boat on the thames most of the time. recond it passed the safety laws ,but it had a very complicated flue system fitted. can't remember how it was done.wll have a look at the thermocool boxes. thanks again
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not suitable for BSS boats as they don't comply.

[/ QUOTE ]

That kind of tells you something then doesnt it. I would not reccomend a gas fridge on a boat. LPG is heavier than air and therefore drops to the lowest point (ie bilge's) Ok for caravans etc cos you can have "drop holes" in the floor to remove gas spillage, obviously cant do that in a boat hence no comliance with regs.
 
Yeah, my father had one on boat for 30 years, and then he almost killed himself and my mother and sank the boat when it blew up. I was waiting on my boat for him to turn up for a get together, only he never made it.

Highly unrecommended.
 
Not suitable for BSS boats as they don't comply.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only on new instalations, if it was fitted before before a certain date it's fine.
If you fit a new fridge it has to be a "room sealed appliance".
 
Yep this is the case with a lot of gas regs whereas the new regs are not retrospective for existing installations. This of course does not make it a good idea or make it safe.
The assumption is that as and when repairs are required on these existing installations they will be condemned by the engineer and the installation then brought up to current regs. Sometimes the powers that be decide that everyone has had enough "grace" and the reg is then brought mandatory for all installations including existing.
The "responsible person" is then deemed to be breaking the law.

(For the record I am a qualified commercial gas engineer, my company is corgi reg of course)

Ian
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not suitable for BSS boats as they don't comply.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only on new instalations, if it was fitted before before a certain date it's fine.
If you fit a new fridge it has to be a "room sealed appliance".

[/ QUOTE ]

On a petrol boat it has to be room-sealed or the pilot light has to be flame protected (as per Wilderness Boats), but not highly recommended.

There are numerous examples from a couple ao decades ago of explosions caused by the low leve pilot light igniting stray petrol vapours.

However on diesel engines the explosive problem does not exist. Non-room sealed units are allowed - if you can find a competent fitter willing to install it. (Installing non-room sealed units is against some scodes of practice).

This is beacuse there is the other danager that continues to kill and hospitalise boaters, carbon monoxide from such fridges. If the burner or the flue is damaged, the burn can produce CO in the combustion products.

Such fridges are OK on diesel boats if they are
>installed correctly
>routinely maintained
>have their flues checked regularly
>have sufficient ventilation

I hope this helps
see chapter 8 of the BSS Essential Guide.

Rob@BSS Office
Go boating - Stay safe
 
I had a 3 way fridge on my boat and decided to replace it with an electric fridge for safety reasons (boat is diesel, but I still don't like the idea of leaving the gas on all night). The 3 way fridges draw a large current off 12V if you run them on electirc.

I now have a modern electric fridge which works great. The only thing I don't like is the noise in the middle of the night as it cuts in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top