Alternative Fridge power .....

[Refueler]

Many boaters now have fridge's on board ... I'm talking about built in versions ... portable have dual power usually so not a problem.

I'm just thumbing through my SVB Catalogue and I found an interesting item ... a 240 to 12V PSU - similar to a Computer PSU ... looking at the illustration - it does not appear to be sealed.

This has me thinking - as I have two high power 240 to 12V Computer PSU's .... I was planning to rig them up to provide 12v outlets around my workshop .... but in reality because each is capable of high amp / watts output ... I really only need one. The other could be boxed and installed on board - to power most while connected to shore power ... leaving batterys to be charged and left alone ...

Interesting .....

 

[PaulRainbow]

Your Victron charger will do that, it can act as a power supply.

 

[Neeves]

Many boaters now have fridge's on board ... I'm talking about built in versions ... portable have dual power usually so not a problem.

I'm just thumbing through my SVB Catalogue and I found an interesting item ... a 240 to 12V PSU - similar to a Computer PSU ... looking at the illustration - it does not appear to be sealed.

This has me thinking - as I have two high power 240 to 12V Computer PSU's .... I was planning to rig them up to provide 12v outlets around my workshop .... but in reality because each is capable of high amp / watts output ... I really only need one. The other could be boxed and installed on board - to power most while connected to shore power ... leaving batterys to be charged and left alone ...

Interesting .....

The last Dometic we bought about 5 years ago, when the original failed, fitted the same slot in the cabinetry, but had a built in compressor not a remote. It was supplied with 12v or 250v AC. The AC power cable was for a standard Australia plug.

Edit and thinking more deeply

We had a separate, cabin sole located, deep freeze 'powered' by a remote Engel compressor. The unit was a custom made box to fit the cabin sole space, lots of insulation. Access was from a 'door' in the cabin sole. The compressor came with a cables for either 12v or 240v AC. The compressor would be 25 years old. We ran it, and the fridge, off the 12v house bank.

Both units might have been 'designed' or marketed to the 4x4/caravan markets which I suspect is a bigger than yachts in Australia.

I confess based on our experience I thought all such devices came with dual power options. Our previous Dometic fridge was only 12v - the change might have been introduced when Waeco combined with, bought Domestic

Jonathan

 

[Refueler]

Your Victron charger will do that, it can act as a power supply.

OK ... at present I just have the Victron connected as a charger to the two banks. Trusting the Victron to keep the domestic bank topped up ... (I know my two batts in the Domestic bank are in need or replacement ... in hand for this winter).

 

[rogerthebodger]

If you just need a power supply with a regulated 12Vdc output, there ae plenty of options on Ebay

12vdc 5A Power Supply for sale | eBay

Wet you need is to determine what the maximum current that the power supply need to supply.

There is no more extra circuit required to regulator the current as needed with charging a battery.

I have several in my electronics workshop when designing electronic circuits and testing them.

Merry Christmas and keep warm, may go for a swim later

 

[Refueler]

I have various PSU's for my Models chargers .... but I also have those two PC PSU's that can supply far higher ampage - in fact one of them could literally run everything on board when shore power.

5A PSU would be pushing it to power the fridge ...

 

[PaulRainbow]

OK ... at present I just have the Victron connected as a charger to the two banks. Trusting the Victron to keep the domestic bank topped up ... (I know my two batts in the Domestic bank are in need or replacement ... in hand for this winter).

The charger will charge the batteries and if nothing is used for a while it will go into storage mode. If you use DC loads it will keep the batteries charged and simultaneously run the loads. I can't see any value in PSUs for DC loads in your case.

 

[rogerthebodger]

The charger will charge the batteries and if nothing is used for a while it will go into storage mode. If you use DC loads it will keep the batteries charged and simultaneously run the loads. I can't see any value in PSUs for DC loads in your case.

Why don't you answer the OP's answer as I did

I have access to free mains power and a charger on my boat but still have solar charging to keep my batteries in good order rather than use free mains power.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Why don't you answer the OP's answer as I did

Why don't you mind your own business.

I have access to free mains power and a charger on my boat but still have solar charging to keep my batteries in good order rather than use free mains power.

Although you could try reading the OPs question. It has nothing to do with solar power or free electricity.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Why don't you mind your own business.

Yet you seem to delight in poking your nose into any answers I make to help any less experienced members of the forum which is the point of the forum.

I have no other interest than trying to help members, yet you seem to take exception to any of my suggestions.

All you are doing is discrediting yourself with some members

You need to read my reply to the OP in post # 5 which is a 12Vdc power supply to power in boat as Nigel makes the comment about his batteries may need replacing in a short time.

My reply about free mains power and solar charging was aimed at you and not Nigel

 

[Refueler]

Why don't you answer the OP's answer as I did

I have access to free mains power and a charger on my boat but still have solar charging to keep my batteries in good order rather than use free mains power.

Pauls post actually has merit - even though its not on track with my first post question. Yes the Victron will topup charge the batterys - but the question was about not only powering the fridge but all the other 12v gear on board while connected to shore power.
Its so easy to exceed the chargers output such that the charger is only slowing down the discharge of the batterys.



That's the label on each PSU ... as you can see - they are way more than your usual PSU ... and could just about power anything on board !

With such PSU - the batterys can stay on charge - through to float / maintenance .. while the PSU (switched in of course) can look after systems ...

 

[rogerthebodger]

Nigel the Vectron stuff from what I understand is designed to keep LA Batteries charges up without overcharging and boiling the electrolyte off and distorting the battery. A mains charger I have did that so I will have to look at replacing my batteries sometime after summer is over.

Paul in the past accused of not answering the OP question which is what Paul did to your question. You may have found it useful but its Paul double standard that bugs me, but I don't care as even if I was in the UK and on the east coast, I would not use im for any work I may want to do.

That power supply would IMHO power more than any of your or even all your boats at the same time. I would not connect it to a LA battery as it looks like then is no overvoltage protection or may not be even enough voltage to overcome the fully charged voltage to push current against the internal resistance of the battery plus the static voltage.

They are different power supply requirements as defined by the specification of LA batteries charging requirements.

Its all about the Electronics design requirements that I learned at university that the normal electrical Tech does not learn until you get to advanced electronics design

 

[Refueler]

The gear on board such as the fridge and any other high demand item such as music system - would be switched over to the PSU. Making the batterys and charger isolated from the PSU powered gear.
That way both gear and batterys can 'live' without conflict.

The concept is only a brainstorm at moment .....

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yet you seem to delight in poking your nose into any answers I make to help any less experienced members of the forum which is the point of the forum.

I have no other interest than trying to help members, yet you seem to take exception to any of my suggestions.

All you are doing is discrediting yourself with some members

You need to read my reply to the OP in post # 5 which is a 12Vdc power supply to power in boat as Nigel makes the comment about his batteries may need replacing in a short time.

My reply about free mains power and solar charging was aimed at you and not Nigel

Post #7 was a reply to Refueler, following on from post #2. Predating your posts and nothing to do with them.

Why do you think i need to hear about your solar and/or free mains power ? What an odd thing to post.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

In mid 2020 I bought a Dometic CRX110 refrigerator.
The advertising blurb, said it was available with a dual 12V DC, 230V AC power supply, but I couldn't find one anywhere in the UK.
It was a distressed purchase, half way through the season, so I bought a 12V DC version and an external power supply which automatically switches to 230V AC when that was present, and reverted to 12V DC when the AC was disconnected.
It has worked perfectly since then.
Despite looking through my emails and searching online, I can't seem to find the make and model number of the unit, and the boat is 160miles away.
Sorry not a lot of direct use, but I think this dual supply is what you are looking for.
You could use a change over relay, with the coil powered by the AC. The normally closed input powered directly by the boats 12V supply. The normally open contact connected to a suitable 240V AC, 12 V DC power supply, perhaps, via a suitable diode, although that shouldn't be necessary.
When the AC is off the boat supply works as normal, when AC is present the relay switches, the batteries are disconnected and the 12V power supply takes over.
In principle a very simple circuit to build.

 

[gaylord694]

Yet you seem to delight in poking your nose into any answers I make to help any less experienced members of the forum which is the point of the forum.

I have no other interest than trying to help members, yet you seem to take exception to any of my suggestions.

All you are doing is discrediting yourself with some members

You need to read my reply to the OP in post # 5 which is a 12Vdc power supply to power in boat as Nigel makes the comment about his batteries may need replacing in a short time.

My reply about free mains power and solar charging was aimed at you and not Nigel

Unfortunately Roger you get people in life like Mr Rainbow........ At least you've got some idea

 

[rogerthebodger]

Unfortunately Roger you get people in life like Mr Rainbow........ At least you've got some idea

Thank you fro your kind comment

People with ideas tend to attract some comments from people who do noy have ideas to solve problems mainly who don't have constructive ideas

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thank you fro your kind comment

People with ideas tend to attract some comments from people who do noy have ideas to solve problems mainly who don't have constructive ideas

I've not commented on your "ideas". As to solving problems, my constructive idea was/is to let the Victron charger do it's job. It does a great job of charging the batteries and simultaneously running the 12v loads, therefore there is no problem to solve.

 

[PaulRainbow]

The gear on board such as the fridge and any other high demand item such as music system - would be switched over to the PSU. Making the batterys and charger isolated from the PSU powered gear.
That way both gear and batterys can 'live' without conflict.

The concept is only a brainstorm at moment .....

I recently updated the DC systems for a customer and have been monitoring his boat remotely, courtesy of the Victron VRM portal. He lives aboard a 42 sailboat. Just looked at some data from the portal and his batteries are currently in storage and have been 100% charged for the last 30 days.

Don't underestimate the Victron charger. As long as you are not going to regularly exceed the chargers current rating it will do a good job