Last Hurrah
N/A
Wish to add a freezer in my galley, have a good built in fridge.
Ideally around 50 - 60 L capacity
Thank you
Ideally around 50 - 60 L capacity
Thank you
Best dual volage freezer (not a fidge freezer)
- Thread starter Last Hurrah
- Start date
rotrax
Well-Known Member
We have used for 5 seasons a Dometic 40 litre fridge/freezer.
Apart from a small - perhaps 4 litre - open box near the front which does not freeze even when set to minus 20C, it can be either a fridge or a freezer. Last year it was a fridge, the year before a freezer.
It has a smart switch, defaults to 12v when 240v not available. Quiet in operation, not too amp hungry.
Worth looking at. They do larger ones.
Apart from a small - perhaps 4 litre - open box near the front which does not freeze even when set to minus 20C, it can be either a fridge or a freezer. Last year it was a fridge, the year before a freezer.
It has a smart switch, defaults to 12v when 240v not available. Quiet in operation, not too amp hungry.
Worth looking at. They do larger ones.
Last Hurrah
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Thank you, when I google 5 seasons freezer i gat anything but, could you double check the name or would you have a ling to them.
Tnak you
Tnak you
Last Hurrah
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Sorry I can see now its a Dometic not Domestic as my search
Dave100456
Well-Known Member
I too have a 12/220v portable Dometic fridge/ freezer which we have only used as a freezer for 4 years. Set to -15 celcius it has worked faultlessly. Highly recommend as it’s power consumption is low for what you get.
Fridge/Freezers & Coolers | Dometic
Fridge/Freezers & Coolers | Dometic
Neeves
Well-Known Member
So....?
What exactly do you want to know?
You want to buy a 'off the shelf' 12v or, 24v or 240v freezer??? You want it water cooled???
You want to build your own?
Allow us to focus on what you want.
Jonathan
Last Hurrah
N/A
My title I thought was asking from others experience here, which is the best dual voltage freezer and gave the capaicty, a freezer not a fridge freezer, although from anothermember a suggestion that a fridge can be turned up sufficiently to freeze.
The above must suggest its off the shelf. How it works or is cooled i am not concerned with. Just want a white box that keeps food in a frozen state that can then be transferred to my fridge as and when required,
Niether does the colour concern me or if the door is right or left handed.
I would prefer to buy British than support the CCP.
I am extending my galley to fit it in, bu removing the large chart table and seat, which is never used, and unlikely to be so in the future.
My saloon table is more than adequate if I am unfortunate enough to need to use a paper chart which is currently filed away unopened.
Had I wanted to build my own I would have phrased my question quite differently.
Being in Australia you will be aware of a compant called Brass Monkey, they have the sort of freezer I am looking for, attempts to eamil them using the email advertised on their website, have been returned unknown?
[content removed]
I there is anything else you need to know in order to pass on to me the benefits of any experience in the realm of dual voltage freezers please do not haesitate to enquire.
The above must suggest its off the shelf. How it works or is cooled i am not concerned with. Just want a white box that keeps food in a frozen state that can then be transferred to my fridge as and when required,
Niether does the colour concern me or if the door is right or left handed.
I would prefer to buy British than support the CCP.
I am extending my galley to fit it in, bu removing the large chart table and seat, which is never used, and unlikely to be so in the future.
My saloon table is more than adequate if I am unfortunate enough to need to use a paper chart which is currently filed away unopened.
Had I wanted to build my own I would have phrased my question quite differently.
Being in Australia you will be aware of a compant called Brass Monkey, they have the sort of freezer I am looking for, attempts to eamil them using the email advertised on their website, have been returned unknown?
[content removed]
I there is anything else you need to know in order to pass on to me the benefits of any experience in the realm of dual voltage freezers please do not haesitate to enquire.
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Last Hurrah
N/A
Thank you all for your replies.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Thanks Last Hurrah, I'll ignore your criticism of Australia's Covid policy which kept our infection and death rates factorially lower than, say the UK, and was generally approved by the population.
I asked for further detail as we have a custom built freezer with an off the shelf Engels compressor which runs on 12v (but is designed for 24v and 240v AC as well). We have routed ducting and added a couple of computer fans to force feed the compressor with fresh air from 'outside' (the anchor locker) and remove the warmer air to the engine bay. But you will not be that interested in customisation as you want an off the shelf box.. Ours is located under the galley sole, fills the hull space with its insulation and its the insulation that is the key - the more the better and being located in the bilges there is lots of room for insulation. The door of the freezer is the cabin sole, with a long hinge. Its a bit of a faff opening the lid and accessing the frozen food but we take out what we need for the next few days and store in the fridge. But you don't want a custom built freezer. Buy an off the shelf and Dometic appear to be the best around - but they do skimp, in my opinion, with insulation - as commonly the space designed for a fridge or freezer on a yacht is too small to have extra insulation.
It would obviously be a waste of time offering to take some pictures for you. Custom building is really not difficult as compressors are sold for this very application with 'flexible' wrap round freezer or cooling plates. Building your own, or having one built, specifically for your location means you can better use the space and beef up the insulation. Many fridges can be used as a freezer but many have conventional doors where all the cold air drops out of the freezer as soon as you open the door - they are designed as fridges rather than freezers. Having our freezer under the cabin sole means we use space that would otherwise be wasted and it keeps our stock of frozen food low down.
We use our deep freeze when we make 3 month cruises to Tasmania and freeze down the tuna we catch en route and the cray fish when we get there. The key is managing their use to minimise power usage - or you need a gen set or run your engine unnecessarily long.
Good luck,
Jonathan
[content removed]
I asked for further detail as we have a custom built freezer with an off the shelf Engels compressor which runs on 12v (but is designed for 24v and 240v AC as well). We have routed ducting and added a couple of computer fans to force feed the compressor with fresh air from 'outside' (the anchor locker) and remove the warmer air to the engine bay. But you will not be that interested in customisation as you want an off the shelf box.. Ours is located under the galley sole, fills the hull space with its insulation and its the insulation that is the key - the more the better and being located in the bilges there is lots of room for insulation. The door of the freezer is the cabin sole, with a long hinge. Its a bit of a faff opening the lid and accessing the frozen food but we take out what we need for the next few days and store in the fridge. But you don't want a custom built freezer. Buy an off the shelf and Dometic appear to be the best around - but they do skimp, in my opinion, with insulation - as commonly the space designed for a fridge or freezer on a yacht is too small to have extra insulation.
It would obviously be a waste of time offering to take some pictures for you. Custom building is really not difficult as compressors are sold for this very application with 'flexible' wrap round freezer or cooling plates. Building your own, or having one built, specifically for your location means you can better use the space and beef up the insulation. Many fridges can be used as a freezer but many have conventional doors where all the cold air drops out of the freezer as soon as you open the door - they are designed as fridges rather than freezers. Having our freezer under the cabin sole means we use space that would otherwise be wasted and it keeps our stock of frozen food low down.
We use our deep freeze when we make 3 month cruises to Tasmania and freeze down the tuna we catch en route and the cray fish when we get there. The key is managing their use to minimise power usage - or you need a gen set or run your engine unnecessarily long.
Good luck,
Jonathan
[content removed]
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Last Hurrah
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Thank you Jonathan, I am not a single step nearer to obtaining a freezer.
I did suspect when you questioned me regarding self build you were looking for an oppotunity to bore me and possibly others but i can only vouch for myself, as to how clever you have been building your own, and that doesnt take anything from you in doing so.
[content removed]
I did suspect when you questioned me regarding self build you were looking for an oppotunity to bore me and possibly others but i can only vouch for myself, as to how clever you have been building your own, and that doesnt take anything from you in doing so.
[content removed]
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Last Hurrah
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Dear moderators, can you please enlighten me as to why my posts must meet with your approval?
Reading the rules I cannot find I have breached them in anyway, I do hope your approval is not a form of censorship of opinions and exchange of views.
Reading the rules I cannot find I have breached them in anyway, I do hope your approval is not a form of censorship of opinions and exchange of views.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
This is a sailing forum. If you have political views or opinions on current affairs this is not the place to post them. 
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Perhaps that is because what you want (dual voltage freezer) does not exist. 2 minutes on google will find you a wide range of12/240v portable fridge freezers, most of which will act as a freezer. However there seems to be no such thing as a dedicated freezer. As to which is the best, if you ask here you may get suggestions of what others have bought, but whether that helps determine what is "best" is a moot point. Most people will have gone through the process of googling or similar what is on the market and found a wide range from lower priced products from China with new brand names and more expensive products from established European or US based suppliers which may or may not be made in Europe/US but unlikely to be made in UK. Your same visit to Google will also throw up "independent" comparisons which may help you in your search. In other words, just like any other consumer product, the web is awash with information on what products are available.
If you really do want a dedicated freezer on your boat then you need to go to a specialist marine type freezer such as here penguinfrigo.co.uk/product-category/marine-refrigeration/12-24-volt-marine-drawer-fridges-freezers/ as Jonathan says build one to fit your space using readily available standard parts and materials.
Last Hurrah
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Your analysis is correct as my seemingly fruitless searches are proving. As to the 'best' I was looking for opinions created by experience in usage.
I have found some 40l freezers but only 230v, whist I have some 500amp/h domestic my inverter would work well, but not the ideal metod.
Reading Jonathans suggestions re building my own within a dedicated space is becoming more appealing.
What I have is a chart table and seat at the end of the galley, taking up so 4 foot x 2.5 foot of space, which will never be used for their original intended purpose which, having removed the chart table, extending the worktop (there is a division between the end of the galley area and the navigation area) in its place, giving me the option to fit a freezer eirther on it or under it. Best laid plans ..and all that.
The seat for the chart table is built on to the hull, as is the length of the galley, and the backrest is the partion mentioned, under the cushion is an access panel revealing quite a space down to the curvature of the hull, some 2.5cu ft which would be reduced by insulation but still leaving 2 cu ft of capacity for food.
Again searching for parts and materials and 'how to' on U tube has again not proved very successful, maybe I am asking the wrong questions when searching, as i am ignorant of what i need and their proper names.
Once I have that knowledge the physical assembly presents no challenges to me.
By extending the worktop by 4 feet with extra cupboard space then available will be invauable.
Loosing the chart table was not taken lightly, but space rarely used now electronics my main source of navigation, I have more on my phone than the table crammed with charts that are never looked at. I do however have charts if required and the saloon table more than adequate to view them.
I have found some 40l freezers but only 230v, whist I have some 500amp/h domestic my inverter would work well, but not the ideal metod.
Reading Jonathans suggestions re building my own within a dedicated space is becoming more appealing.
What I have is a chart table and seat at the end of the galley, taking up so 4 foot x 2.5 foot of space, which will never be used for their original intended purpose which, having removed the chart table, extending the worktop (there is a division between the end of the galley area and the navigation area) in its place, giving me the option to fit a freezer eirther on it or under it. Best laid plans ..and all that.
The seat for the chart table is built on to the hull, as is the length of the galley, and the backrest is the partion mentioned, under the cushion is an access panel revealing quite a space down to the curvature of the hull, some 2.5cu ft which would be reduced by insulation but still leaving 2 cu ft of capacity for food.
Again searching for parts and materials and 'how to' on U tube has again not proved very successful, maybe I am asking the wrong questions when searching, as i am ignorant of what i need and their proper names.
Once I have that knowledge the physical assembly presents no challenges to me.
By extending the worktop by 4 feet with extra cupboard space then available will be invauable.
Loosing the chart table was not taken lightly, but space rarely used now electronics my main source of navigation, I have more on my phone than the table crammed with charts that are never looked at. I do however have charts if required and the saloon table more than adequate to view them.
Last Hurrah
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Please feel free to add to my post to Tratona, as my search for a dual voltage freezer has proved fruitless.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
What I suggested in post #2 is as near as you will get 'off the shelf' with a smart switch for dual voltage. 240V when available, defaults to 12V when not available.
I would NEVER consider using an inverter to provide 240V if the unit can work on 12V.
Another make, Chinese I believe, is 'Brass Monkey'.
The minature Danfoss Compressor Patent has long run out. The technology is free for anyone to use now.
Whether a 'Brass Monkey' or other Far East model would be as reliable as a Dometic or Waeco I dont know.
You are limiting your search by wanting a freezer only. The Dometic, Waeco and Brass Monkey can be whatever you set the tempreture at.
So, set to minus 15C or less, a freezer. Set at 2-8C a fridge.
You choose..................................................
I would NEVER consider using an inverter to provide 240V if the unit can work on 12V.
Another make, Chinese I believe, is 'Brass Monkey'.
The minature Danfoss Compressor Patent has long run out. The technology is free for anyone to use now.
Whether a 'Brass Monkey' or other Far East model would be as reliable as a Dometic or Waeco I dont know.
You are limiting your search by wanting a freezer only. The Dometic, Waeco and Brass Monkey can be whatever you set the tempreture at.
So, set to minus 15C or less, a freezer. Set at 2-8C a fridge.
You choose..................................................
Last Hurrah
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I have tried to get one without success, Amazon advertises but are currentlyunavailable, both freezer only my original idea, and fridge freezer.
Sent mail to brass monkey cannotget a reply.
I agree about not using an inverter if the unit is dual voltage.
Now considering turning an area close to thr hull into a freezer as Jonathan has.
Sent mail to brass monkey cannotget a reply.
I agree about not using an inverter if the unit is dual voltage.
Now considering turning an area close to thr hull into a freezer as Jonathan has.
Last Hurrah
N/A
This is a sailing forum. If you have political views or opinions on current affairs this is not the place to post them.
[/QUOTE
So sorry sir! or is it miss?
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
I have a Waeco/Dometic 12v DC/240v AC portable freezer, it's about 15 years old, and still going.
I set it to -17C, the minimum temperature setting, and it keeps the food frozen, as you expect, whether it's in the car or boat on 12 volts or at home on 240v AC .
I load it up with food at home, and it get everthing frozen on 240v AC, move it to the car for the 4hr drive to the boat, then shift it to the boat to work on 12 volts as we work our way through the contents, decanting food to the the boats fridge as and when it's required.
As others have pointed out, it would work equally as well as a fridge, if I set the temperature to say +5C.
But I've only ever used it as a freezer, so that's what I call it!
I set it to -17C, the minimum temperature setting, and it keeps the food frozen, as you expect, whether it's in the car or boat on 12 volts or at home on 240v AC .
I load it up with food at home, and it get everthing frozen on 240v AC, move it to the car for the 4hr drive to the boat, then shift it to the boat to work on 12 volts as we work our way through the contents, decanting food to the the boats fridge as and when it's required.
As others have pointed out, it would work equally as well as a fridge, if I set the temperature to say +5C.
But I've only ever used it as a freezer, so that's what I call it!
Neeves
Well-Known Member
You have not told us, or maybe have and I'm too lazy to double check, what sort of yacht you hav, how you produce power and where you use the yacht. But if you have plenty of power, in fact surplus, then you can use your invertor to convert to 230v AC and simply buy a small domestic, off the shelf, freezer.
I'm not an expert - in fact know nothing - on using a domestic freezer on a boat - but as we don't know how you use your boat - that might impact whether my suggestions are sound. If you sail on inland waters - different to crossing the Atlantic - but both are yachts or boats.
Its a grossly inefficient way to power, anything, as the invertor will consume around 1 amp every hour. The advantage of a domestic freezer is that it might be more efficient (as it might have more insulation if you choose well (and pay well) than anything for a yacht or caravan. The problem with domestic freezers would be that they come in 'domestic' sizes. Maybe you can find something that might suit.
In any event you will need a decent power source as even a yacht fridge, operating on 12v, thermostatically controlled to be used as freezer will probably consume 5 amp/hr - which is an awful lot of power. We have a very large solar display, and (as you well know) live in sunny Oz, + a hydro/wind gen and the freezer is the single biggest consumer. It little matters the size of your battery bank - its how are you going to keep the battery bank healthy.
Ian, previous post, uses a portable unit as a freezer - but there are compromises in its design. Its made to be portable and my guess is skimps on insulation (uses more power) - which is acceptable to Ian - but might not be to you. My guess is our freezer is around the same size as Ian's (ours is about the same internal volume of a current Dometic largish portable unit - but ours was built with extra insulation and is firmly fixed.
Finally
You do not need to build your own if your fruitless search does not improve. There are many, well some, marine or 'caravan' businesses focused at just the problems you outline. They will build you a freezer to your specific dimensions and if you specify will include extra insulation. It will use off the shelf components, the compressor and cooling plate (which you can buy your self if you are so inclined). They will build you a double walled box with door or lid (which you could equally make yourself). The fridge they build will have exactly the same specifications as the one you build (as it will use the same components). The difference is that theirs might look more professional (no disrespect to you) but will cost a bit more. Here we can buy fibre glass sheet you can cut up and make a neat box, tape reinforced edges, you make it double walled and then fill with the best insulation money can buy (people here will tell you what you need). Its really not rocket science.
Its actually a neat little project to do at home and if you ask you will find there are some here with the expertise and will be more than happy to help you in your quest. That's what the forum is for.
Sadly it all comes down to money!
Jonathan
I'm not an expert - in fact know nothing - on using a domestic freezer on a boat - but as we don't know how you use your boat - that might impact whether my suggestions are sound. If you sail on inland waters - different to crossing the Atlantic - but both are yachts or boats.
Its a grossly inefficient way to power, anything, as the invertor will consume around 1 amp every hour. The advantage of a domestic freezer is that it might be more efficient (as it might have more insulation if you choose well (and pay well) than anything for a yacht or caravan. The problem with domestic freezers would be that they come in 'domestic' sizes. Maybe you can find something that might suit.
In any event you will need a decent power source as even a yacht fridge, operating on 12v, thermostatically controlled to be used as freezer will probably consume 5 amp/hr - which is an awful lot of power. We have a very large solar display, and (as you well know) live in sunny Oz, + a hydro/wind gen and the freezer is the single biggest consumer. It little matters the size of your battery bank - its how are you going to keep the battery bank healthy.
Ian, previous post, uses a portable unit as a freezer - but there are compromises in its design. Its made to be portable and my guess is skimps on insulation (uses more power) - which is acceptable to Ian - but might not be to you. My guess is our freezer is around the same size as Ian's (ours is about the same internal volume of a current Dometic largish portable unit - but ours was built with extra insulation and is firmly fixed.
Finally
You do not need to build your own if your fruitless search does not improve. There are many, well some, marine or 'caravan' businesses focused at just the problems you outline. They will build you a freezer to your specific dimensions and if you specify will include extra insulation. It will use off the shelf components, the compressor and cooling plate (which you can buy your self if you are so inclined). They will build you a double walled box with door or lid (which you could equally make yourself). The fridge they build will have exactly the same specifications as the one you build (as it will use the same components). The difference is that theirs might look more professional (no disrespect to you) but will cost a bit more. Here we can buy fibre glass sheet you can cut up and make a neat box, tape reinforced edges, you make it double walled and then fill with the best insulation money can buy (people here will tell you what you need). Its really not rocket science.
Its actually a neat little project to do at home and if you ask you will find there are some here with the expertise and will be more than happy to help you in your quest. That's what the forum is for.
Sadly it all comes down to money!
Jonathan
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