LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Is there a source of top loading boxes made for the diy fridge market?
DIY fridge
- Thread starter LadyInBed
- Start date
Talbot
Well-Known Member
http://www.waeco.co.uk/shop/details.aspx?c=3&s=20&i=&p=247
or talk to Parahandy about creating one from a cool box.
or talk to Parahandy about creating one from a cool box.
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
Try Penguin.
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifI used the kit from www.e-marine-inc.com . Twas very easy and very effective. Most straight forward thing I've done. If I can do it, a Technophile like you will take about an hour once you've decided where it's going. You can fit it to your boat rather than having to find a space to accommadate the box. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
forgot to mention - click on Refrigerators and freezers, and then on panels to build coolboxes /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
William_H
Well-Known Member
Your question implies you want to buy a box and then fit a fridge unit.
Most people build a box that fits into the exixting space in the boat (so is as big as poss.
If you want to buy a box then best bet is to buy a complete fridge as you would never buy a box that fits perfectly. if you have a fridge kit to go in and want to buy a box then look at iceboxes. Here in oz they can be bought in various sizes but the ones I have seen have been very expensive compared to a ready built fridge.
So suggest you consider building the box to suit yourself. Foam and f/g. good luck olewill
Most people build a box that fits into the exixting space in the boat (so is as big as poss.
If you want to buy a box then best bet is to buy a complete fridge as you would never buy a box that fits perfectly. if you have a fridge kit to go in and want to buy a box then look at iceboxes. Here in oz they can be bought in various sizes but the ones I have seen have been very expensive compared to a ready built fridge.
So suggest you consider building the box to suit yourself. Foam and f/g. good luck olewill
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
There was a thread on this last month.
Fridge fitting experiences to share?
#1153648 - 03/09/2006 16:31
Might be worth checking.
Fridge fitting experiences to share?
#1153648 - 03/09/2006 16:31
Might be worth checking.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Front opening fridge packed up a month or so back - beyond economical repair /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I now have a new compressor, plate and thermostat from Penguin, an 80 ltr storage box and a big hole to put in a top loader.
Before I start on insulating and fitting the storage box, I thought it would be worth asking around to see what the alternatives were.
I now have a new compressor, plate and thermostat from Penguin, an 80 ltr storage box and a big hole to put in a top loader.
Before I start on insulating and fitting the storage box, I thought it would be worth asking around to see what the alternatives were.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
Is 'Two inch extruded polystyrene with an insulation value of R10' just adequate or more than adequate?
I was thinking more like 3 - 4 inches of poly-what-not, covered with silver tape / aluminium foil.
I was thinking more like 3 - 4 inches of poly-what-not, covered with silver tape / aluminium foil.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
two inches of polystyrene is usually regarded as the minimum for a fridge - but the more the better. With more expensive insulators (e.g. PU) you can get away with less.
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
It was fine in temperatures in excess of 90 degrees F. I used a Norcold compressor and cold plate that came as a complete kit with all the plumbing.
http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/20002/-1/20002/242122/20002/372/230/15
My fridge is less than ideally positioned having the stove on one side and the engine on the other. Things next to the cool plate will freeze. You would probably be using a more potent plate than me.
Due to my lack of skill and patience I did not cut some of the edges very precisely, but simply used aerosol cans of roofing insulation foam to fill in the voids and then taped over the joins with pressure sensitive aluminium tape.
The only additional insulation I put in was on the side next to the engine where I used that stuff that looks like aluminium coated bubble wrap, which I formed into an envelope and filled with foam, as two thicknesses of the rigid foam would have cost me an awful lot of space.
It keeps stuff cold all day when switched off under sail.
Another trick I discovered is, cos my cooling plate is a bit on the small side for the size of the fridge, I pack all my canned drinks next to it, which after a while produces a much larger cold plate and is very effective.
http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/20002/-1/20002/242122/20002/372/230/15
My fridge is less than ideally positioned having the stove on one side and the engine on the other. Things next to the cool plate will freeze. You would probably be using a more potent plate than me.
Due to my lack of skill and patience I did not cut some of the edges very precisely, but simply used aerosol cans of roofing insulation foam to fill in the voids and then taped over the joins with pressure sensitive aluminium tape.
The only additional insulation I put in was on the side next to the engine where I used that stuff that looks like aluminium coated bubble wrap, which I formed into an envelope and filled with foam, as two thicknesses of the rigid foam would have cost me an awful lot of space.
It keeps stuff cold all day when switched off under sail.
Another trick I discovered is, cos my cooling plate is a bit on the small side for the size of the fridge, I pack all my canned drinks next to it, which after a while produces a much larger cold plate and is very effective.
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
This stuff is much denser and firmer than what we usually see marketed as extruded polysterene in the UK. In fact , without reading it on the sight I wouldn't have even recognised it as such.
bedouin
Well-Known Member
I've seen a high density polystyrene (under the trade name Depron) which is better than the usual white stuff - but doesn't quite match PU or the polycyanoacetate whatsits.
I have some thoughts of converting my cool box to a fridge and I would use Depron as the main insulator as it is fairly easy to use (it comes in 6mm thick sheets that have some flexibility)
I have some thoughts of converting my cool box to a fridge and I would use Depron as the main insulator as it is fairly easy to use (it comes in 6mm thick sheets that have some flexibility)
Lizzie_B
Well-Known Member
That could be it as this stuff isn't white, but more of a creamy colour, not at all like the PS insulation in the old Lizzie B's icebox. Then of course there's the two thicknesses of plastic. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
