fuss
Well-Known Member
They don't seem to be as popular as electrical fridges, I just wondered why.
Do people have gas fridges?
- Thread starter fuss
- Start date
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Mainly as they don't work very well when at any angle other than flat!
But, also, many are wary of anything onboard that uses gas
But, also, many are wary of anything onboard that uses gas
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
I have one, but it's in a house with no electricity. It's always level so no problems there. It uses about 1kg gas per week, and works effectively. It makes icecubes in a small tray.
I don't think they are suitable for boats as already mentioned.
Slightly off topic - afloat I have a Waeco compressor coolbox. It uses, averaged over a day, 500mA at 12V, and a 30W solar panel keeps up in summer. It's a good way to keep food cool on a low energy budget.
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
Perhaps there is a problem with ventilation and build up of fumes.
They are [or were ] popular with caravanners.
They are [or were ] popular with caravanners.
BlueLancer
Well-Known Member
They were only supposed to be used when on site not in transit, thats what the 12v systems was for. The idea was to cut down on your power demands, when on sites without power hookups. I would have thought using a gas fridge would be down right dangerous on a boat. also your would not pass your inland waterway safety certificate.
VicS
Well-Known Member
I'd not want a gas powered fridge on a boat but the installation is covered by part 8 of the Boat Safety Scheme.
If that is complied with then why would you not pass a Inland waterways inspection?
BoyBlue49
Well-Known Member
Have you ever thought of fitting a gas television or microwave???????????
Leighb
Well-Known Member
We chartered a yacht on the Norfolk Broads many years ago, it was our first ever "big boat" experience. It was fitted with a gas fridge, which had to be switched off when under way and relit once moored up for the night. It was a bit more useful than a coolbox as it kept things coolish for most of the week.
prv
Well-Known Member
You could do. There's a gizmo out there that catalytically "burns" gas to produce electricity. Not quite sure of the details; it's possibly a relative of the fuel cell.
Pete
Swinranger
Active Member
I removed one from my boat when I bought it.
It had left a lovely sooty streak on the hull behind it!
It had left a lovely sooty streak on the hull behind it!
pampas
Well-Known Member
#No3
500 mA?
500 mA?
DownWest
Well-Known Member
I wondered too. But assumed the 500mamp was an average per hour over the period.
25931
Well-Known Member
Very happy with gas on 2 boats but they are catamarans.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Averaged over the 24 hour period I measured, my compressor coolbox used 500 milli-Amps. Or 0.5 Amps. Or 500 mA. Or 12 Amp-hours per day. When the compressor was on, it used 3 Amps. But it was only on for 10 minutes per hour.
What's not to understand?
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
It was the average over the 24 hour period. Not the average per hour. Amps per hour is a very strange unit and almost always incorrect. It's like saying "miles per gallon per hour".
Boathook
Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with a gas firidge especially on board a Cat. It, the fridge is not very happy with F7 winds or really the seas that go with these winds but otherwise it just keeps working. If and when it packs up I will 'repair' it as I don't have the 'power' to easily charges batteries for a compressor firdge unless parked in a marina.
Trundlebug
Well-Known Member
The main reason is that there has been a general trend to minimise, or even eliminate use of gas on boats over the last 10-15 years or so.
Older boats were fitted with, and may still have perfectly functional, safe (if maintained correctly) and BSS approved gas fridges on board.
Advantages of gas fridges are:-
- Silent in operation - no annoying buzzing / humming
- No electrical drain - therefore you don't need such a big battery capacity, with associated charging system. (More of a problem for raggies than mobo's)
Disadvantages are:-
- Doesn't work well at constant angles of lean (problem for raggies but not so much for mobo's), as mentioned above
- Absorption fridges not as efficient as compressor types, and generally not as powerful
- Potential for gas leak if poorly maintained (hoses, joints etc) could be "unfortunate" if not detected other than by spark
- Potential for exhaust fumes to enter inside of boat if not properly installed, maintained or ventilated. Consequent Carbon Monoxide build up with similar, if not as spectacular results as gas leak. CO alarm helps detect this.
Given the above, together with people's paranoia about the word "gas", and also that it is no longer allowed to fit new or replacement gas fridges on boats, (BSS rules) it's no surprise that their numbers are gradually diminishing as people replace them with compressor types.
FWIW, I have a gas fridge fitted aboard my boat. It's been fitted since new in 1988 and just passed it's BSS again in June this year. However, I will be looking to replace with a (slightly larger) compressor type when its time comes in the next few years.
Not through paranoia but as another minor improvement to the original specification, to go with all the others I've made.
