Fridges/cool box's?

[Petercatterall]

Fridges/cool box\'s?

I need to revise the fridge situation on my boat and on my camper van.
Currently There are the typical 3way electrolux fridges installed in bothe situations. Niether work satisfactorally.
I was considering ripping them both out and just using a cool box which I could carry in the car and use in either the boat or camper.
I see that 'Land and Water Leisure' are selling a 3 way coolbox for £150.
I guess that this might be more 'efficient' than the cheapo 12 volt boxes but less efficient than the more expensive compressor boxes.
Can anyone comment on the power requirements for a 40 litre box of this kind?
I guess that connecting and reconnecting up to gas would be an additional problem on the boat if you wanted to constantly move the unit, would there also be exhaust heat/fumes to consider?

Failing all this I recall my desert days when drinks were cooled in hessian bags (chagools) filled with water, the evaporation (latent heat) was enough to cool the water and the drinks to an acceptable level. THer is about 20% water loss but the water was usually not drinking water anyway. I guess that you could even use sea water although the bag will get pretty salty.
(please note that the drinks are in tins in the sea water!
Last resort is to half fill a cool box with water and pierce the top of a small camping gas can whilst holding it under the water, it can be dramatic but the water is soon cold and you can cool your wine or beer in this! Do not practice this indoors or in the boat!!

 

[TheoSr]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

We used to have an Engel compressor coolbox of some 20ltrs. It would run on the 105Ah battery for some 48 hours. We used to switch it off and keep it closed at night because of the noise. It was supposed to switch off before it drained the battery, but in practice I had to hand-start the Yanmar after two or three days.
I would never consider an absorption box because of the power needed and my fear of carbon monoxide. A compressor type is more efficient, I think.
Good luck, Theo

 

[Petercatterall]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

Thanks Theo,
I had'nt considered noise but I guess that turning off at night would be no problem.

 

[Guest]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

The "peltier effect" cooling/heating boxes have somewhere in the region of four times the current consumption of a compressor box. i.e. need to work continuously, whereas the compressor runs intermittently.

 

[Petercatterall]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

Thanks for the info. especially the term 'peltier effect' I was trying to remember this.
The Peltier boxes are(I believe) what I was refering to as the 'cheapo boxes' I dont know just how these work.
I believe that there is another type (which may be) called absorption fridges.
I think that the coolant is driven round the system by a very small heat source rather than a compressor this system was used extensivly in 3 way fridges such as those found in caravans. It is type of cool box which I would like to compare with the compressor type.
Thanks again

 

[pvb]

In broad terms...

Manufacturers are very cagey about the amount of power used by absorption or Peltier coolboxes. It's fair to work on the assumption that a 40litre absorption type coolbox (sometimes called "3-way") will have a typical average consumption of around 60-70watts - so say 5 or 6A at 12V. So over a 24hour period, it will use 120-150Ah.

A 40litre compressor type coolbox is much more efficient and will typically use much less power. The compressor will draw 4-6A when it's running, but it may only run for 15-20% of the time. So over a 24hour period it may only use around 20-30Ah.

If the absorption type coolbox you've seen is a "Combicool", I think it's made by Waeco - but I think it's probably a discontinued product, which may indicate that it's not very good at the job. Try looking at a Waeco CK40 or CF40 compressor coolbox and check their power consumption figures.

 

[LittleShip]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

If by 3 way you are talking about 12 volt / 240 volt and gas, remember that you cannot fit an LPG fridge to a boat unless it is balanced flued, it is against the gas saftey regulations and will void your insurance if you have an accident??
You will find that they are about twice the price of a 12volt one.

 

[VicMallows]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

Please point me to the SPECIFIC regulations which say you cannot install a gas absorbtion fridge on a pleasure sea boat (not a canal boat or charter boat)). I am not aware of this reg, or indeed any legal regs of this nature for pleasure boats.

Thanks, Vic

 

[Stoaty]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

I have a 36 liter Peltier cool box with an internal and external fan, cools well. It is rated at 10 amps but it draws more. It's blown the 15 amp fuse in my van a couple of times as the voltage has dropped. Also after 5 hrs I have been unable to start the van (decent 110AH battery). I don't take it on the boat, I can't cope with the large power consumption.

Compressor fridges are better especially ones with a cold plate.

 

[William_H]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

Hi Pete the clue for cool boxes is if they claim they can heat as well as cool then it is peltier type --- forget it. you are bound for dissapointment. Engel make a range which are very popular here in Oz especially for the 4wheel drivers. They can make an effective freezer and you take out frozen food to defrost in your cool box and use that for things that only need to be cold. No absorbion types are not very powerfull and not good on battery barely OK on gas.
I saw a chinese 12V compressor type recently in a motor accessories shop equivalent 200 quid which had a large capacity plastic box although about 7 amp drain. look out for same in UK next summer I think it would be OK.
regards will

 

[LittleShip]

Re: Fridges/cool box\'s?

Codes of Practice part 8 appliance flueing and ventilation..
Existing Non-room sealed LPG gas appliances

Appliances which are not room-sealed but which were installed before 3rd January 2000 can continue to be used as long as they are serviceable and in good condition.

Replacement and additional new appliances to the boat must be of the room sealed type, except for cooking appliances and, in the absence of a direct replacement, instantaneous water heaters.