Where can I find an insulated box with door and shelves?

[mriley]

I'm looking to install a refrigeration system. I can find plenty of suppliers for the evaporator, the (remote) compressor and keel cooling equipment (preferred for the tropics). However I cannot seem to find anywhere to get the basic refrigerator, ie an insulated box with door and shelves but no gubbins. There are plenty of 12v fridges around, with integral compressor etc, but as far as I know these aren't adaptable to keel cooling. I would have to pay again for a second remote compressor and other equipment, and presumably the integral compressor would be redundant? Can anyone help? I'm looking at around 100l, front door opening, wood (effect?) door to match the interior. Thanks.

 

[William_H]

Refrigerator Box

The reason you can't find what you want is that usually the box is built into the boat as an ice chest.
Refrigeration is far more efficient when the opening is at the top. With front opening the cold tends to pour out when you open the fridge. It seems that in domestic situation efficiency is not such a concern except in some freezers.
There are some large insulated boxes available here in Oz but surprisingly expensive. They are intended to be used top opening but could be mounted on end. You would have to fit shelves. Of course the size might not suit your available space. http://www.biasboating.com.au look for Ice box.
So really you are up for custom built either by yourself or a plastics manufacturer.
Good luck olewill

 

[Bobobolinsky]

There are plenty of absorption fridges around for little money, just use the box, for bigger just get a domestic fridge and use the box, or get a small chest freezer and just use the box

 

[Ubergeekian]

The reason you can't find what you want is that usually the box is built into the boat as an ice chest.
Refrigeration is far more efficient when the opening is at the top. With front opening the cold tends to pour out when you open the fridge.

I'm pretty sure that's a myth. Even cooling a full cubic metre of air from 20C to -5C only requires 30kJ to be removed, and in practice opening a freezer or fridge will release far less than that. Freezers tend to have lids on top because it's a cheaper way to make something which is not, generally, accessed as much as a fridge.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I'm pretty sure that's a myth. Even cooling a full cubic metre of air from 20C to -5C only requires 30kJ to be removed, and in practice opening a freezer or fridge will release far less than that. Freezers tend to have lids on top because it's a cheaper way to make something which is not, generally, accessed as much as a fridge.

I recall Nigel Calder writing on this recently. He agreed with you. When you open a fridge you loose a little cold air, but as long as the door is not open too long, the fact that the stuff inside is cold means the the small amount of warmer air that enters the fridge makes almost no difference at all.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I think Penguin Refrigeration sell everything separately.

 

[npf1]

In my shed! I've got a new Engel front opening fridge that is missing it's compressor. Yours for a small contribution as I want the space.

 

[prv]

I'm pretty sure that's a myth. Even cooling a full cubic metre of air from 20C to -5C only requires 30kJ to be removed, and in practice opening a freezer or fridge will release far less than that. Freezers tend to have lids on top because it's a cheaper way to make something which is not, generally, accessed as much as a fridge.

and because a front-opening door is likely to spill stuff all over the deck if opened under way, and because a top-opening fridge is a handy way of using the space in the corner of the galley worktop that can't be accessed via a locker door.

Interesting to hear that the cold-falling-out thing may be a myth. I'd always believed it without thinking too much, but I can see how the thermal mass of a full fridge could quite easily deal with a little ambient air.

Pete