reefer

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BILLR

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Jun 21, 2010
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Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
We don't own a tug.........yet.
I noticed that the reefer on the tugs are only 12v units.
My truck camper has a 3 way; 12v, 120v and propane.
Is it possible to put a 2 way reefer, 12v and 120v, in the space or is it just too small?
I figure if the boat is equipped with a generator why not use it to power the reefer.
Bill
 
Probably possible. If the generator is running, it probably charges the batteries which power the reefer. If you don't run the generator until you need it, it's a lot quieter running the reefer on 12V. A lot less things to go wrong too.

Demonstrates the KISS principle. :!:

Charlie
 
KISS principle always works.
I agree with the sound level. Just wonder how much power the reefer will draw down the batteries.
I know on the truck camper it will pull the battery down pretty quickly.
Another question.
Is the gen starting battey the same as the main engine?
Bill
 
I think the fridge only uses a couple of amps.
The generator starts off the house batteries.
 
I forgot to mention what you probably were already wondering.
If the fridge or anything else depletes the house batteries, the generator will not start.
In that case you can use the emergency parallel switch to connect the engine starting battery to the house battery.
Then start the generator.
 
The older boats came with the dual voltage refrigerators. The new ones now come with the 12V refrigerator. Not sure why Ranger switched we had the dual voltage on our R-25 Solitude. Karma, our R-29 has the single.
 
Hi Bill. If I am not mistaken, there are two different types of cooling technology at work here. Your Camper uses evaporative cooling technology which requires a fair amount of heat. The heating comes from either of the three sources that you mentioned. The reason that your 12vdc source drains so quickly is that it takes a lot of wattage (read amperage) at only 12 volts. It is somewhat more efficient on 120vac because there is 10x the voltage (or 1/10 the amperage) to run.

The 12vdc models of refrigerators now being used in the tugs rely on a low voltage/low amperage compressor to create the cold environment inside the reefer. Much much more efficient. The added bonus is the reefer no longer is as sensitive to being level at rest.

My guess as to why Ranger stopped using the dual voltage models is that there is very little loss in converting 120vac to 12vdc through a battery charger and it was simpler to wire that portion of the boat for 12vdc only. Besides, 12vdc is safer and should not cause as many grounding and electrolysis type issues as the boats age.
 
Bill,
Our 2008 Ranger 25 has a refrigerator that is powered by either 120 volt or 12 volt and it consumes about 6 amps per hour which is on the high side of the users of power. As David of Karma said, the newer refrigerators are only powered by 12 volt. This is a good thing because the factory moved to a more efficient refrigerator that uses a lot less amps per hour.

If you read the article in the current issue of Passagemaker Magazine, you will find there are good safety reasons why propane is not used in either hot water heaters or refrigerators.

If you are looking at a Ranger Tug, you will find good reasons why the factory made the decisions they did. Good Luck!
 
Thanks for the insights.
I was hoping they were more efficient than the the 3 way in the camper.
 
We have solar on our Ranger 29. I never run a gen and never plug into shore power. The fridge is always on 27/7. We never have battery issues. We run computers,tv's,microwave,lights and so on. We always have lots and lots of power.
It is really cool to see the 8% of the batteries that we used the night before be back to 100% by 10:00 am.
Boy life is good.

Many thanks to the sun!

Stuart.... Spirit of Gratitude
 
The fridge is always on 27/7


Stuart, How do I get 3 hours added to my day here in Washington. We could use it! 😉

Howard
 
The Rub N Tug has a nova cool fridge that was only 12 volt when I got it and after putting the boat in the water full time I added a 110 volt shore power system to power an outlet, the fridge and the battery charger. I called nova cool and they sent me down (from Canada) a new power controller, which took about 3 minutes to install. This controller basically looks for 110 volts and if it doesn't find it, it automatically switches over to 12 volts. I leave my fridge on all the time now too and when away from the dock i set it to 2/3 power on the nob so it isn't running all the time using power. A little secret is to leave one of those blue ice things, that are made for lunch boxes and small coolers, in the freezer and it will stay frozen and assist the compressor in keeping everything cool while not cycling as much.
 
Shaun,
That is what I was looking for.
When connected to shore power you would be powering the reefer on 110.
Just curious as to the cu ft of the reefer's installed on the R 25.
Bill
 
I don't understand why the 120 volt power is an issue with the fridge.
If you don't have the boat plugged into a 120 volt power source, the fridge runs off the batteries.
If the boat IS plugged into a 120 volt power source, the battery charger charges the batteries, and the fridge runs off the batteries.
Did you notice, either way, the fridge runs off the batteries.
So what's the problem?
 
Not really a "problem".
I am basing my concern on the power consumption with my truck camper's unit when on battery power.
 
Okeedokee BILLR.
It appeared to me that some folks were concerned because the Nova Cool would not run on 120 V and that you needed solve this problem by getting a black box or something from Nova Cool and installing it.

I think the NovaCool only draws about 2 amps, but I believe that is averaged based on the fact it probably wouldn't be running continuously. The R-25 has two 105 amp hour house batteries so the fridge will run a while on the batteries.
 
That's good news.
I live a long way from a dealer and we are interested in the R 25 so this is one way to obtain more detailed info.
Thanks.
Bill
 
Its not wise to rely on the battery charger to run your fridge because it also has to run you bildge pump. The fridge's amp draw depends on whether or not the compressor is cycling. When you first turn it on and it is cooling down the amp draw can be extreme. It would be a shame if a leak appeared and your bildge pump, running off you batteries, was forced to stay on meanwhile the fridge is steeling juice at the same time. Nova cool sells the fridges already equipped to run on both sources so you don't have to add the "BLACK BOX" if you purchase the right one first. From experience I can say that it is a way better option to have the 110 Volt system instead of a constant drain on the batts.
 
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