refridgeration/freezer

[steveandtina]

IT'S BEEN SAID THAT AN IDLE MIND IS THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND, AND RIGHT NOW MINE IS PRETTY IDLE! THIS THREAD IS GOING OUT TO THE LIKES OF DENNY-O , JOHN GRAY, THATAWAY, AND ALL OTHERS OF YOU WHO'S TALENTS GO WAY BEYOND MINE[ THAT BEING... IF ITS MADE OF WOOD I CAN BUILD IT] TINA AND I PURCHASED A 105 QUART YEDI COOLER FOR OUR TRIP INTO THE SEA OF CORTEZ LAST WINTER and WE WERE PLEASED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE FOR THE FIRST 10 DAYS BEFORE DISCOVERING ----[ THEY DONT GOTTA SHOW ME NO STINKING DRY ICE IN MEXICO :lol: ] THERE IS NONE, AT LEAST IN SAN CARLOS. SORRY, I DIGRESS,, SO I'M THINKING THAT MAYBE I CAN CONVERT IT TO A 12 VOLT FREEZER BY ADDING AN EXTERNAL COMPRESSOR CONNECTED TO A FREEZER COIL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE YEDI. [AN EXTREMELY WELL INSULATED COOLER] I FIGURE THE COIL WOULD'T TAKE UP ANY MORE ROOM THAT 2 INCHES OF DRY ICE. AM I JUST TILTING AT WINDMILLS OR IS THIS FEASABLE?? UNTILL I HEAR FROM ONE OF YOU GUYS THIS PROJECT WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE MY PAY GRADE--- THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE,,, STEVE

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

I am not the guy that can tell you how to convert your cooler to a freezer, but here is a link to what most the tug owners are using for extra freezer space. I am sure you could find it cheaper if you shop around.
It draws only 2.5 amps.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-r ... gwod8kI-cw

 

[Levitation]

There is also the Engel ...

http://www.roadtrucker.com/engel/engel- ... reezer.htm

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

That Engel looks good, and a much better price than the Norcold. It does draw more power and that can be a big factor on a boat.

 

[thataway]

I have been using the chest type freezer/refer's for over 30 years--they do work well, but are no where as well insullated as a Yeda cooler.. However, you can go one better than that if you want to go built in. We have built several units with the best being a freezer which had 6" closed cell insullation all of the way around--and would hold ice for almost a month (when we lost the generator at one point). We made a external barrier and inner most barrier of heavy duty aluminum foil--next in (and out) was a 10 mil polyethelene vapor barrier and then solid block foam, with pour in place to fill in any voids. The outer part was wood (and against the hull) inner was made of fiberglass, gel coated. We used "dole" eutetic plates: http://www.doleref.com/plates.html

There are some 12 volt possibilities such as "Sea Frost": http://www.seafrost.com/dc5000.htm, but not cheap! Or Technautics: http://www.technauticsinc.com/blue.htm. You can also make your own system as I did using a Sanyo auto air compressor, run off the main engine. There is also the old Adler Barbor "Cold Machine" (updated)--under the Waeco brand. Here is a link with days worth of reading: http://www.kollmann-marine.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=2 I probably would buy the cheaper Waeco unit, an appropiate size eutetic plate and make my own system. You can also make your own eutetic plate using SS serving pans, copper coils and a eutetic solution. One more link--which I believe has all of the parts to put it together: http://www.rparts.com/new/index.php

 

[doke01]

This is the one we bought last year http://www.compactappliance.com/FP4...P430,default,pd.html?cgid=Appliances-Freezers It is an FP430 - EdgeStar Portable Fridge / Freezer - 43 Qt. It actually goes sub zero. We were cruising on vacation in 90-100 degree weather and it never went above 10 degrees. Most of the time it was at -3 F. It works off of 12 volts DC or 110 AC. When we were using 12v it was extremely efficient! I can't say enough about it and it fits very nicely up forward with the v-berth cushions in place over it. You can't beat the price either, $404 plus free shipping. RV guys use this one a lot. The fast freeze feature actually works really well too. You can leave the 12 v and 110 v AC power cables both plugged in and it will switch to whatever power is available (110 if it is available, 12v if it is not).