Bureaucrat, staff, administrator
4,335
edits
Changes
→Options
== Options ==
=== AC Constant Cycling ===
Many production trawlers are fitted with residential fridge/freezers. These are constant cycling high-end fridges requiring 110 VAC. Their key feature is dual refrigeration. They have separate compressors for the fridge and freezer sections. This maintains ideal conditions in each compartment. Frozen foods need very cold, dry air. Refrigerated foods need warmer and moister air. Because each compartment has a separate door, air does not circulate between fridge and freezer, making it harder for foods to pick up unwanted flavours. Sub-Zero fridges are front opening, which means cold air spills out every time you open a door. They also look great. Many other manufacturers offer models with similar features.
Putting aside all other considerations, these types all require 110 VAC. If you spend most of your time hooked up to shore power, or have a large yacht with an AC generator running constantly, this is not an issue. But for a medium-sized Passagemaker, you either must have a large-enough battery bank and inverter, or have an AC generator running constantly. Thus, fridge/freezer combinations designed for AC are not a good fit.
But for a sail boat or medium-sized Passagemaker, you either must have a large-enough battery bank and inverter, or have an AC generator running constantly. Thus, fridge/freezer combinations designed for AC are not a good fit. === DC Constant Cycling === A better fit for a small to medium size boat is a marine DC constant-cycle system such as [http://www.frigoboat.com/ Frigoboat] [http://www.novakool.com/ Nova*Kool]; or a cold-plate system running on DC or directly off the engine. Because the constant-cycle system cycles every 10 or 15 minutes (go listen to your home fridge), it is not a good candidate for a direct drive off the engine. You would have to keep the engine running 24 hours per day. It is a good fit to power with a smaller DC system, since the maximum current draw of around 7 Amps does not require a large battery bank. === DC Cold Plate ===
A cold-plate system is a good candidate for a direct drive off the engine, or large DC battery system. Because it will cycle only once a day for a few hours, you can time it to coincide with a daily engine run to charge the batteries. You can also run it directly off the battery bank.
Another advantage of DC over AC refrigeration is that a well designed system, e.g., with trickle-charge backup, can keep your food fresh unattended for periods <ref>Refrigeration For Pleasureboats by Nigel Calder, International Marine/Seven Seas, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294</ref> <ref>Do It Yourself...Boat Refrigeration by Richard Kollmann, 2430 Sugarloaf Lane, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312</ref> <ref>Modern Refrigeration And Air Conditioning, Althouse, Turnquist and Bracciano, The Goodheart Wilcox Co., Inc., Homewood, IL 60430</ref> <ref>[http://old.cruisingworld.com/joecold/coldfact.htm The Cold Facts], Cruising World, June 1995</ref>. An AC system would require remote starting an engine.
=== Propane ===
If you have a propane stove, you might want to consider a propane fridge such as the [http://www.norcold.com/ Norcold].
=== Future Technokogy ===
The next generation of fridges to watch for may use magnetic, thermoelectric (used in space shuttles) or thermoacoustic cooling.
