Conference unifix::sailing

    Norcold is the most popular brand.
    
    Boat US prices are:
    
    Cu Ft         Price
    1.8           $399.95
    2.9           $577.95
    6.2           $999.95
    
    

Uh, what kind of refrigerator do you have in mind? When you say 
refrigerator what comes to my mind first is the combination 120v/12v 
kind that look like home refrigerators. These are typically found 
on powerboats. If this is what you're asking about, you might have 
better luck asking the question in VICKIE::BOATS (the powerboats notes 
conference). My only experience with this kind of refrigerator is 
listening to my powerboat-owning friend gripe about how much battery 
power it takes to run the thing (about 100 amp-hr per day in Maine or 
some such). 

If you mean something else, then there are no doubt opinions and 
information available here.

I'm not sure the Norcold is the most popular, but it doesn't matter
much, the non holding-plate units are more popular than the holding
plate kind. Because of my obsession with cold beer and ice cubes, i
have studied the refrig situation a little and come to one
conclusion: cooling takes energy. Lots.

Holding plate refrigerators are most often connected to the main
motor, and require it's running to make coolness (or actually move
heat).

I have an Adler Barbour (mow part of IMI) unit, and am quite happy
with it. The AB takes about 5.1 a. while running, and a few milliamps
while in standby. It averages in the New England summer about a 30-75%
duty cycle, depending on how often you open the door, what you put
inside, etc.

The thermostat has a wide range, enabling you to freeze beer in a
couple of hours, or just make a block of ice stay frozen for a few
days. We use it in both modes, mostly the later. That is, we buy a
block of ice, place it inside the evaporator, turn the thermostat on
low, and use the ice as a virtual holding-plate, with the added
advantage that we can chip a few chunks of the holding plate off for
cocktails.

Because i keep Cachalot on a mooring and use an outboard with no
working alternator i bought a wind generator to feed the thing. It is
a Hamilton Ferris model, capable of up to 15 a. In the Buzzards Bay
area we average overnight about 4 a, gusting to 12. This translates 
roughly into 30-70 amp hours, depending how long we are at anchor. If
we don't generate enough power to keep the poor battery at least a
little happy, we don't use the refrige. It's an imperfect system, but
it's all an experiment to arrive at the ideal cooling system.

There are other notes on wind generators, and refrigeration.

Above all, please don't run a generator to feed you refrige. The
tension the generator creates will negate any relaxation from the cold
beer.

    The following are the current draw figures given for the Norcold refers
    in note reply .1
    
    
    Model            ON AC            ON 12V DC
    1.8 cu ft        0.4 amps          3.5 amps
    2.9              0.4               3.5
    6.2              0.7               6.0
    
    

    Thanks for all the advice.  I will check the powerboats conference
    since the fridge is for my brother-in-laws boat on Lake Kariba,
    Zimbabwe.  It is powered by twin inboard Mercedes diesels so power is
    not the problem.  However getting this kind of stuff into the country
    is tough so reliability is a must, once its there you don't want to
    have to get parts.  Also since one tend to take long trips away from
    civilization, volume is important.
    
    Unfortunately the wind there is poor, and the lake if full of dead tree
    stumps so sailing is not really viable.  Being a sailor it is with a
    sense of loathing that I enter the powerboats conference.

    
    	I seem to remember reading myself to sleep a few nights ago over
    an article in Cruising World about installation of a "frig". It was the
    holding plate type, ran off the motor (required about an hour a day of
    run time..), and was a retrofit of the existing ice box on board. I
    must be a few months behind so I'm not sure exactly what issue it was 
    in. I can check and maybe mail you a copy of the article if your
    interested.

    I am very interested and would also be very gratefull.  If you can find
    it please mail it to:
    
    		Daryll Holme
    		1131 Kings Crown Rd
    		Woodland Park
    		Colorado 80863

    No mention of the three way fridge you find in Land Yachts (RV's)
    120VAC, 12VDC or Propane. They automatically search in listed order
    for energy sources and use what is available. My folks had one and only
    had to fill their small tank a couple of times a season. Theirs was
    about 10-12 cu ft but they come in many sizes...

    VICKIE::BOATS doesn't seem to be an active node???Any suggestions??
    

re .9:

oops ....... try vicki::boats

re .i don't remember:

Propane refrigerators must be kept vertical, which isn't too easy on a 
powerboat and virtually impossible on a sailboat. 

    I found vicki::boats and not too much on the subject.  However I did
    find out that $99 coolboxes do not cut it temperature wise, and also
    got the names of a few mail order catalogues.  Summer temperatures on
    Kariba are over 100 and when the beer feels that hot too it's no fun. 
    However you do spend a lot of time motoring so a holding plate fridge
    sounds okay.  Last summer we were sailing in Greece, also very hot, and
    it required much more motoring than we wanted to keep things cold. 
    Much easier and more peaceful to toss anchor, row ashore and buy cold ones
    from a local taverna.  This is not an option on Kariba as the idea is to
    avoid what little civilization there is anyway.

    re .10
    
    Yes Propane units do have to be kept vertical but you use the gas at
    anchor and use mast mounted or over the side generators to support
    electric use while under way.