[C320-list] A-B Cold Machine: power consumption

[Richard A. Walker]

The items below have a measurable affect on the duty cycle.

1. Outside Air Temperature; California water is about 66-70 degrees where we
sail and the port locker where the condenser is stays cool.
2. How full the refer is, the fuller the better.
3. How tight a seal the top has, older boxes on the C-320 did not have a
good seal.
4. Did you start with allot of frozen items.  We usually freeze orange juice
and water and place these at the bottom of the box, creates a heat sink.
5. Are you placing a cover on top of the food to cerate a seal between the
food and the cover; we use a camping ground cover.
6. Do you plan only to open the box a few times a day.
7. Etc.

Given all of that we seem to use 40-50 amps a day for the refer but 
P.S. It was suggested to set the unit to max cold when you are motor
sailing, that is a great idea.


Cheers,
 
Dick Walker
C-320 (687) WindWalker II
740 Olive Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118-2136
619.435.8986

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 1:34 PM
To: Catalina 320 Mail List
Subject: [C320-list] A-B Cold Machine: power consumption

The newer Cold Machines draw about 5A.  The factory rep. at the Annapolis
Boat Show said my 13 year old machine might draw more like 6-7 A.  My
question has to do with duty cycle: the amount of time under a particular
situation that the machine might actually be running usually expressed as a
percentage.  That is to say, my machine is on 24/7 when we're on the boat,
but it only actually runs and draws current for intermittent periods.  Does
anyone have any information on the duty cycle of the Cold Machine on the 320
under different ambient temperature conditions? 

The spreadsheet of Estimated Cruising Electrical Loads from the (old?) 320
website shows a usage of 10 hrs/day.  That is a 40% duty cycle.  I have no
idea how realistic that figure is for estimating electrical load.

Warren & Pattie Updike
C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
Chesapeake Bay