[C320-list] Fridge Usage

[Donald Lawson]

Colin
Assuming your system is serviced and is as efficient as it can get.
I do all the things Jeff mentioned, except cycle water bottles through the freezer. My freezer is usually full of prefrozen food and ice cubes (Must have Mai Tai's) before leaving the dock.  My thinking is that once the water bottles melt it takes to much energy to refreeze them. My 2 cents. In addition: 
1)  I have lined the bottom of the icebox with  layers of Reflectix (from Lowes). I cut  pieces of Reflectix and installed below the wire shelves. The Reflectix  takes up most of the room below the shelves. Just enough room left for 4
     1- quart frozen water bottles.  They are about 1/4 frozen after a week.
2)  I installed additional weatherstripping on the outside edge of my icebox lid. This is in addition to and not layered on top of the original weatherstripping. It is thin enough 1/8 in so it will compress such that the original also touches. 
3)  I also installed a battery operated fan which I put below the freezer when I leave the dock. It lasts 30 days if I forget to take it out.  
4) Great Idea using 3M Spray Mount. Going to put it to use. Planning for a 1-2 month cruise next year.  Maybe Mexico. Thanks Jeff !!

I now freeze beer at my old 4 setting and have had to lower the setting to 2-3. Outside temp at about 80 deg. You can also take up some room at the bottom with polyurethane foam (pink board or a boogie board) then install a layer of Reflectix. The less room you have to cool the less the refrig has to run.  Don't use styrofoam, it will end up disintigrating and  clog the drain with particles. 
If All else fails: a genset?  A Honda Generator?  Solar Cells? And for the ultimate, remove the icebox and rebuild using Vacuum Panels. I know one who did that and his refrig barely  cycles at all. 

Don #1005

On Dec 5, 2011, at 6:31 PM, Jeff Hare wrote:

> Colin, 
> 
> Here are our favorite tips we use for our sailing trips to make the fridge
> more efficient.
> 
> 1) Freeze 3 or 4 gallon sized plastic jugs of water at home before you leave
> and put those at the bottom of the fridge under the shelves below the
> freezer area.  They'll help keep the temp and cycling down.  When they melt,
> you have fresh cold bottled drinking water.  
> 
> 2) When motoring or on the dock during the day, turn the freezer to its
> coldest setting.  When on battery, turn it back to its normal setting. 
> 
> 3) The freezer compartment holds about 8 standard bottles of drinking water.
> Our freezer will eventually freeze those.  When they're frozen, we move them
> to the far side of the fridge and replace them with cold but unfrozen
> bottled drinking water.  Cycling those around the fridge cuts down on
> cycling a lot and keeps the food cooler.
> 
> 4) Most importantly, cut a piece of Reflectix (Silver foil covered bubble
> wrap insulation) the same size as the large rectangular opening of the
> fridge.  If you cut it a half inch larger in width and length, it will stay
> in place and not drop into the fridge.  This will keep the fridge much
> cooler and cut way down on our fridge cycling.  Opening either side of the
> fridge, you can just lift up the insulation get what you want and drop it
> back into place. If you're concerned that the fridge insulation is not up to
> par, use some of that Reflectix to line the inside walls.  With a moderately
> full fridge, the food  will just hold it in place (or you could spray one
> side of the foil bubble insulation with 3M Spray Mount (let it dry) and then
> it'll just stick to the inside walls just like a big post-it note.  And will
> just peel off for cleaning.
> 
> 5) At Anchor/Dock/Mooring prop the Aft 2 lockers open just a bit to allow
> the heat from the compressor to escape and increase  the efficiency and cut
> down on cycling.  That compartment can get pretty hot from the compressor if
> the heat is just trapped in there.
> 
> PS: I'll take some pictures next chance I get of how to fit the Reflectix to
> the top edge of the fridge opening..  I couldn't be easier.
> 
> Good luck!
> -Jeff
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Colin Evans
> Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 3:54 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks for the input.  I`ve had some good response BUT I still can`t work
> out why the batteries are not lasting. They show the green light which
> indicates that they are in good condition and charged.  I thought the fridge
> was on for too long but other fridges seem to run the same time.  I think
> I`ll try re-gassing and see if it cuts down on run time. By improving
> efficiency.
> Could it be the thermostat ?
> How do I check the usage? 
> *************************
> Regards
> Colin Evans
> Watermark #774
> Lake Macquarie, Australia
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Chris Descher
> Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 7:12 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
> 
> It might need a charge.  I installed a new evaporator and compressor this
> year, and it's never needed to be set beyond 1 (the warmest setting).  At
> that level it frosts the evaporator and keeps the icebox at 45 degrees with
> no problem.
> 
> Chris Descher
> #500
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com]On Behalf Of Colin Evans
> Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 2:10 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
> 
> 
> No the freezer compartment does not freeze but the beer is cold and all food
> is fresh enough.
> Could it need re-gassing
> 
> *************************
> Regards
> Colin Evans
> Watermark #774
> Lake Macquarie, Australia
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Ted Barto
> Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 1:51 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
> 
> The cycling seems about what mine does except mine is set to 6 or 7, we've
> gone for days without draining a battery however.  Is it getting cold enough
> 
> to form ice on the freezer unit ?
> Ted
> 2002 #880 NancyB
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Donald Lawson
> Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 8:05 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
> 
> Colin
> I have no idea but I sure want to follow this thread as I expect I will be
> in the same spot shortly.
> Don #1005
> On Dec 4, 2011, at 5:40 PM, Colin Evans wrote:
> 
>> 
>> 
>> Our fridge cycles on for four or five minute then off for about 
>> fifteen minutes, does this seem correct.  I have the thermostat set on 
>> 2 and we run out of enough power to run the fridge in less than 24 
>> hours, which doesn`t seem right as we have recently put a start 
>> battery on , so now the house power is 300 amps.  The batteries are 
>> less than two years old so I don`t think they are at fault, and are 
>> alway fully charged when we leave the marina.
>> 
>> Any suggestions.
>> 
>> *************************
>> Regards
>> Colin Evans
>> Watermark #774
>> Lake Macquarie, Australia
> 
>