Refrigeration, Engel users, and others.....

[s/v Faith]

Hi all,

I am new here, but Engel does offer extra insulation for there prducts. Here is a link for one .....

  Thanks and welcome aboard, I am looking at that (the $99 seems a little high to me)...

[s/v Faith]

CapnK wrote;

Craig - I'm still bouncing around on which one I'll eventually get, will like to take a look at yours when we come up to get the Smollett30. The larger models (35, 45) are almost exactly the same width as the Ariel's port side drawers on the main bulkhead, and would also fit well in the other 2 dimensions in this space. I've considered what I was going to do with those drawers anyway, since they waste a lot of space, even though they are convenient. Seems like as good a spot as any to put the Engel. I also pwant to add some insulation around the icebox portion of the Engel, while leaving the working part plenty of room for breathing. I think I have come up with a way to pull that off. Having even only a radiant barrier around it might help with energy consumption.

  Yes, that is probably a good location.  If you were going ot mount it there, you could fit a model 45 without much of a problem... My restriction to the V-berth is what made me go to the model 27.  The 25" length would have to have it sideways, and then the lid would not open very far without hitting the overhead in the v-berth.

  I am looking at the insulation also.  I know that the vents on the back of the unit have ot be open, but if the $99 cover that Engle makes can increase the efficiency then I think some added insulation would help also.... I will wait and see when it comes in.

Has anyone who has an Engel run it with, and without the insulation jacket?   Maybe had the unit long enough and then bought the jacket so that they could talk to the gain in efficiency?

[Freesail]

I believe I've seen the insulation on the hot wire site for $70.00.

[CapnK]

Hijack - wow, check this A30 out - stellar condition!

http://tinyurl.com/2b28lc

[AdriftAtSea]

Pretty boat... :D

[Frank]

"engel" report.   I took Connie's leed and advice in purchasing my lil engel.While I go iceless most often while solo...the small engel is nice with Judy here. It is fairly quiet,freezes on any setting above .7 on a 1 to 4 scale and is VERY efficient @ .7 amp draw!! Nice unit. I took Connie's advice and kept watching 'compact appliances' site until a sale came on. Got it -20%,free frieght,no tax  ;-)   Would recomend them and an engel

[AdriftAtSea]

Yes, the engels are very nice refrigerators, and relatively quiet and very efficient.  Also, the swing motor compressor has only one moving part, so they tend to be pretty reliable mechanically.

[Pixie Dust]

I knew you guys would wise up to the Engels.  :))  What took you so long? LOL
Cold while being enery efficient is a wonderful thing.  I too am considering putting some insulation of some kind around mine to help out while in the warmer climates. 

[AdriftAtSea]

Connie-

their insulated bag seems to work quite well, from the people I know who have used it.

[s/v Faith]

The Engle came in, and is on the boat.  Fits very nicely, I did trim back the shelf on the port side of the V-berth so it would have some 'wiggle room'.

  It ahs both a 110, and a 12v plug.  Does anyone KNOW if they can both be pluggedin at the same time?  I am wondering if it does not default to 12vdc when 115 is not present?

  I scanned the manual, (now on the boat) and did not notice if it said.

Thanks,

[AdriftAtSea]

I have both connected permanently on my boat....probably have had both turned on at the same time at one point or another by accident.  Don't believe it will hurt the unit...as I haven't fried mine yet... ;)

[s/v Faith]

Thanks,

The Engle came in, and is on the boat.  Fits very nicely, I did trim back the shelf on the port side of the V-berth so it would have some 'wiggle room'.

  It ahs both a 110, and a 12v plug.  Does anyone KNOW if they can both be plugged in at the same time?  I am wondering if it does not default to 12vdc when 115 is not present?

  I scanned the manual, (now on the boat) and did not notice if it said.

Thanks,

I found this;

Operates off 12/24V DC or 110V AC. It automatically switches power from 12/24 volts to 110 volts

[AdriftAtSea]

Ahh... RTFM...that's cheating.

[s/v Faith]

Ahh... RTFM...that's cheating.

  Only when absolutely required...  8)

[Joe Pyrat]

I tried the thermo electic cooler and it ran my house battery down way too fast.  I purchased an Engel refrigerator/freezer unit about 4 months ago.  I got the 45 and ordered it from Compact Appliances thru EBay.  I find that any setting over 1 causes the food to freeze.  This is great because 1 is very low power draw.  You can pack a lot in it.  I was going to be anchored out on a trip for 7 days,  I froze meat at home, vacuum sealed and wrapped in bubble wrap.  Placed it in the bottom and it really lasted.  It has a brain, whatever the power source avail. it uses, electric or DC.  I know on small boats, space is an issue.  I have a couch with a back that lifted up to make a bunk.  I removed the back of the couch and sat it on the end by bulkhead, strapped it and so far so good.  If disconnected from the power source, it stays cold for several hours.  Lugging bags of ice can really be a pain, so this is pretty "cool " for me.   8)   

Good info Pixie.  I just bought an Engel 45 from Compact Appliances to replace my old Igloo Survivor.  The Survivor worked great, but was a real DC energy hog.

[Lynx]

I used to have one the gas (propaine) frig's in a travel trailer. Worked ok. However, it must be LEVEL to work, unless you have a cat, these do not work well.

2.5 amp curent draw for 24 hrs  = (2.5 amps x 12 v = 30 watts) X 24 hrs = 720 watts per day. There is also heat generated by this inside the cabin.  If you get 8 hours of sun a day, you will need a 900 watt solar pannel working at 100 percent.

A bit much for me. I will stick to the ice chest or do without.

on edit corrected math

[s/v Faith]

I used to have one the gas (propaine) frig's in a travel trailer. Worked ok. However, it must be LEVEL to work, unless you have a cat, these do not work well.

2.5 amp curent draw for 24 hrs  = (2.5 amps x 12 v = 300 watts) X 24 hrs = 7200 watts per day. There is also heat generated by this inside the cabin.  If you get 8 hours of sun a day, you will need a 900 watt solar pannel working at 100 percent.

A bit much for me. I will stick to the ice chest or do without.

FWIW,

  Mine has a stated draw of .7a in refrigerator mode, or 2.5a in freezer mode.  It seems to run between 20% and 30% of the time.

[AdriftAtSea]

I used to have one the gas (propaine) frig's in a travel trailer. Worked ok. However, it must be LEVEL to work, unless you have a cat, these do not work well.

2.5 amp curent draw for 24 hrs  = (2.5 amps x 12 v = 300 watts) X 24 hrs = 7200 watts per day. There is also heat generated by this inside the cabin.  If you get 8 hours of sun a day, you will need a 900 watt solar pannel working at 100 percent.

A bit much for me. I will stick to the ice chest or do without.

Ummm.. 2.5 A x 12 V = 30 Watts last I checked.  Also, most refrigerators do not run 24x7, but only a portion of each hour, unless you're in Death Valley at high noon and have painted the refrigerator black and left it out in the sun. 

My Engel M27, runs less than 20% of the time when it is set as a freezer.  I don't remember what the current draw is, but the batteries seem to have little trouble with it. 

[s/v Faith]

...... unless you're in Death Valley at high noon and have painted the refrigerator black and left it out in the sun. 

And the sailing sucks too...  ;D

_{(unless syou are on one of those land sail car things.. but this site is not about those now, is it?)}

My Engel M27, runs less than 20% of the time when it is set as a freezer.  I don't remember what the current draw is, but the batteries seem to have little trouble with it. 

  Yes, the figures I quotesd were the ratings for the Engel M27.  .7a ref, 2.5a in freezer mode.

[Lynx]

AdriftAtSea - thanks, I correct the math.  Per my understanding, inorder to keep meat good for days, you need temps below 38 degrees. I also understand that there is a few factors that determing how much the frig runs, like outside temp and insulation and times opened and inside temp and size of unit and how cold things are before putting then in.

What are our estimates of total daily wattage?