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Post by quaysider on May 19, 2020 9:39:05 GMT
In the face of groundhoug day, I've been having a ponder about the current inverter/charger on Ellis AND Fridge Freezers...
The current set up is a 3kw pure sinewave combi unit from Photontic Universe... it works very well, powing the 2.2kw tumble dryer, 1.8kw washing machine, 1.4 kw coffee maker, 1.3kw air fryer, 1.5kw microwave and 1.4kw toaster well enough with the engine running.
It's charger delivers up to 90amps when on shoreline and can be set at various levels from 14 to 90 (for when I'm using the little genny to charge up)... in short, for £500 quid, it was a good unit.
IT's failure is that "being on" uses just short of 6ah. On standby less but even that comes out at a little over 2.
WHAT I'm thinking is, that given it's 3 years old and has had quite a hammering, HOW long will it last? - and when it does pop off, I'll need to replace it... propably with something with a considerably lower quiesecent draw.
I remember being Told by the good folk on here with more money than me during the build, I would be better off with a more expensive uint... at the time I didn't have the money so cut my coat according to my cloth.
GIVEN the dire financial situation of late (and the probability I'll have to lose my house to clear the debts that will accrue to live anyway) I MAY as well, Bite the bullet and improve things sooner rather than later...
I knnow the theory behind the 12v fridge freezer and currently have the inlander fridge freezer which cost 650 quid. The down sides to this being the freezer part is really only a 2star - with temps rarley lower than minus 12... The fridge part is not really big enough for when I've guests on board and it's a constant juggling act.
My thinking being that if I move the microwave (somewhere) and then buy a taller 230v fridge freezer, life may become a little easier for meal planning in awkward routes etc.
I may add another battering into the bank to make up the losses. I've finally gotten ok at my battery charging regime through a combination of bulk charging early in the day with the engine (175amp alterntor) and the solar bank of 600watts getting hte last 15 or so % in by lunchtime and floating all afternoon when I'm not moving.
The question here being have YOU good folks found a decent combi unit I should look at? - I've half a mind to have a seperate charger but have to admit, the convenience of the current unit has been hard to beat.
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Post by lollygagger on May 19, 2020 9:59:42 GMT
Hmmm 240V fridges - I have one, it's a power gobbler but it is a shit cheap one. Like everything you have to empty your wallet in return for efficiency. Was thinking of gluing 1" polystyrene to it but that still leaves the door and rear. If I run it on the inverter it depletes my batteries in no time flat. Like yourself I've had 12V fridges - a CRX50 and a CRX85. Even the 85 was too small. They all are too small under £1,000 and those ones are made in Russia. I'm thinking it's probably cheaper and more simple all round not to have a fridge at all and just sling stuff when it goes off.
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Post by JohnV on May 19, 2020 10:11:23 GMT
I'll be honest ..... I wouldn't
I'm very firmly in the "if it 'ain't broke don't fix it" camp. There is no guarantee that a new unit will last any longer than your old system would, if you had left it alone.
As a general rule, electronics that have been manufactured to a decent standard will, providing they are not abused, last a long time. ( I presume you don't run everything at once )
I would just go for changing the fridge/freezer and running it off the existing system and seeing how you go.
When I changed to my big 240 fridge freezer I had plans on installing a thermostatic switch to the freezer that would only turn the inverter on when it was needed (using a small inverter just for the freezer) but to be honest when I started using it, I didn't find it a problem (although the inverter has to run all the time anyway as a lot of the boat is 240v .... don't ask )
Just my take on it
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Post by kris on May 19, 2020 11:30:08 GMT
I’m with John, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But I also agree with lollygager, it’s propably easier to get rid of the fridge.
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Post by quaysider on May 19, 2020 11:35:04 GMT
hmm - I suppose I could try the mains fridge freezer on the existing inverter on power saving mode -... getting rid isn't an option - I have customer on so I really need a fridge full of fridgy things for a week for 4 people a lot of the time... The current one is only 90l fridge capacity.. I'm looking at replacements circa 150litres
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Post by kris on May 19, 2020 11:37:56 GMT
I was kind of joking about getting rid of the fridge, but definately not joking about not fixing it if it aint broke. Get your monies worth out of the inverter you’ve got, a quality replacement is going to cost you a lot.
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Post by lollygagger on May 19, 2020 11:57:58 GMT
hmm - I suppose I could try the mains fridge freezer on the existing inverter on power saving mode -... getting rid isn't an option - I have customer on so I really need a fridge full of fridgy things for a week for 4 people a lot of the time... The current one is only 90l fridge capacity.. I'm looking at replacements circa 150litres I'll be watching to see if you find a reasonably priced efficient 240V fridge. The 12v are so expensive it must be the way to go. I was joking about throwing the fridge too.
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Post by quaysider on May 19, 2020 12:25:29 GMT
The added complication is the depth - 'cause of the tumble home, it can't be more than about 56 deep otherwise it'll clonk on your shoulder when passing between the galley and dinette. hmmmf...
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2020 13:01:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2020 15:47:27 GMT
Only reason I can see for having a freezer on board is to make ice for a decent G&T. Ice makers are far better at doing that and way cheaper. We have a 230v larder fridge and a separate ice-maker works well for us even with only 330Ah of batteries
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Post by quaysider on May 19, 2020 16:12:03 GMT
Only reason I can see for having a freezer on board is to make ice for a decent G&T. Ice makers are far better at doing that and way cheaper. We have a 230v larder fridge and a separate ice-maker works well for us even with only 330Ah of batteries I'd grant that as true were it not for the "hotel" element ... ie, I need to be able to have meat and frozen pastry in stock if you follow... it's tricky prepping food when on the go with guests on board so anything I can have ready done in the freezer, makes the days much easier to organise.
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Post by peterboat on May 19, 2020 16:30:13 GMT
Only reason I can see for having a freezer on board is to make ice for a decent G&T. Ice makers are far better at doing that and way cheaper. We have a 230v larder fridge and a separate ice-maker works well for us even with only 330Ah of batteries I'd grant that as true were it not for the "hotel" element ... ie, I need to be able to have meat and frozen pastry in stock if you follow... it's tricky prepping food when on the go with guests on board so anything I can have ready done in the freezer, makes the days much easier to organise. The Inlander is a 12 volt jobbie yes? if so the addition of a fan can help them get cooler, plus I have a stand alone table top freezer which really helps as it way colder than the 12/24 fridge freezer
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Post by quaysider on May 19, 2020 17:07:36 GMT
I'd grant that as true were it not for the "hotel" element ... ie, I need to be able to have meat and frozen pastry in stock if you follow... it's tricky prepping food when on the go with guests on board so anything I can have ready done in the freezer, makes the days much easier to organise. The Inlander is a 12 volt jobbie yes? if so the addition of a fan can help them get cooler, plus I have a stand alone table top freezer which really helps as it way colder than the 12/24 fridge freezer yeah - 12v converted lec unit. I've got a pc fan behind it and holes from the bilge for it to draw cool air up onto it. It works fine for a 2 star freezer and the solar panels keep up with it in all but the darkest of the winter months.The little 12 volt sperate freezer seems a good idea but that's another 500 quid from memory. tbh - it's a large fridge that's really needed - I'm looking at an indeset 150l fridge and 54 litre freezer compared to the current 90 l fridge and 46 litre freezer I'm gonna try leaving the inverter in powersave mode for a few days and see what effect it has on the batteries before buying it - I suppose, I'll GET the cost of the new 230v one back by selling on the 12v one... but I'll not do that until I've trialed it for a week or so on the boat. It'll be a pain having the old one stuck in the saloon but as we'v got no guests it's no great shakes
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Post by quaysider on May 23, 2020 14:34:54 GMT
just to report back, I've had the inverter left on 24/7 for the last few days on power save mode... once I'd spotted the clockwork timer on the immersion heater was tricking it into thinking there was a load to supply, the batteries have never gotten below 70% over night ... and that's with the existing 12v fridge freezer still running - ergo, I think I might take a punt on the bigger mains powered one
Watch this space.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2020 8:07:58 GMT
hmm - I suppose I could try the mains fridge freezer on the existing inverter on power saving mode -... getting rid isn't an option - I have customer on so I really need a fridge full of fridgy things for a week for 4 people a lot of the time... The current one is only 90l fridge capacity.. I'm looking at replacements circa 150litres 240v fridge freezer here. I shopped for one that has a feature whereby it can keep food frozen for a period of power down. This one states 16hrs. So at night, it's shut down between 11pm-8am with no adverse effects to the contents. The previous unit was a 12v fridge freezer, just under a grand and lasted all of two years, as did the one before that. I'll never go 12v again.
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