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caravan fridge on a boat

kamavr

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 29, 2019

Last visit: Jun 14, 2019

Posts: 5
Posted: May 29, 2019 - 07:30 AM

Having read on another thread about a gas fridge on a boat has made me wonder about a 'three way' caravan fridge on one. I understand that there are problems with them on gas if not level so that limits them but they can also run off 12v or mains. You can get one off eBay for > £100 so much cheaper than boat stuff. Also you could probably strip out the guts and use them in an icebox.
Has anyone done this?
kamavr

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 29, 2019

Last visit: Jun 14, 2019

Posts: 5
Posted: Jun 14, 2019 - 06:18 AM

kamavrHaving read on another thread about a gas fridge on a boat has made me wonder about a 'three way' caravan fridge on one. I understand that there are problems with them on gas if not level so that limits them but they can also run off 12v or mains. You can get one off eBay for > £100 so much cheaper than boat stuff. Also you could probably strip out the guts and use them in an icebox.
Has anyone done this?

Any updates?

Edited by kamavr on Jun 14, 2019 - 06:26 AM.
kamavr

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 29, 2019

Last visit: Jun 14, 2019

Posts: 5
Posted: Jun 14, 2019 - 06:20 AM

kamavrHaving read on another thread about a gas fridge https://under-the-open-sk…m/best-coolers-for-boat/ on a boat has made me wonder about a 'three way' caravan fridge on one. I understand that there are problems with them on gas if not level so that limits them but they can also run off 12v or mains. You can get one off eBay for > £100 so much cheaper than boat stuff. Also you could probably strip out the guts and use them in an icebox.
Has anyone done this?

Any updates?
Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

Last visit: Apr 10, 2024

Posts: 2524
Posted: Jun 14, 2019 - 08:46 AM

If by “caravan fridge”, do you mean the small 3 ways units found in small/medium RVs?
I have used those, in an RV for quite a few years.
Honestly, I can’t see it being practical to strip out the guts & attempt to use them in an icebox. If you want something like that, consider a Koolatron product, 12V, one moving part, can run upside down, though be aware their cooling power is lower than a normal fridge, they will not “make” ice. We had one, decades ago, Good if they were filled with pre cooled food, & not constantly opened.
https://www.koolatron.com/
https://www.koolatron.com…moelectric-refrigeration
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U8vcctqVjHY
Trying to remove “the guts”, (remember part must be outside the insulated container, part inside), then reestablish the same configuration in a new container is a fools game. How would you even get the cooling coils into the new container,without separating them from the condensing unit? As soon as you do that you need to reestablish integrity of the lines, pump the system down, hold vacuum to prove no leaks, then refill. Internal moisture is the death of refrigeration, pulling vacumn essentially removes it by evaporation, (physics tells us if we lower the pressure, we can boil water at room temperature).
These small units are also critical of refrigeration charge. You need a very accurate scale to properly refill them.
2nd problem is power supply. There’s no free lunch, cooling uses power. Deep cycle batteries are heavy.

Edited by Edchris177 on Jun 14, 2019 - 09:15 AM.

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