Question about on board refridgeration

[Brian24jersey]

When your doing long distance voyaging is refridgeration even possible or is the power consumption just to high to keep up with battery power.

[joethecobbler]

refrigeration is easy to power. the trick is to have ample power generation ability , and have it properly sized for what you want to run.
for example , if your refrigerator draws 5 amps and your power generation supplies 4 amps at mximum output , your probably going to run down your batteries .
yu need size you power supply. I have 10 amps of Solar (peak output) ad I draw 7-9 amps between the 3.5 cu ft. refrig. the 5cu ft. freezer and the lights,computers etc. When I'm gettingdirect sunlight I'm doing fine. When the sun goes down or I get a couple clowdy days in a row, then I'm running on batteries,or Idling the diesel engine (not preferred) or I have to run the gas auxiliary generator (better than the diesel ) . Of course if I double my battery bank size and number I can run on batteries longer, but sooner o laterthat power must be replenished (charge the batteries) .
So, I'll be adding a wind generator as I've found that often the wind blows on cludy days and at night when the solar can't poduce.
but just to run a small refrigerator is less emanding and therefore simpler to supply power for.
Hope this helps.
Of course I always have to run the gas generator to power the icemaker and the S2000 splendide washer dryer. but I don't run then continually as you would a refrigerator.

[deniseO30]

One just has to wonder how Joshua Slocum did it with wood fired stove and dry stores.

[joethecobbler]

I actually have a wood stove aboard and we use it when it gets cold out. I built it from a diesel heater using the fancy stainless louvered cover and glass door and fabricating the fire box,shaker grates and ash tray. I've got about $20 invested in it and it works great . we gather wood along the shore when we make landfall and walk the dog. I have a bow saw and hatchet aboard to cut and split the wood and we store the wood in burlap sacks on deck in the winter an bring in a crate full at a time to dry when it rains or snows.
we can even brew coffee on it and it works at anchor as well as under sail.
I think I have a pretty good idea exactly how slocum did it !
And when I read about people like him I learn more all the while and combine the good methods with what it available today and what I can make work for me/us. so far we've managed to make it work since 2007, and we sail up and down the east coast. We don't just hang out i one spot we like to see new places and see what the world is about. this year we're heading north and if all goes well we'll rig out better for longer jaunts outside the US. I can't wait, life is to live , not to suffer.

[WanderingStar]

Well said.

[Broomfondle]

Yep - nice attitude. A warm gin and tonic is still better than no gin and tonic at all.

[TQA]

360 watts of tiltable solar allows me to make two large trays of ice a day and run a watermaker when I get a sunny day here in the Leewards.

[ebs001]

Brian24, correct me if I'm wrong but I think he wants to know when underway for long periods at a time, ie days sailing in the open ocean.
This is quite different than sitting in an anchorage somewhere and I think Brian would like to hear from someone who has actually run a refrigeration under these conditions.
I have to ask DeniseO30 how Slocum accomplished his refrigeration with a woodstove?

[remetau]

Originally Posted by ebs001

Brian24, correct me if I'm wrong but I think he wants to know when underway for long periods at a time, ie days sailing in the open ocean.
This is quite different than sitting in an anchorage somewhere and I think Brian would like to hear from someone who has actually run a refrigeration under these conditions.
I have to ask DeniseO30 how Slocum accomplished his refrigeration with a woodstove?

Why would being at anchor versus being underway be any different for refrigeration?

[zeehag]

some fridges donot handle invertor usage well--they self destruct----try to get a fridge that is engine run or 12v if at all possible-- i donot use fridge--i just donot have leftovers--keep stuff requiring colder temps below waterline in stowage --i use my cabinets closer to hull below waterline for these items--butter just separates in hot climes--is all good--thenye have oil and butter flavor--is alll goood---i use nido milk for coffee and mashed taters and other combos that need milk----is powdered whole milk---ice boxes work in all countries--ice is available everywhere anymore---go figger--but i still rarely need a fridge--is a nice luxury, but not direly needed--during my past year of cruising the gulf we had fridge for first half then none---didnt make much difference except the hardness of the butter-LOL--and chocolate---is all good--fridge will eat up electricity fast--have to have much solar or a genny or use engine for a bit to keep up with it....didnt miss it when it broke.....