Want refrigerator with high R-value

[bdietrich]

I want a 12 VDC, air-cooled, fridge/freezer, constant-cycling, drop-in unit (stock, one piece, like my current Nova Kool). But using that vacuum-panel insulation that has the incredibly high R-value.

No one makes a unit like that, as far as I can tell. Do they ?

Why not ? Maybe because it is cheaper to get the increased efficiency by some other route, such as changing to water-cooled instead of using expensive insulation ? Or some other reason ?

Bill

[hellosailor]

"Why not ?"
Probably because the market is so small there's no profit in it. And higher R values either mean delicate panels that no one wants to pay top dollar for, or a bulky box, that won't fit into most boat spaces. Again, it all comes back to dollars and market share, one way or the other.
One ice pick and those vacuum panels go to "R-zero". That can be a hard sale. So, you do the best you can, and add insulation around the box.

[sailingdog]

Your best bet for a small, efficient refrigerator unit is either Engel or Norcold.

[deniseO30]

I could build you one for $12,785 still want it?

Point I'm trying to make is; diminishing return on such a small, tiny even, refridge unit. Most use so little power it's almost silly to try and improve on them. Now if it were a walk in, or a large freezer for the side of beef the ship's chef would need for Saturdays' feast.. Then, keel coolers, or water cooled condensers are the best choice.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by deniseO30

I could build you one for $12,785 still want it?

Point I'm trying to make is; diminishing return on such a small, tiny even, refridge unit. Most use so little power it's almost silly to try and improve on them. Now if it were a walk in, or a large freezer for the side of beef the ship's chef would need for Saturdays' feast.. Then, keel coolers, or water cooled condensers are the best choice.

I'll build it for $12,585

[bdietrich]

I'm talking about a manufacturer who makes thousands of units, such as a NovaKool. Seems like the price shouldn't be too bad.

And the whole point of those vacuum panels is that they're NOT bulky, right ?

I'm sure they could coat the panels or the whole box with 1/8" of plastic or something to protect it.

My refrigerator DOES consume a lot of power (to my thinking). Somewhere around 36 AH per day, which is 80% or more of my total power use. I have $1100 worth of solar panels, $1300 worth of wind-generator, and $600 worth of batteries mainly to support refrigerator, laptop and starting the engine.

Bill

[tommays]

Well

Those silly littel dorm room units use as much engery as a full size home unit and i think a good home e-star unit uses less

[seaspot]

Man, that's a lot of solar panels/wind genny power for just a fridge.

I know this is not what you are looking for but...I use a Engle 45 on my boat and have no problem powering with only one solar panel.

[roline]

Some times you just have to grow your own system. I took the guts from a novacool cooler and installed it into my ice box, the results are that I can take a bag of ice and instead of water, I'l have ice cubes for my favorite beverages. I did improve the insulation on the lid, and may install vacuum panels on a couple of the sides to decrease power usage. It has been in use for 4 yrs and still works as it did when first installed.