(http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b496/Awfeith/E077199F-A799-4D2F-8E9A-D92F549EA881_zpsxmsrzvgp.jpg) (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/Awfeith/media/E077199F-A799-4D2F-8E9A-D92F549EA881_zpsxmsrzvgp.jpg.html)
Took out oven part of alcohol range/oven and installed a 2.7 cu. ft. Norcold ac/dc fridge. Two burner range is still gimballed and just fits. I had to cut a bit of the curved Masonite at the back, as the unit is 21.5 inches deep. I use the old ice box for dry food storage. The fridge is 110 but switches to 12 volt automatically.draws less than 20 amps in 24 hrs. Total cost about $800. Cost to replace cold machine $1300. André
Andre,
Nice work. You can cut your cost big time by reselling that Origo oven. You could likely get $500 or $600 for it. Though it is handy to have around during power failures.
Shawn
Andre,
Really nice job.
Capt'n Jim
Hey Andre:
Super work, thanks for the post.
regards charlie
Awfeith,
Great looking installation of the fridge! I would love to know more about it or even take a peak! I purchased my CP27 in Cape Coral last month and sailed her to St. Pete where I currently live on her. I am looking at efficient and civilized ways of refrigeration and yours hits it on the head. Presently I am working out of my ice box. I really like the looks of your set up.
How does your refrigeration fare while cruising or on the hook?
How is it installed or connected to the circuit breaker?
Most importantly, how are you liking it?
Thanks for your time and efforts,
SouthernNomad
The fridge is a norcold (dometic) 2.7 cu ft, ac/dc fridge. Hooks to both ac and dc panel. It will always go to ac power first. Once down to temp, it draws very little power when on dc. I have it sitting on metal brackets under the alcohol range. It has an external fan for cooling. The door handle has a latch so it stays closed when heeling. It is a marine refrig, so it is pricey, $840.00, but well worth it. I bought it online. Hope this info helps. Andrë
I too worked out of the icebox for 7 months in the Harborage at St Pete, and I won't be doing it again. I was always on the verge of losing my food because I forgot to buy ice every 2-3 days. And at least one weekend everywhere I went was sold out of ice. Trying to determine refrigeration options right now - doing something like this, vs a do-it-yourself compressor and evaporator in the icebox.
I haven't measured the icebox volume yet, but the Norcold is smaller? I suppose digging dry goods out of the old icebox is no worse than digging cold food out of the bottom of it. It's a long reach down in there.
Decisions, Decisions. I think the cost of the conversion kit (assuming I install) is no more than your Norcold. If the price were the same, which way would you go?
SouthernNomad, have you figured out your plan?
I also need to figure out how to install my microwave behind the stove. Need to cut out my doors and install and outlet and make some kind of trim. Any hints?
That was very helpful!
relamb: I am doing the icebox dance at St. Pete municipal. I lug gallon jugs of water to work to freeze them and bring them back daily to a pair that are in there doing their job. Its tedious. I am saving up the flow ($$$) to make some sort of refrigeration system that gels nicely with cruising and living aboard at the dock. The Nordic fridge seems like a happy medium. I am thinking of installing a third battery to my battery bank of two as well as installing a solar panel atop my bimini and dedicate its electrical juices to the refrigeration unit when cruising.
These things cost money and most of all good forethought!
I use a chest type Dometic CF35 refrigerator - freezer on my 27. It is not built in but sits on the floor against the bulkhead under the table. It runs on either 12 or 24 volt dc and 110 volt ac. Once it reaches the temperature I set it for - normally 32 (perfect for beer) it does not use much electricity. In our 90 degree SC summer it cycles about 25% of the time using 4 amps of 12 volt elect. or about one amp per hour. It can run all day on one group 24 deep cycle and still leave enough power to start the engine the next am. It 's capacity is 1.1 cu ft. enough for me for a weekend. You can see the specs for this and other sizes on the Defender website.
I like the looks of your built in!
BobK
I put an Engel in my camper and really like it. Very low amp draw, quiet and keeps nice and cool. Will make ice, if you're sitting still. If I still owned a boat I'd seriously consider their conversion model.
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https://www.engel-usa.com/products/fridge-freezers?limit=30 (https://www.engel-usa.com/products/fridge-freezers?limit=30)