It was always my intention to replace my 240v fridge with a
12v one, but after having fitted my solar panel I was a little optimistic that
I wouldn't need to, but having tested it for a few days now I find I have to
switch it off overnight or run the engine next day. The primary concern for me
is if I wish to leave the boat for a day or two I don’t want to return to flat
battery’s and a stinky fridge full of rotting vegetables and sour milk.
The problem is not just the fact that it’s a 240v fridge but
that it is a fairly old inefficient one as well ‘B’ rated, a modern ‘A++’ or ‘A+++’
(how many plus’s will they eventually add?) would probably be as good as a 12v
one but if I am replacing it anyway I think 12v is the way to go.
For those interested here’s how it all pans out (skip this
bit if volts and amps are not of interest).
Getting accurate figures is difficult but this is my
understanding of the situation now and what it should be after a 12v is
installed.
Currently my fridge is rated at 70watts, although it is 240v
stepped up from 12v via the inverter, so watts/volts=amps 70/12=5.83amps then
allow for the inverter being inefficient (gets vague here I’ve read anything
from 5% to 75%) say 25% =1.45amps so total draw = 7.28amps per hour, the fridge
cycles on and off so assume it’s on 50% of the time, 7.28*12=87.36 amps per 24
hour period, I have 6x 110AmpHour battery’s of which roughly 30% is actually
useable so 220amp hours and I don’t want that to drop below 50% charge if I can
help it, so 110amp hours ( soon disappears doesn’t it). You can see now that
with roughly 110Ah available 87.36 for the fridge is a very large chunk, add
the water pumps, lights, maybe CD player or a bit of TV and hence the need to
run the engine daily.
Ok the solar has improved it, dramatically, but what if I
choose to leave the boat for a couple of cloudy days, back to that stinky
fridge. So a 12v Shoreline fridge of the type I need has a rating of 27.36amp
per 24 hour day ( I know they lie, but you have to accept something’s!), that’s
less than a third of the draw of the 240v one and no need to have the inverter
on 24hours a day (with risk of failure), so my available 110amp hours without
any input from the solar should be ok to keep the fridge running for 4days, and
the solar on an average day will easily replace that loss, so in theory during
the summer I should never need to run the engine just to charge the battery’s
and in winter probably only every third day at worst. But the Big plus is the
fridge will be on 24hours every day, not as now off overnight.
Right come back all those who skipped that bit.
So having got sorted with a Post office to accept parcels I
ordered the wiring bits to run a 12volt supply around to my fridge position, I
also ordered a remote switch for the inverter, (at the moment to switch the
inverter on/off means moving the stairs to gain access to the electrical
cupboard, a bit of a pain twice daily). The wiring turned up yesterday
lunchtime so it was get down to running that from the battery bay to the fridge
recess in the afternoon, having completed that job I walked back to Grove Lock
to see if Carl was there, he was and after a chat he suggested a pint at his ‘local’
in Leighton Buzzard, so I set off walking (about 30mins from his boat) and he
came whizzing along later on his electric bike, they zip along at 14mph, we
went to the Black Lion in the High Street where he was greeted as if he’d been
to the Amazon not Aylesbury, anyway after a couple of pints I left them to it
and returned to cook and eat, that being done by 7pm I promptly fell asleep
waking at 10:15, I hate it when that happens!
Back to the post office today I collected my inverter remote
and while I was there this delightful wedding car was doing a few circuits
around Market Square (where the Church and Post office are located) and I couldn't
resist taking a snap
it had a bubble machine somewhere at the rear much to the
delight of the children present and a few adults J
and the exhaust tailpipe was in the shape of a heart, awwww.
Back on the boat a
10 minute job to fit the switch and a lazy day followed, apart from dusting and
sweeping throughout, this afternoon Gary on the fuel boat came along so I waved
him down and took the opportunity to top up, just about 50 litres but I like to
keep it full when I can and give the trade boats my business, I misheard him
and wrote a cheque out for £20 too much, he pointed out my error immediately,
honest chap, thanks Gary.
I am staying here tomorrow and moving on Monday weather permitting
to try to find a mooring with vehicle access nearby to get the new fridge delivered, fingers
crossed.
Leighton Buzzard is a very pleasant town more ‘boaty’ than
Aylesbury but not quite as much as Berkhamstead, and I have enjoyed my time here and the
peaceful mooring away from the town.
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