Cheap alternatives to Shoreline fridges?

[sebrof]

Don't let these smartalecks browbeat you, OP.

 

What did John Ruskin know about fridges? He was a kind of pompous forerunner of George Bernard Shaw, but without the sense of humour.

 

I would rather quote John Wiseman: "He who seeks not value for his money will soon be bereft of it".

 

The trouble is that the market for 12v fridges is pretty small, so there is little competition. Were I an electrical engineer I should be tempted to set up a small business where customers would bring their 230V fridges, and I would swap the compressor for a 12 or 24V model.

 

The total cost should be significantly less than that of a Shoreline or Waeco, and the customer would have a huge choice of modern designs, probably with better insulation than the other two.

 

Gibbo, aren't you an entrepreneurial electrical engineer in need of a new challenge?

[Gibbo]

 

The trouble is that the market for 12v fridges is pretty small, so there is little competition. Were I an electrical engineer I should be tempted to set up a small business where customers would bring their 230V fridges, and I would swap the compressor for a 12 or 24V model.

 

 

Where are you going to source these (one or two per week) hypothetical 12/24 volt compressors at such a low price that it still enables you to:-

 

1. Undercut the competition who are buying them by the thousand.

2. Cover the costs of dealing with the legal aspects of playing with dangerous/controlled gases.

3. Cover the costs of the qualifications required in order to deal with these gases.

4. Still make enough profit to make it worthwhile.

 

Gibbo, aren't you an entrepreneurial electrical engineer in need of a new challenge?

 

Challenges, yes. Obvious money sinks and non-starters, no.

[nb Innisfree]

All you need is a cunning plan (or stunt)Go for it we're all behind you.

[David Schweizer]

Don't let these smartalecks browbeat you, OP.

 

What did John Ruskin know about fridges? He was a kind of pompous forerunner of George Bernard Shaw, but without the sense of humour.

 

I would rather quote John Wiseman: "He who seeks not value for his money will soon be bereft of it".

 

The trouble is that the market for 12v fridges is pretty small, so there is little competition. Were I an electrical engineer I should be tempted to set up a small business where customers would bring their 230V fridges, and I would swap the compressor for a 12 or 24V model.

 

The total cost should be significantly less than that of a Shoreline or Waeco, and the customer would have a huge choice of modern designs, probably with better insulation than the other two.

 

Gibbo, aren't you an entrepreneurial electrical engineer in need of a new challenge?

 

Judging from the various sea water boat forums the market is not as small as one might expect. The other aspect is the retail price mark up. If Midland Chandlers can afford to knock £90 off during one of their sales, what is the actual cost to them?

[AjW]

What are you going to put in your fridge that it is essential to keep cold?

Not had one for 5 years and we're not dead through food poisoning...yet )

We've a box that slides under a bench seat for chillables and the only thing that goes off is the soya milk after 3-4 days if it's not been drunk One day I'll get a slab of marble.

 

I do miss an ice box and my lubbly jubblies.

 

Not exactly a cheap alternative, but an alternative POV.

[sebrof]

What are you going to put in your fridge that it is essential to keep cold?

 

 

Beer. Next question?

[RLWP]

Beer. Next question?

 

Well said!

 

Richard

[Gibbo]

Many years ago we changed to long life carton milk. We found that once we'd got used to it we actually preferred it. So much so that we now use it at home. That's half the reason for a fridge gone.

 

Then I learnt to enjoy warm beer. Cold mild or bitter is just wrong to me. So much so that I no longer like cold beer or any sort. That's the other reason for a fridge gone.

 

Result. No fridge needed.

[sebrof]

Many years ago we changed to long life carton milk. We found that once we'd got used to it we actually preferred it. So much so that we now use it at home. That's half the reason for a fridge gone.

 

Then I learnt to enjoy warm beer. Cold mild or bitter is just wrong to me. So much so that I no longer like cold beer or any sort. That's the other reason for a fridge gone.

 

Result. No fridge needed.

 

I suppose Sunday sailors can get away with not having a fridge, but for live-aboards it is a major inconvenience. I know, because my fridge packed up, and it was weeks before it was sorted.

 

And whilst I share your view that ale should not be cold, I prefer to drink my ale in a pub, not from a bottle, or worse still, a can. But I don't mind drinking Stella from a bottle, provided it's COLD. :-)

[steviehat]

Not true.

The quality of most 12v fridges is appalling.

Some of the shoreline models use exactly the same cabinets as the 240 volt LEC ones available for c £80.

Doors rust and seals drop to bits after a few years.

 

 

I totally Agree...my 'shoreline' was a total pile of crap! It cost £350 back in 2004.

[ditchcrawler]

Don't let these smartalecks browbeat you, OP.

 

What did John Ruskin know about fridges? He was a kind of pompous forerunner of George Bernard Shaw, but without the sense of humour.

 

I would rather quote John Wiseman: "He who seeks not value for his money will soon be bereft of it".

 

The trouble is that the market for 12v fridges is pretty small, so there is little competition. Were I an electrical engineer I should be tempted to set up a small business where customers would bring their 230V fridges, and I would swap the compressor for a 12 or 24V model.

 

The total cost should be significantly less than that of a Shoreline or Waeco, and the customer would have a huge choice of modern designs, probably with better insulation than the other two.

 

Gibbo, aren't you an entrepreneurial electrical engineer in need of a new challenge?

When I started to fit out Harnser I discovered that Lec would sell a 12/24 volt fridge direct to the public, by the time I was ready to buy it you could only buy them through specialist retailers with a price hike of about £150

[steelaway]

Beer. Next question?

 

 

Beer should never be served cold - only mildly chilled

 

It OK for them there largers fizzy drinks that real men never drink.

They are just about acceptable - with lime (to take away the taste) on a very hot day:cheers:

 

Alex

[Phil Ambrose]

When I started to fit out Harnser I discovered that Lec would sell a 12/24 volt fridge direct to the public, by the time I was ready to buy it you could only buy them through specialist retailers with a price hike of about £150

 

I found a way of purchasing my 100ltr Shoreline fridge and 80ltr (same size cabinet) freezer at a reduced price. I simply got a price direct from Shoreline then approached my local yard and suggested that if they sourced it (at trade price) then I would purchase through them and split the price difference with them. This meant that I got the units considerably cheaper and they made a few quid for making a phone call. I did the same thing when I need some other high cost items. Result for both of us.

 

Phil

[ChrisPy]

Waeco do 12/240V electric coolboxes, some of which can be stood on end and used as fridges. 35 litres under £100. ideal for weekend 'camping' use.

http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/camping/camping_kitchen/product_35498/waeco_w35-ac-dc_thermoelectric_cooler.aspx

[WotEver]

Waeco do 12/240V electric coolboxes, some of which can be stood on end and used as fridges. 35 litres under £100. ideal for weekend 'camping' use.

http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/camping/camping_kitchen/product_35498/waeco_w35-ac-dc_thermoelectric_cooler.aspx

I believe those devices (and others like them) use a Peltier device for the cooling. If that's the case then they will eat power - be warned.

 

Tony

[Robin2]

I have a 240v "Coolzone" under-counter fridge-freezer that I bought from Comet. It seems to be identical to a 12v model sold by Shoreline. It will be a long time before the cost of the extra fuel needed to offset the inefficiency of the inverter amounts to the £300 difference in price.

Edited October 23, 2010 by Robin2

[ChrisPy]

I believe those devices (and others like them) use a Peltier device for the cooling. If that's the case then they will eat power - be warned.

 

Tony

yeah, it states 46watts average consumption. that's a lot innit? mind you they seem to retain their cool so could be turned off at night and just used while you're cruising. I would consider one on the simple weekender boat that I am planning.

[Keeping Up]

I reckon that's nearly 3 times as much as the average fridge.

[ChrisPy]

I feel a rant coming on.

 

just googled Comet for small fridges. Proline PL120 has an 'energy consumption of 146KW'. ............. and an efficient energy rating of 'A'. Who writes this cr*p?

[Tony Brooks]

I feel a rant coming on.

 

just googled Comet for small fridges. Proline PL120 has an 'energy consumption of 146KW'. ............. and an efficient energy rating of 'A'. Who writes this cr*p?

 

 

Someone who has no understanding of units. I have noticed that rather than give a current drawn figure (or Watts drawn) many retailers & fridge manufacturers state kWh per year and that is all but useless for boaters trying to do their battery and charging calculations. I expect its yet another EU inspired thing.

[Chalky]

kWH per year is probably an attempt to summarise insulation and electrical efficiency into a single figure. Why then when I was looking to buy a fridge did some B rated fridges have better efficiency figures than some A rated ones?

[ditchcrawler]

kWH per year is probably an attempt to summarise insulation and electrical efficiency into a single figure. Why then when I was looking to buy a fridge did some B rated fridges have better efficiency figures than some A rated ones?

And why do 12/24 volt ones appear to be more efficient than there 240 volt almost identical brothers, it can't all be down to the inverter

[ChrisPy]

Someone who has no understanding of units. I have noticed that rather than give a current drawn figure (or Watts drawn) many retailers & fridge manufacturers state kWh per year and that is all but useless for boaters trying to do their battery and charging calculations. I expect its yet another EU inspired thing.

if they mean 146kWhr per year, that is an average 16.7watts, which makes sense. thanks Tony.

which means that an average conventional small fridge uses a third the power of the Waeco 'cool box', disregarding losses in the supply cables (more for 12VDC than for 240VAC).

 

PS. the mind boggles at 146 kilowatts

Edited October 24, 2010 by ChrisPy

[Tony Brooks]

And why do 12/24 volt ones appear to be more efficient than there 240 volt almost identical brothers, it can't all be down to the inverter

 

Not knowing a lot about fridges my suspicion is that 12v dc ones use strong permanent magnets to provide (say) half the push/pull on the "armature" where as mains ones on ac would need wound field coils which consume electricity. If the mains ones rectify the ac and then us that to drive the motor I am, of course, talking rubbish.

 

As far as I can tell the 12v ones use a form of stepper motor, but I am a long way out of my field.

[Phil Ambrose]

Not withstanding all the knowledge display by various people on this thread and the Forum in general, I still maintain that 12v kit is better suited to use on a boat and to me it is nonsense to take 12v and turn it into 240v just to run something that is available in 12v form. The only difference is the price. I have never had to turn off either my 12v under counter fridge nor my 12v under counter freezer, it has never been an issue. Maybe my cruising and charging regime is better than some I really do'nt know. All I can say is that it works for me.