![]() ![]() The Frigoboat system was developed by Veco SPA, a family-run company based in Italy that has specialized in marine refrigeration (and now air conditioning) for more than 25 years. Its maker, Waeco, was acquired in 2007 by Dometic Corp., a Swedish-based multinational that oversees a huge line of marine products. Heir to Mike Adlers brainchild, the Cold Machine is a widely distributed production-boat standard. The refrigeration systems Practical Sailor selected for this comparison-the Waeco-Adler Barbour Cold Machine (CU-100) from Dometic Corp., the Frigoboat Capri 35F, and the Sea Frost BD-represent a good cross-section of whats on the conversion-kit market today. Not alone did the original unit perform exceptionally well energy for its operation was generated by four ARCO M-55 solar panels that continue today to deliver the same current they delivered in 1982. He replaced the evaporator in 1990 and finally removed the unit in 2009 in order to long-term test some of the newer models. Naranjo installed an original Adler Barbour unit aboard his sloop, Wind Shadow, in 1982. The history of the system aboard Practical Sailor Technical Editor Ralph Naranjos Ericson 41 illustrates well the robustness of the early Adler Barbours. The systems strongest attribute is its reliability, a factor that has no doubt contributed to the sagging demand for “Freon Jockeys,” those mobile fridge-repair artists who once enjoyed superhero status on the cruising circuit. Hermetic units, like their mechanical drive cousins, have pros and cons. Using an external, solid-state controller and three-phase pulse technology to propel the motor, the Danfoss unit has improved efficiency and reliability. What differentiates the Danfoss is that it eliminates the inefficient brush-and-commutator design of conventional DC motors. It was introduced in 1926 by General Electric, and the AC version had dominated household refrigeration for many decades. ![]() The hermetically sealed electric compressor wasnt a new concept. The German-engineered Danfoss compressor was not only reliable, it was truly the wave of the future, as advances in battery capacity and charging systems favored 12-volt systems. It didnt take long for Adlers system to attract converts. Going against the prevailing trend of systems with high-capacity mechanical, engine-driven compressors, Adler staked his reputation on the compact Danfoss brushless 12-volt DC electric compressor. The modern marine refrigeration system can be traced back to ice-cube guru Mike Adler, a cruising sailor who applied his engineering talents to a cause that any modern sailor can appreciate-developing a compact, efficient, and reliable alternative to ice. The result is an easy-to-install fridge for modest-sized sailboats with well-insulated ice boxes, and an easily expandable system (compressors can be piggy-backed) to suit larger boats. ![]() The evolution of the units DC controller eliminates the need for a conventional commutator and brush assembly, and two decades worth of improvements have significantly increased the systems efficiency. Each is designed as a do-it-yourself kit that turns the ice box into a full-fledged refrigerator and/or small freezer.Īll three manufacturers use Danfoss hermetically sealed compressors, devices that have been engineered to house a miniaturized drive motor and compressor inside a grapefruit-size air-tight tank. These are among the most popular ice-box conversion systems on the North American market today. ![]() Here, we review systems from three principal makers, Dometic Corp., Frigoboat, and Sea Frost. In the May 2007 issue of Practical Sailor, we looked at portable, 12-volt “plug and play” freezer-fridges, with the Norcold MRFT 60 and the Engel MT-35F leading the pack. Today, almost all new cruisers and racers come with refrigeration, or it is near the top of the options list. During the past few decades, a technical evolution has made the hardware that powers the refrigeration cycle more efficient and more reliable than ever. ![]()
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