rgano
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2007
- Messages
- 5,132
- Location
- Panama City area
- Vessel Name
- FROLIC
- Vessel Make
- Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
I have long searched for an acceptable fuel source to eliminate the dependence our refrigerator had on recharging the house battery*for those times we wanted to remain quietly at anchor for more than 24 hours.
Propane looked like a good idea, but until now, I have been a bit leary of it from cost and safety perspectives.* I bit the bullet on cost and resolved my safety concerns with my new setup.* For those who pooh-pooh or tut-tut at the idea of propane installations in boats, I understand, but I think a safe installation of a propane/electric fridge is a truly liberating experience, IF YOUR BOAT IS CONFIGURED IN A MANNER TO EASILY ACCEPT IT.
Let me expound.* My reefer backs up to the cabin side with nothing but open deck behind it, allowing me to open up a large area for ventilation.* In addition to the intake vent with ducting to direct incoming air to the bottom of the reefer, the exhaust vents are fitted with two thermostatically controlled 120 VAC brushless muffin fans.* A galley-down installation is not impossible, but it is probably something*I would not attempt or recommend.* In my case, the whole reefer enclosure is sealed from the rest of the boat eliminating any possiblity of exhaust gases or unburned propane from entering the boat.* We also have CO detectors aboard.
I also added a couple of inches of insulation to the top, bottom and sides of the reefer because the space was there.
Close by the reefer's propane burner box is one of two propane sensors of the Xintex S-2A propane sensor and control panel, which is mounted beside the reefer.* The other sensor is directly*below the unit in the engine room.* If the burner flame were to somehow blow out, the reefer thermocouple switch would shut off the gas supply at the reefer.* if that failed, or the propane line ruptured, the S-2A would sense the gas and shut off the supply at the solenoid switch in the gas bottle locker on the flying bridge.
The dual 20-pound*propane bottle locker from Trident is a nice piece of gear and will also serve as a handy foot rest or table top for the port side aft-facing bench seat on the bridge.* It came with a single regulator, but I opted for a twin unit which automatically switches over from*the empty to the full bottle.* The locker is sealed and came with the necessary fittings to mount it internally.* Had*i done so, one of the two propane sensors would have been mounted there instead of in the engine room.
My operating plan will be to run the reefer on electrical power (no compressor, just a silent electric heater instead of propane warming the amonia refirgerant) while 120 VAc is available through the inverter underway or with generator running for extended periods like*when air conditioning required.* It will also be on electric when we have shore power.
Based on initial usage,*i am guessing this undercounter RM2410 Dometic refrigerator will have enough propane to run a very long time.
Propane looked like a good idea, but until now, I have been a bit leary of it from cost and safety perspectives.* I bit the bullet on cost and resolved my safety concerns with my new setup.* For those who pooh-pooh or tut-tut at the idea of propane installations in boats, I understand, but I think a safe installation of a propane/electric fridge is a truly liberating experience, IF YOUR BOAT IS CONFIGURED IN A MANNER TO EASILY ACCEPT IT.
Let me expound.* My reefer backs up to the cabin side with nothing but open deck behind it, allowing me to open up a large area for ventilation.* In addition to the intake vent with ducting to direct incoming air to the bottom of the reefer, the exhaust vents are fitted with two thermostatically controlled 120 VAC brushless muffin fans.* A galley-down installation is not impossible, but it is probably something*I would not attempt or recommend.* In my case, the whole reefer enclosure is sealed from the rest of the boat eliminating any possiblity of exhaust gases or unburned propane from entering the boat.* We also have CO detectors aboard.
I also added a couple of inches of insulation to the top, bottom and sides of the reefer because the space was there.
Close by the reefer's propane burner box is one of two propane sensors of the Xintex S-2A propane sensor and control panel, which is mounted beside the reefer.* The other sensor is directly*below the unit in the engine room.* If the burner flame were to somehow blow out, the reefer thermocouple switch would shut off the gas supply at the reefer.* if that failed, or the propane line ruptured, the S-2A would sense the gas and shut off the supply at the solenoid switch in the gas bottle locker on the flying bridge.
The dual 20-pound*propane bottle locker from Trident is a nice piece of gear and will also serve as a handy foot rest or table top for the port side aft-facing bench seat on the bridge.* It came with a single regulator, but I opted for a twin unit which automatically switches over from*the empty to the full bottle.* The locker is sealed and came with the necessary fittings to mount it internally.* Had*i done so, one of the two propane sensors would have been mounted there instead of in the engine room.
My operating plan will be to run the reefer on electrical power (no compressor, just a silent electric heater instead of propane warming the amonia refirgerant) while 120 VAc is available through the inverter underway or with generator running for extended periods like*when air conditioning required.* It will also be on electric when we have shore power.
Based on initial usage,*i am guessing this undercounter RM2410 Dometic refrigerator will have enough propane to run a very long time.