![]() ![]() 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. If you just need to take the edge off and only have a couple hundred bucks to spend, spring for an AC cooler like the Igloo Iceless.During the past few decades, a technical evolution has made the hardware that powers the refrigeration cycle more efficient and more reliable than ever. If you must have truly ice-cold drinks that stay ice-cold for hours even with the cooler shut off, you’ll need to invest in an expensive DC cooler like the Dometic CFX3 45. ![]() The best cooler will be a compromise between cost and cooling effectiveness. They can run on propane, as well as 12-volt or 120-volt power sources, but they are not as portable. Then there are the combo-power units that are used in camping and RV applications. They run on the DC power supplied by your vehicle’s 12-volt power outlet. Many newer trucks come with AC outlets rated for this exact purpose.Įlectric-only coolers are not as powerful, so they are better at keeping food that’s already cold at the desired temperature. These coolers run off AC power and need a dedicated electrical outlet. They consume power at a higher rate and they cost more-in some cases, much more. But this power and speed come at a price. They keep food colder longer and they make food colder quicker. Best Plug-In Electric Coolers for 2023Ĭompressor-type coolers work like a refrigerator, which means all of the pros and cons that come with them. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. This compensation comes from two main sources. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. ![]()
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