Icebox Configuration
Guide
There are almost as many different icebox configurations
as there are different sailboats. There are, however, a few that are the
most common and many others are just variables of these.
The first and most common configuration is a single box with a top opening lid. Depending on the volume of the box, it is usually converted with a small or large vertical mount evaporator. If it is a front opening box, it is more common to install a horizontal mount evaporator. The main difference between the two is the horizontal mount unit has a door to help retain the contents. Either unit will serve as a small freezer while refrigerating the rest of the box.
The next box configuration will actually be two boxes seperated by an insulated divider wall. Ideally, this set-up will have a large flat evaporator plate custom bent to conform to one, two, or three sides of the box walls - either in a "U" or "L" shape. This side of the two boxes will serve as a freezer. In the divider a spillover device is installed to pull cold air into the refrigerator side. In this arrangement, only one refrigeration system is necessary and works quite well in most applications. It is also acceptable to install two complete systems. While costlier, this arrangement offers peace of mind in the form of redundancy.
For those boats with two completely separate boxes, it is neccessary to install two complete systems. The freezer box can be arrange as above with a custom bent evaporator. The refrigerator box can also be converted in this manner, but with a smaller evaporator (depending on the icebox volume). Many owners may wish to install a bin style evaporator in the refrigerator. This affords some freezing capacity should the larger freezer not always be needed, is being defrosted, or in the case of a component failure.
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Icebox Configuration Guide |
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There are almost as many different icebox configurations as there are different sailboats. There are, however, a few that are the most common and many others are just variables of these.
The first and most common configuration is a single box with a top opening lid. Depending on the volume of the box, it is usually converted with a small or large vertical mount evaporator. If it is a front opening box, it is more common to install a horizontal mount evaporator. The main difference between the two is the horizontal mount unit has a door to help retain the contents. Either unit will serve as a small freezer while refrigerating the rest of the box.
The next box configuration will actually be two boxes seperated by an insulated divider wall. Ideally, this set-up will have a large flat evaporator plate custom bent to conform to one, two, or three sides of the box walls - either in a "U" or "L" shape. This side of the two boxes will serve as a freezer. In the divider a spillover device is installed to pull cold air into the refrigerator side. In this arrangement, only one refrigeration system is necessary and works quite well in most applications. It is also acceptable to install two complete systems. While costlier, this arrangement offers peace of mind in the form of redundancy.
For those boats with two completely separate boxes, it is neccessary to install two complete systems. The freezer box can be arrange as above with a custom bent evaporator. The refrigerator box can also be converted in this manner, but with a smaller evaporator (depending on the icebox volume). Many owners may wish to install a bin style evaporator in the refrigerator. This affords some freezing capacity should the larger freezer not always be needed, is being defrosted, or in the case of a component failure.