Scott Barnard
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2021
- Messages
- 49
- Location
- Savannah, Georgia
- Vessel Name
- Laurel Sommers
- Vessel Make
- Beneteau ST44 (2014)
Which is best? DC alone costs less.
Refer - DC vs AC/DC
- Thread starter Scott Barnard
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
SteveK
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2019
- Messages
- 5,886
- Location
- Gulf Islands, BC Canada
- Vessel Name
- Sea Sanctuary
- Vessel Make
- Bayliner 4588
DC IMO
It does not need an inverter, most compressors are DC and the AC is converted. The only advantage of AC/DC is art the dock you can switch to shore power AC. I run my ACDC fridge DC all the time.
It does not need an inverter, most compressors are DC and the AC is converted. The only advantage of AC/DC is art the dock you can switch to shore power AC. I run my ACDC fridge DC all the time.
rslifkin
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2019
- Messages
- 8,001
- Location
- Rochester, NY
- Vessel Name
- Hour Glass
- Vessel Make
- Chris Craft 381 Catalina
My fridge is currently DC-only. However, now that we have an always on inverter setup and AC power is available 24/7, I'd prefer an efficient self-defrosting AC-only fridge over an expensive marine fridge that requires manual defrosting.
OP
OP
Scott Barnard
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2021
- Messages
- 49
- Location
- Savannah, Georgia
- Vessel Name
- Laurel Sommers
- Vessel Make
- Beneteau ST44 (2014)
At the dock the AC goes to the batteries then to the Refer? Does this have any downside affect on the batteries?
rslifkin
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2019
- Messages
- 8,001
- Location
- Rochester, NY
- Vessel Name
- Hour Glass
- Vessel Make
- Chris Craft 381 Catalina
As long as the charger is big enough to keep up with the load the batteries never know or care, they just stay at float voltage with the charger supplying power to the DC loads (including the fridge). The batteries will only get cycled if you draw more power than the charger can provide.
OP
OP
Scott Barnard
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2021
- Messages
- 49
- Location
- Savannah, Georgia
- Vessel Name
- Laurel Sommers
- Vessel Make
- Beneteau ST44 (2014)
Thanks all. Seems saving several hundred bucks for DC only is the route.
Delta Riverat
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2022
- Messages
- 1,197
- Location
- Stockton
- Vessel Name
- Dream Catcher
- Vessel Make
- 1979 Island Gypsy 44 Flush Aft Deck
I'm quite pleased with my new 8 cu-ft Dometic 12 VDC fridge. Uses very little power and gets plenty cold.
ranger58sb
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2013
- Messages
- 7,327
- Location
- Annapolis
- Vessel Name
- Ranger
- Vessel Make
- 58' Sedan Bridge
I've come to better appreciate the frost-free feature on the AC-only fridge and freezer in our galley, powered by inverter when away from shore power or when the genset is off.
OTOH, our AC/DC fridge on the bridge at least runs from a different battery bank, so switching breakers so that runs on DC only when we're anchored gives us a little more time between re-charge for the inverter bank.
-Chris
OTOH, our AC/DC fridge on the bridge at least runs from a different battery bank, so switching breakers so that runs on DC only when we're anchored gives us a little more time between re-charge for the inverter bank.
-Chris
Kaniksu
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2021
- Messages
- 58
- Vessel Name
- Kaniksu
- Vessel Make
- Roughwater 41
I too went AC only on a Summit zero clearance fridge w/o a freezer. Wish I did it sooner.
Ithaka7
Member
AC only is the way to go, as there is much more choice and a lot less expensive. At first, people, especially on sailboats try to go DC only... then the cost adds up quickly. Once you get a good inverter, then you start adding all the typical household appliances and you forget about DC. Leave DC for navigation and lighting.
Similar threads
