fridge/ freezer and solar

[March]

Wish I could find someone around here who can fix waecos, but no such luck. The Danfoss compressor is pretty amazing, but the fridge has a command pannel where you press the buttons to set the temp and stuff, that is rather flimsy: sometimes a button would stay pressed and the lights would cycle until you hit it on the side. It has nothing to do with elecronics; it's how the "soft touch" buttons carry the pressure to the module. Annoying at first, but no big deal once I figured out what it was

Have you contacted Waeco/Dometic? I did this when I needed to get mine repaired (under warrantee still cost me $100 labor). The place actually about a mile away mainly worked on RVs (our Macs are kind of floating RVs )

There's only one place in Iowa that works on Dometics and they are specializing in the bigger, RV units. They kept the broken cooler for 6 months trying to get the schematics from the headquarters. Apparently, a hard think to do. Eventually, I just took the broken cooler back home. I haven't been able to find any other specialist. Where did you fix yours?

[RobertB]

I just went on the Dometic site and used their tool for finding service centers. Only listed in Utah, AER Supply. I also looked at Maryland, where I live, and only found one listing - not the one I used. This locator tool does not seem complete. Recommend contacting Waeco/Dometic directly, explain your situation and see what they say.

[SKIPPER2C]

NO wrong a gen . The Rand sucks.
Someone is making a lot of loot.
Renier

[RobertB]

Don't worry, I use the search function heaps , and it is extremely helpful, and I do search the web extensively too, but I also value opinion and judgement, so I like to ask questions, and get feed back.

I will be building my fridge freezer into a permanent locker on the bench opposite the head, as said above , no one uses that area at all, and it will fit there perfectly.
Just trying to get an idea on the best unit
I see some have compressors and some don't, which is better?????

What size of panel would fit on the sliding top? Power delivery wise

White oak brackets are slightly raised to allow panel below to be removed and air to circulate below. Tied down both ends with nylon straps. Installed 12VDC outlet behind the cooler. Did finally figure out that with the length of the electrical run, not to set the cooler on the high cutoff setting.
Also room to put a second cooler beside for the long weekend or fishing trips.

Concerning the compressor or no compressor. I highly recommend the compressor type since they use so little power and cool much colder than the thermoelectric type (such as sold by Coleman).

[RobertB]

NO wrong a gen . The Rand sucks.
Someone is making a lot of loot.
Renier

I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to say

[Wayne nicol]

HowzitRenier
I am originally a safa, been here for six years now, didn't realize that there were Mac owners in sa. Wher did you buy yours, are there dealers there. We lived in KZN, place called Weenen.
So we can also gooi the taal when needed, miss it quite a bit funnily enough, funniest thing I miss is speaking Zulu,funny that. Well it's a new life now

Don't worry I understood you perfectly

Thanks for all the input guys, will give this all some thought,
Can't put the panels there, as that's where I store my landing net.
And we don't walk on the slider, so maybe it might be an option, will give it some thought anyway
Thanks all
Wayne

[SKIPPER2C]

Hi Wayne
Live in Rustenburg near Sun City or near Marikana If u know about the shooting at the mine a year ago.
Had a MacGregor 26 D and sailed it mostly on the Vaal dam. Love to scuba dive and Mozambique is stile the best place to dive.
So I had a sailboat for sailing and a motor boat for diving and my dream was to combine the 2 .
Looked at bigger sail boat that could handle the see but then, to get to the see takes a day and then to sail to Maputo from Durban another 5 days.
So i looked at a trailer sailor and the only available dealers was The Holiday 26. Did not like it and went back to the MacGregor and brought a New in from USA. I rigged it as a Caravan and with my family we tour the country's and sleep over in caravan parks before we get to the see. Now to get to Maputo takes only a day.

The December holiday we toured to Knysna on the garden route and sailed there for 3 weeks. We pay R 80.00 to use the marinas slipway and anchoring was free. R 80.00 for 3 weeks i think is not bad. Next year I want to do a trip to Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe and then to Malawi lake. My big dream is to sail from Vilanculos in Mozambique to Madagaskar and sail around Madagaskar for a while. Maybe stop at Europa island or Bassas da India island.
Google Earth it and tel me if u think I would make it

The only dealer is at Seychelles.

Hope u enjoy your as much as we do and make Merrylegs your own.

Renier

[Wayne nicol]

we are heading that way with our
lots of mods done, a bunch more this winter

looked at the waeco site- lots of options. gotta take some measurements.
look at this option
http://marine.dometicgroup.com/en/produ ... _units.php
and then build my own box exactly to fit!!

[Wayne nicol]

1 200 km one way to get there, and an island half way!- sounds ok to me
geuss if you time it so that you go during the trade winds- would be a beam reach for days,.... there and back.
i have always been fascinated with madagascar.
i did some stuff with kingsley holgate and his son ross, and was looking at a circumnavigation of madagascar by sea kayak, but missed out on that one- had to stay home and make a living.
would you do it in the mac, or something else- geuss the traders went up and down that coast for centuries in open, leaky old dhows, no instruments, just by feel/instinct- certainly not self righting!!!
sounds like an adventure!!!!

[Wayne nicol]

with regards to solar.
they will just be for a little help on the charging side.
1. what brands are recommended??
2. what other gizmos do i need with it.
gonna have to put them on the slider- way less than ideal- i know- but its a silk purse and a sows ear thing!!
i think the top is about 40" x 30" or therabouts- will need to go and re measure

3. what else do i need to run with the fridge/ freezer compressor to help make it more economical on the power draw


thanks

[Russ]

with regards to solar.
they will just be for a little help on the charging side.
1. what brands are recommended??

Don't know much about brands. Sumner is our resident solar expert and he may have some wisdom. I think wattage capacity is what you need to look for.

2. what other gizmos do i need with it.

A controller for sure. In full sun, the panel puts out about 18v and that's too much and will cook your batts. A controller will keep the charge power proper and prevent overcharging. There are some expensive controllers that claim to be more efficient. I don't know if they are worth the extra money though.

gonna have to put them on the slider- way less than ideal- i know- but its a silk purse and a sows ear thing!!
i think the top is about 40" x 30" or therabouts- will need to go and re measure

Do you mean the slider hatch? I've seen this done, but frankly don't like it. That's where you stand often and adding a slick glass surface doesn't seem wise to me. Then you have to have a cord to slide with the hatch.
The M has a perfect mast crutch that I mounted mine directly to and added 2 braces to keep it flat. Hangs off the back out of the way.

3. what else do i need to run with the fridge/ freezer compressor to help make it more economical on the power draw

The extra insulation is a good idea. Make sure it gets air flow where needed. I was toying with the idea of an extra fan to move air better. Probably doesn't need it.