12 Volt Icemaker

rnbenton

rnbenton

Active member
Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
RO Number
31163
Messages
2,834
I have been researching 12 volt icemakers for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to reduce dependancey on shore and generator power. GOT to have ice for the evening cocktails out on the hook.

I have found a few units priced from $800 to $1000 that look good, all be it very pricey. Most pof the draw 4.0 amps when the compressor is running so, not too bad and my battery bank will handle it pretty well.

To be honest, I have not yet looked at the numbers for just putting in an inverter to run the icemaker I already have. I will address that possibility on another thread.

For now, does anyone have any experience with the 12 volt units? Other than the priceyness are there any down sides?

Bob
 
4 amps is like 50 watts on 12v, that's not all that much power. My guess you'll get more ice from the icemaker you already have, running on an inverter. It'll probably draw more power, too.

Small dedicated inverters are cheap; one that can run your existing icemaker will probably cost you under $100. I'd try that route first.

With EITHER system, the power has to come from somewhere. You may need to increase your battery capacity.
 
What Hogan said. Consider a table top 120V unit and an inverter.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

What Hogan said. Consider a table top 120V unit and an inverter.

Click to expand...


I am tending to agree. I already have a 120v tabletop. what I need to do is look at power drain numbers for an adequate inverter. Even if I put in a dedicated battery it would still me much cheaper than the 12v icemakers I have found.

Bob
 
I use a Waeco refrigerator that is also a freezer, to store six bags of ice in. Works on 12 volt, and very little draw on the battery. Plugs into a cigarette lighter outlet in the cabin. Plus, its a refrigerator when needed.
 
120V stuff is usually more efficient than 12V stuff but after you add in the losses in the inverter it is probably worse BUT either way you can make ice while still moving so that it is ready when the anchor hooks. In that case the efficiency is less important and the inverter may find other uses.

.
 
Isn't it easier to just get a bag of ice at the marina and stick in the freezer? We have an icemaker and I got a bin from the container factory the same size as the interior. I fill it and stick it in there. Enough ice for two for the whole weekend and then some. But that machine is also 120v.
 
John,

Bob is talking about when he is on the hook for days at a time. On small boats like his and mine, it is hard to store ice for days. The Waeco freezer is great to store the ice after it is made, but even with the big Waeco I have, food takes up most of the room.

Bob, I run my portable off an inverter. If you'd like, I can power it up and let you what the draw is?
 
I decided to test this for Bob. Here's what I found:

I turned off all 12v loads on the boat. My Xantrex LinkPro monitor showed .1amps going out (probably the monitor itself). I turned the inverter (Xantrex PROwatt SW 1000 True Sine-Wave) on and it drew about .4 amps by itself*. I started the ice maker. For a second, when the compressor first started, it peaked to about 30-35 amps (too fast to tell). But then settled in around 5.5 amps (6 total, including the inverter). It peaked back up to about 8.5 when dumping the cubes, but that only lasted about 15-20 seconds or so and then back down to around 5.5.

*It should be noted that I have the inverter within a few feet of my batteries and connected by no more than 3 feet of 4AWG wire to minimize loss.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

I decided to test this for Bob. Here's what I found:

I turned off all 12v loads on the boat. My Xantrex LinkPro monitor showed .1amps going out (probably the monitor itself). I turned the inverter (Xantrex PROwatt SW 1000 True Sine-Wave) on and it drew about .4 amps by itself*. I started the ice maker. For a second, when the compressor first started, it peaked to about 30-35 amps (too fast to tell). But then settled in around 5.5 amps (6 total, including the inverter). It peaked back up to about 8.5 when dumping the cubes, but that only lasted about 15-20 seconds or so and then back down to around 5.5.

*It should be noted that I have the inverter within a few feet of my batteries and connected by no more than 3 feet of 4AWG wire to minimize loss.

Click to expand...


Thanks Kurt, that helps a lot. What I think I'm going to do for our May trip is put in a dedicated group 31 AGM battery (already have one) through a SW1000 inverted and use that for icemaker, coffee maker, microwave and fan only. I may also run the windlass through it as well but still undecided. Everything else will stay as is, wired as is. The new dedicated battery will be hooked to the third loop on my existing smart charger.

The only shortcoming I see for this trip is that the isolated battery will be charged by shore power or generator power only. I am electrical illiterate and have no idea how to hook it up so it will charge with the existing batteries off of the engine alternators. I thought about hooking it up in prallel with one of my existing batteries (they are both group 31 AGM's as well) But I that would include that battery in the "drain" as well which I don't really want to do. For now a solar panel is not in the chips.

This set up should do nicely for the upcoming trip but I am still going through the thought process.

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top