MacGregorSailors.com

Just a note to the mods, maybe a gear and equipment forum would be good?

My dometic cold box bit it. It was three years old. The temp control went out a year ago. I attempted to replace it but that didn’t fix the issue. It would just run and not shut off. I wired an electronic timer to the power cord which sort of helped. But once in a while that would need to be reprogrammed which was a bit of a pain. A few months ago I bought a cheaper replacement on Amazon. Asian import for 240.00 it’s a tad larger, seems better on power, has a digital temp control and some thoughtful features, like a flush mounted power plug, and a diminutive ice cube tray which is a decadent luxury for me.
It’s lighter than the dometic but the basic structure doesn’t feel
as rugged.
The 64,000 question is of course, how long will it last? But I’m not impressed with the dometics longevity. So, who knows.
I have a 175 watt solar system, which seems a good match.

Ix

Is that the Alpicool C22 Portable Refrigerator 23 Quart?

Victor

I purchased this https://www.costco.com/massimo-cx40-12v ... 66493.html Massimo CX40 from Costco. It appears to be the same as the Alpicool, just branded Massimo. The Bluetooth app that works with it is Alpicool's app. My season hasn't started, so I can't say how great it is, but if it doesn't meet my expectations I can return it to Costco pretty easily.

Jeff

Here's my purchase and my bench testing of it. It'll be used in the boat, in Florida at the end of the month for the weekend. I'll report any information back after. I hope to put an energy monitor on it so I can see exactly what its using in a more real-world situation.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=28046

VBENLEM 22L Portable Anti-Shake...


It’s this one.

That is so cool! I bought a Dometic Waco 20 years ago... it lasted five. BNobody was able to fix it--I tried myself by replacing the whole electronics board, it was a no-go. Replaced it with another one that is still running. As a backup, I got another one, a bit larger, so it doesn't fit under the starboard settee. We keep it under the table and is still running strong. The price for Dometics has been going up and up and up--when I got the second one for $500, I considered myself lucky.

For two years, I had a Star(something) Chinese made unit--bulkier and noisier and more power hungry. Sold it after two years... but the one Ixneigh has posted looks like a winner.

Could you post the dimensions, if it's not too much of a bother? Roughly?

Here's my cooler in the aft dinette of my 2001 . It sits on the beam and a couple of blocks that keep it from being a teeter-totter. I still need to finish the surround for it. It sticks up about an inch, but I think it won't be too noticeable when the cushion is on top.





Jeff

It’s about 13x12x22

Thanks! It's a little smaller than the one I have -- which is more like Buchs's. It comes over the edge of the settee, but I made a cover our of plywood and a "lip" surrounding it, which raises the seat cushion about 2.5 inches. It's a tight squeeze at the table, but still works

I bought the Massimo CX50 from Costco. https://www.costco.com/massimo-cx50-12v ... 66509.html

I just used it over the weekend and it worked really well. It pulled about 45 watts when the compressor was on and really kept things cold. My one gripe is that it was just barely too tall to stand up in the middle aft birth of the . I was able to tilt it and put in on the port side right behind the battery compartment, but its going to be a pain to tilt it every time to transport it on and off the boat.

BTW I was worried about draining the batteries down so I bought a LI power station to run the fridge while on the trailer or not connected to shore power and it did really well too. The 12 volt supply is un regulated, so its only able to run down to 60% before the fridge's low voltage circuitry kicks in. Once that happened I was able run the rest of the day on the 110 inverter side of the power station down to 30%.


https://www.amazon.com/ROCKPALS-Portabl ... 195&sr=8-6

trdprotruck wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:14 pm
BTW I was worried about draining the batteries down so I bought a LI power station to run the fridge while on the trailer or not connected to shore power and it did really well too. The 12 volt supply is un regulated, so its only able to run down to 60% before the fridge's low voltage circuitry kicks in. Once that happened I was able run the rest of the day on the 110 inverter side of the power station down to 30%.

If you follow the manual you can change the low battery settings on these Massimo/Alpicool fridges. There's a combination of buttons to get into the settings and then some cryptic menus to follow. I recommend connecting to it using Bluetooth and the Alpicool app. The app is much easier to follow to change the settings.

Jeff

Hmmm. Does it Bluetooth your info back to the manufacturer in china??
I will say these mini cold boxes have become a vital part of the boats equipment. I can’t believe I went from warm drinks and canned food to keeping steak and burgers and even making ice! (Tiny amount but still) I’m spoilt now

Ix

@Cbuchs: I did have the fridge set for the lowest voltage limit, but I think it was geared more for lead acid type voltage drops.

My electronics went bad in my Dometic, Larger generic, and buddies ARB. In all 3 we were able to take out the original electroncs and plug in a $15 temperature controller/relay between the compressor and power and been working fine since.

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-All-Purp ... NrPXRydWU=

Seapup wrote: ↑Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:11 pm My electronics went bad in my Dometic, Larger generic, and buddies ARB. In all 3 we were able to take out the original electroncs and plug in a $15 temperature controller/relay between the compressor and power and been working fine since.

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-All-Purp ... NrPXRydWU=

Thank you for sharing... I can see that unit in a DIY project or two.