290BR Refrigerator charger and shore power question

[randyk]

I just took delivery of my 290 bowrider and it has a 12 volt refrigerator. It is stored on a lift and has shore power available. I've read tons and tons of messages on here and can't really find reference to this. My question is can I plug into shore power, keep the battery charger (panel says AC converter) on, and keep the refrigerator running all summer? Is this safe? Am I going to hurt anything? The boat is stored in a community dock just down the street from my house so I'll be on it often.

I don't believe the refrigerator is dual voltage.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nehalennia]

Is there a switch on the panel (the 120 side) for the fridge and one on the 12V side for the fridge?

 

[wingless]

No problemo running the 'fridge through the charger.

This is probably a dual-voltage device.

Remember if AC power is lost, the 'fridge will drain the batteries. When that is a concern for me I keep the AC breaker on and the DC off, to sacrifice the food and maintain the bilge pumps. That has happened more than once.

My five group 31s run the 'fridge for about four days.

 

[Bottom Line]

Randy....my cockpit fridge sounds just like yours...it is 12V only. The fridge in the cabin is a dual voltage, so when plugged into shorepower it runs on 120V. I normally (during boating season) keep the cockpit fridge stocked, so I leave it on all of the time...and also leave the Converter on to recharge the batteries as the cockpit fridge uses them for power.

About 3 years ago I would turn the cockpit fridge off when we left the boat, and then turn it back on when we came back to the boat. After a weekend or two, the water water bottles or cans, started to smell "soured"....not very appetizing...so now I leave it on all of the time.

How do you like the new boat?

 

[dpmulvey]

I did it with my Regal in rack storage with no problem at all. Wingless is correct. I lost power (some clown unplugged me and never replugged me) and my fridge (12V only) drained the batteries. I plugged the boat back in and it was fine when I took it out that weekend.

Because of the power loss potential I would recommend no perishable food storage while away from the boat. Lost power could cause the fridge to get warm enough to grow harmful bacteria then recovered power could re-refrigerate the food without you ever knowing anything was wrong.

 

[randyk]

How do you like the new boat?

I love it, but I've only driven it 14 miles from the marina to my slip. Been on CSR about every day for hours learning as much as I can about it.

 

[randyk]

Because of the power loss potential I would recommend no perishable food storage while away from the boat. Lost power could cause the fridge to get warm enough to grow harmful bacteria then recovered power could re-refrigerate the food without you ever knowing anything was wrong.

Perishable food wasn't my intent :wink:. I plan on spending time down on the dock (escaping) cleaning and working on the boat (install GPS plotter, subwoofer, working on the wiring in the slip, etc).