Isotherm vs Waeco/Adler-Barbour cold plate

[GaryA]

Does anyone have any information regarding reliability / differences between the Isotherm and Waeco / Adler-Barbour cold plate systems? I'm looking at an Isotherm 3201 and Waeco/AB 84 + VD-06. There's a huge difference in price. The compressors are essentially the same, although it's not clear to me what differences there are in the control systems for those compressors. Isotherm advertises their units sense battery voltage and only do serious cold plate recharging when voltage is sufficiently high, but it's not clear whether the Waeco also does that or not. Are there any substancial differences in the cold plates? The Waeco is a bit larger, and also less expensive, so I'm wondering what I'm missing. Do these cold plates use eutectic cooling materials, or antifreeze?

Thanks for any insights.

Gary

[Richard Kollmann]

Both of the refrigeration units you are looking at are designed more for coolers than refrigerators. They both use the Danfoss BD35 variable speed compressor but the Isotherm 3201 is shown to include their Automatic Speed Up unit that performs much like your automobile’s automatic transmission. The Isotherm condensing unit is designed to be in a well ventilated area do to its condenser design. The Waeco condensing unit needs to be located in an area where it can draw air from one area and exhaust this air to another area.

The BD 35 compressor has the ability to handle larger than three cu. ft. insulated boxes but the efficiency of the small surface area
Evaporator plates limit the rate of heat transfer. If you want to learn more about boat refrigeration, of what works and what does not watch the slide show on my web site at, http://www.kollmann-marine.com The box size and conditions of intended use will determine the correct system to buy. If it won’t freeze ice cubes is it correct to call it a refrigerator?

[GaryA]

Thanks, the slide presentation was helpful.

I guess I'd call anything cooled electro-mechanically and not designed to freeze anything a refrigerator, and anything kept cool solely by insulation a cooler. I'd also call something capable of both refrigeration and making ice-cubes a refrigerator-freezer.

Be that as it may...

In the slide show (#29), it states that Adler Barbour doesn't have an air cooled BD-35, but it seems to me that is what the 84 unit is. Am I missing something?

I don't quite understand the difference you mention in the condensing units in regard to cooling. Don't they both have attached fans? Given that, can't they both equally effectively be installed in any area as long as appropriate air circulation can be achieved, whether it be a large open area or a ducted supply?

[Richard Kollmann]

Deciding on the degree of cooling for an ice box conversion unit is always the boat owner’s choice. A refrigerator is a cabinet designed for cooling food at temperatures just above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, this temperature will maintain the quality of food for several days. Boaters spending a week or longer aboard may want a two separate temperature compartments in the same box such as those found in all standard refrigerators. A cooler box with temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit is intended as a drink cooler or to preserve foods no more than a day or two.

Believing in all of the creative advertising can guide many boaters to buying too large or too small a refrigeration unit for an ice box conversion. The slide show was intended to take you through the basic steps you need to understand before buying an icebox conversion unit.

I don’t know what the relationship is between Adler Barbour and WAECO but their products and services are much different. WAECO products are designed more for small boxes used in cool climates and the RV industry. Adler Barbour is a long time leader in boat refrigeration and has a great product, although their line of products is limited to condensing units with only the Danfoss BD50 compressor. If your refrigeration capacity needs fit around the BD35 compressor and exceed the lower output of the shelf evaporators of Isotherm or WAECO, there are ten other companies offering lots of matching condenser and evaporator options.

If you are boating north of Latitude 35 north the difference between the two air cooled condensing units you are looking at should not be a problem. Yes, they both have a fan but the Isotherm is mostly a static air condenser with a add on fan, while the WAECO’s condenser is 100% air cooled.