Marine Refrigeration Air Cooling Vs Water Cooling

One of the benefits of the Technautics CoolBlue marine refrigeration system is that it can operate in tropical climates with only air cooling. The system is designed to not need water cooling, saving power and maintenance. This video explains the design characteristics that allows the CoolBlue refrigeration system use less power and operate at higher ambient temps than any other marine refrigeration system on the market today.

[@youngypaul]

I live in the tropics. Air-cooled works fine. THE PROBLEM IS... a compressor generates a lot of heat, that heat needs to go somewhere. Unless you can vent the Compressor compartment heat overboard that heat GOES INSIDE YOUR BOAT. Do you want to turn a heater on when you're cruising the tropics? Because that's what it is like. From a person with real-world experience living in the tropics.

[@mfournier12]

agreed And Water cooled systems really don't need to be any more complex.

[@mikestanovich1414]

The stray currents eating the hull fittings is prevalent in marinas where boats are leaking current through their shore power system., and it is passing from one boat to the adjacent boat like cells in a battery.

[@albatross5466]

I watched a video from a world travelling sailor. His Cool Blue unit was 11 years old and worked great until the controller failed. He got on the phone to Technautics who help him diag the problem and then they sent him a new controller for only the cost of shipping. They even threw in a new t-stat. I will be refitting my boat with this unit.

[@bobhaas6941]

Great videos Rich. Informative without getting too techy. Here in south Florida many areas are having a problem with the water clogging strainers because of all the agriculture runoff polluting water flowing into Lake Okeechobee, then it is sent to the ocean through south Florida rivers and canals - some more than others. At my marina many are having to clean their raw water strainers every week. And cleaner water is many, many years away because Big Sugar and Big FL Agriculture companies control our politicians. All a bunch of crooks trashing our beautiful state. The Technautics CoolBlue air cooled system sounds efficient, simpler, and reliable. Perfect for Florida waters. Wishing you much success!

[@jeffcee9457]

You did a great job of breaking it down step by step thanks for sharing

[@marioborg2009]

I started with a sea water cooled system, but I was always concerned with the possibility of clogging, salt water leak and the inability to keep the refrigeration running while on the hard. So a few years back I designed a new system to run using the onboard fresh water tankage, I was concerned that it might warm the water but it doesn't or is negligible. So all my earlier concerns have been eliminated.

[@melee401]

Water cooling always invites failure to intakes clogging. Keel cooled units have a LOT more complexity on top of corrosion issues of the condenser. 120 degrees is very good upper ambiant air temperature limit before the unit BEGINS to lose efficiency. As far as engine rooms, being a former Navy snipe I can readily tell you our engine room went over 120 in the tropics and the boiler room was even hotter. We were steam driven though so yes, it was hot as hell in the main engineering spaces. Losing refridgeration anywhere is a pain we can all do without.

[@marioborg2009]

I started with a sea water cooled system but I was always concerned with the possibility of clogging, salt water leak and the inability to keep the refrigeration running while on the hard. So a few years back I designed a new system to run using the onboard fresh water tankage, I was concerned that it might warm the water but it doesn't or is negligible. So all my earlier concerns have been eliminated.

[@nobody46820]

@@marioborg2009 Would you be kind enough to share your setup please?

[@notthesamagain]

First of all: congratulations! You do have an incredible product and you had me the moment you mentioned "we keep it simple"! My question is, how many BTUs and watts for this beautiful machine???

[@mikestanovich1414]

4:45 - The comment about it being "OK" to put install the condenser unit in your main salon which is also being cooled by the same AC unit is not really correct.. Refrigeration works by removing the heat from one area and moving it to another area where it can dissipate.Having them both in the same location would be the equivalent of leaving the fridge door open to cool the kitchen. You would be adding heat to the room, not cooling it as the machinery is working and generating additional heat in the process..

[@rogerkerkmann]

Be worth mentioning if your on the hard working and sweating your AC still works!

[@dalesmth1]

I use a portable AC unit when on the hard.

[@fldallyb]

I might have missed something but isn’t this refrigeration not air conditioning?

[@markleyg]

Agree that a TXV with receiver and large condenser increase efficiency and range of capacity. Don't understand why you need a a cooling plate. TXVs work with evaporators too and they are simpler.

[@KevinKurka]

When you said “now go watch a cat video” I was thinking Catamaran ⛵️

[@michaelvaughn2287]

I'm sold what's it's power needs and how much ?

[@dennisboyd1712]

how can a tilting sail boat refrigerator and freezer compressor keep working with all the tilting

[@mikestanovich1414]

I take back my comment on the having the unit in the salon. After visiting their website, I realized that these are refrigerator/icebox units NOT AC systems to cool the cabin.

[@klaatu2]

Don't listen to this......AC works on the principle of heat transfer. It transfer heat from the Evaporator to the condenser. The cooler the condenser, the more efficient the AC, the better the AC works. So ask yourself, where is the heat from the condenser going to go? Into the cabin? That is the vary space you are trying to cool..... Into the engine compartment? The engine heats up that space... Which is cooler, the water temp or outside air? The water! So using water to cool the condenser is the most efficient. And most important of all, you will get cooler AC output, which is the whole point. Just make sure you get the water flow sized correctly.

[@williewonka6694]

This is a refrigerator, not an AC.

[@captlarry-3525]

Rich, nice informative explanation of the cold plate system vs. the critical orifice system. I frankly didn't know about this. Being able to have your compressor at any distance from the heat exchanger is a big plus. Thermodynamically, I really could not understand your assertion that the heat end and the cooling end can be in the same air space ! Sounds impossible. will sure look into your technautics product.. next looking at small size untis and current draw/ duty cycle. maybe I can find a decent used unit ?

[@LyndenBARO-ho7qy]

That is provision air conditioning and that can you do

[@OcRefrig]

Good Video. I Service Dana Point Harbor if u need any body to service a Unit. Ever Talk to Randy any more ? Hope he's Doing Well. Hope he's sitting on a Beach sipping on a Margarita somewhere.

[@kirkfarley8516]

Interesting. I'd like more info.

[@charlesyawn3768]

Great idea now we just need air cooled marine air conditioners

[@davidalbright7335]

Who is "Alder Bower?" I am familiar with Adler Barbour refrigeration systems. Presently, we have an Engel air-cooled combination fridge/freezer and are very happy with it. We replaced our Isotherm Magnum 4200 with this unit and are happy to not require a seacock or strainer, not to mention the complete efficiency and convenience of actually having frozen foods.

[@nolisart6246]

Good presentation thanks

[@michaelwsudziarski6929]

HI MY NAME IS MIKE I HAVE A 40 ' SPORTFISH . CAN YOU GUVE ME AN IDEA WHAT A UNIT WOULD COST ME . I REALLT WOULD LIKE TO BUY 2 IF THEY ARE REASONABLE ENOUGH. THANK YOU.

[@OcRefrig]

1 Complete cool blue system $2,950.00 Technauticsinc.com

[@PabloEscobar-ob7ww]

Greta video

[@JuhaEerikki]

Thanks for a nice video Rich. Is that a BD50 compressor with a standard electronic control unit? Another question please: hod do you determine the correct amount of refrigerant in a situation where you must add some? Do you use a gauge set and fill to a certain pressure? Or do you evacuate and refill a certain weight? Being a holding plate system I reckon you can not observe the frost level like in an evaporator plate system?

[@technauticscoolbluemariner7837]

I made a video about how to charge the system and you can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2aVZnuinJhrZrs In summary, you can charge the system two ways either by weight with two 12oz refrigerant cans for a full charge of 24oz. Or by slowly adding refrigerant until the bubbles in the sight glass go away.

[@OcRefrig]

They used to use the bd 3.5 compressor. i believe they still do. 3.5 is more reliable than the 5.0 i have found. thats why randy used it. it's been a few years since i have seen one though. they are good systems.

[@danilejes8371]

Need smthing small and easy to install in my boat..do you have a website??

[@markleyg]

Not quite understanding this. The greater the ambient condenser temperature, the greater the refrigerant pressure required. Higher refrigerant pressures require higher power consumption from the compressor so how do you maintain efficiency as the ambient temperature goes up?

[@TheDailyDigest]

I didn't hear him say anything about higher pressures. He spoke about more refrigerant and a larger coil. I've had a Cold Blue for about three years now, and the power consumption has been nominal. It runs 24/7 and has worked flawlessly.

[@sqr4.0]

here in kuwait its 111 f to 127 f ..any recomendation?!?

[@intellectracoon]

Hah in Iraq 120F is the standard temperature... My car ac is suffering would you recommend a bigger condenser?

[@djdj-qx3hb]

what about salt in the air ?

[@westmc45]

Dont waste your money if a part goes bad they will try and blame you like they just did to me. The manual is piss poorly written with no diagrams on what not to do. They just write some crap in the manual and do not provide a diagram of right and wrong when hooking up the lines. I had to fix this myself with a one cent o-ring. Also my shipment did not have a themostat and they tried to tell me we dont ship to your country. So i has someone bring me one it was not the same one some digital piece crap that did not work. I asked this Rich guy and he told me did not know what I was talking about and call some other person. They never replaced this I had to go and get a new one out of my pocket. Typical company thats out to only make a buck. By an italian made Isotherm for 1/3 of the price that does the same thing.

[@kentwood2914]

Dude, freakin' answer people's questions or don't make videos.

[@harpitap]

Yes, i agree, well said.