Francois said:

Hi Steve,

Have you ever heard about european MAR-IX company ?

They have an Inverter chiller unit model CIV 5 :

http://en.mave.nl/producten-67…..etail.html

They applie inverter compressor technology. There is no current peak when switching on the compressor!

Why Marine Air or Cruise Air don't use this tecnology ?

It could match some installation where power available on board is quite weak since it has a true smart start! Also compressor speed could be adjusted to the power available and the needs.

What is your opinion about htis technology?

 

regards,

Francois

 

Francois~

Price would be a big thing over here…

That 6500.00 Euros converts to somewhere around $9500.00 US dollars…Though I'm sure part of that price is because they are suppling the Chiller pump, Seawater pump, Strainer, Expansion tank etc…But why would you need a Chiller (with another plumbing system & pump to maintain) in that small a size ??? 

A 16,000 Btu Dometic self contained Turbo unit is retail around $2,700 US dollars  (SmartStart adds $350 when ordered with it…$450 if you added it later) and yes the pump etc is extra, but a package with premium accessories would not run over $3500 retail US dollars…(around 2,400 Euros) 

Another factor I see from the link is they rate that unit at 1.5 Kw (which converts to 5118 BTU) but then say it can output between 3,400 – 17,000 BTU…Yes I understand it's variable speed, but the Kw rating should match…So what really is it ??? 

Voltage: 230v 50/60Hz-ac and 12-24v dc
Cool capacity: 1-5 kW (3.400-17.000Btu)
Refrigerant: R407C
Number of compressors: 1
Current AC: 1,5-5A
Heat capacity: 5 kW
Current DC: 10-37W
Dimensions (lxwxh): 508 x 371 x 414 mm
Weight: 52 kg

Also suspect, is the amp draw ratings don't really add up…

Even if the inverter was 100% efficient (and none are to my knowledge) That max 5 amps AC draw would convert to either 50 or 25 Amps from 12 or 24 volts DC respectively…Not 10 to 37 Watts as quoted…Which is also less than the AC voltage Amp rating (37 watts / 12 volts = 3.08 amps)

Nothing seems to add up here….At least not to me  

Dometic's larger chillers (4 ton & Above) can be 3 phase power compressors, but that can run on single phase shore power by using a Variable Frequency Drive…3 phase compressors have no in-rush amperage but with the VFD, the power is ramped up so it's a gradual start anyway.

 

Steve~