In the marine refrigeration world, the debate roars on between the air-cooled and water-cooled advocates, and the cold-plate and thin-panel crowds. While there are arguments all around, at the end of the day, the economics of new systems, particular systems to be retrofitted on loder boats, can outweigh "ultimate", damn-the-cost solutions. It's always a compromise. Technautics is one company that has tried to build a bridge over this inevitable debate by offering economical cold-plate (or holding-plate) systems that are run by air-cooled, 12-V compressors that are efficient to 120-degrees air temperature. These systems are designed for owner installation and come precraged with refrigerant (HFC 134a),eliminating the need for a licensed technician to get the system up and running. Technautics' president Randy Simpkins likes to point out that with a Technautics system it takes about four hours for a reasonably handy amateur to transform an old ice box into an operating freezer-refrigerator. On most offshore boats, the primary problem with refrigeration lies in the amount of energy it takes to keep the box cool - a function of compressor/plate efficiency and insulation in the box. Technautics' CoolBlue system has been devised to address this problem. The CoolBlue compressor and fan run at multiple speeds,

running faster and using more energy at the beginning of the cooling cycle and slowing down and running more efficiently during the maintenance phase of the cycle. The sceond element in the battle against energy waste is the introduction of vacupanels that can be retrofitted inside an old box; the inch-thick panels offer as much insulation as four or more inches of foam. Technautics tests have shown that the new compressor and the addition of well-installed vacuum panels can cut average daily energy consumption in a six-cubic-foot, half-freezer box from 45 amps to 21 amps. Priced at under $2000*, the CoolBlue 12-volt holding plate systems represent a very good value. For more information contact Technautics, 873 W. 15th Street, Bldg. C, Newport Beach CA92663. Ph: 800-568-8979. Web-site: www.technauticsinc.com.

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