Sea Frost DC 5000 - Manual (Page 6)

6
After about one hour (with a single plate), the plate will become very cold. Starting from
warm will require more running than the normal refreezing time of the plate in its usable
temperature range.
The concept of the SEA FROST system is to create as much frozen material in the plate
as fast as possible. This "coldness" then keeps the cabinet cold. Daily running times
are based on the time needed to freeze enough of the plate to maintain proper cooling.
The plate must be frozen. Chilling the plate without freezing it will not provide any
holdover. You will learn about the daily time required for SEA FROST operation by
using the system.
Note: Maximum holdover time will be obtained when the cabinet and contents are at
their lowest temperatures and the plate is frozen solid. There is no limit to "on" time
however, no advantage is gained by running the system beyond this point and in
refrigeration applications over running will freeze items. Over running will also produce
undue wear on the motor, compressor and pump.
Cabinet size, cabinet insulation, contents added to be cooled, cabinet opening and
closing, and climate effect the holdover time.
SUGGESTIONS
As soon as the system has stopped the plate will begin to warm up as it absorbs heat,
cooling the refrigerated box. You might decide that it is a good idea to run the unit in
the last minutes of the day to provide ice for drinks.
Maximum storage will require that the plate be frozen. The plate may thaw (be above
freezing) and still not require running in refrigeration applications. Monitor the box
temperature itself not the plate temperature.
For minimum battery consumption set the thermostat at the highest (warmest) possible
setting. This would be toward one snowflake. When the engine or generator are
operating and charging, operate the DC 5000 at the maximum (coldest) setting to
increase the holdover storage and minimize battery consumption by freezing the plates
solid.
With timer operated systems two shorter periods a day may be better than a long one
once a day. When the holdover freezing is complete the benefit of running is only to
delay warming. There is some help in that cooling of the contents of the box will
increase holdover time but heat, "cold", moves slowly and it will be more efficient to wait
and run again later. Experimentation will provide the best instruction on how the SEA
FROST DC 5000 should be operated on your boat.
DEFROSTING will be required. A heavy layer of frost or ice will reduce cooling. This is
very important in freezers.