How Dual Control for Refrigerators and Freezers Works

When you think of versatile products for your boat or yacht, rarely do you think of a freezer. Its primary purpose is simple — keep food frozen at a safe temperature, but it’s an important appliance and can serve additional purposes. Just as not all freezers are of the same quality, not all freezers are solely one-function appliances.

Among the customization options Frigibar offers on our cockpit freezers is “dual control.” Dual control allows a freezer to serve as either a refrigerator or a freezer. This option enables the boat owner and crew to utilize the unit as a refrigerator for short trips to keep drinks or bait cold, and use as a freezer for longer voyages to store food safely for weeks.

How Dual Control Works

Freezers and refrigerators have different temperature ranges. Most refrigerators keep food cold at temperatures from 34 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit, while freezer temperatures can range from 32 to as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit and beyond.

The condensing unit, which acts as the brain of your refrigerator/freezer, is controlled by a thermostat. The thermostat, like the one used in your home, can be set to keep a consistent temperature. If using the refrigeration box as a refrigerator, the temperature should be kept above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Depending on the quality of the box (insulation, quality of the seal, etc.) and what you are trying to keep frozen, the temperature should be kept well below freezing if using as a freezer. Often, 0 degrees Fahrenheit or just below is desired.

Getting a Dual Control Refrigerator/Freezer For Your Boat

ensign-open-mibs-2012Frigibar’s cockpit units come standard as a freezer. When ordered, you can choose to have the unit built as just a refrigerator or select our dual control option, allowing you to make your unit the temperature you need when you need it. This option makes the entire unit either a freezer or refrigerator depending on the dial selected, however, the units can’t run as a freezer and refrigerator simultaneously.

Interested in a dual control freezer/refrigerator for your boat or yacht? For more, call us at 305-757-7697 or view Frigibar’s product catalog.