Portable ice makers

[MikeP]

I know we had this discussion a couple of years ago but I can't find it...

I'm thinking of buying a portable ice maker for on-board use, essentially replacing the U-line on the back deck (it works fine but it takes a LOT of loads of ice to clean out the system after winterizing) and the fridge icemaker (same issue).

Has anyone used them and which model(s) seem to work the best?

 

[Trojan]

I don't know how you service you ice maker in the spring. I just remove the 1/4 inch feed tube at the valve and flush the feed line. reattach the line and cycle the unit. I dump the first tray of cubes and I'm good to go.

BILL

 

[MikeP]

Thanks, Bill. I just run ice loads through until it cleans out. Your method is a much better method that would be easy with the ice maker. I'll do that from now on.

On our fridge I couldn't do it - the access to the water line is behind the fridge and it is essentially wedged into position I had to remove the rollers from the unit to get it in and it's pretty much a "permanent" installation until the fridge fails - hopefully a long time from now in a galaxy far, far away.

 

[Boatsb]

Mike you can out a break in the line leading to the fridge and push the water through with a little air pressure until it stops making ice. Than drain the rest back to the feed. Think like the hynautic engineers.

I never used AF on ice makers in all the years I winterized them up north. I always cleared the lines to the freezer like I described and filled the rest of the system normally. My logic was "there will not be damage if a small amount of water is in the ice maker and it freezes".

 

[Trojan]

I always fill my system with red pop. I don't take any chances with air. You never can get all the water out of the lines. It's a crap shoot. It's a lot cheaper with air. I used to use air, not any more. I don't want any bulging or split lines in the spring.
You can always place a T plus a little valve and water line in the feed at the back of the frig and use it for a spring drain.

BILL

 

[jim rosenthal]

If you figure this out, let us know. I don't much care for built-in icemakers. I wish I had a portable one as well.

 

[MikeP]

I ordered a portable one - http://www.air-conditioner-home.com/AI-210SS-ice-maker/?ref=froogle - should be here in a few days. When it gets here I'll let folks know what I think. I've never even seen a portable icemaker except in pictures so it will be a learning experience for me, whether good or ill remains to be seen.

 

[SeaEric]

The main problem with portable ice makers, as I understand them (I don't own one) is that they will not store the ice for very long. They make it quickly, but have no freezing capacity for the already-made ice. The other issue is whether they produce "clear" commercial style ice, or ice that is cloudy like most ice is. There are portables that will produce clear ice.

Mike, if you're going to remove your existing built-in ice maker, I may be a buyer.

 

[MikeP]

"... they will not store the ice for very long."

Yes, I've read that about them - they essentially "store" ice simply by making it faster then it melts! I assume that after there is ice in the container it will tend to keep longer just because it becomes colder the more ice is in there. Allegedly they make clear ice which is one of the reasons I am interested. If it doesn't make clear ice I will write it off as a poor decision...

If I decide to remove the Uline, I'll let you know.

 

[captpl]

We bought the same one as above last year... It works for what it is, the cubes are a little on the small side, but I've got to say it worked pretty darn good. The melting issue was not really a factor... the little cubes go fast chillin' all that scotch.... adding water wasn't too much of a hassle either. All in all one of my wife's better purchases.....

 

[Capt K]

I have a similar one at my home bar. It is made by Magic Chef. I really does work good. When I have time, I let it run and bag some ice to put in the fridge. It keeps enough going for a small party, especially if you have some bags already stored. The nice thing is that if it starts to melt, the water just goes back into the resevoir and the process continues.

 

[MikeP]

Got the icemaker yesterday - it's pretty neat and makes ice quite fast. I think it's a keeper! But I have one disappointment...it doesn't make clear ice. The ice is "foggy" just like refridge ice. So HOW do restaurants make clear ice?

 

[jim rosenthal]

I'll get back to you on that one....I'm still thinking about it. How DO they make clear ice? Seems like commercially made ice IS usually clear...I don't know how they do it, either.

 

[MikeP]

I just found a bunch of info which says you have to use distilled water AND then boil it (some say boil it twice) and THEN make the ice with that. I have plenty of distilled water on board so I'm going to pour our all the regular bottled water and try distilled. Since it makes ice in about 6-7 minutes, it won't take long to see if there is a difference.

 

[MikeP]

That's it! The first batch of cubes with distilled water (not boiling it) are clear. Yumpin Yimminy, I'm a happy guy with some Mt. Gay and CLEAR ICE in my immediate future...

Ice with regular bottled water (Deer Park)

Ice with distilled water

Close up of cubes (or whatever shape that actually is)

 

[jim rosenthal]

When does Loretta get here? You are spending FAR too much time by yourself. You appear to be going crazy.

 

[MikeP]

It's true, when I'm on the boat I work my butt off so that by the time I leave, I never want to see it again! I need to find the "relaxing" part of boat ownership but I'm constantly looking for "another" thing to do.

When my wife's here I actually enjoy the boat but in the total of around 4 months that I spend here, she's only aboard for maybe a grand total of 3 weeks.

The rest of the time it's just me and this dang boat!

And if I don't have a real project, every day, I find one...then I complain about working on the boat.

I believe you are right; I am crazy.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Sounds completely normal to me.

 

[krush]

Clear ice from big icemakers happens because it freezes the cubes layer by layer. My big ass ice maker (which I just found out has a big ass r22 leak today) has a tray that is chilled and the water showers over it from the top. The ice freezes layer by layer as a small pump continuously showers water over the plate. Only the water freezes and the contaminants that cloud the water go to the sump and is purged each cycle.

 

[jim rosenthal]

It's air in the water, then; that's what makes it cloudy. Boiling water gets the air out. Cool. NPI