Dometic to Show VARC48 Capacity Chiller at FLIBS

Dometic Marine, a division of Dometic Group, a global provider of leisure products for the marine, truck, caravan, motor home and automotive markets, today announced that it will exhibit its award-winning Dometic VARC48, a variable capacity chiller for pleasure boats and workboats. The VARC48 received an IBEX Innovation Award in the Mechanical Systems category at this year’s International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference in Tampa, Fla.

The Dometic VARC48 is the first chiller of its kind to adjust capacity output based on the current load demand. It is highly efficient, providing just the right amount of needed cooling, reducing energy costs and the size of generator needed on-board. Fort Lauderdale show attendees can see the chiller at Engine Tent 1207-1208 and Yachting Tent 729-730.

The VARC48 has a 1- to 4-ton (12,000 to 48,000 BTU) capacity and continuously adjusts itself to meet load demands. Its steady operation maintains a more constant load on the generator. Instead of turning on or off, it speeds up or slows down as needed to produce more or fewer BTUs. Also, there is no in-rush of current when starting, reducing demand on the entire electrical system.

“While a boat may need a 4-ton chiller to handle extreme conditions and get things comfortable onboard at start-up, it seldom needs all that power thereafter. Yet each time a temperature adjustment is needed from an ordinary marine chiller, the entire 4-ton system comes on and runs for a period, then turns off. This causes large power swings on the generator,” said Ned Trigg, Sr. VP of Global System Sales at Dometic Marine. “Boat owners will find that with the VARC48, they use less power, require a smaller generator and have reduced maintenance on their electrical systems due to fewer starts and stops.”

Three operating modes—Econo, Standard, and Boost—let boat owners limit the maximum allowable amperage to one of three adjustable amp limits. Econo mode maximizes efficiency and minimizes power requirements. Standard mode offers a normal balance of capacity and efficiency. Boost can be used at start-up or in extreme conditions, allowing the chiller to run at a higher capacity to make the boat hot or cold on demand.

An optional high-resolution color touchscreen provides users with a dynamic interface, system metrics and control. The Dometic VARC48 also supports Dometic’s built-in Smart Touch Integrated Intelligence Control (STIIC) software. STIIC allows boat owners to monitor and troubleshoot their VARC48 marine chiller units, or other Dometic equipment on-board, via a free mobile app from anywhere in the world.