Off grid refrigerator

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Yorkshire Andy
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Off grid refrigerator

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

I've had 3 way fridges which run on mains/ 12v / LPG. .. those crappy peltier module lidded cool boxes which I've found useless camping one i had cooled to 20 degrees below ambient temperature so on a 35°c day you could pour the butter .....

Both of which are ok for short term use the LPG side at 15 grames per hour of gas gives 22 days of run time on a 8kg propane bottle but like the thermo coolers they use 80w or so of electric on 12v ... Which will kick the poo out of a battery if you try and run them off a leisure battery..


So fast forward the newer tech 12v compressor fridges
Screenshot_20240608-215231.png
On eco mode it runs at 30w when cooling on eco mode will chill down to -20°c (freezer)

And since Saturday it's run happily off a 120w solar panel and a 250wh solar "generator" and over night it's dropped to about 45% then once it gets bright it's fully charged by dinner

Ideal for camping or storing things like insulin or beer shtf it's got a digital temperature display so you can set the temperature you require there's a calibration mode if you need to fine tune it out the box but it seems accurate enough to me ;)

The fitted fridge in my camper is of 2004 vintage and costs a fortune to replace it still works but isn't overly efficient anymore so this gives me a fall back when I'm away if it fails completely I've another option and overflow space when the wife gets too much stuff at Asda .... It's only 20l capacity but it's a nice size for transporting in the car boot when camping the 3 way chest fridge was a bit big...
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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pseudonym
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Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:11 am
Location: East Midlands

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by pseudonym »

Thanks for the review, 30 watts is impressive.
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
GillyBee
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2020 6:46 am

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by GillyBee »

Now I want one! I considered the Peltier type ones a year or so back but the power use and performance just did not add up. This looks much better. But having managed without for 35 years of camping I may just continue as I am.
Yorkshire Andy
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Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

GillyBee wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2024 7:02 am Now I want one! I considered the Peltier type ones a year or so back but the power use and performance just did not add up. This looks much better. But having managed without for 35 years of camping I may just continue as I am.
You only want one because bits full of beer :lol: :lol:

The peltier ones in general are naff from experience they also don't seem to last long I had 2 die last summer kept my pack up in them at work under my bench and they are pushing 1/3rd the price of the compressor fridge anything over 25 degrees they just can't cope and the dead one I'm using as a cool box at work at the moment is plated at 50w on 12v but that's constant .. the compressor one cuts out there's no draw displayed on the ecoflow with it been a cool wet night last night the ecoflow was showing 70% this morning
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
GillyBee
Posts: 1173
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2020 6:46 am

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by GillyBee »

Busted :lol:
Yorkshire Andy
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Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

GillyBee wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2024 5:11 pmBusted :lol:
Screenshot_20240611-214421.png
18 cans with room on top for more :mrgreen:
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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pseudonym
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Location: East Midlands

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by pseudonym »

Yorkshire Andy wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 10:27 am
GillyBee wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2024 5:11 pmBusted :lol:
Screenshot_20240611-214421.png

18 cans with room on top for more :mrgreen:
What size cans though? :twisted:
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
Yorkshire Andy
Posts: 9115
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

pseudonym wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 10:35 am
Yorkshire Andy wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 10:27 am
GillyBee wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2024 5:11 pmBusted :lol:
Screenshot_20240611-214421.png

18 cans with room on top for more :mrgreen:
What size cans though? :twisted:
440's so the pint cans will also fit ;)
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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pseudonym
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Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:11 am
Location: East Midlands

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by pseudonym »

Yorkshire Andy wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 11:10 am 18 cans with room on top for more. 440's so the pint cans will also fit ;) :mrgreen:
Many thanks. :)
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
Yorkshire Andy
Posts: 9115
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm

Re: Off grid refrigerator

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

pseudonym wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 12:02 pm
Yorkshire Andy wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2024 11:10 am 18 cans with room on top for more. 440's so the pint cans will also fit ;) :mrgreen:
Many thanks. :)
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If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine