Fridges & Cold Beer -- How I Done It --

[Dellmassive]

Fridges & Cold Beer -- How I Done It --


For Most Beer Lovers, Cold Beer is a Must. (especially Larger)

and for Her-Indoors a cold wine or G&T will always help smooth the situation . . . . maybe even Cold POP for the kids (My nanas term)

Then there is the necessities of camping and Fridges like Milk, Bacon, Sausages, Cheese & Salad(for the Burger).

Sure you could live on tins of Spam and tinned Tuna, but who wants to do that?



So this Thread is about just that, Fridges and cooling.

I've done loads of content that is spread about over various threads, so i though i was time to pull it all together in one place . . . .




*************************************


My journey with cooling started many years ago when we went to motor racing weekenders, a 2-3day event, off grid, in a tent.

It started as we all did with a coolbox with Ice.

this works ok for the first day or so, but as you drink and replace the beers the ice melts faster and turns into a box full of warm beers and water . . .

but dont get me wrong . . . this is by far the cheapest and easiest way of cooling . . . . it just means that someone will have to go to the shops a couple of time for bags of fresh ice.

Since those days i have upgraded to 12v/240v cooler boxes, 3way fridges and now these days compressor fridges . . .


***************************************

lets look at some options . . .

First off we have the trusty cooler bag and ice pack . .

I've used this "Titan" brand (from Costco) and they are awesome, and will easily last a day+ when full of ice or ice packs.

> Titan Deep Freeze 40 Can Collapsible Cooler - Blue: Amazon.co.uk: Clothing




loose or ice packs are the way to go . . .

> https://amzn.to/3eNHRjd






The benefit of the cooler bag is that it can fold away when not in use . . . . which is nice.

Next up is the trusty cooler box. . . .

with thicker & denser walls and lid you get better performance, the ice will last longer.

They are also more durable for being thrown around in the van and can be stronger when being carried about full of beer. =]

i had this one in the passed, it can be used as a seat and table alike.


> Coleman Cool Box 30QT Performance Cooler, 28 Litres capacity, Large High Performance Cooler Box, Ice Box for Drinks: Amazon.co.uk



This is our Beer Box at Silverstone F1 2015, the Beer Tent was Pricey. So we took out own beer. Problem was the long walk to the track . . . . . . . . .





so we got one of these . . . makes the job much easier.

and some bungy straps to stop it falling off.

> Yaheetech Heavy Duty Aluminium 80kg Folding Foldable Hand Sack Truck Barrow Cart Trolley Industrial Warehouse Hand Truck, Sack Truck: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools



Woodlands Camp @ Silverstone which is awesome BTW ( as is the F1 show . . . . )



.

So whats next . . . . ?

well at some point you will give up running to the shops for more ice and start looking at 12v cooler boxes . . .

This is where things start to get tricky as you need to power them . . . .

Most of these boxes are classed as TE or Thermo-Electric and run on 12v dc with a car 12v plug on them.

Like this one, they are rated in Box size ie 25L and cooling efficiency ie: " Cooling up to 17 degree Celsius below ambient temperature "


> Mobicool U26 DC Thermoelectric Cool Box, 25 Litre: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike




The TE part is the tech inside the box, its effectively a "peltier cooling element", it works by using 12v dc to power the element,

one side gets hot, the other side gets cold. . . . there are two fans, one for the hot side and one for the cold side.

> Thermoelectric cooling - Wikipedia



because of this they are very power hungry and in efficient . . as only half of the used power is for cooling the rest is given off in heat and fan power . . .

To help the manufactures add in ECO modes and the like . . . . but ultimately its a power trade -off.

The next upgrade was to add 12v/240v to the mix . . . .


here is our current cool boxes . . . they are 12/240



Now one thing i realised long ago was they they were MORE EFFICIENT when running on 240v AC power (via a 12v mains inverter) . . .

which can been seen here:

But what i didn't know was why . . . . . until a few week ago ..... !

look at the spec plate inside the cool box . . .




it clearly states that:

on 12v dc its 39.6W

and

on 240vac its 52W max & 14W eco

that explains the results i was getting . . . plus its a lot quieter =]

> BESTEK 200W Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 230V 240V Dual Socket Car Voltage Converter Transformer with 4 USB Car Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

this was the (MSW) inverter i was using back then . . . .



and this the one we use now:

weve moved over to pure sine wave now (PSW)

> BESTEK 300W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 230V 240V with 4.8A Dual Smart USB Ports Car Adapter: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike



with one of these . .

> [UL Listed] YCIND Battery Clamp Click-On to Female Cigarette Lighter Socket Boost Cable Heavy-Duty 30A Fuse 12V/24V 12AWG Cord 3Ft: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike



+++


or one of these . .

https://amzn.to/35lP6QC

+++

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO FUSE ANYTHING CONNECTED TO A BATTERY !!!!!!

Right ok . . . so what about the battery . . . . ?

How long will the battery last . . . . ?

well for us we started by connecting it the car battery . . . . . and soon found out that we needed a jump start as it run the car battery flat . . . . =[



most cooler boxes have a low volt cut off that is supposed to stop the battery going flat . . . . . but we found that wasnt good enough and ended up with flat battery all weekend and the car running for about 3hrs to try and charge it up.

For the next outing we decided to get a leisure battery . . . . .

first up was a good old SLA heady duty leisure battery . . . . which was fine for the first season . . .

but quickly swapped out for a AGM duty to the very poor performance of standatd SLA batteries . . .

so next up was . . . . . .

12v AGM Leisure battery from GoOutdoors, like this one . .

> Platinum AGM Plus Leisure Battery 12V 100Ah AGMLB6110L: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike





and a battery box for it to live and be transported in . . .

> Pennine Caravan Black Plastic 110amp Leisure Battery Box with straps and divider: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

 

[Dellmassive]

p2

So how long will it last . . . . ?

well the first attempt was not so great . . . . . . we had 2x 12v cooler boxes, which run the battery dead flat over one day =[

why?

well you need to look at the power draw and size of your battery . . .

take the battery above . . . its 100Ah. BUT with SLA (sealed lead acid) & AGM (absorbant glass matt) battery technology you can only use the top half of the batteries capacity.

why> - well below 50% capacity the voltage drops too low to power anything (say 10v and under) and the battery will be permanently damaged.

you may have seen the chart before . . . . its a rough gauge of an AGM power capacity vs voltage . . .



so a voltmeter may be useful to you,

more on battery monitoring over here > Battery Monitoring -- How I Done It --

and recharging here > Battery Chargers - How I Did It -

and solar charging here > Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

..

Back to the battery . . . . we know that we can use 50ah from a 100ah 12v AGM battery.

we know out cooler box draws 40W form a 12v battery . . .

we know the power equation is (W=V*A) (V=W/A) (A=W/V)


40W fridge / 12v battery = 3.3A or 3.3ah

TWO fridges running is 2*3.3A = 6.6A or 6.6ah

no we know what the power draw is we can devide that by the battery capacity . . . . in this case 50Ah

which is 50ah battery / 6.6ah (two fridges) = 7.5 or 7.5hrs.

Ahhh . . . . thats why the fridges didnt last a weekend.




The next step for us was to take a second battery . . . . .

so we had 2x 100ah AGMs for the weekend.

run one the first day . . . . then swapped out the battery half way through . . .

plus unplugging the fridges now and again to help prelong the runtime. . . .




what was next . . . . ?

well next up was the 3way fridge (The Absorption fridge) . . . why 3way? . . . .

well it runs off 12v and 240v like the cooler boxes above, but also GAS !!.

These are the type of fridges fitted into caravans . . .

so they will run off EHU or 12v House battery bank . . . or also the vans Gas supply.

here is our one . . . currently being used as a third fridge keeping the Gin cold =]





we got ours from GoOutdoors . . .

this one has the Gas connector on the back so you can connect up to the gas supply . . . or Cadac gas bottle . .

The only Caviat is that when running on Gas they need to be outside or externally vented due to them actually burning gas, needing fresh air to burn and create carbon dioxide . .

so make sure they are outside when on gas . . . . either 12/240 they are fine inside . . .

There is also a version that takes the small gas cooker cartridges likw this one . . . (wish i had of gone for that version now)

> Dometic 9105204289 ACX40G Combicool Absorption Coolbox - 12V/230V/Gas Cartridge - 40 Litres - Grey: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike





How do they work? : Absorption refrigerator - Wikipedia

These are great fridges that will go very cold and even come with a small icecube tray . . . . though it takes a while.

They are very good running on gas or EHU but are power hungry when running on 12v . . .


we tested this on one of the 3in1 battery packs here : Awesome 3-in-1 Battery Bank - How I done It -

and here : Awesome 3-in-1 Battery Bank - How I done It -



.

its drawing the full 80w via the 240v side and the same from the 12v side about 6.6A . . . . .

so again only about 7.5hrs on a 100ah AGM (80w/12v=6.6a) (50ah/6.6ah = 7.5hrs)

great for EHU, but not so for 12v. and never bothered hooking gas up to it. . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

p3

what next . . . . well the daddy of them all.

12v compressor fridges =]

How do they work? : Refrigerator - Wikipedia


We have a Dometic CFX35 which is great . . . .

Dometic Waeco CoolFreeze CFX35 W Portable Fridge Freezer 12v 24v mains Cool Box

The Dometic Waeco CoolFreeze CFX35W Portable Freezer is a hard wearing, robust cool box with exceptional cooling even in the warmest of weather.

www.waecofridges.co.uk

I've got this one . . .

Managed to bag one on ebay for a cracking price and was basically new.




Dometic CoolFreeze CFX 35 Professional - Portable compressor cooler
Dometic CoolFreeze CFX 35 Professional - A highly impressive 32 l cooler and freezer with CFX special electronics. Capable of an excellent cooling performance even in high outside temperatures. Robust, efficient and ready for action.
www.dometic.com

.


then got one of these imported from Amazon USA.

i love it to bits.

we had it at Rutland T6F summer camp keeping the Beer ice cold.

its a shame its the 35, i wanted the 40, but at the price at the time i had to have it.

which we managed to grab on ebay for £399,

Then imported a Insulated bag/carry cover from Amazon USA. (#notcheap !!!)

anyway, we love it.


we now keep running with with a leisure battery + inverter shown above, and :

mobile solar: Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

3in1 battery: Awesome 3-in-1 Battery Bank - How I done It -

battery box: 12v Lithium Leisure Battery Box 138Ah 1766Wh -- How I Done It --


*********************************************************

Now for some consolidation from other threads . . Anyone got a Dometic CFF 35 or CDF 36? Looking for Opinions.


I've got the CFX35 which is an awsome fridge.

then got the additional "jacket" that makes a big difference on keeping the temp down, and therefore keeps the power usage down.

it seems that Dometic "as a company" just use other people stuff and put there lable on it and sell it for twice the price . . .

saying that they bought KAMPA the other year . . . . so now all the Kampa stuff is Dometic branded . . .


anyway the point is . . . .

I seams like there is a couple of china factories knocking out tons of these fridges and being rebranded by allsorts.

i cant see the difference in most of them looking at the specs..

so i think the internals are all the same as are the control panel etc . . .



...



so look at these . . . . same fridge, and the jacket is included.

42L £349
Polarbox 42L AC/DC Compressor Fridge 12v 24v Grey Black Carry Bag




Polarbox 42L AC/DC Compressor Fridge 12v 24v Grey Black Carry Bag 5060244531840 | eBay
The Polarbox 42L Compressor fridge is the perfect solution for storing food and drinks on the go. Polarbox 42L AC/DC Compressor Fridge. The Polarbox fridge is universal and can be operated with 12/24V DC as well as with 230V AC.
rover.ebay.com



....

and

32L £329

Polarbox 32L AC/DC Compressor Fridge 12v 24v Grey Black Carry Bag

Polarbox 32L AC/DC Compressor Fridge 12v 24v Grey Black Carry Bag 5060244531833 | eBay
The Polarbox 32L Compressor fridge is the perfect solution for storing food and drinks on the go. Polarbox 32L AC/DC Compressor Fridge. The Polarbox fridge is universal and can be operated with 12/24V DC as well as with 230V AC.
rover.ebay.com

.




the jackets are awsome..

.

heres a link to the CFX35 for a comparison:

Dometic Waeco CoolFreeze CFX35 W Portable Fridge Freezer 12v 24v mains Cool Box


other options:



OUTWELL 35L £600

Outwell Deep Cool 35L - Buy online here
Keep food fresh throughout your holiday with the new Deep Cool Camping Fridge. With room for everyday essentials plus a freezer area, the fridge has an adjustable digital display to monitor temperatures. Strong handles make it easy to carry, while sound reduction ensures peace and quiet. The...

www.outwell.com

Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread

.

Heres the new model . . . .


new model:

Dometic CFX3 45 40L Portable Compressor Cool Box and Freezer | Leisure Outlet

www.leisureoutlet.com

.

@Blitz went for one of these . . . . but now out of stock =[

Thanks @Dellmassive with bag included

Polarbox 52L AC/DC Compressor Fridge 12v 24v Grey Black Carry Bag
<h2>Polarbox 52L AC/DC Compressor Fridge 12v 24v </h2> The Polarbox 52L Compressor fridge is the perfect solution for storing food and drinks on the go. Whether you're in a car or camping, the Polarbox fridge keeps your food and drinks cool. <br>The Pola

www.raptor4x4.co.uk

.

@Skyliner33 went for ARB . . .


Although I've just found some called ARB


ARB Portable Fridge Freezer 35L Series 2 - 10801353 | eBay
Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or relaxing in your camp chair, keeping an eye on the temperature of your beers has never been so easy – it can all be done on your Apple or Android Smartphone or ARB LINX device.
www.ebay.co.uk


.

@Big.mac went for an OUTWELL . . .

The outwell arrived today and is currently on test. I thought I’d share my initial thoughts and a few pictures for those of you who are still procrastinating on which compressor cool box to go for.

First thing, It was delivered very quickly, great service from Outdoorgear.co.uk based in Bournemouth.

I’m pleased I opted for the 35l version, it’s pretty big, the 50l which i was contemplating would have been too big for my needs.
This is it boxed up on my doorstep which gives a good feel for the size. There is a little packing round it but not too much.



As I said, it’s a decent size, holds a 4l milk carton standing upright easily. Haven’t got a 2l drinks bottle to test but rarely buy them in any case. Plenty of room for a few beers and food to last a weekend (which is mostly how I use my van).
Removable basket to make it easier to get stuff out, drain plug to aid cleaning and a really clever lid which hinges on either side and is completely removable as well

Can be connected to the van using a 12v cigarette socket adaptor which is included. Can be connected to the mains as well. THis is the one bit which is slightly disappointing, to connect to the mains you use an adaptor with a 12v Socket on it which you then connect the 12v connector into. Why they couldn’t have just had a plug that went into the fridge I don’t know. On the plus side, it is all included and I will probably only use the mains connection to pre-chill before loading the van up. It also comes with both a UK and EU plug.

So how does it work? I plugged it in, set it to 3 degrees and timed how long it took to get down there, completely empty. It took 20 mins and then the compressor shut off. It carried on dropping in temp down to 1 degree before slowly creeping up to 4 when the compressor kicked back in. It’s been running for a couple of hours now and the compressor is off much more than it is on. This should mean it won’t eat my leisure battery (which I’ll test next weekend).

So far I’m pretty impressed with it. The 240V connectivity is a minor thing really and given I paid £430 for it and it has a 2 year warranty I can put up with having to use their weird connectivity. It was over £100 cheaper than the Vitifrigo which was the one I had my eye on.

I’ll report back on power consumption after giving it a real world test next weekend when I’ll be using for real on a 4 day trip to the mountains.


**********************

Credits:

@Blitz
@Skyliner33
@Big.mac
@Dellmassive
@CALLAKN

 

[Dellmassive]

p4

after this weekend at T6F summer camp, I've decided to get a second compressor fridge . . .

looks like the 4x4Raptor ones i posted abovce have been very popular and sold out !!

so I've done some digging and found some similar cheaper units. . .

i went for this one . .

Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC


Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 40 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 40 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com

.

they have a 30 Litre too , ,

Portable 30 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC


Portable 30 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 30 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 30 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your Explore...
rover.ebay.com

.


Portable 50 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC


Portable 50 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 50 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 50 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com

.

what about one with wheels ?


Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC



Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 40 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 40 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com

. . . . .

here is an equivalent as the 4x4raptor but with no bag . .

KITGARN 35L Compressor Portable Small Refrigerator Car Refrigerator Freezer Vehicle Car Truck RV Boat Mini Electric Cooler for Driving Travel Fishing Outdoor and Home Use



KITGARN 35L Compressor Portable Small Refrigerator Car Refrigerator Freezer Vehicle Car Truck RV Boat Mini Electric Cooler for Driving Travel Fishing Outdoor and Home Use: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Buy KITGARN 35L Compressor Portable Small Refrigerator Car Refrigerator Freezer Vehicle Car Truck RV Boat Mini Electric Cooler for Driving Travel Fishing Outdoor and Home Use at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.
amzn.to

.***********************

@Broadside went for the Polarbox:
I bought the Raptor 4x4 Polarbox 42L fridge after @Dellmassive posted about it. We drove to south west France over the weekend and we are impressed with it. On 12v off the starter battery it drops the voltage from 12.4v to 12.3v after 7 hours, this is the most we have run it for so far without starting the engine. We have been using it on mains in France as a drinks fridge, in 34c ambient temperature it has not bother cooling down to 4c and has a setting to go down to -18c. We have got a separate fridge on the campsite as well because it is so warm it’s not practical otherwise as food spoils too quick.

it has some Eco settings to use less power when running off 12v, when running off 240v you have to use an external adaptor but it slips in to the side pocket when not in use.

the 12v plug on theOutwell unit posted earlier in this thread is identical, I would Agree with Dell that a factory is knocking these out and rebranding them.

overall I am very impressed with it, no more soggy warm food when on very long journeys and an excellent addition in a very hot location. We will also be using it off grid in Cornwall later this summer as a main fridge for 4 days, the 42L unit has a surprising amount of storage space so I think it will do us fine.

*********************************

as did @Blitz





**********************************

i just found some cover / bags for the fridges i listed above,

looks like they are branded JOYTUTUS



US $55.0 25% OFF|Joytutus 50L Car Refrigerator Protective Bag Portable Carry Bag for Mini Fridge Keep Cooling Drip proof Storage Bag|Refrigerators| - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

p5

I've updated this thread as loads of places are out of stock . . .

but I've found some more . . .


look here: Anyone got a Dometic CFF 35 or CDF 36? Looking for Opinions.

**********************************

after this weekend at T6F summer camp, I've decided to get a second compressor fridge . . .

looks like the 4x4Raptor ones i posted abovce have been very popular and sold out !!

so I've done some digging and found some similar cheaper units. . .

i went for this one . .

Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC

Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 40 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 40 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com

. ******

There seems to be 3 or 4 slightly different styles . . . . all with slightly different branding.

i think there are a few Chinese factories knocking them out and re-brand as required for the retailer . . .

They are all clones of the Dometic Market leaders . . . . . of which is also produced in china somewhere . .

have a look at the ones on the market and you will start to see the similarities . . .

(if you want Dometic or Weaco or ARB etc Branded ones they are £700+ )


I've gone for a slightly different one this time . . (looks oks to me, its cheap, just a shame it has no bag/cover)


it has 12v & a 240vac power supply . . .

*****************************

30 L




Portable 30 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 30 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 30 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your Explore...
rover.ebay.com



40L




Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 40 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 40 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com



ALL:



Items for sale by biggles_57 | eBay
Shop eBay for great deals from biggles_57!
www.ebay.co.uk



**************

Others:

12v portable compressor fridge | eBay
Find great deals on eBay for 12v portable compressor fridge. Shop with confidence.
rover.ebay.com


***********

google search:

12v portable compressor fridge - Google Shopping
....


the cloans are Half the price . . .

and the spec details are the same . . . .

*******************



Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 40 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 40 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com



******************


best thing to do is have a look at them all and weigh up the pros and cons of the expensive branded ones vs the cloan cheaper ones . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

p6

HOLY COW BATMAN !!!!

look what just turned up . . . .

delivered in UNDER 24hrs !!

*********************

i went for this one . .

Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC

Portable 40 Litre Camping Compressor Fridge Freezer 12v/24v DC 240v AC | eBay
The Explore More 40 Litre Compressor Camping Fridge is the perfect solution for cooling and freezing food and drinks on the go. 40 Litre Capacity. · The Explore More fridge/freezer can be operated from 12 or 24V DC as well as from 100~ 240V AC so whatever your power source even solar your...
rover.ebay.com

*****************************

 

[Dellmassive]

p7

more pics and comparison :

 

[Dellmassive]

p8

more:

manual . .

 

[Dellmassive]

p9

@CALLAKN
you got time to run some tests today and get back to me with them ?!
thoughts so far ??

************

as we speak . . . looking good so far . .

been running on 240v mains so far 2w tickover. - 45W ish when compressor running, speed controlled as needed, so it ramps up and down as needed.

Beer nice and cold so far =]

its happily ticking over at 0degc ( i normally have these things set at 2decc to stop too much freezing.

tried it on 12v and got an E1 error - battery voltage to low . . . so i moved the switch to the lower setting and it kicked into life . .

it didnt like the 5A regulated output on the battery pack . . . didnt start.

but its very happy with the 10A output..

the EHU PSU is 14v interestingly.

.

fridge area . . .

.


bottom section . . .

Ill try and run it from a standard AGM 12v battery later . . . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

p10

32l bag is in . . . . but its a bit small for the 40l fridge.

TBC

i got it from here:

32L Fridge Transit Bag Suitable for the Bearmach Fridge BA 3220

32L Fridge Transit Bag Suitable for the Bearmach Fridge BA 3220

bearmach.com

and already emailed them about the 42L version - they dont/wont be stocking it anymore =[





so if anybody finds a 40/42L insulated fridgecarry bag cover that fits this style of fridge let me know . . . .



FYI . . . these fridges loose a lot of temp out the sides and base . . . . so even though the top lids bit doesnt fit properly . . . . overall this bag will still benifit and add effectivnes.

 

[Dellmassive]

p11

 

[Big.mac]

great write up Lee

 

[CALLAKN]

Cheers lee, polarbox back in stock 6-8 week time.

 

[CALLAKN]

I’ll be going for a China knock off to save myself aload of money over a dometic

 

[LakesT6]

Nice one @Dellmassive, I've just pulled the trigger on the 50L version. Looks like a decent bit of kit, I couldn't justify the cost of the more expensive branded units. It'll be getting tested in France at the end of next week.

 

[VanDamMan]

Great write up @Dellmassive ......

Our journey regarding keeping stuff cool was one that many have followed..Cool bag...Cool box 12v...along with many freeze blocks..
The setup of your van will lead the path you follow as how to power your fridge/cooler ..Fully converted..day van...work van and also the availability of EHU ....Regarding EHU we in the past have been let down and not having multiple batteries and solar had to cut short our travels...but things change so leisure battery and solar went in....we still for the past 18 mths rely on a trusty Dometic Acx40g
As @Dellmassive said...gas can’t be used in the van unless the vehicle is vented but we setup a kitchen area in our tent so when on gas it works very well ( small gas bottle will last about 22hrs ) A 3 way is not everyones cup of tea but it’s a trade off especially with cost ....
We see technology changing at a pace...and thanks to some very Knowledgeable members and great reviews we learn what’s next
So carry on Chilling

 

[sippe]

We got a Mobicool B40 (hybrid, can work on 220v with compressor, and on 12v but with the basic element), after reading a review from someone that said he had 'IJskoude pintjes' (ice cold beers)
It works very well on 220v (can even freeze), but the 12v isn't impressive, so we have it on 220v via converter.

It easily fits a crate of beer, only thing is it takes some room....

Probably there's better (but also more expensive) options out there, but we can drink ijskoude pintjes for now....

 

[BoroBoy]

Has anyone investigated the feasibility of 12 volt/ camping ice makers.

 

[Dellmassive]

Hmmm...... there's an idea..

Ice makers or normally very power hungry.....

 

[lydart]

I have a small counter top ice maker which works really well. It's rated at 140w and takes about 90mins to fill the ice basket. So you could run it off an inverter but I'm not sure how it would cope with high ambient temperatures. The ice basket is not insulated so it needs to be emptied after every cycle. I think a 12v version, if available, would be a similar price to a 12v compressor fridge/freezer. So I just fill up some ice cube bags and freeze them prior to leaving and put them at the bottom of my Waeco.