Fridge /Freezer

[oldogre]

I use a Whynter FM-62-DZ. gives you the ability to have a freezer and a fridge, or all one.  Nothing like having frozen meats and such to extend your stay.  I have had it for a little over two years and still works great.

 

[GrantRobertson]

I use a Whynter FM-62-DZ. gives you the ability to have a freezer and a fridge, or all one.  Nothing like having frozen meats and such to extend your stay.  I have had it for a little over two years and still works great.

Sweet! I didn't know these 12v compressor fridges would do that. That lets you start with one and add one as needed.

 

[oldogre]

Sweet! I didn't know these 12v compressor fridges would do that. That lets you start with one and add one as needed.

Its actually like 2 units in one, the 2 compartments are totally separte with own lid for each compartment and the temp can be set individually, so you can have like 15 degrees on freezer side and 35 on the side you choose as a fridge

 

[GrantRobertson]

Its actually like 2 units in one, the 2 compartments are totally separte with own lid for each compartment and the temp can be set individually, so you can have like 15 degrees on freezer side and 35 on the side you choose as a fridge

Just looked it up. Very impressed. I added it to my Amazon wish list.

 

[Ballenxj]

Just looked it up. Very impressed. 

Me too.

 

[Wanderer]

Just looked it up. Very impressed. I added it to my Amazon wish list.

Look around. I looked on Amazon and Home Depot. HD has it for $32 less....No shipping either.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Whynter/...2-DZ?NCNI-5&isSearch=true&browsestoreoption=2

When I do my new build, this will be high on the list.

 

[Canine]

Look around. I looked on Amazon and Home Depot. HD has it for $32 less....No shipping either.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Whynter/...2-DZ?NCNI-5&isSearch=true&browsestoreoption=2

When I do my new build, this will be high on the list.

And you can take it back to Home Depot without dealing with shipping it back to Amazon. As much as I want to buy stuff on Amazon through Bob's links, the ability to take a faulty fridge/freezer to Home Depot is a huge plus.

 

[compassrose]

Holy cow! $640 for a tiny freezer? I have $690 invested in 2 dorm refrigerators and a 12cf upright freezer. And I think that is a lot. This site is too rich for my pockets.

 

[GotSmart]

Holy cow! $640 for a tiny freezer? I have $690 invested in 2 dorm refrigerators and a 12cf upright freezer. And I think that is a lot. This site is too rich for my pockets.

Some of us are limited on space.  

I am looking at a 15 qt freezer as that is about how much space I can spare.

 

[Almost There]

Holy cow! $640 for a tiny freezer? I have $690 invested in 2 dorm refrigerators and a 12cf upright freezer. And I think that is a lot. This site is too rich for my pockets.

And some of us also want to be able to live completely off the grid with a minimal amount of solar power which means that the dorm fridges and upright freezers aren't practical for us.

I'm putting the money into solar and compressor fridge/freezer units so that I can live life the way I want to which is not tied to a power cord in an RV park.

We all differ in what is important to us.

 

[highdesertranger]

well isn't compassrose plugged in to the grid. when I tried a dorm fridge it was a power hog. that's when I went to 12v refers. highdesertranger

 

[Ballenxj]

I'm putting the money into solar and compressor fridge/freezer units so that I can live life the way I want to which is not tied to a power cord in an RV park.

This is what I'm trying to do as well. Problem is, I can only do small amounts at a time.

 

[highdesertranger]

Ballenxj, that works it just takes longer. I started out really small and worked up. highdesertranger

 

[29chico]

I have had an Engel mt35 since 2007.  Many multi week trips and it has also run on AC 110v for several years as my beer fridge.  Not one problem..  Very low power draw. 

I plan on getting an Engel mr40 next year and I will use it for fresh food and drinks.  The mt35, with it's slightly smaller capacity, will then do freezer duty.  I have run the mt35 as a freezer for a couple of weeks in the past in 12v mode and the power draw is noticeably higher than when keeping fresh food cold, but still not not too bad on the battery's over night.

 

[jimindenver]

I understand compassrose's reaction. It's the one I had when I started looking up a Engel MT15 that is listed on CL here for $550 (down from $650) and holds a 12 pack. There is a smaller one for $480.

That's a lotta cash to keep a 12 pack cold.

 

[LeeRevell]

My Dometic CF18 (rebadged Waeco) was around three bills via Amazon - very affordable if you don't need to pack a months worth of TV dinners.  Works for me, and easy to find a place for it.

 

[accrete]

...real life cost vs benefits analysis is exactly what I am looking for...

My wife and I are asking the same questions. As mentioned elsewhere we live in the PNW. Solar zone 6 @ ~3.5 hrs day. And regularly camp (preferred area) above 45° N with summer temps at camp in low to mid 70's. Now that's our _fault_ I know. We just luv the green and mild weather. . . and "Camo" is my favorite color in my wardrobe : )

We are the once-a-day opener type cook style. We drink ambient temp (or hot) teas year round. Cook a single meal mid afternoon that would call for a cooler-grab. A single bag of ice does last us longer than an adventure between laundry/food shopping does. We currently have two Engel Deep Blue ice-chests. One for veggies/fruits (a crisper of sorts) and the other for meats and similar. The one for the meats will be opened once a day at most depending on our meal-plan. The other gets opened several times a day. Ice is still in both on day 10. And THX for the "Using and Ice Box" link...we've been doing similar in our setup and that article had some additional good-tips.

Sooooo... though I still research the compressor 12v style VS ice-cooler, i'm just not sure I want to have to force our rig out from under a beautiful shade tree down by a river. We've not had solar on any of our rigs for that reason. And a small 110ah AGM house battery will typically see only ~20-30ah draw down during our week long times away from town. The drive back in charges it back up.

: ) THX for the link share on the HD available Whynter. Easier for sure than an online order/return fiasco.

Thom
...typing on a gorgeous cloudless sunny day on the Oregon coast. I gotta type that since they are rare!!

 

[SternWake]

. And a small 110ah AGM house battery will typically see only ~20-30ah draw down during our week long times away from town. The drive back in charges it back up.

    
Many people assume their alternator breaks the laws of Physics and can recharge a battery to 100% full quickly.

It takes time at absorption voltage.  14.4v ish must be held in  the neighborhood of 4 hours before the battery can be considered fully charged.

Most vehicles will not hold ABSV for this long
Most vehicles will not be driven for 4 hours when the battery is depleted.
Most vehicles house battery systems are not wired thick enough so that proper absorption voltage( if even allowed by the vehicle's voltage regulator)  actually makes it to the distant battery.

AGMS are degraded by not returning to 100% charge regularly, more so than flooded deep cycle batteries.

Do not assume that an alternator is going to  truly fully recharge any depleted battery.

Surface voltage of the battery after driving is NOT indicative of state of charge, especially on an AGM.  Surface charge voltage fools most people into thinking their battery is much more charged than it actually is.

After an outing, one should have a plug in or Solar method to truly fully recharge their battery, otherwise its cycle life will be compromised to some degree.  It depends on its state of charge when put to rest as to how much and how fast degradation occurs.

Whether upgrades to meet the batteries demands for ideal service life are worth it, is another matter.  If 300 cycles to 50% is acceptable as opposed to 500 cycles then one can worry about other things.  Just don't fall into the Magical alternator mindset which permeates society.

Time at absorption voltage is required to fully charge any battery.  There is NO way around this.  Not enough time and not high enough absorption voltage, well don't kid yourself just because you see 13.2v when you turn the engine off.

 

[Ballenxj]

    
Many people assume their alternator breaks the laws of Physics and can recharge a battery to 100% full quickly.

It takes time at absorption voltage.  14.4v ish must be held in  the neighborhood of 4 hours before the battery can be considered fully charged.
<-----snip ------->
Time at absorption voltage is required to fully charge any battery.  There is NO way around this.  Not enough time and not high enough absorption voltage, well don't kid yourself just because you see 13.2v when you turn the engine off.

So in the absence of alternate charging facilities, a longer road trip is in order?

 

[highdesertranger]

Chico, I find when using the Engel's as a freezer, I turn it all the way up for a day, this deep freezes everything in it. then you can turn it down to about 2.5 on the dial, this keeps everything rock hard and uses considerably less power. highdesertranger