Hey all,<br>I'm trying to make a decision whether or not to get a mini fridge or just a super cold regular Igloo-type cooler for my future van. The fridge option has benefits that it doesn't need ice to stay cold. However, since it needs to run 24/7, power consumption will drain any batteries quicker.<br><br>With the Igloo option, there will be a constant need for ice. However, with all the money saved from living in a van, buying ice will only be a very minor expense. Further, when the ice melts, I plan on straining the resulting water and use it for my shower set-up.<br><br>Does anyone know how long a really good Igloo-type cooler will keep something cold? Any thoughts or suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thanks all.<br><br>
Mini Fridge VS. Igloo Cooler
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Butternut
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<font size="3"><font face="Courier">Tough call. I have a cooler because of weight, energy, and space. I try to be as low energy as possible and (because I have a converted car) there is very little room for extras. I think it's going to depend a lot on what sort of energy system you have. I know a guy with a fridge in his van that runs on solar. Doesn't drain the battery and it's always on.</font></font><br>
I've only been full-timing for a week now so take my advice with a grain of salt, BUT I did attempt to research this topic. From what I discovered if you want to full-time with a fridge and have it run 24/7 you either need a propane fridge, or you need a dedicated battery that charges off of your alternator and/or solar. <div><br></div><div>If you go the battery powered fridge route it really would pay off to invest in one of the most efficient fridges on the market. Fridgefreeze.com has a very efficent one, as does national luna <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><a href="http://www.nationalluna.com/refrigeration.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nationalluna.com/refrigeration.htm</a> I would be wary of electric fridges that do not have as much insulation as the above two because you don't want to end up in a situation where you're having to waste gas by idling you vans' engine in order to recharge a fridge battery which can become more expensive than buying ice. Insulation is everything when it comes to these fridges, don't pay attention to how much power they draw when running because what matters most is how often they have to run.. and that all depends on the amount of insulation. <div><div><br></div><div>In my case I have a dual battery setup but I wanted that battery to always be available to power all my high technology (laptop, cellphone, fans, lights, wifi, scanner radio, flux capacitor, etc). I decided to skip the fridge and instead buy the most highly insulated cooler on the market which I believe is made by a company called YETI</div><div><br></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><a href="" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><a href="" target="_blank"></a></div><div><br></div><div>I'm convinced that with the yeti I get almost 2 days more ice retention than with my previous cooler. Your own mileage may vary. </div></div><div><br></div><div>-triumph</div><div><br></div><div>--signature tagline comming soon --</div>
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Watch your classified ads for a propane fridge as these often end up on those ads when someone is ripping up an RV. Check out my post on a <A href="http://thevandweller.blogspot.com/2011/05/12v-freezer.html" target=_blank target=_blank>12v Freezer</A> as well, could be useful information. The freezer boasts the following on the site: "<EM>this portable refrigerator freezer features a full range digital thermostat that is adjustable from -8ºF to 50ºF and it will hold a stable temperature under most conditions.</EM>" <BR><BR>Set up with a single deep cycle, and you could be golden.<br><BR> <br>Also, as a kind of "cheat", you could go into any store that sells batteries and ask them to "test" your battery. In order to do so, they need to charge it to full. lol It's a free service (at least where I am).<BR>
WanderingRonin
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Great ideas! the cooler water being recycled into shower water is one thing I was looking at and would be curious to know how well it works. <div>I figured if I have to refill the cooler with ice every 3 days, say, that's roughly ten times a month, right? at $2.00 a bag, that'll be $20.00 worth of ice every month. Do propane fridges run cheaper than this? Or is my ice calculations off the mark? What if it was once every 2 days... that'll be $30.00 a month... Anywhoo, it's all still theoretical in my realm as I have yet to decide as well whether to get an ice box or a small ref.</div>
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4x4tour
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I have this one, which, I made a slide-out mount for. Its battle tested in South America for vibration, rubber corners, strong side handles (for easy portability). It runs on hardly any amps (like 2). You wouldnt even need a solar panel, as long as you bought a Battery Brain to cut off power so you can re-start the engine (to charge). 5 minute connection to your battery, and VOILA!<br><br>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MARI...arts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item1c19e1bbe1<br><br>Here's the fridge:<br>http://www.livingdirect.com/MR040F-...efrigerator-Freezer/MR040F-U1,default,pd.html<br><br>Here it is in its slideout location, I still have a ton of interior work to do. <br><br>
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WanderingRonin
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Oh Wow! THAT ref is the answer to every camper's dilemma. Thanks for the links to it and the battery brain! Already bookmarked on my machine.
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Bookmark the marine version link (I changed it) It's better, cheaper, and has 2 remotes. When the brain shuts off the juice, you just hit the remote button and you're golden. I install one on all of my projects. <br><br>With a decent battery, 1 to 2 amps would be hardly any drain.<br><br>
@ 4x4tour Hey, your microwave looks just like mine. Is that an Oster? Secondly, is the microwave secured in any way? If not, do you have any problems with the appliance moving around while driving? Thanks.<br>
What do you guys think about a portable ice maker? <br><br>http://www.amazon.com/Freeze-Stainless-Portable-Automatic-MIM-88/dp/B000LRHLMC<br><br>We have this thing in our MMA gym, running almost 24/7 due to injuries. I've never seen anyone needing to pour water into it b/c it draws moisture from the air....which is pure sweat & funk from our gym so I don't dare put any of this ice in my mouth. The ice looks sorta brittle & wimpy, but still ice. So how about this ice maker + a nice cooler instead of a good, energy efficient fridge that's $900?<br><br><br>
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Yam, I think its an Oyster... I liked it because of its mirror front, which is set at the perfect height for me to shave, while standing outside <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>The microwave is bolted down with homemade L brackets. The Fridge slider is rock solid and doesn't make a sound, while off roading. <br><br>MK, <br><br>I have a similar ice maker, but I find that unless the ambient temperature is under 85 degrees, it is hardly able to maintain ice cubes from melting. I donated it to my parents for their lake campsite. It works great there, except on those hot days. <br><br>For ice, I freeze a gallon of ice in the Engel, throw it into a cooler (Im going to look into those Yetis) and then ice-pick pieces I need. <br><br><br><br><br><br>
Thanks for the tip. Looks like the portable ice maker is out. I wonder what kind of freezer systems do ice cream trucks use.<br><br>What about this freezer for $149? How many batteries do you think is needed to run it? I'm thinking, use it sparingly to freeze large blocks of ice for a cooler then turn it off. And keep some ice blocks in it when it's off to keep food chilled. <br><br>http://www.amazon.com/Haier-HUM013E...den&ie=UTF8&qid=1315944131&sr=1-1<br><br><br><br>
<P><FONT size=3>We bought an Edgestar 64 qt. (I think) for around $400.. Needed more insulation, but other features are outstanding. Uses about 5 amps (12 volt) per hour, but will also run off 110. The motor only runs long enough to keep the temp where you set it with digital control, so it actually ran about 3 amps per hour for 38 degrees. Will also freeze.</FONT></P>
Thanks for all of your suggestions. However, all of these energy efficient fridges are $800+.........that's way too expensive for me. Does anyone know of fridges that are both low energy consumption as well as budget friendly....meaning less than $400?<br><br>All of the standard compact fridges (even the so-called "Energy Star" fridges) suck up way too much energy. This Frigidaire compact fridge is the perfect size for me, but this little thing eats up 15 amps:<br><br>http://www.lowes.com/pd_326294-4722...94937087_?Ns=p_product_price|0&facetInfo=<br><br>If most compact fridges are like this, and the truly efficient ones are $800+, my only alternative is to go with something like a Coleman Extreme cooler.<br><br>
**UPDATE**<br><br>I just saw this on Amazon:<br><br>http://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-P65...ods&ie=UTF8&qid=1316506827&sr=1-7<br><br>Does anyone have any thoughts regarding Koolatron fridge/coolers? I'm thinking perhaps this has the benefit of a fridge and a regular ice cooler without the hassle of restocking ice or massive electricity drain.<br><br>
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4x4tour
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I have one similar (see link) to that one, that also doubles as a warmer. <br><br>http://www.temecula.bookoo.com/item15396311.html?itemId=15396311<br> <br>I bought it for the same reasons as you. But, soon found out, it sucked like 4 amps and wouldn't get things that cold if it was hot outside. It's one of those "30 degrees below ambient" types (like your amazon one, I'm thinking). <br><br>My Engel freezer only uses (a max) of 2.7 amps. I took the Vector's handles off and am going to mount it vertically on the rear/side door to double as a cabinet/cooler/warmer. I find that I use the warmer aspect of the vector more than the cooling part... <br><br>There's really isn't a simple answer to your dilemma. The only way you can use something like that is to use it in a vehicle while its running and somewhat cool inside. My vector will run for 3 hours on its own battery, but then needs to be plugged in to 12v to recharge or run. <br>
Thanks, 4x4tour. I think I'm gonna go with a Coleman Xtreme cooler, at least for the immediately future. I'm thinking that I won't be storing too much stuff in whatever cooling appliance anyway, so why spend so much money on it. I'll be storing some condiments, OJ, a dozen eggs, cold cuts, fruits/veggies. Anything else perishable would be bought (and consumed) within the day.<br><br>Down the road, if this whole van thing turns out to be viable for me, maybe I'll invest in your Engel unit.<br><br>
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4x4tour
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Another idea is using dry-ice with the coleman. My mother sent me some steaks from Omaha Steak Company and they shipped it in a 2inch thick styrofoam chest with a piece of dry ice at the bottom. It took 4 says to ship and the dry ice was still sizable. <br><br> <br><br>
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