Powering a 12v fridge

[Sk8ermaiden]

Hi, I was hoping to buy a van and semi-convert it for road trips and camping, but my daily driver had to be replaced, so now the van idea is squashed. I didn't know whether to put this in power or food.

I would like to get a 12v fridge, for now just for car camping with the kids. I am planning on a Costway or Apicool, though I am still struggling with which size to get.  

We have a Chrysler Pacifica (non hybrid), and it has a 12v outlet in the back. I was thinking I could use that while driving and then a Jackery 500 during the trip to power the fridge and maybe some other things like charging phones or running an electric skillet. 

I have tried to research a bit, but I feel like you need a PhD in electrical engineering. Will that work? I am seeing reviews that say they can power the fridge for days on just a Jackery 240, and others that say it won't get you through the night. I just want to know if there are any major flaws in my plan before I spend the money.

 

[bullfrog]

I believe someone posted the 240 is unregulated power, that might make a difference depending on how you use it.

 

[MrAlvinDude]

I have no personal experience with either of the products that you have mentioned. But I have a basic understanding about electronics, energy and more.

Knowing this formular: Watt = Volt x Ampere

Is a basic tool to see how well a battery pack and a fridge might work together.

The Jackery 500 has about 500W(h) of energy in a full charge.  (when new, it is actualoly 518 W(h) )
( see: https://www.jackery.com/products/explorer-500w-portable-power-station )

According to this site, the 54 quarts Costway Portable Fridge Freezer, uses 160W(h) of energy in 24 hours.
the number shown is 0.16 kWh / 24hrs, but 0.16 kWh is just another way to say 160 Wh

( see: https://www.coolersforcars.com/cost...ltage: 12V/24V (,consumption: 0.16 kwh/24 hrs )


Or in other words:
On average, the fridge uses 160 jackery apples - and a fully charged 'Jackery 500' has 500 jackery-apples available.

So it should be very possible to power the fridge, overnight, using the Jackery 500


One thing to bear in mind is, the 160 Wh that the fridge uses, is a typical average. So if you open the fridge more than average, the power use of he fridge will go up.

The fridge CAN use as much as 50 W per hour - so potentially, if the lid was left open all the time, or if something warm was put into the fridge, so the fridge needs to work extra long to get the stored stuff down to fridge temperatues. Then the Jackery500 could be used up in just 10 hours.

So just be mindful of not storing warm things in the fridge, when running on Jackery power. And try to be mindful about how many times the fridge gets opened, while running on Jackery power.

Does these numbers make sense to you? That the fridge (on average) uses 160 and the Jackery has 500 available?
And that about 2-7 extra is used, each time you open the fridge?
And 2-15 extra is used, when you store new things in the fridge, while it is running on Jackery power?


The 160 Wh number is for the model: 23499-CYPE of the Costway Portable Fridge Freezer range.
Other models will have a different Wh usage. 
Any model in particular you are looking to get?

 

[GntlStone]

Also look into the Bluetti solar portable "generators"  I have heard that the fix a few issues that the Jackery had, including the unregulated power thing. Will Prowse had a few great reviews about them, and comments confirmed good things.

Bluetti AC50S 500Wh/300W Portable Power Station. $399
https://www.bluetti.com/products/bluetti-ac50s-500wh-300w-portable-power-station

 

[MrAlvinDude]

I believe someone posted the 240 is unregulated power, that might make a difference depending on how you use it.

Hi bullfrog, what do you mean with 'unregulated power'?

If you look at this video:

The Jackery's are specifically mentioned to have regulated 12V power outputs. 


Where other brands may indeed have the unregulated 12V power outputs.

 

[Sofisintown]

For what is worth, I have a C35 Alpicool that works very well, and it draws about 37 watts per hour average if I set it to 30 degrees F.
(It runs 3- 4 degrees hotter than what the display says.)

I believe you can run it with the car and the 500 Jackery, as the 500 has regulated 12 volt outlet.

I assume that you have a panel to charge the Jackery from the sun, as it takes 10 hours to charge from the car.

 

[Weight]

The 500 will likely run the small 12V fridge. I can guarantee it will not do an electric skillet.

 

[bullfrog]

I found 2 posts that stated the Jackery 240 12 volt lighter plug was unregulated but after searching everything I found stated all Jackery models produce regulated power.

 

[nature lover]

Yep you can run your fridge with that Jacorey but the question is for how long can you run the fridge with that Jacorey. If you don’t have sunlight for your panels it don’t take long to run out of juice.

 

[DLTooley]

A mounted solar panel will reduce the Jackery draw. You probably don’t drive enough to have that be your only charger.

 

[wayne49]

Ten hours of solar charging a day? Maybe around the summer solstice with a clear sky.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I would like to get a 12v fridge, for now just for car camping with the kids. I am planning on a Costway or Apicool, though I am still struggling with which size to get.  

We have a Chrysler Pacifica (non hybrid), and it has a 12v outlet in the back. I was thinking I could use that while driving and then a Jackery 500 during the trip to power the fridge and maybe some other things like charging phones or running an electric skillet. 

Car camping with the kids? Presumably for a week or two?

Forget all that nonsense about electronics formulas, solar power, an electric skillet and a jackery and a 12v fridge....just buy a decent sized well-insulated ice chest, fill it with drinks and ice and a bit of food in a few plastic bags or plastic bins, stock up on canned foods, and use a small one-burner or two-burner camp stove, a couple of green LP bottles, and go out and enjoy nature.

If and when you go full time or at least a full season, then we can re-visit this topic.

Have fun!

 

[MrAlvinDude]

At first I only saw your question about powering a fridge, but now I notice that you also ask about more.

..... and maybe some other things like charging phones or running an electric skillet. 

The Jackery 500 has about 500 units of power  - the number is 518 Wh (the unit used is 'watt hour')
The Jackery 250 has about 250 units of power


You can charge phones. They require 3-5 units for a full charge.


Here is an example of a skillet that can be powered by the Jackery500

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Non-Stick-Adjustable-Temperature-Heat-Resistant/dp/B07GNQ66M5
This device uses 100W (or 100 units of power).

At 100W it can run for about 4-5 hours on a Jackery500.
As it uses 100 units an hour, and the 'Jackery 500' has 500 units available.

I do however think that only 100W on a skillet is a very low number. Your stove in the house would typically give 1000W or more per heating plate.


Here are examples of skillets that will NOT run using a Jackery 500
They all use more than 500 units, just to be turned on.  And the Jackery 500 will NOT be able to do that. 



These skillets use: 1500W (1500 watts), 600W, 650W, 1300W, 1300W 1300W. 

I found this list at: https://www.amazon.com/Cuisine-EFS-400-Maxi-Matic-Non-Stick-Electric/dp/B0006A2ZUW
Way down on that page. 



Electric heating - by battery - is not a simple solution. 

Off-line heating should be done by fire. Like a gas stove, or alcohol stove or the likes. 



It should also be noted how fast your Jackery unit can be recharged. 

It can maximum be charged at a speed of 100 units an hour, but this speed is rarely being achieved. It might be achieved when plugged in to charge inside your house. 

But when the Jackery500 is plugged into the 12V socket in your car, expect it to charge no faster than 50 units an hour. Thus a full charge will take about 10 hours of driving.  As 500 units will need to be 'pushed' into the Jackery500 unit. 

Likewise when charging by solar, only expect 20-50 units an hour, to come from the solar panel. 

Conclusion is, that if you plan trips, longer than a weekend or so, you should typically never fully use all of the power stored in the Jackery unit, as it may leave you without power for some hours, while it is being recharged. 

Fortunately, the Jackery can be charged a little, when ever there is a possibility.  So if you go driving for an hour, up to 50 units WILL be available. So phones can be charged (remember that phones use 3-5 units for a full charge). 

But 50 units will only keep a fridge running for 8-12 hours. 

And 50 units will only keep the 100W skillet running for 20-30 minuts. 


If  you end up wanting to use an electric-cooking-device, you might want to look at the RoadPro 12-Volt Portable Stove, or similar [font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]lunch-box-stove[/font]

https://www.roadprobrands.com/produ...ces/appliances-12-volt/12-volt-portable-stove
https://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RPSC197-Volt-Portable-Stove/dp/B07GD4SKG4

It uses 144 units (144W) an hour. So it is at the limit of what the 12V output socket, on the Jackery500 can handle. 
But here, Bob is testing both units: 

But that lunch-box-stove might be way too small for the number of people you want to feed. 
A lunch-box-stove could however also be powered by a Jackery250, so two Jackery's (a big and and a smaller one), could you have running two of those lunch-box-stoves at the same time.


For heating things off-line (camping) you are still likely to be better off, using a flame. 
So I just mention this lunch-box-stove as an option, if it makes a difference to you, to go electric.

 

[highdesertranger]

a 100 watt skillet?????? that can't be right. you ain't going to cook much on 100 watts. it would take hours just to cook an egg.

heating anything with electricity is very inefficient.

highdesertranger

 

[MrAlvinDude]

I agree. It sounds very strange. So perhaps it is actually a typo.

Amazon has these specs:
SKILLET SPECS
Size: 12" x 12" x 1.8"
Thickness: 1,8mm
Voltage: 120V/60Hz
Power: 100W (2 pin plug)
Cooking Surface: 11.5" x 11.5" x 1.8"

But that may very well be a typo on the amazon site/item.

Hmmm...  a user review mentions this:
"Sticker on bottom of skillet says 1300 watts."

So yes. It is a typo by whom ever entered the data for this item.


So this just goes to show that you need to be careful about what you read on the internet !!!


Either way, the Jackery500 unit can only power (anything) where the sticker says less than 500W.

 

[tx2sturgis]

heating anything with electricity is very inefficient.

Yeah it's only 99.999% efficient...so there is always room for improvement...right?

 

[highdesertranger]

"Yeah it's only 99.999% efficient"

sure it is, if you could just magically make a heat source turn on. but alas you can't. first you have to make it in useable quantities, and then transport it to where it's needed. oh don't forget storage for people like us. now how efficient is it now?

highdesertranger

 

[tx2sturgis]

Yes, we've danced this dance before. Using electricity tends to be very efficient, no matter the way it is used..whether it is a heating or cooking appliance, a motor, an electric car, or a compressor. In fact, when it comes to electrically powered heat pumps, they are orders of magnitude MORE than 100% efficient. They can move more BTUs than they consume in energy.

But: production, transport, and storage of that electricity, especially in small quantities, is where the efficiency goes down the tubes. Whether you are powering an electric skillet or an Engel freezer...doesn't matter, the efficiency was lost in the production, transport, and storage of the electricity. So you can also say that 'cooling anything with electricity is inefficient'.

And, gasoline and diesel powered motor vehicles are also, VERY inefficient. Usually less than about 40% or so. But they are 'effective'...and sometimes that is all that matters: Does it do what you want it to do? If so, then it is a valid use, even with those 'inefficiencies' included.

 

[Tom_M]

Here is an example of a skillet that can be powered by the Jackery500

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Non-Stick-Adjustable-Temperature-Heat-Resistant/dp/B07GNQ66M5
This device uses 100W (or 100 units of power).

At 100W it can run for about 4-5 hours on a Jackery500.
As it uses 100 units an hour, and the 'Jackery 500' has 500 units available.

If you skip down to the Q & A section you will note that the skillet actually draws 1300 watts

On edit: I see that MrAlvinDude already made note of the error.

 

[Sofisintown]

If you skip down to the Q & A section you will note that the skillet actually draws 1300 watts

On edit: I see that MrAlvinDude already made note of the error.

Don't get too happy too soon.
It's a typo, this thing draws at least 1000 watts.
I have an electric grill that uses the same kind of power cord, it's for 1500 watts