I need help with an offgrid camping fridge solution
Discussion
I've been reading this section with some interest on the offgrid topics that keep cropping up and giving it some thought for my situation.
I am an field archer who mainly shoots 2 day events, and the nature of the game means its usually a field in the middle of nowhere. Usually I camp, which I am more than happy doing, but the lack of power means no fridge for milk etc. I do have a powered cool box which is great for travelling to the event but doesn't keep stuff cold enough to last 24 hours, even with frozen chill blocks.
The cool box itself has both mains adapter which states it outputs 12v dc 60w, and the box itself which states 12v 47w input, I also have a spare car battery which is 60AH. The car battery is what I have to hand, and when I ran it last time, it ran for about 12 - 14 hours. I know I would be better off with a lesiure battery but the car one is what I have to hand now.
To take the drain off the loose battery, I am having a 12v socket put in the boot of the car so the car can power the box to the events, leaving the battey purely for when I'm there. What I need is a solution that can extend the chill time by another 12 - 24 hours.
A typical example would be turn up friday evening and set up, then run in off grid mode until Sunday morning. This means I can have milk for breakfast and coffee without haaving to resort to powered milk
It also means I can have a cold beer Saturday night 
I am an field archer who mainly shoots 2 day events, and the nature of the game means its usually a field in the middle of nowhere. Usually I camp, which I am more than happy doing, but the lack of power means no fridge for milk etc. I do have a powered cool box which is great for travelling to the event but doesn't keep stuff cold enough to last 24 hours, even with frozen chill blocks.
The cool box itself has both mains adapter which states it outputs 12v dc 60w, and the box itself which states 12v 47w input, I also have a spare car battery which is 60AH. The car battery is what I have to hand, and when I ran it last time, it ran for about 12 - 14 hours. I know I would be better off with a lesiure battery but the car one is what I have to hand now.
To take the drain off the loose battery, I am having a 12v socket put in the boot of the car so the car can power the box to the events, leaving the battey purely for when I'm there. What I need is a solution that can extend the chill time by another 12 - 24 hours.
A typical example would be turn up friday evening and set up, then run in off grid mode until Sunday morning. This means I can have milk for breakfast and coffee without haaving to resort to powered milk
It also means I can have a cold beer Saturday night Your cool box isn't very efficient. Waeco and Engels make electric compressor fridges which are much better and will at least double your time but they're sodding expensive. A deep cycle leisure battery will help a bit, but 60ah only goes so far.
A solar panel would help but, again, the cool box is inefficient so you'll need a large one (ooer...)
I suspect your best option is a gas absorption fridge which will run as long as you have gas.
A solar panel would help but, again, the cool box is inefficient so you'll need a large one (ooer...)
I suspect your best option is a gas absorption fridge which will run as long as you have gas.
The usual way of doing it is to use icepacks (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thermos-Weekend-Ice-Pack-400g/dp/B0001MQ8GC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395919063&sr=8-2&keywords=ice+packs) in your freezer box to keep it down at the correct temperature. You could also freeze the pint of milk for the sunday to keep it fresh.
Another option for milk is to get some uht portion packs (I prefer the sticks) and take them with you, that's if you don't mild drinking uht milk in your tea. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dairystix-Semi-Skimmed-UHT-Milk-sticks/dp/B0045VA2US/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1395919163&sr=8-9&keywords=uht+milk+portions)
You used to be able to get gas powered fridges, which are expensive and the size of a full size fridge but I cant seem to find any for sale atm.
Another option for milk is to get some uht portion packs (I prefer the sticks) and take them with you, that's if you don't mild drinking uht milk in your tea. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dairystix-Semi-Skimmed-UHT-Milk-sticks/dp/B0045VA2US/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1395919163&sr=8-9&keywords=uht+milk+portions)
You used to be able to get gas powered fridges, which are expensive and the size of a full size fridge but I cant seem to find any for sale atm.
Three way fridge: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/waeco-3-way-cooling-45...
You need one of these.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dometic-3-Way-Fridge/dp/B0...
Use it for camping with the family and for beers at Le Mans.
plug it in at home for 24 hours, then on 12v in the car and then on the gas bottle when you get there.
It can make ice in small quantities by putting a tray on the cooling element. Will make warm beer cold.
About 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m. Will take about 2 crates of beer.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dometic-3-Way-Fridge/dp/B0...
Use it for camping with the family and for beers at Le Mans.
plug it in at home for 24 hours, then on 12v in the car and then on the gas bottle when you get there.
It can make ice in small quantities by putting a tray on the cooling element. Will make warm beer cold.
About 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m. Will take about 2 crates of beer.
3 way fridges are good, but they are normally rated to a certain value below ambient. The one we had only cooled to 20 degrees below ambient, so on a really hot day it was struggling. Just something to bear in mind!
As mentioned, the best option is a waeco or engel would be the best idea, but they are £500+ so overkill for keeping milk cold
As mentioned, the best option is a waeco or engel would be the best idea, but they are £500+ so overkill for keeping milk cold
badgerade said:
As mentioned, the best option is a waeco or engel would be the best idea, but they are £500+ so overkill for keeping milk cold
Aren't they just for 6 - 10 times a year! This little cool box does keep stuff cold suprizingly well, certainly for my needs, just not for long enough.We have a Dometic fridge much like the one linked above, it was bought second hand off Ebay nearly 10 years ago and is still being used for the annual F1 trip to Silverstone.
It does the job nicely, generally I plug it into the mains the day before to get it cold, then into the car lighter socket when traveling and then gas when at the destination.
The Waco fridges are great as well but quite expensive!
It does the job nicely, generally I plug it into the mains the day before to get it cold, then into the car lighter socket when traveling and then gas when at the destination.
The Waco fridges are great as well but quite expensive!
We've got a secondhand 40 litre Engel. Bought around 6 years ago for £270, so still not that cheap but it gets used as a wine cooler / additional fridge at home a lot when not out and about. They're immensely robust and can happily run year-round without complaint.
I can leave the Engel on low (still comfortably cold) overnight in the car and plugged in to an accessory socket and the power consumption is such that it'll never flatten the battery.
But, yes, a reasonable amount of money for infrequent use. But they'll never depreciate much and you have something that's handy at home as well.
You could buy yourself a decent solar battery charger if you're anxious about power consumption. Handy for phone / tablet charging duties as well.
I can leave the Engel on low (still comfortably cold) overnight in the car and plugged in to an accessory socket and the power consumption is such that it'll never flatten the battery.
But, yes, a reasonable amount of money for infrequent use. But they'll never depreciate much and you have something that's handy at home as well.
You could buy yourself a decent solar battery charger if you're anxious about power consumption. Handy for phone / tablet charging duties as well.
Edited by Simes110 on Thursday 27th March 14:40
Edited by Simes110 on Thursday 27th March 14:42
there's a massive difference in the current draw of the tri fuel fridges and the electric only models. Most of the tri fuels seem to come in between 8 and 10 ah draw, and the best of the electric come in at 1-2ah. If you don't have gas available, or space for the tank you will be much better served buying one of the electric only models than buying a tri fuel with the thought of adding gas at a later point.
For "off grid" applications, a really well insulated cool box, with BIG lumps of ice, will work well for a few days.
I have a Costco cool box, probably about 60 litre capacity, that will keep contents chilled. I just freeze up big lumps of ice and put hem in there.
Also, I have a 3 way Waeco that works well.
Just chill it down before you leave home, maintain it on 12V in the car, then go to gas if you need to. Alternatively, put the big ice blocks in there if you don"t have the gas option.
I have a Costco cool box, probably about 60 litre capacity, that will keep contents chilled. I just freeze up big lumps of ice and put hem in there.
Also, I have a 3 way Waeco that works well.
Just chill it down before you leave home, maintain it on 12V in the car, then go to gas if you need to. Alternatively, put the big ice blocks in there if you don"t have the gas option.
For your time away really the compressor fridge is the best option... 12v on a leisure should do you for 3 to 4 days no worries. A split charge kit and build the leisure in a battery box will keep it charged... you can always top it up with a 240v battery charger too - Compressor portable fridges are around £300 for an 18 litre(which are surprisingly roomy)
My Bongo camper has a compressor fridge and we used to get 4 days off grid parked up using the fridge/tv/lights/chargers etc.... now we have a 100w solar panel we are self sufficient and the fridge runs full time... in fact it has been running now for 2 months full time.... with no dip on the battery..so much so I have installed a charger to divert what would be wasted charge, when the Leisure battery is full, to charge the starter battery. Works fine in low light in the winter too...
My Bongo camper has a compressor fridge and we used to get 4 days off grid parked up using the fridge/tv/lights/chargers etc.... now we have a 100w solar panel we are self sufficient and the fridge runs full time... in fact it has been running now for 2 months full time.... with no dip on the battery..so much so I have installed a charger to divert what would be wasted charge, when the Leisure battery is full, to charge the starter battery. Works fine in low light in the winter too...
I've been doing off road expeditions into Eastern Europe, North Africa and Sahara for about 10 years now.
I bought an engel for getting on £480 about 7 years ago, and sold it second hand for £400 last year.
On the ferry down through spain it kept food frozen at -22 without draining the battery for 36 hours.
On a leisure batter i've seen them fun for 4 days without recharging.
They are incredible.
Expensive, but excellent value.
I bought an engel for getting on £480 about 7 years ago, and sold it second hand for £400 last year.
On the ferry down through spain it kept food frozen at -22 without draining the battery for 36 hours.
On a leisure batter i've seen them fun for 4 days without recharging.
They are incredible.
Expensive, but excellent value.
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