Question:
Camping Fridge freezer?
Michael
2011-03-28 04:06:10 UTC
Alright so for long turn I am wanting a outdoor Fridge and Freezer, now I have been trying for a LPG/power unit however while cheap, one ones I have found to buy don't hold a temperature I would need to keep food frozen, it might do well as a Fridge but wouldn't hold it for frozen food.

So looking at a few Waeco units and wanting something long term for a Freezer unit, what would be the best way to go for powering the unit, now a solar/battery setup would allow for charging and running, but would it do for long term? Keep note that I would be away from mains or the grid, I would also have a sine wave generator with me for powering laptops.

But with battery's, could I get away with only spending $200-300?
Eight answers:
Scott
2011-03-28 09:18:24 UTC
You don't give an indication of size needed but it really matters little.



Even a small camper-type under counter propane/120V/12V unit will run well north of $1000. And a unit the size of a normal home refrigerator (+/- 15 cubic feet) that runs on propane is rare under $2000. I searched for propane freezer and found numerous makes/models. These are available as units intended for campers and camp trailers, and/or as remote cabin applications.



If that is outside your price, the only other option is electric. Large or small, look for the most efficient models you can find. Good, heavy insulation. And mind the compressor's starting current if you are designing a battery/generator/solar supply.



These too are well north of $1000.



If you are talking about those coolers you plug into a cigarette lighter, they generally can only cool 30-35 degrees below ambient.



Here is an older article, but the points in it remain valid for what you are trying to do:



http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago102.html
anonymous
2016-10-21 13:15:43 UTC
Camping Freezer
?
2015-08-06 04:27:41 UTC
This Site Might Help You.



RE:

Camping Fridge freezer?

Alright so for long turn I am wanting a outdoor Fridge and Freezer, now I have been trying for a LPG/power unit however while cheap, one ones I have found to buy don't hold a temperature I would need to keep food frozen, it might do well as a Fridge but wouldn't hold it for frozen...
Mark M
2011-03-30 07:58:23 UTC
A number of manufacturer's make portable, gas absorption 12V/DC refrigerator/freezers, and one company makes a portable 3-way refrigerator (12V/120V/LP), but all are well over $300. The most affordable, and coincidentally, the only one that can run off propane is the Dometic RC4000 portable refrigerator at around $450-500. ARB, Engel, Dometic and Norcold make units that run off 12V/DC, with prices starting at $480. If you can find one, Engel made a 14-Quart unit called the MRFD-015 which, until it was discontinued, sold for around $350.



A gas absorption refrigerator/freezer will maintain a certain, user-adjustable temperature, usually including below freezing. The cheaper refrigerators use thermoelectric chip cooling, and are not designed/capable of freezing or maintaining a fixed temperature.



I've owned an Engel MRFD-015 refrigerator/freezer for several years and find it very convenient for car camping. I use it as a freezer to store our meats, fish and poultry, and to also re-freeze our ice packs for a standard cooler. The only concern is you need a heavy-duty battery and need to recharge it every day or two. The refrigerator draws about 3.4 Amps at 12V/DC, but runs at about a 30% duty cycle, so it's total power budget is about 24.5AH/day. I've upgraded my Jeep's battery with an Odyssey-brand and find if I let the engine run about an hour every two days, that's enough to keep the battery from going flat with the refrigerator hooked-up. Or you could use a marine deep cycle battery and recharge it via your generator, or even via a solar panel (50+ Watts minimum 6 hours direct sunlight per day).



The Dometic RC4000 has a similar power requirements but can also be run on 16-oz disposable canisters or bulk propane tanks. This unit is also more than twice the capacity of the Engel unit I have (33 vs 14 quart capacity) and is similar in capacity to electric-only units costing more. If I needed to buy a new portable refrigerator today I would give this unit serious consideration.



Remember that a unit like this is a multi-purpose device. My Engel is almost always strapped in the back of my Jeep, set for refrigerator setting, and full of water and snacks. This way if I get stuck on the road or delayed by traffic I have nice cool drinks and food. I use it when fishing, out at the beach and hunting as well as camping. If there's an extended power failure (and my generator gives out) I can freeze 2-Liter soda bottles refilled with water to keep the inside of my refrigerator cool, helping to avoid spoiled food.
roderick_young
2011-03-28 19:38:02 UTC
The freezer may be more trouble than it's worth for camping. I'd go for dehydrated, canned, or packaged foods, and avoid the issue altogether.



If this is for a cabin, maybe you really want to spend more and get a propane powered freezer.
c_kayak_fun
2011-03-28 09:10:09 UTC
freezers are power hungry -- you are going to be hardpressed to power anything like that cheaply from alternative energy sourcec. You might want to check with Real Goods, the alternative energy supply folks -- they test many appliances that can be powered by solar and wind powered inverter systems and only sell stuff they feel is useful and reliable. http://www.realgoods.com



There are more practical ways than freezing to keep foods when you are "off the grid."
MountainMan
2011-03-28 17:21:17 UTC
Camp in winter.
?
2011-03-28 08:55:59 UTC
The only way to get by, for under $300.00, would be to buy something used, not new


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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