homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby jml79 » Sat Jun 18, 2016 8:10 pm

If you travel to the US and stay over 48 hours you can bring back into Canada $800/ person without paying tax and duties. I often use a service called Kinek and have US products delivered near a border crossing (and in a different state than they ship from to avoid state taxes) and pick them up on my way to do some camping at an inexpensive state park in the US. In this case, the American price is so much lower than the Canadian that it's worth it to enjoy some cheap camping and buy the fridge in the US. That importer is just ripping people off with a price mark-up of over 100% over the American retail price.
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby Socal Tom » Sun Jun 19, 2016 9:48 am

Gettin Started wrote:
Update:
Just ran my fridge (converter freezer) for a 24 test. It used 160 watts in 24 hours, with fridge temp set around 37 degrees. Outdoor temps were in the mid-80's during the day and mid-50's at night. You can buy a chest freezer, fridge thermostat, solar panel, charge controller, and inverter for less than the price of a 3-way 12V/110V/gas RV refrigerator. IMO this is the way to go if the freezer size fits your available space.


Is this the type of "fridge thermostat" you reference above? https://www.amazon.com/Refrigerator-Fre ... B000EXROSE $60
Danby freezer link https://www.amazon.com/Danby-DCF038A1WD ... QRHTJMQJQZ $169
1200 w inverter https://www.amazon.com/Whistler-XP1200i ... t+inverter $75

And a little math to go with it. My group 24 walmart battery is rated at 93 amp hours ( at 1 amp/hour). assuming I keep it above 50%, then it has 46 amp hours available. 46 amp hours are 552 watts. at 160 watts per days that would be about 3 days of power before it needed to be recharged. ( I'm assuming that during the test the conditions were best case, i.e. full of cold stuff and no one going in and out, so in a real world scenario it could be worse than that, especially if you load it with warm stuff but its still manageable). This puts the cost of $304 ( not including the battery or solar). The cheaper 12V/120V fridge/freezers run $400 to $500 for 1 to 1.5 Cuft .

Freezers with good energy star ratings should have lower starting power requirements, so if you do this you would want a energy star compliant one.
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby Gettin Started » Sun Jun 19, 2016 3:28 pm

Those are the exact parts I used. My test was with fridge empty, not opened during test, and already cooled down at the start. So actual experience will certainly vary.
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby KennethW » Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:01 pm

Has anyone used a 150 watt solar panel directly run a dorm type fridge. Daytime only. The solar panel going to a charge controller, relay, inverter, small lawn mower battery, then fridge. The charge controller (power side) would run a relay to turn the set able inverter on when the battery hits the set voltage(80% full?) and off when the voltage drops(75% full). The battery Is only for start up surge and the charge controller settings. The fridge would have a 1/2" of added insulation on the inside and cold packs inside to ride out night time hours. Would this work or just a pipe dream.
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby Socal Tom » Tue Apr 24, 2018 9:51 am

It can be done for much less than $1000
https://amazon.com/EdgeStar-FP430-Porta ... frigerator
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby working on it » Tue Apr 24, 2018 11:45 am

  • My TTT's galley was configured around an on-board generator, an A/C ducting system (that takes up way too much space), an A/C drip pan/Aquatainer holder, and Coleman gear storage...no room for actual "galley" business there. Along the way, I managed to stuff in an external fuel tank for the genny, and a "cube" cooler (modified unsuccessfully for frozen storage). I'm very dissatisfied with my "cube", though I spent a lot of time and effort modifying it http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=68543&hilit=cube. I really want better performance, but haven't the budget (or approval from the CFO) to get a Yeti, or an ARB or Engel-type powered cooler.
  • 125895 inefficient "cube" (lower left) needs to be replaced by a real cooler
  • I just returned from a 3-day trip, where temperatures were in the 45-65 degree range, and my leftover pre-frozen items in the "cube" were almost completely defrosted. My "Extreme" coolers, left outside, used for bottled water and frozen gallons of my peach tea, still contained some ice (the pre-frozen gallon jugs of tea were responsible for the better-than-normal ice retention, along with cooler ambient temperatures). The lower temperatures outside were drastically different than on my usual excursions, where temps usually never dip below 75 degrees at night, and hit 100 or more daily. All ice becomes water, and my pre-frozen items thaw the first day. So, once again, I've been researching ac-powered fridges and freezer units that might do the job, if I modified my "galley" to accommodate one there.
  • I am only hesitating on the remodel because I fear that compressor-style small dorm-fridge would be very sensitive to road shocks; my 2000+ lbs squareback TTT has a stiff suspension, though compliant enough to not bounce, it might be jarring to the compressor in the fridge. After 6 years, my 5k BTU air-conditioner, solidly mounted in the rear bulkhead, still works great...and it has a compressor inside, too. I was almost ready to buy one, and modify my galley in the three months I had mulled over this problem, prior to the trip, but just couldn't pull the trigger on doing it. But, after the trip, I decided to modify other things, so now's the time for the fridge/freezer mod, too.
  • The only way I might justify getting the unit I decided upon using, an Edgestar CRF150-1 fridge-or-freezer (wide temperature capability), is to use it inside my dayroom/office whenever I'm not camping (I haven't camped much lately, so it would spend 99% of the time in my office).
  • freezer-fridge with wide-range temp control.JPG
    freezer-fridge with wide-range temp control.JPG (61.03 KiB) Viewed 750 times
    at 20.9 x 19.8 x 18.1 inches, I'll be able to fit it in, with minor mods
  • TILLREDA mini fridge @ IKEA.JPG
    TILLREDA mini fridge @ IKEA.JPG (79.34 KiB) Viewed 750 times
    my alternative choice, that I know I can "sneak by" the wife
  • I fear that the small fridge's compressor might not like travelling, but then the window-unit A/C shouldn't either. So, in another month, I'll get one or the other: the Edgestar from Amazon (I've already ordered trailer-mod parts today, so my monthly limit has been reached, according to the CFO), or I'll talk the wife into a visit to the new, nearby IKEA (she can't resist a trip there!) and snag their TILLREDA mini-fridge on the way out (my usual method of shopping there with her, haha). If I have room for it, during the galley mod, I might be able to fit in anti-vibration pads, which should alleviate my fears.
    anti-vibration pads.JPG
    anti-vibration pads.JPG (55.42 KiB) Viewed 750 times
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby John61CT » Tue Apr 24, 2018 12:47 pm

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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby working on it » Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:42 pm

John61CT wrote:http://www.lifetime.com/lifetime-90820-55-quart-high-performance-cooler
Looks like a great cooler, but I'm limited to putting it in a 21x21x21 inch max space (unless I remove the generator), so it won't fit as my on-board cooler. However, I will try to get one later, as the replacement for my large Igloo Extreme (at least 15 years old), that rides in my truck bed. Maybe 2-3 months from now, per my limited (by the wife) purchasing schedule.
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby working on it » Sun Apr 29, 2018 5:44 pm

working on it wrote:
    ...The only way I might justify getting the unit I decided upon using, an Edgestar CRF150-1 fridge-or-freezer (wide temperature capability), is to use it inside my dayroom/office whenever I'm not camping (I haven't camped much lately, so it would spend 99% of the time in my office).
  • freezer-fridge with wide-range temp control.JPG
    freezer-fridge with wide-range temp control.JPG (61.03 KiB) Viewed 625 times
    at 20.9 x 19.8 x 18.1 inches, I'll be able to fit it in, with minor mods
  • TILLREDA mini fridge %40 IKEA.JPG
    TILLREDA mini fridge %40 IKEA.JPG (79.34 KiB) Viewed 625 times
    my alternative choice, that I know I can "sneak by" the wife
  • I fear that the small fridge's compressor might not like travelling, but then the window-unit A/C shouldn't either. So, in another month, I'll get one or the other: the Edgestar from Amazon (I've already ordered trailer-mod parts today, so my monthly limit has been reached, according to the CFO), or I'll talk the wife into a visit to the new, nearby IKEA (she can't resist a trip there!) and snag their TILLREDA mini-fridge on the way out (my usual method of shopping there with her, haha). If I have room for it, during the galley mod, I might be able to fit in anti-vibration pads, which should alleviate my fears....
We made an unexpected trip to IKEA today, where I measured the TILLREDA mini-fridge. It will easily fit where my "cube" cooler (i.e the "Franken-cooler") now resides. However, my wife went hog-wild with her purchases (we're still furnishing the new house), so I agreed to wait a month to make my purchase (pension check time!). I did manage to grab a neat little grill on the way out, though, so I can cook with charcoal sometimes at camp, without hauling my 22" Weber kettle along (I searched for a good Hibachi, for cheap, but wasn't happy with current offerings).
KORPON grill at IKEA.JPG
KORPON grill at IKEA.JPG (62.62 KiB) Viewed 625 times
so far, everything I've bought at IKEA, for years, has been a winner... maybe this will be, also
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby John61CT » Sun Apr 29, 2018 8:14 pm

Not so portable at 30#, but last forever long as you don't drop it on concrete

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Lodge-Logic-Pre- ... 2073574221

Let us know how that one goes, carrying Too Much Stuff
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Re: homemade 12V/115V compressor fridge?

Postby working on it » Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:54 pm

John61CT wrote:Not so portable at 30#, but last forever long as you don't drop it on concrete

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Lodge-Logic-Pre- ... 2073574221

Let us know how that one goes, carrying Too Much Stuff
I wish I could get the Lodge grill, but for as little as I would use it, solo cooking, I couldn't justify the expense. At roughly 20% of the cost of the Lodge Grill, The IKEA grill will probably do the job for me, at camp, and I'll continue to use my offset smoker grill, and the Weber. Plus, weighing about 4 lbs (1/8th of the Lodge), the Korpon grill will add little weight to my overweight and growing trailer kit(chen).
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
User avatar
working on it
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Posts: 2172
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Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:05 pm
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