12v Mini Freezer
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 23:18
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Van T
Hi All
I am looking at getting a 12v freezer for my van. Since I only have 1x120ah deep cycle aux battery which I mainly use for my laptop, I don't want to run other accessories off it. Still, I need my milk and meats kept cold. So I got thinking....
I'm currently using a good ice box which usually lasts 4 days (depending on type of ice and how much i put in it) then I go out and buy a $4 icebag at servo/safeway which I only use 1/4 of and throw the rest away. What would be ideal is if I could have a 12v freezer about the size of a shoebox so I can make my own ice every 4 days, so I can then turn the freezer off and transfer the new ice into the icebox for the next 4 days. This way I won't have to run the 12v freezer constantly.
Can anyone recommend any product of this type?
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 23:24
Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 23:24
Build your own. The bits are readily available. Power consumption depends mostly on the thickness and quality of the insulation.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID:
535571
Follow Up By: Polaris - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 09:02
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 09:02
I agree ... Go for max insulation if you intend running the unit as a freezer or it will barely cycle and play hell with your batteries.
FollowupID:
819544
Reply By: The Bantam - Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 23:29
Sunday, Jul 06, 2014 at 23:29
It would be simpler just to buy a 12 volt compressor fridge and run it as a fridge.
As soon as you say the word feezer the efficiency plumets and the electricity drawn skyrockets.
To make good hard ice will take about 2 days, in that time the fridge will run nearly continuoulsy.
If you buy a small fridge, and operate it well you should get 2 to 3 days out of your 120Ah battery if you have to without charging.
Just a side thaught...if you make your own ice at
home or in a proper freezer..and you allow it to get good and hard...it takes about 2 days.....the ice will be colder, harder and way denser than the ice you buy in a bag....as a result it will last longer.
cheers
AnswerID:
535572
Follow Up By: Member - liftnlock lux - Saturday, Jul 12, 2014 at 18:17
Saturday, Jul 12, 2014 at 18:17
Good advice..
A small engels will consume around 25-35 ah daily (depending how often you open it) as a fridge set to 1deg celcius on a 25 deg day. A 120ah battery discharged to 60% (max discharge recommended) gives you almost 50 ah total use ie about 2 days on a single charge. Making ice will only increase the power consumption and further reduce your battery time. As The Bantam suggests...Buy the small fridge and use it as a fridge....
Cheers hope it helps
FollowupID:
819966
Reply By: Alloy c/t - Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 16:15
Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 16:15
Engel do a very good 15lt , will freeze a 2lt ice-cream container of water o/nite , all you'l need is 2x 2lt containers and rotate on a daily basis , saves buying ice ever again and also leaves room that you can actually have ice-cream.
AnswerID:
535601
Reply By: garrycol - Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 16:44
Monday, Jul 07, 2014 at 16:44
Why not just get a 12v fridge/freezer. I have a cheap 55l ebay fridge freezer and with the main section as a freezer the other section is the fridge.
Works fine.
AnswerID:
535604
Reply By: Member - Boobook - Sunday, Jul 13, 2014 at 08:13
Sunday, Jul 13, 2014 at 08:13
Be aware that a fridge / freezer will use about 3 - 4 times as much power as a freezer as a fridge.
Even a very small freezer would average about 2.5 - 3A.
Your 120AH battery really only has about 60AH of usable capacity. That will give you somewhere around 20 hours of use between charges.
If you can work around this then a freezer is great, I took a freezer on a recent 25 day trip. I have 3 x 100AH batteries and 275W of solar and it just keeps up with the one fridge and one freezer.
AnswerID:
535993