camp esky/fridge setup

mmm, hadn't thought of dry ice before. Suspecting it may be hard to get hold of out near camping areas, but certainly mixed with water ice would extend the life of the cooling ability. We done the ice block thing with water in containers, etc, but by day 2 its usually a losing battle.

I have about 6 of those ice sheets, but have been very disappointed with them each time. I put them in the deep freeze and they still simply thaw in no time. Maybe thats why you say to cycle them daily, cause I'm thinking thats what it would take. Would save on ice runs daily.

How long does your battery last and how many Ah is it?

Tonester, are your sheets Techni Ice? I use them also. I have a 70 litre fridge/ freeser (about 50 litres fridge and separate freezer). We also carry a good 55 litre esky. To feed the esky I carry 4 x 2 litre milk containers frozen and 6 sheets of Technie Ice. 3 milk containers and 4 Technie Ice sheets go in the esky and the other milk container and 2 Technie Ice sheets go in the freezer. I do a rotation each day. So the milk containers are in the esky for 3 days and the Technie Ice for 2. They are generally not fully defrosted when they come out on rotation.

Over a 16 week trip to Kimberley / NT this year, we always had cold beer, soft drink and wine from the esky. It is imortant to restock the esky with cold products though. Put a dozen hot beers in and kiss your ice goodbye.

There are only 2 of us, so this is a lot of fridge capacity. But we often go 3 weeks or more between chances to shop.

A solution my brother in law uses with some success is to carry a 40 Litre fridge (he has an Engel, but I won't enter that argument) and a good esky. He freezes everything that is going in the esky and sets off with it set on freeze and has all his non frozen stuff in the Esky. After a few days, or on arrival at the long term camp site, (depends on the trip and judgement), he switches the fridge to normal fridge running temp. He moves fresh Technie Ice sheets from the freezer to esky at the same time. Fridge slowly thaws over a couple of days and draws very little power over that time. His Technie Ice supports the esky for another couple of days. If he hasn't run the overall fridge and esky contents down enough by then to all fit in the fridge, he has to buy ice. Follow? This system works well for (say) a one week or so camping trip.

Hi Tonester,
Further to my previous E-Mail, we have a 95Ahr marine battery. When new, we used to get 1-2 days without running the car. It is very dependent on weather. The battery is now six years old and needs replacing as it won't hold charge.

The technice that we have is some of the original ones that came out six years ago. You have to make sure that it is properly hyrdated, bulgy but not stressed. It doesn't work that well if anything less.

We keep ours in plastic bags (like you get fruit and vegies in) to keep them from absorbing the smells etc of food. Sometimes on the change-over they are quite thawed out, other times they still have a number of frozen cells.

We always pack them around the outside of the fridge to get them quite frozen.

We also try to make sure that we are not putting anything hot in the esky of fridge. This maximises the duration that you can go between changes etc.

Cheers,
Mal58

Thanks Norm. Prob last night with the site I think, was replying to this this then and then it crapped out.

Yeah they are techni ice. Just went and had a look to be sure. Bought from Rays 2yrs ago and did have high hopes. To be fair, will give them another go again (been a while now) but they take up so much room! Crushed ice at least falls into small gaps.

I know pre-chilling an esky does lots for the ice life, as well as putting already cold contents in. But a point a couple days in comes and things are wet as hell, and then ice just doesn't start to keep anymore.

Re smaller fridge, if its in the car (a 40lt will not fit CT, unless there is a brand out there I didn't measure at the shows I got to) then I might as well go big anyway (cost balance of course). Our big esky is 55lt now, and fills up very quick, geez, even on a bbq in the bloody park letalone camping.

A few have come back with the freezer/esky swap combo thing, will give that thought. Thanks

thanks Mal

Just curious, how big is your AGM Battery and how much does your Fridge draw? The reason I ask is 4 days out of your battery without charge is awesome........I only get 1.5 to 2 days out of a 105 Amp/hr Deep Cycle running a 40ltr Engel, depending on ambient temp.

It's been a long time since someone asked me how big mine is.....

Oops, back on track there....

The batteries are 100AH, 1000cca, one in the car and another in the trailer.

4 days at Glasshouse Mountains cara park in July this year, temperature up to mid 20s from memory, and the sun on the fridge all morning. Also had it running 4 days at Hervey Bay which was the next stop.

Fridge draws about 2.5 amps while on, say 8 hours on = 20 amps per day over 4 days = 80amps out of the battery.

I was ready for the car not to start, but it fired up straight away with no detectable weak battery signs.

Gerhardp1,

Mate, that is still impressive out of a 100Ah AGM plus 1000cca. I hadn't seen them that high in the CCA? Cool, If you don't mind me asking? How much and what brand? I'm considering going over to an AGM instead of the old Lead Acid deep cycle. If your getting that sort of performance than I would be really happy and still have the ability to run a winch or start the vehicle with those Cold Cranking Amps.....Very impressive battery....

Hi Teabag,

Brand is Dynasty, I bought them second hand, they had been in an industrial UPS for 12 months.

I paid $76 each plus $30 each freight from Sydney to Melbourne.

Sourced from Coda Batteries 02 95446623, I wanted them for the Cape York trip.

This is what I bought here Site Link

When first installed in May this tear, I thought the starter was going to take off! The alternator has no trouble charging both via the redarc isolator and I have 8mm cable for both + and - running from the front of the car to the anderson plug.

ah the Internet is dangerous. A quick look at Dynasty and I ended up browsing all over related topics...

Thanks for the feedback. I too am a little impressed at the life of the UPS battery. I wonder if they make them different to "normal" deep cycle batteries. I'm going to ask at work. Manufactured by Johnson Controls, and they service our company, unless there are two of similar name.

Also, what sort of fridge is it? (no fridge debate intended..!!! lol)

If a fridge goes in the car, then a battery will be needed in the CT, so then I guess whether I put a big sucker in or small just to run lights.

50 Litre Evakool, square model (no pod), bought new in May 06 at Caulfield show for $650 on the last day, late. Old stock I reckon, mate bought the other one, a 70 litre for $800. The fridge has a low voltage detection, but I never reached that point so can't say if the car will still start when it reaches that point.

You could put a little one in the camper, but that removes your option to run the fridge off the camper. Depends on the price. If you look at the other items on the seller on ebay he has some batteries for $88 which look the goods as well, but 100mm longer than mine so may not fit in the car.

Give him a ring, he's a very affable young fellow.

Gerhardp1,

Thanks buddy, though I may look at a new one.......

thanks Gerhardp1

Dynasty Batteries are not Johnson Controls here anymore they are available from Battery Energy in Sydney and they are a stand by battery only as they have no boost charge only a float and equalisation and are designed to be at 23oC to 27oC and with normal boost charging the battery will suffer thermal runaway and the life reduction will be dramatic.
The CCA rating is so they can start a standby generator nothing more.
It will be very interesting to see how long the one under the bonnet lasts under the temperature conditions combined with boost charging from the alternator.

Ian

Hi Ian,

I had thoughts along those lines before I bought them, but after assurances from the vendor I went ahead. I wondered about their vibration resistance as well.

So far the under bonnet one has lasted 6 months including the cape york trip and roughly 13,000km. It has been down to less than 11 volts 2 or 3 times, the rest of the time it would not have been below 12. The alternator charges at 14.0-14.2 volts according to the Scanguage, and the battery retains 13.4V while at rest. When I received them, they were at 13.4. I have never had a "standard" battery retain more than 12.5 even when brand new.

My decision to use them was also based on the price - $106 delivered is pretty cheap even if the battery were to fail in a short time. I will be quite happy if it lasts 12 months, anything longer I regard as a definate bonus. So far the fact that it has run the fridge for 4 days several times and still starts the car has made it good value. Two of my travelling companions with new but acid filled batteries had acid splash up out of the lids, and one of them failed on the trip due to exposed plates. His $200+ deep cycle battery was a throwaway, the other one won't be far behind since it has been jiggled around enough on the corrugations to splash acid out and has probably had its plates exposed during this process.

The 1000cca rating starts the generator in my vehicle extremely well :), even when the Voltage is down to 10.8.

When researching the topic of batteries, the information I found (using links from this forum) regarding wet cell "normal" car batteries seemed to be unanimous that they have a very narrow operating band in terms of charge level and if outside that range will fail rapidly.
If you treat them to the ideal conditions that are recommended for the Dynasty, they will last 10 years, since there are no conditions causing calcification of plates. When you use them under the bonnet, and expose them to heat, deep discharge, high boost charge and vibration they will fail in 4 years or often much less. They will definately not run a fridge for 4 days and still start the car. If you run them flat once (less than 50% charge), it can be fatal for the battery. Do that 3 or 4 times and it will be the end.

All in all, the benefits are worth the risk - brilliant CCA, ability to operate in the 25%-95% charge range, and ability to run the fridge without constantly worrying, the need for a second battery in the car is eliminated, and in this case excellent price.

Cheers.

Gerhard

Hi Gerhard
I appreciate that follow up and that is a good rap.
I have the full spec sheets here and if you like I can send you them.
The batteries are not lock bonded so vibration may end up a killer but as you say 12 months for the price.
Judging on what you say the best way to charge them would be with tempsense charging then you stand every chance of extended life.

The recommended retail is actually $380 now but for anyone interested in trying them I can access new ones for $250 including GST plus freight.

If anyone else needs the spec sheets they can contact me at nitramir@bigpond.net.au

Regards
ian

Thanks Chris.

Noone ever looked like flogging the fridges while you slept..?

How long do the batteries take to charge when travelling?

Hi Tone

Where we camp there is usually not that many around that might think about flogging them but as a precaution if we are away for a while during the day we put them inside the tent section, not much protection against theft, but??
The other reason for running two fridges is ease of carrying them around plus if you heading out for trip for the day you can just carry one to take up less space, also you have a backup incase one fails.
Normally our trips are 4 days and with the batteries fully charged when leaving and usually last, although they get a bit of a top up when we run the car for the Glind shower, but have not had a problem if moving to different locations every few days. I am tossing up now whether to carry a Cristy gen or get a Yamaha gen and run a battery charger as we are planning on longer stops.

Chris

hey Cackles. What do you mean by unhooking the car each night...? Can't work out what that refers too (but its still early morning... oh hang on, no its not)

when on the road we unhook the car from trailer and bring the rear of the car to the ktichen. It's no big deal to do and your wife will love you for it.

cackles

Yo Jimbo. Yep there is lots to consider. I started the process xmas last year when the CT arrived, but left it cause its too much to guess on. A CT may have changed things. I remember reading a bunch of your notes wrt this stuff, charging, batteries, etc.

Will give you a call. Thanks.

I know its going to cost too.. :-( Its all a balance. And I'm serious about purchasing that lifestyle for the family. When kids came it dented my camping outings, but now gearing up to cater.

Btw, can't believe you and Jenny use 170lt b/w you. You fast b@astard!! lol

Forgot about the 3-way again. Maybe some more options.

looks a little similar to your other reply Norm..!! lol. Thanks.

Sorry Tone. I posted one of the responses and it didn't seem to have worked (thought I'd stuffed up).

So I tried again. They both worked.

Lucky I told much the same fibs in both!!!

Yeah we ate the same stuff. Its only a suspicion, not proven. But its also a good excuse. So much ice for so many people is starting to give me the bleep s.

Mate,

I went away from Ice years ago as it doesn't work out as viable as a fridge. If you have a 100ltr Esky (Heaps of space used in the vehicle or Trailer) but once you fill it with Ice you only have say 60ltrs of usable space. Plus I hate how everything goes soggy if it sites at the bottom of the fridge etc. Mind you Beer is far better of Ice. I find running 2 x 40ltr Engel's work a treat and I can easily last weeks without shopping......Highly recommend Vacuum Packing your meat, it doesn't have to be frozen then.......Which ever way you go look at keeping it simple, remember your on holiday and don't need all this extra work/heartache.....

What no meat, you must be crazy......Every man must have meat.....Beat one's chest......No way, I'm a meat and 3 veg.......Can't beat a good roast Lamb in the Camp Oven......

Never..! lol. Its all I can do to no stop & pickup roadkill and cook it up. (joking, but seriously a mate of a mate has apparently done that....spew.)

But we already do try and minimise any food critical to need fridging, but there is always going to be some and I don't want the worry, and soggy, and hence leaked juice getting to other things, etc (even when frozen).

Thanks for the info.

I bought a 160L Polyethelene Esky for $235 and fitted an Ozefridge Eutectic system into it and it can operate continuously cycling at -13-18oC and appears to use no more power than the normal fridges around 60L.

I am considering using it as a full time freezer for extended away from supplies trips.
ian