Hi,
Thanks to all of you who responded to my previous post, I am amazed at how many people visit this site. I do not want to flood this site with misguided posts (as a foreigner to the site), however, reading through and noting all of your suggestions prompts me to make this post, so that, based on a revised concept you can give me your opinions once more, if you have some spare time...
For those who hadn't read the previous post, the concept for a new product was as follows, but this time I would like to propose to you that a large solar panel (that can be folded in two - think of a notebook computer in terms of structure) can be "docked" into the lid of the cooler when it is 'folded' in half, and yet still connected, OR it can be disconnected from the lid, a power cord (say, 5-8 metres) can be connected from the now FOLDED OUT solar panel. The panel can then be placed in the sun while the cooler remains in the shade, or, for security, within the luggage compartment of your LandCruiser or Patrol, etc. Otherwise, the concept remains the same. Could you please give me your opinions and thoughts to the same questions as before, but with the new information? As Rhubarb noted, please treat this as a marketing exercise, not an engineering thinktank, but in any case I REALLY appreciate your support. Cheers.
NEW SOLAR COOLER
This is an exciting new innovation that involves a stand-alone cooler unit; an insulated, sealed container that incorporates a small evaporative cooling unit (powered by a solar panel) for maintaining the food or beverage contents at the desired temperature.
The inclusion of a LIGHTWEIGHT power storage device (battery) would allow the energy generated from the solar panel - located on the lid of the cooler - to be stored, so that the cooler may continue operating ON LOW POWER when there is no sunlight. There is capability for the unit to be powered (or battery to be charged) by EXTERNAL sources, such as DC (vehicle battery), or AC. Alongside the operating controls is a small digital LCD display showing temperature information.
The unit would come in two sizes, a high-end unit with 60-litre capacity, and with aluminium casing; and a low-end unit of 40-litre capacity, and with high-strength, lightweight plastic casing. The low-end unit would be priced somewhere between AUS$990 and $1190.
1. Do you think that this new product offers substantial benefits OVER A CONVENTIONAL COOLER (one that is not powered at all);
- Yes, substantial benefits /
- Yes, some benefits /
- No, not really /
- No, not at all
2. Do you think that this product offers substantial benefits OVER A PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR (such as those currently offered by Engel, etc) ?
- Yes, substantial benefits /
- Yes, some benefits /
- No, not really /
- No, not at all
3. If you were to go on a camping journey, would you find this new product useful for your needs?
- Yes, very useful /
- Yes, somewhat useful /
- No, not really useful /
- Not at all useful
4. Based on the price of the basic, low-end unit, do you think you would purchase this product?
- Yes, definitely /
- Yes, possibly /
- No, probably not /
- No, definitely not
5. Just say you WERE to purchase this product. How often do you think you would use it?
- More than once per week /
- About once per week /
- About twice per month /
- About once per month /
- About once per six months /
- About once a year /
- Less often.
6. Any other suggestions or comments?
Thanks heaps for your time, I greatly appreciate it, and it will be a HUGE help. Cheers.