I'm looking into upgrading my ice chests to one 12v refrigerator and one ice chest (I like having ice cubes for drinks). Ideally the frig will run primarily on battery/solar energy, but, have 110v capability. Currently I have a 50 watt panel and 72ah of battery capacity (actual usable is 36ah). I will approach the solar battery bank upgrades issue after determining the frig I purchase. I currently use less than 7ah/day without refrigeration. My concern is more on the frig sizing dilemma.
I'd like to know the size of frig folks are using for similar amounts of food and time as spelled out below. I'm considering sizes from 15 liter to 44 liter. I've read these small chest refrigerators do not circulate air well so I want to be able to pack fairly loosely. On the other hand I don't want an abundance of refrigerator space. Weight and its footprint will allow just enough space for my needs (it will live in my tow vehicle and on the ground under the TD).
Here's what I typically bring along that needs constant cold for a three night trip; 1/2 gal milk, 1/2 # cheese, 1/4 # cold cuts, four servings of yogurt, couple chicken breasts, couple hamb patties, stick of butter, 1/2 doz eggs, breakfast sausage, condiment packets. That's about it. My ice chest has a half gallon of iced tea, a couple beers, and as much ice as I can fit. It's an old Igloo with added 1 1/2" foam all around. Ice will typically last well into my fourth day.
I'm not really looking at models and price ranges yet. I see what's out there and will likely settle on a unit under $500 such as Costway or similar. Dometic and the others are a bit rich for my pocketbook. Tim