Improving the cooler/refigerator

[Shadow Catcher]

My last project prior to picking up Compass Rose for repair was a insulating jacket for our Waeco refrigerator. There were two goals reduce absorbed heat/sun and increase insulation a bit. This project would be equally valuable for a cooler. The Waeco is gray and dark gray and when we are traveling it sits in the back of our Subaru plugged in. I know from experimenting that the foil plastic bubble insulation can give a 25% thermal advantage. I tried it on a toaster oven using a thermocouple, one layer 25% two layers 45% three negligible difference, and by the way heat will melt the plastic bubble stuff.

Cut it up to make it fit.


Fit around the handle (handy when you can take them off.


Rough fit


Finished


Except for a cut out for the latch

[linuxmanxxx]

You can only gain so much out of wrapping it since its the peltier type cooling and will only cool a certain amount below the ambient temp of its environment location. Best help would be when its located in direct sunlight but still in a cooler environment.

[BrwBier]

You can only gain so much out of wrapping it since its the peltier type cooling and will only cool a certain amount below the ambient temp of its environment location. Best help would be when its located in direct sunlight but still in a cooler environment.

Nope, it is not that type of cooler. It has a compressor.

[mikeschn]

Which cooler do you have? This one?

http://waeco.com/ae/products/4191.php

WAECO CoolFreeze CF-32UP
Fridge/freezer with rechargeable battery

Super-cool – even if there’s no external power available. Up to 18 hours independent operation with integrated battery, which can be recharged from the vehicle battery or a mains socket (optional mains adapter). With mains priority circuit and more comfort features.

How big is the battery in that thing?

Mike...

[Shadow Catcher]

This is a Waeco CF50 52 qts AC/DC so no self contained battery. It has a Danfos compressor and will take it down to 0 degrees. The big advantage no ice taking up room.

[slowcowboy]

just had a thought is the waco cooler frige freezer hard on a battery. do you run it with the car off.

just wandering.

slow

[Shadow Catcher]

They are very easy on the battery and according to Waeco draw 3.5A when actually cooling. I will be doing a test run shortly to make sure all of the repairs and new modification play well together. bdosborn has the same model and did a test which is on his web site. http://home.comcast.net/~bdosborn/Boxca ... _CF40.html

[Wobbly Wheels]

Food for thought...
There are a series of books written by Larry & Lyn Pardey, a couple who cruised and did multiple circumnavigations in their 24 foot sailboat. In one of them Care and Feeding of Sailing Crew, Larry details how he built an uber-efficient icebox using alternating layers of styrofoam and mylar film (space blankets).
I'm thinking about trying that because I have to build the fridge compartment anyway so it will be easy to incorporate. That said, I'm using a vapour fridge so it needs venting that may undo any gains made.