12v Freezer or Fridge?

[Rainier70]

I am looking at the 12v fridge/freezer units such as the TruckFridge 41liter model or the more expensive ARB etc. I know most people probably use these as refrigerators only, but does anyone use them mainly as a freezer?

As a fridge or a freezer what is your experience on energy consumption? I currently have a 100 watt panel and a smaller 85 amp/hr battery.

Any idea on amp hours used in a day?

[Rainier70]

Looks like ARB fridges use the same compressor as the TruckFridge or Indel B units.

[kirkman]

I have one and it works great. I do however have a group 24 120 amp hour battery and a 100 way solar panel. That said you should be good for 3 or 4 days.

[Vedette]

We have a Koolatron 12V fridge that we bought second hand and it works Great!
It is listed as keeping things cold up to 45 degrees below the outside ambient temperature.
Thus, when we camp in the early spring and late fall, we unplug it before we go to bed, or we find that it freezes things by morning.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[dales133]

Im getting a 40l engel for mine and they are a propper compreszor fridve.
They use hardly any power as they cycle on and off as required and unless your always openi g it they use something like tamps per hor

[MtnDon]

A friend I travel the backcountry with has an ARB. Has had it for over a decade now. He uses it as a freezer. Freezes some food. mainly freezes jugs / bottles of water. We then cycle them from the freezer to our Extreme coolers where we keep most of the food and drink. Endless cycle. And we keep some ice cream in the freezer too.

[makevx73]

A friend I travel the backcountry with has an ARB. Has had it for over a decade now. He uses it as a freezer. Freezes some food. mainly freezes jugs / bottles of water. We then cycle them from the freezer to our Extreme coolers where we keep most of the food and drink. Endless cycle. And we keep some ice cream in the freezer too.

Ya got me at the ice cream!!

Where do I get one?

[Rainier70]

MtnDon, ice cream is an indulgence that I could get used to! Refreezing cooler packs is also one of the uses I am looking at.

Kirkmam, what brand of fridge do you have? Do you know how much it runs your battery down or does the solar easily keep up with it? 100 watt panel is what I have too. Thanks

[S. Heisley]

.
Freeze dried ice cream: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00022O5SO?psc=1

[Rainier70]

I hadn't heard of freeze dried ice cream before, and I thought it was a strange idea, but from the reviews on Amazon it sounds pretty good. Cool!

[Shadow Catcher]

We have a Waeco and it is set so that things in the bottom stay frozen and things above are not, so the answer is yes.

[pete49]

We too use a 41 litre Waeco mostly as a fridge and it does a good job as a freezer too. We normally leave it in the car while travelling so power draw isn't a problem. The best thing is you set it for a specific temperature and that's it ...set and forget it cycles as needed. so don't have to turn it off at night if its cold.
Pete

[kirkman]

MtnDon, ice cream is an indulgence that I could get used to! Refreezing cooler packs is also one of the uses I am looking at.

Kirkmam, what brand of fridge do you have? Do you know how much it runs your battery down or does the solar easily keep up with it? 100 watt panel is what I have too. Thanks

I have two one in my egg camper......http://truckfridge.com/tf65.html
and this portable one that I use as a freezer in the egg and as a frig when using my tear.......http://truckfridge.com/tf41.html
The solar panel keeps the battery charged with out a problem that is as long as the sun is shining!

[Jim.M]

Waeco is also sold here in the USA by Dometic (with the brand name 'Dometic'). I've had one for 7 or 8 years and it is great. I usually run as a fridge but have also run it as a freezer.

When it's not going camping, it is keeping drinks cool in the house. one of the best high-dollar camping products I've ever bought. absolutely no buyer's remorse!