GWguy
*
Been doing a lot of research on "off grid". I'm not looking to go off grid, but I do want to do some camping in remote areas, but still want the luxury of cold drinks and a charged cell phone/laptop. The price of components has come way down, a decent 100 watt solar panel can be had for around $80. Biggest expense is still the batteries, so the fewer you can get away with, the better the cost and the less weight to carry around.
A big stumbling block is refrigeration, it can use a lot of power. Been finding ways to reduce power needed. A decent camper 3-way (propane/12V/120V) fridge can be very pricey, and the technology used isn't very efficient (ammonia evaporator as opposed to compressor). There are companies that make 12VDC fridges/freezers that are really efficient, but cost a bundle. Also saw videos of people replacing the compressor with 12VDC kits. Less expensive, but a lot of work with refrigerant tools I don't have, and still not cheap. Using a 12VDC to 120VAC inverter works, but you lose efficiency (read as shorter battery run times) in the conversion, and the 120VAC fridge still uses too much power to be effective for any length of time.
Then I came across a series of videos that make total sense: use a small deep chest freezer and use it as a fridge. They are inexpensive and easily retrofitted. Because it's designed to hold cold longer at lower temps, it's already got more insulation than any standard fridge. The fact that you don't lose cold air when you open it is huge. The only mod is to either replace the thermostat with a fridge thermostat, or use an inexpensive external thermostat. In either case, you're taking a cooling system designed to reach temps -30 degreesF and asking it to only get to 34 degreesF. The power requirements are dropped dramatically, and now in the range of easily being powered with solar and battery. Some folks are doing this successfully on two batteries and a single 100 watt solar panel. Probably live in the SouthWest where it's sunny all the time.
So, just discovery at this point, but getting closer to adding solar to my pop-up. I'm looking at 2-3 100 watt panels with a 1000 to 2000 watt inverter powered by a small bank of batteries. Still researching batteries, the good deal on those 120AH LiFePO4s fell thru.
On a little bit different topic.... I've turned my ice coolers into super coolers. They don't have enough insulation, and usually none in the top door. Drill holes around the inside of the cooler, and shoot Great Stuff in it. Way cheaper than getting a Yeti.
Interested in any feedback or thoughts anyone has or better design options.
A big stumbling block is refrigeration, it can use a lot of power. Been finding ways to reduce power needed. A decent camper 3-way (propane/12V/120V) fridge can be very pricey, and the technology used isn't very efficient (ammonia evaporator as opposed to compressor). There are companies that make 12VDC fridges/freezers that are really efficient, but cost a bundle. Also saw videos of people replacing the compressor with 12VDC kits. Less expensive, but a lot of work with refrigerant tools I don't have, and still not cheap. Using a 12VDC to 120VAC inverter works, but you lose efficiency (read as shorter battery run times) in the conversion, and the 120VAC fridge still uses too much power to be effective for any length of time.
Then I came across a series of videos that make total sense: use a small deep chest freezer and use it as a fridge. They are inexpensive and easily retrofitted. Because it's designed to hold cold longer at lower temps, it's already got more insulation than any standard fridge. The fact that you don't lose cold air when you open it is huge. The only mod is to either replace the thermostat with a fridge thermostat, or use an inexpensive external thermostat. In either case, you're taking a cooling system designed to reach temps -30 degreesF and asking it to only get to 34 degreesF. The power requirements are dropped dramatically, and now in the range of easily being powered with solar and battery. Some folks are doing this successfully on two batteries and a single 100 watt solar panel. Probably live in the SouthWest where it's sunny all the time.
So, just discovery at this point, but getting closer to adding solar to my pop-up. I'm looking at 2-3 100 watt panels with a 1000 to 2000 watt inverter powered by a small bank of batteries. Still researching batteries, the good deal on those 120AH LiFePO4s fell thru.
On a little bit different topic.... I've turned my ice coolers into super coolers. They don't have enough insulation, and usually none in the top door. Drill holes around the inside of the cooler, and shoot Great Stuff in it. Way cheaper than getting a Yeti.
Interested in any feedback or thoughts anyone has or better design options.
Last edited: