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Car Forum / Australian Car Forums / 4x4 Cars (Australian group) / March 200812V fridge
Batteries / solar ( and battery charger + generator ) ... versus getting ice nearly every day .... versus a 12V genset triggered on via the fridge's thermostat. I like the "Fill it up with fuel and forget it" method. Looking for opinions & experiences. And where to get a 12V genset? Do you make your own with a stationary motor and car / truck generator? Motors can be noisy but I've heard a little Honda 240V genset and it was just humming, noise-wise. Could a B&S 4 stroke, for example, be muffled appropriately? I've got an oldish 60 litre Trailblazer. Thinking of getting another one and have one as the fridge and the other as the freezer. We're not hoping around from day to day but going to Point B and staying put for a week or two ( or more ).  SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 / 7 > We're not hoping around from day to day but going > to Point B and staying put for a week or two ( or more ). Have you considered a 3-way? (12V, 240V, gas)? Works for me. SignaturePeter Degotardi peterdegYourHat@au1.ibm.com (remove YourHat to talk to me) IBM Australia I speak *from* IBM, not *for* IBM >> We're not hoping around from day to day but going >> to Point B and staying put for a week or two ( or more ). > Have you considered a 3-way? (12V, 240V, gas)? > Works for me. Well, I've got the 12-volt-only-Trailblaza, which I quite like for its durability, but I guess I could sell it. Does your fridge work OK on gas? What brand? SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 / 7 > "Peter Degotardi" <peterdegYourHat@au1.ibm.com> wrote in message >> Have you considered a 3-way? (12V, 240V, gas)? >> Works for me. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Does your fridge work OK on gas? What brand? Sorry, have been away for a bit. Works beautifully on gas during the day. At night it can become a freezer though. I don't expect perfection with it - I could only afford the cheapie 32L one that Repco sells! Our technique is to cycle the beer cans through the fridge into the eski to keep that cold. SignaturePeter Degotardi peterdegYourHat@au1.ibm.com (remove YourHat to talk to me) IBM Australia I speak *from* IBM, not *for* IBM > Batteries / solar ( and battery charger + generator ) > ... versus getting ice nearly every day .... versus a [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > We're not hoping around from day to day but going > to Point B and staying put for a week or two ( or more ). Buy a really good quality fridge/freezer that can run on 12volt as well as mains. Then get a decent solar panel adn a sealed lead acid battery. use all three and no noise, no petrol and no worries. Only time you worry is when you have a few days of shitty weather in a row. Just make sure that your fridge is sheltered and you have a big battery if that worries you. > Buy a really good quality fridge/freezer that can run on 12volt > as well as mains. What's a really good one? > Then get a decent solar panel adn a sealed lead acid battery. > use all three and no noise, no petrol and no worries. The care of batteries, when not in use, is a concern. > Only time you worry is when you have a few days of shitty > weather in a row. Just make sure that your fridge is > sheltered and you have a big battery if that worries you. Well, I'm planning to have discussions about solar with a local retail outlet soon but, at this stage, it's not my first preferance. SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 /7 >> Buy a really good quality fridge/freezer that can run on 12volt >> as well as mains. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > with a local retail outlet soon but, at this stage, it's > not my first preferance. http://www.solarshop.com.au/main/index.htm Worth a look, they have a big range. Daryl >> Buy a really good quality fridge/freezer that can run on 12volt >> as well as mains. > > What's a really good one?+ Weaco, Engle - these both have reasonably low power consumption >> Then get a decent solar panel adn a sealed lead acid battery. >> use all three and no noise, no petrol and no worries. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > with a local retail outlet soon but, at this stage, it's > not my first preferance. Try a Chandlery as well, Wynuum in SEQld has a good Store on Wynuum Road that sells stuff like that, sorry cant think of its name. > "Magilla" wrote... >> "Scotty" wrote... >>> Buy a really good quality fridge/freezer that can run on 12volt >>> as well as mains. >> What's a really good one?+ > Weaco, Engle - these both have reasonably low power consumption I've decided a 3-way is the gee-oh. Any others, apart from Chescold? SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 /7 >> Buy a really good quality fridge/freezer that can run on 12volt >> as well as mains. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > The care of batteries, when not in use, is a concern. Opps sorry forgot to reply to that one, deep cycle batteries are designed to be flattened and recharged. Store charged and they should last quite well. Or is your in SEQld find a nice bloke to supply sealed lead acid batteries, like me! >> Only time you worry is when you have a few days of shitty >> weather in a row. Just make sure that your fridge is [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > with a local retail outlet soon but, at this stage, it's > not my first preferance. > "Magilla" wrote... >> The care of batteries, when not in use, is a concern. > Opps sorry forgot to reply to that one, deep cycle batteries are > designed to be flattened Batteries should not be discharged below 80% of their rated capacity for best battery life. http://www.crownbattery.com/?page=support_cm_deepcycle > and recharged. Store charged and they should last quite well. SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 /7 >> "Magilla" wrote... > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >> and recharged. Store charged and they should last quite well. Dont worry about that, no fridge would run at that lower voltage and cut out causeing the battery to remain over the 20% easy. >Batteries / solar ( and battery charger + generator ) >... versus getting ice nearly every day .... versus a [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >We're not hoping around from day to day but going >to Point B and staying put for a week or two ( or more ). What do you really want? Would you be better of with a 240V and a genset? IF 12V only, the honda gensets now are real quiet and are real cheap. You are probably better off buying a 240V version and a good 12V charger. Bit of a waste powerwise but cheap nonetheless. They do have 12V chargers built in, but you would have to run them for a week to charge a decent size battery. > What do you really want? Would you be better of with a > 240V and a genset? That would simplify things, I suppose, but it still wouldn't automaticaly start up when the fridge compressor wants power ( without doing some mods ). Thanks. I hadn't actually thought of that setup. > IF 12V only, the honda gensets now are real quiet and are > real cheap. But they don't do 12V ( to run 12V appliances directly ), AFAIK > You are probably better off buying a 240V version and a > good 12V charger. Bit of a waste powerwise but cheap > nonetheless. ...plus the purchase of a battery. The 'good' chargers aren't particularly cheap and neither are deep cycle batteries. Plus, the care of batteries when they're not being used ( most of the year ) would be a pain. > They do have 12V chargers built in, but you would have to run > them for a week to charge a decent size battery. SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 / 7 >> What do you really want? Would you be better of with a >> 240V and a genset? [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >> They do have 12V chargers built in, but you would have to run >> them for a week to charge a decent size battery. I guess everyone has their own opinion but I have had the TB 60l for many years now, it just goes in the rollout rack when we go away. The solar panels stay up on the roof rack all the time and keep the batteries (aux and vehicle) topped up. The silent (apart from the fridge :-) operation is a must for us. Handy when you have to be near the "Back to nature nuts" as well. Cheers ........ Rheilly > I guess everyone has their own opinion but I have had the TB 60l for many years now, it just goes in the > rollout rack when we go away. The solar panels stay up on the roof rack all the time and keep the > batteries (aux and vehicle) topped up. The silent (apart from the fridge :-) operation is a must for us. > Handy when you have to be near the "Back to nature nuts" as well. Well, I think I've made my mind up. I'll use the 12V-only Trailblazer for the exclusive use of the upcoming purchase of a 4x4. Dual batteries and, maybe, a solar panel. Btw, I visited a little caravan fridge repair place ( which also sells various fridges ) and when I said what fridge I had he replied that it would need at least 2 x 80 watt solar panels. As he had a solar setup on display he mentioned that it was working satisfactorily until Christmas. After that, the weather set in ( S.E. QLD ), and there wasn't enough juice being pumped. Anyways, I saw the Chescold 3-way, and fell in love. 9kg of gas lasts 2 weeks, apparently. That fridge will be the camp fridge and the Trailblazer will be for the 4x4. Now to plan what 4x4 to get that will fit a rather large 12V appliance. Not having it sit outside in a trayback ( security ). Has to be inside. SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 / 7 >> I guess everyone has their own opinion but I have had the TB 60l for many years now, it just goes in the >> rollout rack when we go away. The solar panels stay up on the roof rack all the time and keep the [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >12V appliance. Not having it sit outside in a trayback >( security ). Has to be inside. I have a 50litre fridge and a second battery that is charged by the car. IT will run the fridge at -20degC for 2 days in Queensland, and will run 4days at 0degC. If I go for a drive for a couple of hours then its fully charged again. I also have a 3way. Useless on 12V, so not much chop till you get settled. They also dont like being bumped around, or at least mine doesn't (its an old finch). But once you are settled and you fire it up on the gas it goes great. I use it as my beer fridge! I have a dual cab navara, and keep the fridge in the back with the seat folded up. Its usually just the wife and I, so no problem there! IF I do have to keep it in the tray (very rare) it gets chained to the car. I figure if someone wants it that bad they will get it either place. >> I guess everyone has their own opinion but I have had the TB 60l for many >> years now, it just goes in the rollout rack when we go away. The solar [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > 12V appliance. Not having it sit outside in a trayback > ( security ). Has to be inside. Okay, now in reading all your replies Id go for a dual battery setup and a 60-75L Weaco or Engle fridge (Engle uses slightly less power from memory). Ensure that the battery set up isolates the second battery (deep cycle unit, Optima is the best here but gets a bit expensive $400 each). This way you can use the Aux battery for many days running the fridge before the battery gets anywhere near low. Unless you run the car each day for a while in which case it will never go flat. If it does then the isolation unit will let you start your car on the main (High cranking battery) and the alternantor can charge both at the same time. Ive installed a couple like this before and they are great ways of doing it esp if you do a bit of driving each day. The one where they fit the Ultima battery they could run a fridge for many days without starting the car even. They run lights and radios etc as well. You could do that AND install a solar panel (60-80 Watt regulated type) to keep it all topped right up. This all gets nice and reliable but the costs start to get a bit higher. Hope that helps. Scotty >> What do you really want? Would you be better of with a >> 240V and a genset? [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Plus, the care of batteries when they're not being used > ( most of the year ) would be a pain. No, use the solar panel in your garage window and leave the battery on permanant charge, stand by type batteries such as Sealed Lead acids are designed for that purpose. >> They do have 12V chargers built in, but you would have to run >> them for a week to charge a decent size battery. No one has mentioned the Evercool. We have had ours a few years now and it has been faultless. We can stay in one place without starting the car and just use a 80watt solar panel (which is carried on the mattress of the camper!) to keep the second battery charged. It is a deep cycle one - hubby is the tech person in the house so you just have to put up with my ramblings. We keep it on freeze only and daily freeze a brick for the little esky. If some beer is put in at about 3pm it is cold for happy hour. At night we turn it off - nothing defrosts. Last time we went for 12 days we took our Generator with us and the other guy who had a brand new Wayco ( Wacco? Waco??) had to use our generator every day to keep his fridge going. We didnt use it for our batteries once. Needless to say we were a little bit miffed when we got home and he had had free use of a generator, all our fuel and his Waco failed completely on the way home. Have owned 3 3 way fridges in the past, had leaking gas, leaking gas in the fridge, blocked jets, useless on the 12volt, had to be dead level, etc etc etc. Obviously we love our Evercool :) One thing you didnt mention was what you use it for. How much food do you really have to take? We have been up to 5 weeks away and still have not filled the freezer, depends on what you eat I guess. (and how much you drink :P) Kathy. > No one has mentioned the Evercool. We have had ours a few years now and it > has been faultless. We can stay in one place without starting the car and [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > drink :P) > Kathy. Gotta go with the EvaKool too. I run mine off a 120 AH sealed battery and it will last 5-6 days. If I need to I then charge it off my vehicle or you could use a solar panel or a generator DP >> No one has mentioned the Evercool. We have had ours a few years now and >> it has been faultless. We can stay in one place without starting the car [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > DP Only a good idea if you dont wish to go anywhere in a hurry, 120Ahrs a pretty damn heavy to lug around! Ive just sold 2 x 200Ahrs and they sure took some lifting! Needed two of us to lift the damn things. Probably 45Kgs each maybe. >> Gotta go with the EvaKool too. >> I run mine off a 120 AH sealed battery and it will last 5-6 days. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Ive just sold 2 x 200Ahrs and they sure took some lifting! Needed two of > us to lift the damn things. Probably 45Kgs each maybe. But still smaller and easier to pack than a 9kg gas cylinder, generator and fuel or a solar panel. DP >>> Gotta go with the EvaKool too. >>> I run mine off a 120 AH sealed battery and it will last 5-6 days. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > DP True. But Solar panels last longer. Ideally you should take both but hey, Im not paying for it ;o) >>> No one has mentioned the Evercool. We have had ours a few years now and >>> it has been faultless. We can stay in one place without starting the car [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Ive just sold 2 x 200Ahrs and they sure took some lifting! Needed two of us > to lift the damn things. Probably 45Kgs each maybe. Sounds like a Jag battery ? >>>> No one has mentioned the Evercool. We have had ours a few years now and >>>> it has been faultless. We can stay in one place without starting the [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >> us to lift the damn things. Probably 45Kgs each maybe. > Sounds like a Jag battery ? So when the motor sh.ts itself you can drive home on the starter motor? >>>>> No one has mentioned the Evercool. We have had ours a few years now and >>>>> it has been faultless. We can stay in one place without starting the [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > So when the motor sh.ts itself you can drive home on the starter motor? Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get a clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , noddy knows sfa about them and you might be advised to talk to some that do know about them. So if you get a Jag sized unit will you let me know ( you know where abouts where I live ?)might be back into hospital again Tuesday yet :( > Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get a > clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , noddy [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > ( you know where abouts where I live ?)might be back into hospital again > Tuesday yet :( Nothing too serious I hope? Daryl >> Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get a >> clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Daryl Not a thing I would recommend , painful and all to common , will email you if you wish to know.. old mans disease :) so you might get it as well. >>> Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get a >>> clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , noddy [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Not a thing I would recommend , painful and all to common , will email you > if you wish to know.. old mans disease :) so you might get it as well. Whats NOT an old mans disease these days? Seems Docs just put most sh.t down to age not specific issues. Im sure they arre gettign more and more lazy in thier diagnosis. Imagine if they took thier new BMW to the dealer only to be told, try a new oil and that wheel bearing should clear up. Or, Yeah they all start to go at that age, just domnt drive so hard and we wont have to operate! >>>> Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get a >>>> clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , noddy [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > to age not specific issues. Im sure they arre gettign more and more lazy in > thier diagnosis. Rather more complicated than this , if and when I see you I will explain but I am a few partners are doing something about this crap as the state govco has been chocking the medical side of things to death for years whilst blaming the feds.. now it would appear to be fraught with danger .The treatment I got was the best there is BUT the Dr was a Russian Female import ( quite to the point with sfa bedside manner but one of the best I have ever seen) > Imagine if they took thier new BMW to the dealer only to be told, try a new > oil and that wheel bearing should clear up. Or, Yeah they all start to go at > that age, just domnt drive so hard and we wont have to operate! >>> Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get a >>> clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Not a thing I would recommend , painful and all to common , will email > you if you wish to know.. old mans disease :) so you might get it as well. Ouch, doesn't sound nice. I hope I manage to avoid such things. Daryl >>>> Been very ill so a bit late in answer but I have to suggest you get >>>> a clue , the 4.2 is quite a good motor as long as it is maintained , [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Daryl I am told it is very common and almost 40% of the population will suffer to some degree , lots of office workers and those who do a bit of work , one from sitting down and the other from lifting If you get varicose veins it might happen >>>> Only a good idea if you dont wish to go anywhere in a hurry, 120Ahrs a >>>> pretty damn heavy to lug around! [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > ( you know where abouts where I live ?)might be back into hospital again > Tuesday yet :( Umm, I wasnt actually bagging the Jags at all. You may be ill but, DAMN, your a tad sensitive there big fella. Maybe I shouldve said 'Run out of fuel' if I knew you were going to have a hissy fit! As far as SLABs go tell me what size your after and I will let you know when I get a good one in or order you a new one. I do get them new but new they are fricken expensive. They are required to be replaced on a 2 yearly basis and sometimes I get em sooner. They all have a minimum designed life span of at least 5 years but its more cost effective for my clients to replace them at 2. If I can sell em on then I can supply them at a cheaper price to the clients. I get all batteries from 3.1Ahrs to 200Ahrs. Usually I sell em for around $50-$100 each depending on size and condition. (thats only for over 65Ahrs that is, the smaller ones I may just give away) A 200Ahrs new would set you back around $600 (give or take a few $) After two years of sitting in a perfect environment on full 13.85Volts charge with little to no work they are still in extremely good condition. If you use them for camping or cyclic use etc you need to keep them charged at a fairly high rate as high as 15.2 volts. If you keen on any let me know. >>>>> Only a good idea if you dont wish to go anywhere in a hurry, 120Ahrs a >>>>> pretty damn heavy to lug around! [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Umm, I wasnt actually bagging the Jags at all. Just the motor You may be ill but, DAMN, > your a tad sensitive there big fella. Not Maybe I shouldve said 'Run out of > fuel' if I knew you were going to have a hissy fit! you will learn and we will find you if not !!! > As far as SLABs go tell me what size your after and I will let you know when > I get a good one in or order you a new one. say a 420g , the foulcan battery fits but its about 6" short it gets driven very occasionally so it sits on flaot but the battery is rooted , once the body is finished it might get more use. > I do get them new but new they are fricken expensive. They are required to > be replaced on a 2 yearly basis and sometimes I get em sooner. They all have [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > If you keen on any let me know. might order one in a couple of weeks , just spent a LOT of money in Beenleigh so have to wait till the thing happens / shoot me a mail and I will give you a number . >> Umm, I wasnt actually bagging the Jags at all. > Just the motor Umm, no I wasnt bagging anything, just a humorous comment, if you didnt see it that way, poor you. > You may be ill but, DAMN, >> your a tad sensitive there big fella. > Not > Maybe I shouldve said 'Run out of >> fuel' if I knew you were going to have a hissy fit! > you will learn and we will find you if not !!! WTF are you on about ?!?!? >> As far as SLABs go tell me what size your after and I will let you know >> when I get a good one in or order you a new one. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Beenleigh so have to wait till the thing happens / > shoot me a mail and I will give you a number . So your telling me that you purchased all of Beenliegh? Is there anything there that costs LOTS of money? Do you want me to confirm a New price for you? I need an exact physical size if you have limited space. Other wise just a Ahr rating is good. >>> Umm, I wasnt actually bagging the Jags at all. >> Just the motor > > Umm, no I wasnt bagging anything, just a humorous comment, if you didnt see > it that way, poor you. If you say so , you might notice I don't respond to several noisys in aus.cars , ask our self why >> You may be ill but, DAMN, >>> your a tad sensitive there big fella. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > WTF are you on about ?!?!? Ve knowvere you live.. >>> As far as SLABs go tell me what size your after and I will let you know >>> when I get a good one in or order you a new one. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > So your telling me that you purchased all of Beenliegh? no , just a modest building or three Is there anything > there that costs LOTS of money? yes > Do you want me to confirm a New price for you? if you wish but as I said until we blow another couple of hundred .. has to wait really > I need an exact physical size if you have limited space. Other wise just a > Ahr rating is good. I will see what I can do ... >>>> Umm, I wasnt actually bagging the Jags at all. >>> Just the motor [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > If you say so , you might notice I don't respond to several noisys in > aus.cars , ask our self why Im fully aware why, far to many plonkers in there these days, I sometimes wonder why I read some of the sh.t thats post there. >>> You may be ill but, DAMN, >>>> your a tad sensitive there big fella. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> WTF are you on about ?!?!? > Ve knowvere you live.. Ah, yes, now I get ya. It was the accent that thhrew me eh. >>>> As far as SLABs go tell me what size your after and I will let you know >>>> when I get a good one in or order you a new one. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >> So your telling me that you purchased all of Beenliegh? > no , just a modest building or three Anything that needs Fire protection? Fixed or portable? > Is there anything >> there that costs LOTS of money? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> a Ahr rating is good. > I will see what I can do ... > "atec77" <atec77NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message > Ah, yes, now I get ya. It was the accent that thhrew me eh. > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Anything that needs Fire protection? Fixed or portable? yes , but it already has a contract , sorry. >> Is there anything >>> there that costs LOTS of money? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >>> a Ahr rating is good. >> I will see what I can do ... Thanks to everyone for their input and responses. > Batteries / solar ( and battery charger + generator ) > ... versus getting ice nearly every day .... versus a > 12V genset triggered on via the fridge's thermostat. > I like the "Fill it up with fuel and forget it" method. While I was away someone I bumped into mentioned his mobile ice-maker setup for his icebox's. A 240V genset and a 240V freezer. Used on his one-month-long camps in the N.T. Plus, 3 x 240V / 12V Trailblazers. Getting serious there, eh. SignatureThe Magilla Guerilla Experience Monkey business - open 24 / 7
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