Electric coolbox drain battery
Discussion
Hi all
I have an electric coolbox that bought for camping weekend, have adaptor to connector straight to a battery that i was going to purchase just to power the coolbox all weekend. I was going to purchase a solar charger to keep connected to the battery to keep it topped up. Would i get away with this for 3 days over the weekend. Looking at bosch car battery and around a 4w solar charger to keep putting juice into battery
I have an electric coolbox that bought for camping weekend, have adaptor to connector straight to a battery that i was going to purchase just to power the coolbox all weekend. I was going to purchase a solar charger to keep connected to the battery to keep it topped up. Would i get away with this for 3 days over the weekend. Looking at bosch car battery and around a 4w solar charger to keep putting juice into battery
A 12V coolbox will kill a battery quickly, for three days I'd use something like a Yeti passive coolbox and ice. You can get 12V coolers that use a lot less current, around 1Ah when down to temperature or so, but they're extremely expensive - £600 - £1000 expensive.
I have a Dometic ACX35 three-way fridge, runs off butane or propane when we're camping. It's great for longer stays but when on gas it really kicks out the heat, and can't be used in an enclosed space so it sits outside under cover.
I have a Dometic ACX35 three-way fridge, runs off butane or propane when we're camping. It's great for longer stays but when on gas it really kicks out the heat, and can't be used in an enclosed space so it sits outside under cover.
A 4W solar charger isn't any use for anything - would barely power a LED torch.
Boats and caravans have 100W solar panels, often several, to charge up their batteries. Then you need as many batteries as your fridge will drain when the sun goes down.
New tech coming based on the sort of LiON batteries you find in e-cars. You'll get significantly more battery capacity for the same volume that your lead acid leisure battery currently holds - typically 10-12 times as much. Still too soon to understand how long those batteries will last for though.
In the meantime, campers successfully use gas powered fridges for significant periods of time.
Boats and caravans have 100W solar panels, often several, to charge up their batteries. Then you need as many batteries as your fridge will drain when the sun goes down.
New tech coming based on the sort of LiON batteries you find in e-cars. You'll get significantly more battery capacity for the same volume that your lead acid leisure battery currently holds - typically 10-12 times as much. Still too soon to understand how long those batteries will last for though.
In the meantime, campers successfully use gas powered fridges for significant periods of time.
If you go down the route of solar, you need a solar charge controller too so the battery only gets the power it can handle. If not and it’s a very sunny day, you can very easily fry the battery.
Personally, I’d look at gas fridges if you’re off grid. Probably more expensive to buy and run, but you’ll never drain a battery and be left with warm beer!! I ran one for a two week holiday a few years ago and it didn’t use 1/2 of a 4.5kg Calor bottle.
Personally, I’d look at gas fridges if you’re off grid. Probably more expensive to buy and run, but you’ll never drain a battery and be left with warm beer!! I ran one for a two week holiday a few years ago and it didn’t use 1/2 of a 4.5kg Calor bottle.
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