Running a chest freezer as a chest refrigerator on a trailer

[vexter0944]

So if you go there the night before and there is power available just plug into that and be done with it. No need for the Solar aspect. If no power available that's a different story.

Begin the different story - lol - yeah, no power to be had.

[TnAndy]

OK.....got the problem now. I thought this was more of a "keep the food cool while in transit" kinda thing.

In that case, I'd rig up a couple batteries and the charger on some kind of moving dolly, permanently like......then wheel them out of the trailer after you park it, and into whatever truck you used to park the trailer. Take the "power pack" we'll call it, home with you, and keep it charged, then take it to the trailer the night before to power the fridge/freezer. Not as convenient as setting up the whole thing permanent in the trailer, but cheaper.

Your alternative ( and maybe this is starting to look more attractive now ) is probably 300-400w of panels mounted permanently on the roof of the trailer, and a charge controller to the battery bank. That would probably amount to about a thousand bucks, plus you would have to make sure the trailer was parked in an area that got decent sun while parked. Also, in that case, I'd probably go with a sealed, no maintenance, AGM type battery so you didn't have to worry about flooded cells drying out on your unobserved.


I might be back to Mike's suggestion.....drop a block of dry ice in their the night before.

[vexter0944]

OK.....got the problem now. I thought this was more of a "keep the food cool while in transit" kinda thing.

In that case, I'd rig up a couple batteries and the charger on some kind of moving dolly, permanently like......then wheel them out of the trailer after you park it, and into whatever truck you used to park the trailer. Take the "power pack" we'll call it, home with you, and keep it charged, then take it to the trailer the night before to power the fridge/freezer. Not as convenient as setting up the whole thing permanent in the trailer, but cheaper.

Your alternative ( and maybe this is starting to look more attractive now ) is probably 300-400w of panels mounted permanently on the roof of the trailer, and a charge controller to the battery bank. That would probably amount to about a thousand bucks, plus you would have to make sure the trailer was parked in an area that got decent sun while parked. Also, in that case, I'd probably go with a sealed, no maintenance, AGM type battery so you didn't have to worry about flooded cells drying out on your unobserved.


I might be back to Mike's suggestion.....drop a block of dry ice in their the night before.

Thanks! This whole thread and forum has been very informative - I really appreciate the input. The dry ice plan is really starting to look good - I hate to swing another grand right now (trailer is being built...) if I don't have to. The power pack on a dolly is 'just about' what I had envisioned when I first thought about this issue and then I thought about solar recharging...considering my trailer lot is like 5 min away from the house, it's not a huge deal to take the power pack over. But the dry ice would be easy too - lol!

Thanks to everyone for their input - much much appreciated!!

[Mike90250]

drop a block of dry ice in their the night before

Actually, get a cardboard box, that will elevate the dry ice to just below the top of the chest. Set the paper wrapped block on that, the cold air will settle and chill from the bottom up.

If you drop it at the bottom, it may dent the case (dry ice is really dense and heavy) and it will take longer to chill, with the dry ice setting in the cold spot.

about $15 for 10 lb block . Much less than solar/inverter/batteries, if you have a source of dry ice around.

[vexter0944]

Actually, get a cardboard box, that will elevate the dry ice to just below the top of the chest. Set the paper wrapped block on that, the cold air will settle and chill from the bottom up.

If you drop it at the bottom, it may dent the case (dry ice is really dense and heavy) and it will take longer to chill, with the dry ice setting in the cold spot.

about $15 for 10 lb block . Much less than solar/inverter/batteries, if you have a source of dry ice around.

Thanks!! I found a local supplier close by - just have to check cost when they open tomorrow. I think this will be a good solution to the problem.