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food:refrigeration [2022/06/17 13:10]
frater_secessus [120vac dorm fridge] 		food:refrigeration [2024/05/09 17:07] (current)
frater_secessus [Keeping food cold]
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 Note that many 'dwellers choose to [[food:no refrigeration|use no refrigeration]] at all. Note that many 'dwellers choose to [[food:no refrigeration|use no refrigeration]] at all.
-===== Upright vs Chest ===== 
-**Upright fridges** stand up and have a door that opens off the side. 
-  * **Pro** - easier to load and unload for many people.  Fewer "hidden" foodstuffs.  Space above refrigerator remains usable.  
-  * **Con** - items may shift and fall out when the door is opened. Cold air "spills" out when the full-height door opens.   
  
 +Also see [[food:refrigeration:power|powering a 12v compressor fridge]]
  
-**Chest fridges** lay down like a beer cooler. +---- 
-  * **Pro** - Can be filled to capacity.  Items do not fall out.  Possibly better cold retention due to lack of bottom seal and no air "spillage". +===== Coolers =====
-  * **Con** - May have to dig for food.  Space above top door unusable unless placed in a slide-out or similar.  +
  
-===== Using a cooler ===== +  * **Pro** - low cost, low empty weight, zero power consumption and widespread availability. 
- +  * **Con** - constant need to add frozen material and the requirement to dispose of any melted ice. You lose significant amounts of interior volume due to the space taken up by the cooling material.
- * **Pro** - low cost, low empty weight, zero power consumption and widespread availability. +
- +
- * **Con** - constant need to add frozen material and the requirement to dispose of any melted ice.+
  
 Tips to make cooler use more effective and simple: Tips to make cooler use more effective and simple:
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     * if you have regular access to a freezer at work or elsewhere rotate blue freezer packs in/out of the freezer and into your cooler.  This removes the ongoing cost of buying ice but requires a number of packs so you can always have them in rotation.      * if you have regular access to a freezer at work or elsewhere rotate blue freezer packs in/out of the freezer and into your cooler.  This removes the ongoing cost of buying ice but requires a number of packs so you can always have them in rotation. 
     * nearly-filled bottles of water((leaves room for expansion)) are free and work much like the freezer packs above.       * nearly-filled bottles of water((leaves room for expansion)) are free and work much like the freezer packs above.  
 +    * in any case, having //three// sets in rotation allows each set to be in the freezer for 32 hours (24hrs + 8hr shift) rather than just an 8hr shift.
   * if using ice   * if using ice
     * block ice will last longer than cubed ice     * block ice will last longer than cubed ice
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   * use cold weather to your advantage  (see below)   * use cold weather to your advantage  (see below)
  
-===== Using a refrigerator =====+---- 
 +===== Refrigerators =====
 A refrigerator (//refer// or //reefer//) is used to keep items at a given cool temperature, typically <=40F. A refrigerator (//refer// or //reefer//) is used to keep items at a given cool temperature, typically <=40F.
- 
  
 Refrigerators give off heat and must be ventilated; ensure any vents exhaust into open area.  Cooling performance may be enhanced by adding fans to move more air across the condenser((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Ventilation-Fan-Vent-ThinkTank-Calling-out-SternWake?pid=87077#pid87077)) and dusting components regularly.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Best-Fridge-for-the-Money?pid=199289#pid199289)) Cold retention can be enhanced by adding insulation in the form of foam sheets or insulative covers made for the cooler. Refrigerators give off heat and must be ventilated; ensure any vents exhaust into open area.  Cooling performance may be enhanced by adding fans to move more air across the condenser((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Ventilation-Fan-Vent-ThinkTank-Calling-out-SternWake?pid=87077#pid87077)) and dusting components regularly.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Best-Fridge-for-the-Money?pid=199289#pid199289)) Cold retention can be enhanced by adding insulation in the form of foam sheets or insulative covers made for the cooler.
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 ==== Front vs. top loading ==== ==== Front vs. top loading ====
  
-**Front loading** refrigerators are square or tall rectangles shaped like residential refrigerators.  Advantages include: +**Front loading** or "Upright" refrigerators are square or tall rectangles shaped like residential refrigerators.  They stand up and have a door that opens off the side. 
-  * direct access to the contents from a walkway +  * **Pros** 
-  * can use vertical space over the unit without have to build a slide-out+  * Direct access to the contents from a walkway 
 +  * Space above unit remains usable 
 +  * Easier to load and unload for many people.  Fewer "hidden" foodstuffs. 
 +  * **Con** 
 +  * Doors can sometimes swing open in transit. 
 +  * Items may shift and fall out when the door is opened.  
 +  * Cold air "spills" out when the full-height door opens, which has to be re-chilled and leads to higher power consumption. 
  
 **Top loading** refrigerators are usually low rectangles shaped like insulated coolers. **Top loading** refrigerators are usually low rectangles shaped like insulated coolers.
-Advantages include: +  * **Pros** 
-  * items don't fall out when vehicle moves +  * Can be filled to capacity more easily. 
-  * space can be filled more completely +  * No worries about doors swinging open and items falling out when vehicle moves 
-  * cold air doesn't spill out when opening the door, which may reduce power consumption if the door is opened frequently.((http://www.promasterforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=215513&postcount=19))+  * More efficient. Better cold retention due to a lack of a bottom seal, and cold air doesn't spill out when opening the door, which may reduce power consumption if the door is opened frequently.((http://www.promasterforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=215513&postcount=19)) 
 +  * **Cons** 
 +  * May have to dig for food. Easier for things to get lost/overlooked, or crushed (especially soft fruits). 
 +  * Space above top door unusable unless placed in a slide-out or similar.  
  
  
 +----
 +==== Methods of refrigeration ====
  
  
-==== Absorption refrigeration ==== 
  
- +=== Compressor refrigeration ===
-Absorption (ie, propane-powered ammonia cycle) fridges were popular in RVs because they used minimal power to run the ignitor, control board, fans if any.     This type of fridge had to to be quite level so the ammonia cycle cooling would work by gravity;  there is no pump.((http://www.doityourselfrv.com/know-rig-level-enough-rv-refrigerator-work-properly/))  Using one out of level could damage the $$$ cooling unit.   +
- +
-Absorption units are rare in vandwelling setups due to size, expense, and need for exterior venting. +
- +
-Over the last few years RV refrigerators have been going to 12v or, more commonly, 110v residential style units.   +
- +
-==== Compressor refrigeration ====+
  
 [[lifestyle:words_of_wisdom|Words of Wisdom]]: "Check amps drawn [by the compressor fridge] over 24 hours, much more important when boondocking than purchase price." -- John62CT((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Less-expensive-12-volt-fridge-recommendations?pid=294809#pid294809)) [[lifestyle:words_of_wisdom|Words of Wisdom]]: "Check amps drawn [by the compressor fridge] over 24 hours, much more important when boondocking than purchase price." -- John62CT((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Less-expensive-12-volt-fridge-recommendations?pid=294809#pid294809))
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     * [[https://amzn.to/3xjrrJt|Iceco VL45]] recommended by doc-ketamine((https://www.reddit.com/r/overlanding/comments/o8orti/newbie_question_on_jackery_bluetti_portable_power/h37nb5r/)).  Measured 85w when compressor is running     * [[https://amzn.to/3xjrrJt|Iceco VL45]] recommended by doc-ketamine((https://www.reddit.com/r/overlanding/comments/o8orti/newbie_question_on_jackery_bluetti_portable_power/h37nb5r/)).  Measured 85w when compressor is running
     * [[https://amzn.to/3jHCrwp|Iceco JP50]] recommended by panchulio.((https://www.reddit.com/r/overlanding/comments/o8orti/newbie_question_on_jackery_bluetti_portable_power/h36aiad/))     * [[https://amzn.to/3jHCrwp|Iceco JP50]] recommended by panchulio.((https://www.reddit.com/r/overlanding/comments/o8orti/newbie_question_on_jackery_bluetti_portable_power/h36aiad/))
-    * [[https://icecofreezer.com/collections/iceco-vl-series/products/iceco-vl60-dual-zone-portable-refrigerator-freezer|IceCo Dual Zone Series]] is great for people who want capable freezer space+    * [[https://icecofreezer.com/collections/dual-zone-fridge-freezer|IceCo Dual Zone Series]] recommended by Princess_Fluffypants. Great for people who want capable freezer space
  
  
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 > I store leftovers in pint and quart mason jars, which stand up fine in the [Alpicool] 15L. Longneck beers are slightly too tall. Since glass is heavy and harder to compact for trash removal I buy beer in cans anyhow. 16oz tallboys do fit. <-- the info discerning gentlemen need to know((https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/f68tji/lowest_consumption_coolbox/fi3wcav/)) > I store leftovers in pint and quart mason jars, which stand up fine in the [Alpicool] 15L. Longneck beers are slightly too tall. Since glass is heavy and harder to compact for trash removal I buy beer in cans anyhow. 16oz tallboys do fit. <-- the info discerning gentlemen need to know((https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/f68tji/lowest_consumption_coolbox/fi3wcav/))
-==== 120vac dorm fridge ====+ 
 +=== 120vac Mini-fridge ===
  
 Some have reported good results with inexpensive "dorm" refrigerators, especially when external insulation is added.  Some have reported good results with inexpensive "dorm" refrigerators, especially when external insulation is added. 
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 +=== Absorption refrigeration ===
 +
 +Absorption (ie, propane-powered ammonia cycle) fridges were popular in RVs because they used minimal power to run the ignitor, control board, fans if any. This type of fridge had to to be quite level so the ammonia cycle cooling would work by gravity;  there is no pump.((http://www.doityourselfrv.com/know-rig-level-enough-rv-refrigerator-work-properly/))  Using one out of level could damage the $$$ cooling unit.  
 +
 +These fridges are often called //three way fridges// because they run on propane in the field, provide heat for the absorption cycle from 12v while driving, and from shore power when available.  The fridges are very efficient (both propane and 12v controls) on propane, but use a great deal of power to run off electricity. 
 +
 +Absorption units are rare in vandwelling setups due to size, expense, and need for exterior venting.
 +
 +Over the last few years RV refrigerators have been going to 12v or, more commonly, 110v residential style units.  
  
  
  
-==== Peltier refrigeration ====+=== Peltier refrigeration ===
  
 Peltier cooling doesn't get used much in solar setups because it uses a lot of power and does so 100% of the time.  A typical Peltier cooler might run 4-5A continuously whereas a compressor cooler might run 5A 30% of the time and turn off the rest of the time. The 100% duty cycle issue can be alleviated by wiring in [[https://amzn.to/2WJg4tu|a 12v thermostat]].((assuming it would ever get cold enough to shut off. )) Peltier cooling doesn't get used much in solar setups because it uses a lot of power and does so 100% of the time.  A typical Peltier cooler might run 4-5A continuously whereas a compressor cooler might run 5A 30% of the time and turn off the rest of the time. The 100% duty cycle issue can be alleviated by wiring in [[https://amzn.to/2WJg4tu|a 12v thermostat]].((assuming it would ever get cold enough to shut off. ))
food/refrigeration.1655485842.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/06/17 13:10 by frater_secessus

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