Monday, Sep 13, 2021 at 21:53
Thanks for those replies. Answers to Alan's questions, with a bit of context:
1) Toyota Prado
Kakadu 2021 model. The fridge will be in the back of the Prado, rather than in the hybrid off-road van that I will be sometimes towing. The fridge is intended to compliment the smallish fridge freezer in the van. It may also be used for trips without the van.
[Context: the
Kakadu is payload-challenged, esp when towing, so I am doing all I can to work with that payload. I therefore have a strong preference for anything light such as a lithium battery. They're definitely not cheap, but have a number of advantages in addition to being light.]
2) I only really plan to power the fridge. No inverter. I guess if it was possible to add some 12V charging outlets for as-yet-unknown low current bits and pieces without adding to the cost too much then I'd tick that option.
3) Bushman SC 35-52. No children planned on any trips. The Kakudu has a chilled centre console - I haven't used this feature yet, but it seems the obvious place for frequently-accessed cool drinks when travelling.
4) Sometimes as a 35L fridge, sometimes as a 35L freezer, and sometimes as a 52L multi-zone fridge freezer.
[Context: We discussed this fridge recently in a separate thread, much to the amusement of some people. Can I suggest we leave the discussion about the wisdom or otherwise of that multi-zone approach to that other thread. I'm experimenting with it at present, and will report back at some stage. I'd rather the discussion here be focused on powering the fridge.
Speaking of which, there was some discussion in that other thread about whether the Bushman really is as economical to run as some people claim. The Choice review of camping fridges found that the Bushman was the most economical to run. HOWEVER ... despite Choice's attempts to make comparable measurements, it wasn't really a fair fight. They only ran it in 35L fridge mode, and the Waeco Dometic CFX50W 50L was close behind. On an amps per litre basis the Waeco would be ahead. The reality was that both these units were close and *way* ahead of the rest, notably the Engel MT45FP 40L. They both seem quite economical to run.]
The obvious, and expensive, solution seems to install a lithium battery in the back with the fridge and hook up all the basic Redarc gear required to charge the battery from the car when possible, and via solar at other times. I guess I was attracted to the alternative of a system not charged by the car. I assume it would be cheaper, and more flexible. I.e. you could remove and run it outside the car, although that really isn't a priority. I was attracted by price and simplicity.
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