Maybe you guys have an idea?

Muddydogs wrote:
I need a way to keep meat cool while in boon dock hunting camp. I have been thinking about a 7 cubic foot chest freezer that I could haul in the toy hauler then set outside plugged into the trailer where I would run the trailer genny when needed. With solar I don't really need to run the genny all that much but what ever it takes. I have also been looking at 12 volt frig's and freezers but from what I can tell it would take a truck load of battery's and solar panels to keep them running. Something propane would be cool but it looks like it takes a truck load of cash to procure one.

This subject comes up once in a while. Big residential fridge or freezer = daily generator.

10 or 11 cu.ft unit that includes 2cf freezer, would draw from 60 to 90 AH per 24 hours, including inverter draw. 7 cu.ft will draw a little less - hard to tell how much less, efficiency varies wildly from model to model. Some 7cf draw more than 10cf models. Plus, you have other loads - say, 30 AH for a conservative user. 90-120 AH total. Without solar you need to run a genny every day.

"With solar" - yes, you will need to run a genny "less". How much less, depends on how big solar. You will still need to run it every day if your fridge is bigger than 5cf and solar is smaller than 500W in winter, or the weather is particularly nasty.

I think you are confused about 12V fridges. There are 12V thermoelectric models, they need a lot more energy than 12V compressor fridges. Also, 12V compressor models are more efficient than 120V compressor models because they don't need inverter. But you have to add a few inches block foam around the box if this is a built-in model. Standalone models usually have enough insulation.

Standalone chest fridges and freezers are THE most efficient cooling machines out there, and 12V compressor chest will be more efficient than 120V compressor chest. Look into 12V 6cf chests by Sundanzer or Steka Solar if you can fit them in. Steka can be used as fridge or freezer depending how cool you want it. Sundanzer you have to decide whether you want fridge or freezer - identical models, different thermostates. Not cheap, about $1,000. You will still need 50 AH a day, or more, for 6 cf Steka or Sundanzer in all-freezer mode.

If you're going to run genny every day anyway, it makes sense getting a 120V chest or an upright 120V fridge/freezer, and big enough inverter, this will be cheaper than 12V model.

Small portable 12V compressor chest models are not too efficient due to thin lid and too little volume inside. Though 2cf chest still takes less energy than 6cf chest or upright model, because cooling a few pounds of food takes less energy than cooling half a cow - think 10-20 AH a day for a 2cf 12V chest.