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KinAlberta
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 10:34am
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I've seen where people stick insulation on the outside of refrigerators with some promising results but huge limitations due to coil, condenser placement, etc. So has anyone just bought an extra large fridge and then lined the interior with insulation? Or both, insulate what they can on the exterior and then line interest interior as well. Would this work?
Also, do those 7-day camp coolers actually keep ice for a weeK? If so, then would a much more heavily super insulated icebox be an option for a solar powered cabin? Just buy a block of ice with the aim of it lasting two + weeks....
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Greenland South
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 11:10am
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I have 3 Coleman super coolers that I use when at the camp. One I line the bottom with ice in leak resistant bags and put the food in. The second one I fill with ice. The third has beverages. I don't open the second one unless I need to replenish ice in the food or beverage cooler . I can easily go 7 days with this system, but by then I'm outa food. Keep them out of the sun and you could probably go longer.
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Coyote Flats
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 11:18am
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I have insulated the outside leaving the area compressor etc open. It seemed to cycle less and did well overnight. We installed in a very shaded building so it was always cool.
I think even taking rigid insulation making a box making sure to seal all the joints and doing three layers with a good sealed door installing in a cool spot would last or keep things frozen for a long time with out refrigeration
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 03:13pm
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Quoting: KinAlberta Also, do those 7-day camp coolers actually keep ice for a weeK? If so, then would a much more heavily super insulated icebox be an option for a solar powered cabin? Just buy a block of ice with the aim of it lasting two + weeks....
That's sort of what I'm doing, except with the "party cooler" variety because it's essentially a cooler within a decorative wooden box on a stand but between the wood and the cooler, there's often a metal lining.
While I was on my land, I met a neighbor -- young guy who does construction and works for the volunteer FD -- and asked him if I could hire him for some building and other projects around the cabin, as needed. That might be one of them. This way, I'd know the quality of cooler going into my icebox, rather than simply buying a mass-produced "party cooler" from a store.
I'm also going to install racks on the sides and bottom to hold in frozen cooler packs or blocks of ice. The cooler packs will keep food from getting soggy but I suspect blocks of ice will keep the temperature colder.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 03:36pm
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You can actually build your own Fridge / Freezer if you want with kits designed just for that. Compressor, Condenser, Lines, Cooling plates, Thermostat all come in the kits.
I had considered using a kit like this to build my own fridge in an old Wardrobe. You could actually use a old Steamer Trunk or Wooden Chest, just about anything really... who said a fridge / freezer needs to be some shiny metal box painted white ? I may still do it if I decide I need a bigger fridge and if I can find a similar "kit" at a good price.
I know they are listed on E-Bay & Amazon but a supplier I bought some stuff from has kits that do just that, although I think they are a tad rich, considering. NOTE that this fellow is out of Montreal and prices shown are in Canadian Dollars (and yep, the site is French by Bing Translate takes care of it)
energie-abordable.com fridge kits (Translated w/ Bing) NB These are available in 12/24 VDC &/OR 120 VAC
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 05:51pm
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Just a funny little aside, but on topic. I was at a friend's house a couple of weeks ago and he was asking me particulars about the cabin. I was looking at his chest freezer and he raised his eyebrows when I told him I wasn't going to have a fridge, per se, because I use a freezer FAR more and wanted to devote my solar watts to that.
I said, "When I took inventory of my fridge, I realized that it mostly contained some dairy/eggs, condiments, a pitcher of iced tea, and maybe a small container or 2 of leftovers." He immediately went to his fridge, looked in and burst out laughing. "Yep, eggs, dairy, beverages, condiments. You're absolutely right!"
A good, large cooler will be perfect for me. 
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 08:56pm
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This past summer I had some left over 1 1/2" thick rigid foam insulation lying around I was trying to decide what to do with. I also had some plywood lying around. So I decided to build a box big enough to fit my Coleman 5 day cooler in. I lined the plywood with the insulation, caulked all the seams and put weather stripping around the lid. My cooler fits perfectly inside the box that I painted white. I found that even during the hottest times this summer, I easily got ten days out of my ice. I was very impressed with how well this worker and was a great use of materials I had laying around!
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2016 09:36pm
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Backwoods Solar sells Novakool 12/24 VDC refrigerators. They claim the energy used is halved when 2 inches of XPS foam is added to the exterior rear, top, bottom and sides, with appropriate cut outs for the compressor area. I have added 2" of XPS to out very similar Truckfridge. My watt-hour meter corroborates the reduction claimed.
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2016 01:24am
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Quoting: skootamattaschmidty This past summer I had some left over 1 1/2" thick rigid foam insulation lying around I was trying to decide what to do with. I also had some plywood lying around. So I decided to build a box big enough to fit my Coleman 5 day cooler in. I lined the plywood with the insulation, caulked all the seams and put weather stripping around the lid. My cooler fits perfectly inside the box that I painted white. I found that even during the hottest times this summer, I easily got ten days out of my ice. I was very impressed with how well this worker and was a great use of materials I had laying around!
That's awesome! Being a chick, I'd just stencil some daisies on the box and proclaim it perfect, lol! What size of cooler did you use?
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2016 09:25am
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My cooler is approximately 28"x14"x14" deep, so a decent sized one. I tried finding pictures of the box but only found the one I have attached. I painted the entire thing white to deflect the sun. The lid is hinged and I have chains to hold it open. My cooler fits neatly inside, I can open the lid to the box and then open my cooler. Like I said it works really well and saved me a lot of ice last year. The best part was I made it all with stuff I had lying a round and was trying what to do to get rid of it.
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2016 09:30am
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Sorry it's sideways, kind of looks more like a coffin that way..
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brooksm29
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2016 10:55pm
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Just as an FYI...There is a gentleman on Youtube that built his own cooler/fridge into his tiny cabin. The way it works is pretty ingenious. You all should check him out. His name on youtube is thebossoftheswamp. Good luck.
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KinAlberta
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# Posted: 8 Mar 2016 06:43pm - Edited by: KinAlberta
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Yeah, here in Canada I see our fridge as an electric heater for much of the year. Always thought that fridges should be on outside north facing walls or have a tube to duct cold air in to a plate or to an insulated box wrapping around the fridge.
thebossoftheswamp
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w68z-YJvei4
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old243
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2016 11:19am
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I keep a 10 liter jug , several 2 liter jugs and several small drink water bottles in my freezer at home. When I go to camp , put them in a large coleman cooler, in the bottom put any frozen meat on top or among them. Then put the rest of the food on top. Usually cover the top of the food with a wet newspaper as well. This seems to trap the cold down. After a period of several days there will still be ice in the jugs.. I don't buy any blocks or cubes. If I want ice for a beverage, just, break the ice in a bottle up , cut it open , use as necessary. This works well. Old 243
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