4:20 Ramblings About Batteries, Solar, and keeping it Simple.

[jlrftype7]

[SCM]

[gtinseth]

[djkeev]

This thread is actually making me rethink my cooling needs.
I have the truck fridge which is great but it is fairly large.

I also have a Dometic CDF11 which is small and I use it frequently for work lunches and beverages.

https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-CDF-11-Smallest-Por...amp;sr=8-5

I power this using my ECOflow River Plus portable power supply.
It will last about two days.

When traveling we are on the move the Dometic will keep my Wife’s medication reliably chilled and snacks handy.

I’m thinking that The ECO River will probably struggle to run both boxes or just the bigger box.

Looking at that Stanley YETI knockoff, using that for meal foods would be feasible using containers……… if it is as good as the online hype.

Just thinking out loud…….. I haven’t any desire for a large house power grid at all.

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[BrownLoaf]

With our Riviera, I find myself on the fence between sticking with the current "keep it simple" setup versus a compressor fridge and everything it takes to run it for 3+ days off grid.

For me, and likely for others, much of the fun and joy with these vans is designing upgrades, solving problems, and enjoying the process as much as the result. Because of this, it's hard to resist the urge to upgrade to a compressor fridge, LifePo, and solar. All that stuff is fun and technical!

However, there isn't much to complain about with the "keep it simple" current setup. Our Riviera included a built in icebox that has an ice tray which drains below the van. It has generous capacity for beer plus other stuff, is relatively efficient, and stays relatively dry. Rebuilding it with modern insulation, hinge pivots, and door gasket was a fun project on its own.

Because there is no compressor fridge, battery needs are minimal. We use a portable battery bank that powers the van lights, cig lighter outlets, radio, and sink pump. We've camped for 5 days without needing a charge. And because the unit is portable, it can be moved between vehicles and used for tent camping when we do that.

All of those benefits of "keeping it simple" said, it's still hard to resist the feeling of missing out on the fun tech. I've even recently purchased a cheap used 12v Norcold fridge with plans to retrofit the Danfoss BD35 compressor refrigeration into the Riviera icebox. To be determined if I will go that route with this van or keep it simple instead.
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83.5 Vanagon Riviera WBX 2.2 "Brown Loaf"
87 Vanagon Syncro Tin Top WBX 2.1 "Bubbles"

[jimf909]

Oh goodness, I love this thread and all the different ideas but this is the antithesis of KISS to me. I've got a food-safe fridge that runs indefinitely on solar and alternator charges and keeps food and beer from the dusty grocery store cold when I'm traveling and leftovers cold when I'm wfh in my van.

Here's my version of KISS:
Fridge #1 is for whatever needs to be kept cold or frozen. Open the door, toss it in or remove what's needed.

As said, to each their own.

[pdm777]

Son provides Westy electrical 'upgrades' to his dad's Westy.

But the Luddite in me rejects it. End of an Era :
-Coleman White Gas 'Double Mantle' Lanterns. often spewed flames.
-Coleman White Gas cook stove. Pump it Up! often spewed flames.

https://youtu.be/mTmhqrCKjTU
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1990 Westy Full Camper

[dobryan]

As I said after the first post. To each his (her) own. No judgement necessary. Peace.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[DuncanS]

[Abscate]

You always start with the loads. Once you decided you have to have active cooling, you have signed up for a not KISS solution in short.

Most others are best served by one large deep cycle battery and a jump pack.

We would often run both house batteries down on anchor over a week and then hand start the engine to get off anchor and out of harbor
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.ssS!

[shagginwagon83]

Really most peoples needs here are just a lifepo4, shore charger, and a fuse panel.

I built a 100aH lifepo4 pack for $250. $50 for a shore charger. 100aH will get someone through 3 days of camping with a small fridge, interior led lighting, and charging usb devices.

If you have the battery built and have a westy with AC power - one could install the battery, fuse panel, and run an outlet in 4 hours (or less).

Think of space savings too. If you camp more than 3 days straight then yeah you could look into solar, alternator charging, etc. or pull out the frozen water bottles and use the coolers for the longer trips.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[DuncanS]

Back in the Jurassic, my father had a 42' old and wooden schooner (sailboat) with a single small 6 volt start battery for a small gas engine. The battery could also run two lights in the main cabin, but using them was a class 1 Federal felony. There was an ice box and a compass. No depth sounder, just a lead line, no speedometer, but there was a taffrail log--a device that towed a spinning propeller which recorded distance--if it got used, which was seldom. That's it. We cruised 1000 miles a year coastally. That may not seem like much, but the average sailboat probably is lucky to get 200 miles a year.

Radar--eyeballs and a mouth blown fog horn with a lookout on the bow. No winches for lines/ropes, nor anchor windlass. Bilge pump was a manually operated item with a long stick you pulled up. Radio non existent. Requests for a bridge to open or for launch service to get to shore was done with the fog horn using certain calls. Cabin, running or anchor lights were kerosene with wicks which needed trimming and glass chimneys to be cleaned.

Once we sailed 45 miles in open ocean with high winds, seas, currents and pea soup fog heading for the Brenton Reef Lightship. Older brother on the bow watching. At the estimated time from my navigating and helmsman father it appeared as a ghost dead ahead, just where he had anticipated. It was the first thing we saw since we hoisted anchor 7 hours earlier. He was good.

Ice was bought in 50 pound blocks which were readily available in most ports because local fisherman needed ice to preserve their catch.

THAT was KISS and pretty close to how the Mrs and I camp now.

Duncan

[Red Ryder]

[djkeev]

[fxr]

^^^^ And keep the empties and refill next trip. Too much single-use plastic around as it is.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[DuncanS]

[pdm777]

There is a Method to My Madness. Puff.

I question whether 1 cooler is more efficient than two.

Arguing that the combined surface area is a detriment to efficiency,
compared to if two coolers were combined into one more-efficient unit.

Some of my fellow campers have a habit of dipping into the cooler
every 30 minutes or so. Snacks, Beers, Beverages, adding to the
heat load/cooling loss.

That's why I have cooler #2, and don't care how inefficient it is.
It's large, so it's outside.
A big block of ice/ 20# bag o ice is CHEAP and does well for beverage cooling.

For Maximum Efficiency, you want your #1 cooler
to remain sealed as much as possible.

My Main Meals are in the smaller YETI clone, safely frozen
or near frozen. Temperature swings are minimal (due to not opening).

I stagger meals
Most perishable gets cooked first.

I'm learning that Many savory meals can
be prepared and Frozen at home, making meal prep easy,
and contributing icy temps to the cooler.

Heck, you don't need frozen water bottles
when you have Frozen lasagna, Steak, Lobster tails!

Surprising how long these will remain frozen rock hard
when inside a YETI clone. I'd guess 10 days.
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1990 Westy Full Camper

[Abscate]

We put our drink cooler in the cockpit and use it as a seat , the food cooler stays in a locker below.

The Vanagon Cruiser Forum . Nice tales of the Sea, Duncan. The first time we lost sight of land my partner was a little concerned.

How do you know you are on course ?

Compass
Chart
Dead reckoning
Sun position
Wind waves.
( GPS active but in the helm locker where I can’t see it because I want to master the above. )
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.ssS!

[djkeev]

In a surprise Giant reversal of previous opinion, as I weigh the realities of my electric supply and what my truck fridge will require for a month on the road...... I'm on the verge of pulling the trigger on this Stanley.
Use this in tandem with my center console DometicCDF-11

Highly spoken of except for a drain valve leak that is apparently an assembly guffaw and easily fixed with a better seal.
Lifetime warranty by a old successful company.

On sale right now for $139 with tax and shipping
https://www.stanley1913.com/products/adventure-cooler-30-qt?variant=39681650196539

Itchy trigger finger here......
but alas it snowed last night, more time to think during cleanup .........

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[DuncanS]