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• Q:What Solar Panel do I need to run my fridge?
  A:

  The panel should be of a suitable size to meet requirements of the refrigerator and any other appliance running from the battery. Its best to use the solar panel to charge a battery, as opposed to running the fridge directly from the solar panel as voltage will drop if clouds come overhead for instance. The battery means your refrigerator keeps running even if the voltage output of the solar panel drops severely due to cloud cover. A good rule of thumb to prevent inadequacies with power supply is to have a solar panel large enough to provide enough daily power to run your refrigerator, and have battery storage of an extra 2/3 on hand. So, if your refrigerator (or any other appliance) will consume 30 amp-hours per day, you should have battery storage of 90 amp-hours capacity and a solar panel of around 80 watts or greater capacity to ensure you won't have problems. It is advised to go a little higher in specification than your needs, however. A popular solar panel size to charge your batteries to run camping fridges is around 120 - 160 watts. 

  

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• Q:Hi, I want to use my 90amp hour camping battery to run a portable fridge. How many hours will I get from my battery before needing to recharge? And what solar panels should I use to charge the battery?
  A:

  Hi Greg, great question. It is good that you will use the solar panel to charge the battery, as opposed to running the fridge directly from the solar panel, as voltage will drop if clouds come overhead for instance. You can run the fridge direct from your solar panels if you wish, but using the battery means your refrigerator keeps running even if the voltage output of the solar panel drops severely due to cloud cover.

  Presumably your 90amp hour battery is an AGM / GEL / Lead Acid type, meaning they have an approximate 'Depth of Discharge' of around 50% - so you can only use around half the capacity of the battery before you need to recharge. For Lithium batteries, you can get down to around 20% of capacity (sometimes more), however lithium batteries are more expensive. So, your battery model has around 45 hours capacity before you need to recharge. A portable camping fridge of say around 40-50 litres in size will draw approximately 0.75 amps/hr*. Meaning you will get approximately 60 hours of total run time from your battery before needing to re-charge, assuming you are running just your fridge and nothing else. Obviously different brands and models have different power draw ratings and a larger portable fridge will draw more power than a smaller model - best to check each fridge model's specifications for precise power draw data.

  Now looking at solar panels and the fact you may also want some other small camping appliances as well as the fridge:  A good rule of thumb to prevent inadequacies with power supply is to have a solar panel large enough to provide enough daily power to run your appliances, and have battery storage of an extra 2/3 on hand. So, if your portable fridge plus some other small camping appliances consume a total of say 30 amp-hours per day, you should have battery storage of 90 amp-hours capacity (like your battery does) and a solar panel of at least 80-100 watts or greater capacity to ensure you won't have problems. It is advised to go a little higher in specification than your needs, however. A popular solar panel size to charge your batteries to run camping fridges is around 100 to 160 watts… a quality 160 watt portable solar panel should give you around 60 amps per day of charging, assuming around 7 hours of decent sunlight.

  So based on the above, a 160 watt sized panel could be a good option for your sized battery - this should give you enough daily power to comfortably run a standard sized portable fridge and some other small appliances if required. Thanks.

  *Note that average power consumption data depends on things such as ambient temp, compressor speed (fridge setting), temp of contents in fridge, etc. So treat this numbers as approximation to give you a 'thereabouts' guide.

  

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• Q:There are a few different types of Evakool portable fridge ranges - can you explain some of the main differences between them and the recommended/ideal type of use for each Evakool range?
  A:

  Hi Jan, we certainly can! The below will definitely help:

  Evakool Fibreglass range:  These are the premium offering from Evakool and their fiberglass material mean they have exceptional insulation and will always perform very well, even in extremely hot environments. No need for an external fridge cover. They will reach desired low temperatures quicker than plastic cabinet fridges. The fiberglass material also makes them easy to clean and they will not absorb any smells - they are consequently popular for fishing requirements, among many other uses. Evakool make these models in Australia and they come with a 5 year warranty. Very popular for camping, caravan/camper trailer trips, 4WD'ing and boating. You will pay slightly more for these models, but the benefits are very compelling.

  Evakool Fridgemate range:  These models are built tough with an extra thick polyethylene exterior making them perfect for tradesmen, farmers, hunters etc. You can place these in the back of the ute and not worry about other objects hitting and damaging the exterior of the fridge. They are very robust.  The height of the fridge’s are also designed with the height of a ute tray in mind. Popular in the bush and rural locations where the fridge may be exposed to rougher rides in the back of the ute/truck/work vehicle.  This range is also made in Australia and comes with a 5 year warranty.

  Evakool TMX Travelmate range:  This range represents the ‘all-rounder’ of portable fridges and offers great value for money. For several hundred dollars less than other similar competitor’s models, you get a high quality portable fridge-freezer with a 5 year warranty and each model comes with an insulated fridge cover included. They are lightweight, compact (with drop down handles) and use the universal Danfoss (Secop) compressor, which is a proven compressor brand within the portable fridge industry. These fridges are used for just about everything: boating, four wheel driving, caravan/camping adventures, picnics, small events, mobile businesses etc.  

  Evakool Glacier Range: This is one of Evakool’s ranges that have a lower 2 year warranty, which brings their price down and therefore they make an enticing value proposition. The majority of the Glacier models have metal cabinetry, making them tough on the exterior. Customers that will use their fridge in the back of vehicles and likely expose the fridge to being knocked about a bit will sometimes prefer a metal exterior. The metal material does make the fridge heavier, however. This range have some popular larger dual zone models, whereby the zone’s temperatures can be separately controlled to run either as a fridge or as a freezer. Often used in camper trailers as the range has sizes which fit neatly in typical camper drawer openings.

  Evakool RV Range: This range is similar to the above Glacier range in that most models (the larger units) have a metal cabinet and a 2 year warranty, except the models are all single tubs. This range is suited to the budget conscious that just wants a single tub/compartment to run either entirely as a fridge, or entirely as a freezer. A simpler range than the abovementioned ranges that mostly have models with dual compartments. If you just want a single zone, no-fuss, good value portable fridge, then this range is worthy of consideration.  

   

  Our bestselling ranges from Evakool are the:  Fiberglass models, the TMX Travelmates, and the Glacier models.

  Overall, we have no hesitation in recommending the Evakool brand:  they are an Australian company who take pride in manufacturing and distributing high quality portable and upright fridges for the recreational vehicle/travel market, that have been thoroughly tested to perform in the Australian environment. Their fridges will keep your drinks cool, your food fresh and meat frozen when required. Their entire range is backed by a nationwide service agent and spare parts support network – meaning you are in safe hands for any warranty repair or spare part requirements. Cheers!  

  

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• Q:If I used this in a campervan enclosure, how much space does it require around it? Thank you.
  A:

  Hi Clare, we would recommend a buffering around the perimeter of the fridge of at least 100mm when storing inside an enclosure. Many portable fridge manufacturer's will actually recommend up to around 200mm of buffering gap specifically around the fridge's vents for optimal performance.

  Many thanks. 

  

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• Q:In the Evakool portable fridge ranges, which models are genuine Dual Zone? (i.e. can separately operate one zone as a fridge and the other as a freezer)
  A:

  Hi Geroge, the portable Evakool Dual Zone models are the Glacier 74 Litre G75-DX-DL  and  Glacier 89 Litre G100-DX-DL, each with separate comparments, two lids, and most importantly a dual zone circuit cooling system;  meaning they can be a freezer in both compartments, a fridge in either compartment or a freezer on one side and a fridge in the other compartment...the choice is yours!

  Many thanks.

  

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• Q:Do the Evakool portable fridges run on AC 240 Volts main power also?
  A:

  Hi Greg, good question. Evakool have a few different ranges of portable fridges, some that will operate on either DC 12/24 Volts as well as AC 240 Volts mains power. Then some of the Evakool ranges have just 12/24 Volt DC plugs - in this case, you can still run the fridge from 240 Volts mains power, you would just need to use a Power Adaptor which converts 240V down to 12V to run your fridge. This kind of adaptor is popular for when 240 Volt AC mains power is available and you want to run any 12 / 24 Volt DC appliance. 

  Below is the current (as at Sept. 2017) breakdown of the Evakool Portable Fridge ranges in terms the built-in voltage operation:

  - Evakool Fibreglass Fridge Range:  12/24 Volt built-in only. Need an adaptor to run fridge from 240 Volts power source (note an Evakool light duty adaptor is included free when a Fibreglass model is purchased from My Generator)

  - Evakool Fridgemate Range:  12/24 Volt built-in only. Need an adaptor to run fridge from 240 Volts power source (note an Evakool light duty adaptor is included free when a Fridgemate model is purchased from My Generator)

  - Evakool TMX Travelmate Fridge Range:  12/24 and 240 Volt built in. 

  - Evakool Glacier Fridge Range:  12/24 and 240 Volt built in. 

   

  It is recommended you double check the specifications on the product page for each fridge model to get the most up to date product spec information. Many Thanks. 

  

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