No video
The BEST Portable Fridge and Solar Combo for Camping on a Budget!
Рет қаралды 525,188
Күн бұрынWe spent three weeks testing solar powered refrigeration in sun, shade, and rain to find the "never run out of power" portable refrigerator and solar combo for camping on a budget. We use the term "budget" loosely as this 12v fridge and solar combo is going to cost a bit more than your average cooler and ice. However, in terms of off-grid refrigeration seen on KZfaq, this system of refrigeration and solar is the most affordable we have seen for endlessly keeping your food cold and dry. And as for portability, this combination of solar portable generator, 12 volt refrigerator, and fold-able 100 watt solar panels is about as small and portable as you can get.
Links below for everything seen in this video as well as a link to the Indiegogo and Kickstarter Campaigns for the 40% discount. This discount is on the newest ICECO iCOOLER designed with boondockers in mind that functions similar to a Yeti Cooler, but with the ability to run 12v refrigeration. If you want a 12% discount on any ICECO product there is a link/code for that as well (we do earn a small commission on this one). Also there is a 15% discount code on RockPals gear, no kickback for us, just a nice discount for all of you as part of the Playing with Sticks Family!
Some of the most innovative camping gear for 2020 has been in the form of solar generators, fold-able solar panels, and 12 volt refrigerators. There currently is a push for smaller and stronger technology from the offroad and overland community. As teardrop owners and small camper enthusiasts we have greatly benefited from these new technologies that allow us to get off-grid using smaller refrigerators and power sources than ever before. If you are like us and thought you never needed a teardrop refrigerator while camping, you may want to give it a try. No more warm, wet, or soggy food. No more stinky smells, and best of all no more time spent cleaning that cooler after every trip. And the biggest selling point for us, this fridge can be run off of very minimal power meaning affordable solar solutions.
If you would like to see the solar charging speeds compared from different solar portable generator brands check out this amazing video from Will's channel • Micro Solar Generator ...
Looking for a detailed list of all the gear we currently use: www.amazon.com/shop/playingwithsticks
By purchasing items through these links there is no additional cost to you. Our family gets a small kickback from amazon for any purchases you make using these affiliate links.
Want a 15% discount on your Rockpals Order? Click links below and use discount code: PLAYWM to get 15% off. We also have Amazon affiliate links below for these Rockpals products if you want to support our channel or feel more comfortable shopping through Amazon.
www.rockpals.c...
www.rockpals.c...
If you want to support our Amazon Affililate links click below:
Our Rockpals 300 watt solar generator amzn.to/2T69Gvr
The 500 watt solar generator from Rockpals amzn.to/2Z3NAgJ
The 100 watt solar panels we use amzn.to/2Wv157A
ICECO Link to receive 12% of your purchase at their site. discount code: Playing with Sticks
icecofreezer.c...
ICECO Amazon Affiliate Links:
-ICECO Go20 Fridge from this video: amzn.to/2Z6uSUh
-Looking for a little smaller 14 qt Version amzn.to/2Yp74M6
-Looking for a little bigger 43 qt Version amzn.to/3fV4W4L
still runs on very low power as low as 33 watt vs GO20's 27 watts.
-Need the big guns at 53 qts: amzn.to/3hTNDTp
also runs on very low power as low as 33 watts.
-Looking for Rugged Offroad Overland Style Fridge: amzn.to/2Z6T88u
*One of the best features on all ICECO Fridges is that they come with Dan Fross Compressors with 5 year warranties.
*The GO20 was a little too small for our family a 31 or 43 qt would be more suitable for us, just in case you were wondering. We made do, but would benefit from a bit more space.
ICECO Campaigns Although they appear to be over. I think you can still get the discount on certain colors of their new 3 in 1 model. Multiple colors still seem to be available at Kickstarter.
ICECO Kickstarter campaign: www.kickstarte...
ICECO Indiegogo campaign: www.indiegogo....
ICECO Official Store: icecofreezer.com/
ICECO Amazon Store: amzn.to/2MitOXl
The 2 way radios "walkie talkies" in the video are from the company Retevis.
New to the channel? we have quite a few small camper playlists we think you would enjoy. Thanks for subscribing and joining us on the journey.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Edit: Newer BETTER power station now exists since making this video. We currently have found a solar portable power station that does it all (fast solar charging and regulated power) and would be the perfect match for this fridge. Here is the link to the solar portable power station amzn.to/3mzGSqZ If you want to hear our review on it, you can find it near the end of this video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ft6kbJuTyNO1hKc.html
@freenorthkorea7317 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks 😊
@IMGreg.. 3 жыл бұрын
Your son couldn't get any cuter!
@one-of-us9939 3 жыл бұрын
This will work for me, in my truck, on my trailer and at my land... Talk about off grid. Thank you very much so far, I'll check the BETTER power station next.💪😇👍
@doraexplora9046 3 жыл бұрын
If no one has told you yet. Dan Foss are the best fridge compressors on the market. All Engels have them, as an example. As long as your no-name brand fridge has a Dan Foss, you'll be good for years.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing. Yes, when we originally got this fridge I don’t think we understood the beauty of the Dan fross inside it
@leonosbo Жыл бұрын
We have used the kzfaq.infoUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
@YabadabadooMrMagoo 3 жыл бұрын
I just purchased the Iceco GO20 + The Bluetti P200 + two 200 watt Bluetti solar panels. I actually thought I would need that much power for the fridge, I’m just now realizing it’s overkill. Oh well I have enough energy to run a ton of gadgets. But Im really super pleased with the iceco and I am eager to see how well it works when I’m in the California desert.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
That is awesome to hear. You will be glad you have all the extra power. This will also allow you to charge the power station quickly so you don't have to charge the power station while the fridge is running. Doing that like we did in the video can take a toll on the battery over time.
@ritaweygint4038 3 жыл бұрын
I have this great IceCo fridge/freezer with a Jackery 300 and their 100W panel. Great setup for a little camper van!
@AlyssaVanilla 3 жыл бұрын
And it never has to be unplugged? I live in my car and am looking for a tiny fridge setup that would work in my build. Currently have the jackery 160 but looking to upgrade to a bigger one with the solar panel
@p.chuckmoralesesquire3965 3 жыл бұрын
my dude is mystified, straight dazzled how the mini fridge keeps his stuff cool in ....... ALASKA
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Haha. I don’t think it’s the fact that it’s running here in Alaska at 70°. That’s not much of a feat like you’re mentioning. It’s the fact that it isn’t draining the battery at all. Everything else we use in terms of power consumption drains batteries pretty quick when we’re camping so we thought this fridge would be the same.
@p.chuckmoralesesquire3965 3 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Ah I did not realize it was 70 degrees, my bad, please forgive my dumb joke :) I don't get out much so I thought was like 40 or something. Thanks for the video, was a pretty cool and informative! I need to get me one of those DC fridges!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
@@p.chuckmoralesesquire3965 We actually loved your comment. It was a good point. Most people don't realize it gets in the 90s here. Even in the middle of Alaska where it gets 60 degrees below it gets over 100 degrees in the summer.
@TheArizonaHooligan 4 жыл бұрын
I recently found your channel while looking for reviews on teardrop trails. My friend, you are doing it right! I appreciate your honesty, sarcasm, and humor. I also appreciate you respect the people of the different regions by mentioning their "mileage" may vary on certain items. Case in point, I live in Arizona, and you hit the nail on the head when speaking about compressor runtime. Thank you for providing valuable information to newbies like me in a way that is down to earth. Oh, I think it's great that you link other's videos to exemplify a point. That shows me a good deal of professionalism. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to watching your past and yet to come, content.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Thomas. Glad you are enjoying these videos. Quick question, can you tell us more about teardrop trails? Is that a company, forum? Sounds interesting. Thanks for the positive feedback by the way. Much appreciated!
@TheArizonaHooligan 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Lol, that was a typo on my part. It should have read teardrop TRAILERS. I was tired and did not catch the mistake. Over the next couple of months, My hope is to acquire a trailer to pull behind my VW Atlas. I want to avoid the mistakes my friends have made. Thus the hours of research to find the style and size that will suit my needs now and into the future. Though, if there was a trail named "teardrop", I would want to hike base on the name alone.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
A lot of you have been asking us to put links in the description for gear we use while camping. We tried our best to put them in today, but if there is anything you see missing please let us know. Happy camping everyone! Hope you are all able to get out there soon if you haven't yet!
@michaelpearce8661 4 жыл бұрын
Does the unit work on a incline? Some need to be level to keep from damaging the long time running of the refrigerator/freezer.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Good question. And good point. We have had great results with bumps and inclines. One of the features that sets them apart is that they design their refrigerators to be tilted 40 degrees and still be operational.
@michaelpearce8661 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks are their bsnds that don't preform as you claim? Is there away to know before making a purchase. I've looked at several models and other than what you have said, I didn't see anything about in the specifications for the refrigerator freezer units.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
@@michaelpearce8661 We have had a few comments on the channel from folks who have had many issues with their refrigerators, unfortunately I can't remember any of the brands. If it was us we would just stick with brands like ICECO and Dometic who have been making fridges specifically for cars for 40-50+ years. What does have me a little concerned is like you said when we went back to the ICECO GO 20 newest specs we don't see anything on there about the tilt. We found the 40 degree tilt specs on all their other models. When we first received the GO20 the tilt feature was listed all over their literature. Hope they aren't making any changes to their new supply. We had heard a rumor from someone in the community that the Danfross plant was shutting down. But, with a Google search we didn't find anything. Hope this helps a bit. I am assuming this just made it a bit more foggy.
@michaelpearce8661 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks all information is appreciated. It gives me a base from which to work with as I search for what will work for my personal application. Been living off the grid for many years doing without refrigeration and have tried several different ways to keep my milk cold overnight. The all in one solar generators charge faster since I first started being off grid back in the late 80's after the roommate of thirteen years decided to move to another state and I wasn't ready to leave southern California. Not having the income for a place by myself and you probably can figure out why I'm living off the grid. Have had roommates since but that doesn't last for long and renting a room has been a horrible experience everytime I went to a different places the same thing happens. They steal what they want after going through all of your personal property.
@richarddaugherty8583 4 жыл бұрын
Just some info: the Rockpals battery box includes a built in solar charge controller (SCC for short), probably an MPPT type (most efficient). The solar panels themselves typically have no smarts other than a diode to prevent current from flowing backward into the panel. Think of a diode as a check valve for electricity. If the battery is lithium based, voltage doesn't tell you a lot. If it's AGM (lead/acid Absorbed Glass Mat) then 11.2 is almost depleted to the point where further discharge will damage the battery. Lithium batteries have a Battery Management System (BMS) to prevent over discharge and overcharge, and a few more features besides. Since your battery stayed at the same level all day with little sun I would guess there was just enough current coming in from the panels to maintain the battery at par. Sounds like a super efficient refrigerator! Cheers!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing all this Richard! These are the types of comments that we love receiving. Thanks for leaving this community a better place than before you came.
@alicetulllyhall1 3 жыл бұрын
Drew and May; not only do I LOVE your channel, Its content, but it is a delight to see your little ones as they begin to grow and enjoy the outdoors. I have a photo on my mantle showing my little one on her very first camping trip. She was three months old and I dreaded changing her nappie on the tailgate of my red Ford 250 pick 'em up truck due to the still rather cold weather temps. But instead of screaming, my little one squealed in delight!! Cherish this time, one blink and you will be watching them walk across a stage to get their diploma! Now that will scare the stuffing out of you!! Good luck to you both and keep up the great work! I, loving your content!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Love the imagery of the change on the tailgate. We get you there! Thanks for the words of wisdom Alice. They sure do grow up fast!
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
FYI for any 12 volt portable compressor fridge. Be aware of where you put ice in them. If it is against where the fridge monitors fridge temperature, it will fool the fridge into thinking it is very cold, and never turn on.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Now this is new to us, but completely makes sense. Thanks for sharing this Mike! I'm wondering if that also is why some folks with these 12 volt refrigerators get different temperature readings in comparison to what their panel is telling them.
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Playing with Sticks, Yeah. When you think about it, it makes sense. I believe this was a Bob Wells observation obtained from his own long term 12volt fridge usage and contact with other long term users. I think about loading my fridge with frozen bottles before I leave. I think it would work fine, but position against walls may be key. And, on yours, if you load the freezer section with frozen items (ice?), I wonder what would happen if the freezer section is set to different temps: fridge temp, high and low freezer temps. Using strategic frozen items when starting out may be a way to use less power and extend hard frozen items.
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the knowledge seed. I went back and watched Will Prowse’s Micro Solar Generator Comparison video. I understand now your emphasis on the charging speed criteria, and really think the Rockpals is the best choice for your setup. Nice job! Jackery is nice, but two days for a full recharge is a deal killer. I have always looked at charging speeds for those little pocket backup-battery phone chargers. Some can charge a phone very fast, but a full charge of that backup-battery takes days😬. Now I know charging speed is important with solar generators too. Thanks!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
That was an accidental discovery on our part. We honestly thought we would be under powered, but thought it would be fun to do some tests to see how long we could make it. Come to find out with a portable setup like this it really isn't about the size of your power source, but more about how quickly you can convert the sun's usable energy. And the best part, this means folks on a budget could potentially now have a fridge outdoors without having to purchase large quantities of solar panels and large quantities of batteries. The Jackery still has it's place in most people's setup, but maybe as the more reliable backup power source. In a perfect world and money was no option, I would suggest to people purchasing one of each, a Rockpals to get the sun's energy quickly and a Jackery for those long rainy weeks.
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Playing with Sticks, most discoveries in history were accidents. After you explained the charging reasoning, it makes perfect sense! So much so, it is almost obvious now! Thanks! The other thing is the Rockpals can take more solar input, so with additional solar you get even faster or more low light charging.
@disabledoffgridadventure9580 4 жыл бұрын
That's why I went rockpals too.
@10buk2 2 жыл бұрын
I've done the Van conversion and loved it. Spent over $26,00 on vehicle modifications. Now looking to downsize @ 66 years old.
@jguitarguy87 2 жыл бұрын
Your campsites are insane! Stunning. I love all your videos and appreciate all the effort and detail you put into each one. I picked up a Scotty Serro last night. Have Tent camped for years but your videos inspired me to take next step but also to focus on the outdoors and simplicity of a a smaller camper.
@geographyinaction7814 2 жыл бұрын
This video is exactly what I needed. Not only did I get my answers for a smaller PPS and fridge, but I also know now what brands to look at. My plan is to run the fridge with the Jeep's 12v until I get to the site, then plug in the PPS and panel... Thanks mate!
@PlayingwithSticks 2 жыл бұрын
Great idea. Basically what I look for is a Dan Fross compressor. Unfortunately they’re under different names/branding today so it is a little harder to find. I do know iceco is still using them
@geographyinaction7814 Жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Any thoughts on the LG compressor? I have never had an issue with LG anything, and I have heard that they are up there with DanFoss. I know that the Rough Country, and Vevor fridges use them.
@ConsidertheWonders 4 жыл бұрын
This setup is legit. We don't do a lot of off grid camping but we're always looking to reduce weight when we do. Have to check this thing out for sure! This is cool and thanks for sharing!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
This video got us thinking about other uses besides being off-grid. We are going to have to try it out for picnics, long bike rides to return to cold drinks without worrying about loading it with ice. Today we were thinking about the ability to haul some ice cream around. Could you imagine going to the lake and halfway through the day asking if anyone wanted some ice cream?
@speterbilt 4 жыл бұрын
I hauled produce across the USA and we always set the temp at 34 degrees to keep the freshest foods
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Now that is the type of information I like to hear. Thank you! Sounds like I need to do a new test at 34 to see if there is a difference.
@a4SilverBullet 3 жыл бұрын
Great video! Just a side note on the portable power station. If you plan to use it like this, like a power inverter, make sure it allows pass through charging. Some don't have this capability, meaning you can't use the outputs while it's charging. Take care!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Great tip here! Because ours does have pass through, we just assumed everyone else had the same capability. But, you are right. They are not all created equal. We just got the new Bluetti AC50s. Loving it! It has regulated power, pass through, 200 watts of solar input capacity, basically everything we said we needed in this video from one unit. I think it comes out November 15th. This may be something folks want to check out. Again, thanks Dean for your comment. Definitely important to know.
@theattorney6072 11 ай бұрын
@@PlayingwithStickshi there. Are you still using the bluetti ac50s and how was the testing result in similar scenarios ? Thx
@innercityprepper 3 жыл бұрын
This isn't necessarily mobile but on the same vein: I've been messing with home un-powered cyclical refrigeration as a prep/energy conservation technique. Started messing around with a Blue brand rotomolded 55q cooler, those blue ice block thingies, and a home ice maker powered by a Jackery. I can keep perishables cold in my basement in a 55quart cooler indefinitely by making just a gallon or so of ice once a week, which only takes about 30 minutes with the ice maker.
@carolhewett3756 2 жыл бұрын
What's the brand name of your ice maker? I've thought of going that route.
@BobBob-il2ku 2 жыл бұрын
Name of ice maker?
@dorvinion 4 жыл бұрын
Getting a modern inverter-compressor fridge was a game changer for us. (Alpicool in our case) No more dumping food from our camper's 3-fuel fridge (works fine on AC, or stationary on propane, but fails at DC on the road), or having to mess about with coolers and ice and the subsequent soggy food. Nice to have when going shopping too if your grocer is half hour or more away to keep the frozen stuff frozen. We run ours off our tow vehicle rather than the camper's solar so we can bring our lunch with us and keep food out of the camper when in bear country. I don't worry about running down the battery as we are frequently running the vehicle from place to place keeping it topped up, and the cooler uses very little power.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
This sounds like us, but we have learned these lessons a bit later than you. This morning was the first time the thought hit me that I could take this fridge with me to the store. Often I divide up my store runs due to the temp in the car. But, you are right this would make it so I could even stop and go fishing before going home :) May may never see me for hours in the future when she sends me off to run a simple errand :)
@charlesmoman 4 жыл бұрын
Be aware that your Alpicool will shut off if you have a lithium like a Rockpals that does not have a regulated 12v port once the Rockpals drop to 50% capacity. A friend had that happen with his Alpicool and a Lion Safari 400w lithium that has non-regulated 12v port. Not. Good.
@dorvinion 4 жыл бұрын
@@charlesmoman It's a battery protection feature as it expects to be hooked to a lead acid battery and as we all know lead acid doesn't like to be deeply discharged.
@charlesmoman 4 жыл бұрын
@@dorvinion Yep. My friend also has an ICECO GO20 ( I did a review of it for ICECO and just did one of their new iCooler Drew mentioned - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mp6ol9t707vUh6s.html). The ICECO does not shut off with the Lion Safari when it drops down, but the Alpicool does. The GO20 is a much more sophisticated fridge. Buyers need to be aware. Hobotech and Will Prowse preach about it on every lithium power bank that review. They know their stuff. Be safe.
@HimynameisJermHicks 3 жыл бұрын
I'm so glad I re-found your video. I saw it but was going to watch something else first then I couldn't find it but then when I Googled off-grid fridges I found it again.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it. We just picked up the larger version ICECO JP40. So far it seems to sip very low power. But, we are currently in Utah. This heat will definitely put it to the test.
@robertmeyer4744 4 жыл бұрын
I go tent camping with my girlfriend in NY . love the cooler ! I have SUAOKI 120 watt solar and it's great ! It also uas USD 60 Watt PD type C .great for anker power bank. I have MPPT to a 31 AGM battery. works great . my lap top and video stuff and smart phone ,camping lights ,radio ALL solar/batt . even watched movies all night on laptop. went 14 days camping and days of rain. never ran batt under 12.6V .was great! even charged outher campers phones. and I never ran my honda gen! great job showing what need to do for camping. It's fun !!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Isn't that amazing. That is so impressive that you can run all that for 14 days witch such minimal batteries. The power of the sun is much more impressive to us now that we have done these tests.
@robertmeyer4744 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Group 31 AGM battery. RV . get around 7 amps peek charging with MPPT . had a few sunny days. also have 28 watt big blue USB solar and a 7.5W no name USB and few USB power banks. anker 26800 mah best . was looking at video on cooler which I have in my cart. I never ran my honda gen eather.
@DHFlip18 4 жыл бұрын
Like the other voters stated, I'm impressed with the performance of your little RockPal system. I can't believe it ran a small fridge/freezer along with charging electronics without skipping a beat. I was always under the impression that I had to get at least 1,000 watts and massive panels to do that. Very nice job guys, thanks for the review!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We honestly couldn't believe that either. The only reason we ran this setup is because it is what we had on hand. We thought it would be fun to see how long it could go before being exhausted. We were estimating it would be just right for the weekend warrior crowd. Come to find out it is like the little Energizer Bunny.
@DHFlip18 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Energizer Bunny indeed, must be running on "kid power" 😆 I'm glad it worked out so well for you guys. What's cool is you're inspiring others with your little experiments, so we're all learning from you! Thank you! And the walkie talkies... what a great idea, for both backing up and for kids to play with. Almost as fun as "Playing with Sticks" - dad jokes, couldn't help myself lol
@clange50 4 жыл бұрын
I have a go20 which I really like, and FYI refrigeration goes MUCH farther than freezer or dual zone. With a jackery 240 and the go20 in fridge (31 deg) and freezer (0 deg) mode, it ran a lot. It was taking about 10% of the battery per hour, so ~10 hours with no added solar. Set to just a fridge at 40 deg., it's taking 2-3%, so 33+ hours. That's at 70 - 80 degrees ambient.
@shaunhall6834 3 жыл бұрын
You folks do a great job with your videos. Much appreciated!
@martykong3592 3 жыл бұрын
another great share! Thanks so much, and too cute 'Little Foot' with walkie talkie :) Momma foot and tiny one :) Thanks again, brings smiles to all of you! Cheers! :)
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it Marty. The Little Foot was one of our favorite memories we caught on camera. We have a growing list of shots from this KZfaq channel that we know we are going to love looking back on one day.
@totoroben 2 ай бұрын
For a weekend trip if you freeze all your meals before you go a standard cooler will be fine. Look up dump dinner recipes for easy one pot meals, and prepping ahead of time will save a lot of work at your campsite, like cutting veggies, searing/ roasting etc.
@oldman6172 4 жыл бұрын
I drove a semi truck for 16 years wife and I used such radios to help when backing in.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
That is a great idea. Lately we have been using ours when following the trailer with the drone. Much easier than those hand signals that my wife can never see :)
@uweschroeder 4 жыл бұрын
My teardrop has a glued on 100W solar panel and a built in mppt controller that charges the battery (which I switched to a LiFePO4 battery, but of course that's not low budget). More interestingly, I also wired a plug to the side of the trailer which connects via a switch to the solar controller. This allows me to plug in a external foldable panel, so my total solar capacity is 220W. The switch allows me to "wire" them in series or parallel. Parallel is the setting you usually want, but if you're in a spot where both panels are in the shade, going serial will likely improve your ability to charge. My controller (Victron) will only start charging when you hit 18Volts (even if the voltage sinks a little later, but you have to make it over this threshold). In serial you add the voltages up, so two panels producing 10V each will result in 20V at the controller, thus triggering the charge. I don't know whether all MPPT controllers do this, but my Victron does. My trailer came with a Norcold 30 quart fridge and it has been working flawlessly on solar. Of course, I don't live in Alaska, so chances of being in a sunny spot are quite high here on the west coast. On the other hand as mentioned we also have a lot of high temperatures which is why I built an extra insulation around the fridge to help with maintaining the temperature (caution: do not cover vent openings!!) All these modern low energy compressor fridges are amazing and a total game changer to what you can bring. I usually bring a lot of stuff because I like good food and always cook. I store certain things outside the cooler (unwashed eggs don't need a fridge and a lot of hardy veggies do well in a ventilated box with a couple of moist rags in it - cabbage, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers wrapped in plastic etc. ). Having 30 quart of real fridge capacity allows to bring a few perishables without having to find ice every few days. With careful planning I can stay out for at least 2 weeks without needing anything - that's a nice boondocking trip!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Uwe we probably say this too often, but you have some of the best posts we have seen on KZfaq. Your setup sounds perfect. As you are probably aware, we don't stay very often at campgrounds. The bear rules added a unique twist to our solar setup. It made us realize we need something like yours where we can run both built in solar from the roof and portable solar from a fold-able panel. If you are out hiking or can't leave things out due to bears the more secure option of a mounted panel would give you peace of mind when hiking and the ability to run the fridge inside. Charles Moman just made a great video on this where he drilled through his fiberglass Runaway trailer to be able to not only charge his regular batteries, but also charge his portable solar generator inside his more secure trailer. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iruijbCcnsmmn6s.html Thanks for the tip on the veggies and eggs. We do the same when we purchase eggs from our friends, but not with our store bought eggs (you can't do that with them right?) The vegetable tip we have never heard before, but makes sense.
@uweschroeder 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks No, you can't keep store bought eggs unrefrigerated and FDA regulations require that eggs are washed in the US. In Europe nobody does that so the first time I saw eggs in a fridge was when I came to the US. Eggs have a naturally waxy coating courtesy of the chicken and that's what keeps the bacteria out. Naturally a egg is sterile on the inside, so it lasts. Anyone "commercial" is prohibited from selling unwashed eggs, so you have to find someone who has chickens in the backyard (or you know a farmer really well and he can hand you some off the record - I used to trade them with a farmer and since he didn't sell them he didn't break the law - yet that's a slippery slope unless you're good friends) You may want to check out Slim Potatohead kzfaq.info/love/5LjexFk9wZEnFsXA3TOx-g He's from Canada and not only has a very soothing video style, but also has a bunch of videos on low budget and some quite ingenious improvements for small trailers, particularly for storage, shower etc.. He used to run an A liner and now has some sort of fiberglass trailer like a scamp (some canadian company, forgot the name). He just recently did a inside and out solar solution for that trailer using a AGM battery and a solar generator with fixed and mobile panels. Not as refined as I would usually do things but quite usable (I'm German, so of course I over-engineer everything)
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Uwe Schroeder, Great Information! I just learned why fresh natural eggs last a long time. Chickens lay about 1 egg a day. They want a batch of eggs, and they want them to hatch at the same time. They gather eggs (including stealing eggs and things that look like eggs like avocado pits), but don’t sit on them. The eggs are dormant until activated by heat and moisture when the hen decides to sit on them for the hatching phase. Once the hen adds heat and moisture, all the eggs start growing at the same time. Before washed and before activated by heat and moisture, the eggs are in the dormant phase and can be stored at room temp for weeks. Some people in Europe will buy fresh fertilized quail eggs from the store and hatch them as pets 😃
@planecrazyish 3 жыл бұрын
Great video, fantastic set up, amazing fridge and solar!! , beautiful setting and great people. Very cool walkie talkies! perfect for so many applications that don't demand expensive, top end stuff. As for your child?! WOW!! so articulate and well mannered , congrats to you all.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this really kind comment. Much appreciated!
@kenastl 3 жыл бұрын
The new Jackery 300W has a regulated 12v power outlet and charges quickly. So I think that would work even better than the Rockpals 300W.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Yes, the regulated power is hard to beat. I just looked up the 300. You are absolutely right. The new recharge time is only 4.5 hours. And off of 100 watt solar it is 5.5 hours, so very similar to the Rockpals in terms of quick solar charging. Looks like I have a new portable solar power station to be recommending to others. Thank you!
@pjf7943 3 жыл бұрын
I listened to your comment at 2:23 and all it proves is that the 12vdc output from the sogen is regulated, which is a good thing, but in this case doesn't really matter.... Once your sogen runs out of charge, it will automatically shut down and you will lose power to the fridge.. If the 12vdc was not regulated, most likely your fridge will shut down at the voltage thresh hold you set it to.. Usually the lowest is around 10.8+-.. Read your fridge manual to find out.. I too, own the AC50s... Nice piece of kit..
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing this!
@dherman0001 3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic information! Keep the camping fridge at 35f. The colder the better for food longevity and the thermal mass gives you a bit of insurance.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you David. I honestly had no idea what to keep it at. I just followed the little food guide on the fridge. 35 from now on it is!
@TimShelnut 3 жыл бұрын
I had this fridge for a good while really liked it. It did seem to struggle in the southern heat as it's insulation isn't as thick as some of their other fridges. I needed more room and wanted one thicker ended up with ICECO VL60 dual. That thing runs off of my 280ah diy battery and 100 watt solar panel.
@dingdongdaddy589 11 ай бұрын
Do you still have the VL? How has it been for you? Thanks.
@TimShelnut 11 ай бұрын
@@dingdongdaddy589 yes I do has been running 24/7 in my car and has been reliable and awesome in these 100+ degree days. Freezer will get up to 11 degrees when the interior of car gets 120 ish. Pretty solid fridge!
@dingdongdaddy589 11 ай бұрын
@@TimShelnut - Great input. Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time. 👊🏽
@NoZenith 11 ай бұрын
Did you have the insulating outside cover for the go20? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the investment if I go this way
@TimShelnut 11 ай бұрын
@@NoZenith on the go20 I would skip and get small VL. Or research thicknesses. Normally calculated via interior space minus exterior. I did not have cover on the go20.
@mycocoaone 3 жыл бұрын
Very helpful. I bought an iceco so now I will purchase this entire set up. Thank you.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Since this video there is a much better setup out there. Rockpals no longer makes the 300 watt generator from this video. However, there is something much better out now. We suggest the Bluettie AC50s. It does everything the Jackery and the Rockpals does combined. Meaning best of both worlds. Here is the link amzn.to/3eAHM6c Also at the end of this video we talk about it briefly and why it is currently the best in our opinion kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ft6kbJuTyNO1hKc.html.
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Neat fridge! Love the fridge freezer at the same time! Impressive power usage!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We would have never known about this, but many of our subscribers own this same fridge. After hearing all their positive reviews we thought it was time to give it a try. May says this has been the best upgrade we have experimented with yet. Her and I both felt we didn't have a need for a fridge, but after using one I am pretty sure it will be with us most trips. The biggest thing for us was eliminating wasted food. We often feel terrible getting home with wet soggy food or food that got a little on the warm side knowing we had to throw it out. Now we get home and all the leftovers just go right into the home fridge.
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Playing with Sticks, YEAH! Best camping tool I ever bought. Could not get past the price at first, then I was out camping for a month in AZ. Buy ice every 3 days. Small quantities of food. Plan for no leftovers. Soggy food I did not trust. Bad diet out of cans. The fridge solved all!!! If it died, I would immediately buy another!
@Lukealang 4 жыл бұрын
I love my iceco 40 qt fridge freezer iceco uses Danfoss compressor wich is reliable and Durable. As long as you're not deep freezing it will go all week on a single charge deep cycle battery
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We are thinking the 40qt may be the route we go as well for our growing family. After these tests we are hooked on these 12 volt fridges. Thanks for sharing your everyday results. We have been trying the deep freeze this week and definitely a bit more power draw. But still amazing in terms of how much time we are still getting out of it.
@mikemead2315 3 жыл бұрын
Ha! Stopped charging - AT MIDNIGHT🤣 Alaska is too cool!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
It is pretty neat isn't it! Sometimes we take it for granted.
@12vLife 4 жыл бұрын
I've been doing something very similar .. Charge Speed is so important and so is regulated 12v. IMO, nothing charges faster and more brainlessly than your primary Led Acid starter battery over alternator + Solar. I've been doing endless refrigeration and running a roof vent fan on medium overnight in my van WITHOUT a house auxiliary battery and I'm in very HOT Florida. I did not want to sleep with batteries or take up any precious floor and storage space with another battery and all the wiring. So all I did was upgrade my starter battery from 65AH to a 115ah Deep cycle dual purpose marine battery ($100) and mounted a 100 watt solar panel ($75) on my roof. My Fridge is an Alpicool c15 ($199) with a very similar 12v compressor. During the day my battery is usually close to full @12.6v with almost any level of sun and since i like to cool off in the van when taking a break my batteries quickly top off with just 15 minutes of alternator charging. I consume about 500WH overnight (for 25F refrigeration and a rooftop Maxxair vent fan on medium) and wake to 12.2v (60% remaining). Have never been stranded with a dead battery. but just in case I do carry a cheap lithium jumper brick ($50) that works great when I've tested it. My inverter is 1200watts and can power a 1200w electric kettle that can cook even steak with the engine running without any charge loss so no propane tanks here either. Some details and testing on my channel.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
So simple! I wonder why more people aren't doing this? Like you said, it eliminates the need for an extra battery and saves a lot of space and money. Thank you for sharing!
@Rauppie 4 жыл бұрын
I diged into this. I found out the deepcycle batteries are not made for starting your car. Do you have any problems with this?
@12vLife 4 жыл бұрын
@@Rauppie Ive been working fine for over 18 months on this battery. No issues.
@rubberducky6411 4 жыл бұрын
Great review and thank you.The length matters of plug in due to resistance per foot and due power drop.Use a short cord whenever possible.
@hankperry 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you-very helpful. Which generator were you using?
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
That is good to know. We should have known this as well as we do a lot of wiring for many of our projects. But, we honestly didn't even think of that.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Is this a question for rubber ducky or us? Just making sure in case you were asking about ours.
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
Nice! That really puts things into perspective for a lot of people. More and more solar stuff is combined and plug-n-play. Very usable without a lot of thought.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Exactly Mike. When making this video we were just thinking about your average car camper. With a no fuss setup like this you could use it one week for car camping, the next week for a picnic, and on the weekend you could tote it to the bleachers for your kid's little league game.
@1cosmocat 4 жыл бұрын
Hello from West Virginia. Thx for the great info. I ordered one from your link. Thx for the discount. They are not in stock till July, but that'll work. Love your videos. I ordered a little Rockpal 300w after watching your review then ordered a 100w foldable solar panel after your review on that. Very happy with them. Thx again
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Hey there Cindy! Always fun to have folks on from all the way across the States. My wife was just saying we need to get over that way sooner than later. Thanks for the heads up about them not being in stock. Pretty popular little fridges. Glad you are enjoying the little generator and solar panel. Isn't it amazing what you can do with such small equipment? Out of curiosity what kind of trailer do you have?
@1cosmocat 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks I have a Little Guy 4x8. We like you have some beautiful mountains and the New River the only other river besides the Nile that flows south to north. Great whitewater rafting. We'd love to have y'all.
@ericb.4358 4 ай бұрын
Just ordered your exact ICECO fridge (and insulating cover). I have a great car camping system: 1.)Off Grid TREK 220 watt solar "blanket" charging my 2.) BLUETTI AC200 MAX Lithium Iron Phosphate energy center battery. which runs a cooler all day using, at most,1% of the battery. After hunting all day here in Nevada I return and for 2 hours charge up my 2 battery, 2 wheel drive E-CELLS e-mountain bike. I col the fridge down to 30 F. for an hour then unplug it for the night. The next morning the "solar" battery recharges for the day.
@robertkat 3 жыл бұрын
I have the best portable fridge. Works on 120V AC, 12 V DC, and propane. Never any problems. 35 years old.
@wordgirl8100 4 жыл бұрын
It's charging up your portable generator with the power beyond what runs your cooler. Nice!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Isn't that awesome! We just got back today from a trip where the next morning we plugged the generator back into the solar power and it charged from 11.9 to 12.6 volts by the time we were done with breakfast. And this obviously was while the refrigerator was connected to the generator. Love how they were able to make something that runs on such low power.
@user-Sullx2 2 ай бұрын
Your child is very calm 😂❤️
@cobrar85 4 жыл бұрын
This cooler got me really excited. Im very interested in this. I would need to watch a bunch of reviews on this.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Charles Moman (great guy, takes no commissions) a fellow small camper owner has a review on this kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rLekoMKArsrLmqc.html . CheapRVLiving I believe has a review on the JP line of ICECO Fridges. I'm guessing HoboTech has one as well. Those are the three I would check first.
@cobrar85 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks thanks for the reply! I wish I knew about these earlier, we are leaving on a week long trip in a few days lol.
@cdlady54_95 4 жыл бұрын
Watch Charles Moman for another review of the fridge. Great fridge.
@JonathanBaileyn2u 4 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Now I need a solar pack for my Ac unit
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
The way technology is rapidly changing. I think we aren't far off from being able to power a mobile ac unit with ease.
@JS-qi1ou 3 жыл бұрын
I'm sure we will see jackery come out with something in the next decade with enough juice.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
@@JS-qi1ou I agree! And I bet soon most solar generators will be both fast at charging and have regulated power supplies, not one or the other.
@LisaMarli 4 жыл бұрын
I now have a 12v compressor fridge for my car traveling. We go to hotels at night, so it gets a wall plug, but it's just plugged into the car all day. These things do have decent insulation, so they can go without power, say you go into a museum for a few hours and park the car, and they only get a little bit warmer. I set mine to 39 degrees, it was in the mid 40s, and this was 80 degree weather. If it was any hotter, I would have plugged it into a potable power source that the car could recharge. I now have 2 100 w solar panels with the good sine wave power back ups so I can run computers, 12v, and USB. They are great for camping and power outages.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Great little system you have. We had no idea how much we would love this little fridge. Completely understand why you take it everywhere with you.
@CelebrateEverything 3 жыл бұрын
Love this video and the bit about the walkie talkies and your sweet Boy!! He is so adorable!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
We really appreciate the kind words. Angela you a tent camper, car camper, trailer owner? Or just looking into getting into it?
@CelebrateEverything 3 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks We have primarily been tent camping, but we do own a 16ft Scamp which I Love! We have kept our camping pretty old school so I am fascinated by your videos on solar power, electric blankets(?!), fancy tables, low water dish washing, showers etc! So inspiring!
@haveminivanwilltravel 2 жыл бұрын
Excellent video. I spoke with another person who had similar result with a 100 watt panel. Guess we are gong to need one too! Thanks for sharing this!
@WisconsinWanderer 4 жыл бұрын
Really cool solar / fridge set up. Now I don’t have to worry about my meds staying cold.☮️😎❤️
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Great idea! We have been big fans of these solar portable generators as they have opened up many great overnight outdoor opportunities for CPAP users. Never even thought about meds before. Thanks for sharing.
@davidf9630 4 жыл бұрын
Great video! I wish (now) that I had wired my teardrop up for power. Right now we can only get out on weekends. So there was no need for power. LED battery/solar powered lights were plenty. I guess I can retrofit some porch lights... maybe. Any how. You are putting out great information for us rookies.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Up here in Alaska with all the light we realized we didn't need to wire ours at all. We rarely use the lights, just for a short time before bed. And a good ol Luci Light would have been just as effective. And in the fall when we are pretty dark here we always forget to use the porch lights because we never use them all summer. Currently in our opinion wiring is a bit overrated for such a small trailer. I get it, if you have a 13' trailer or larger, but I think most folks with a teardrop will do pretty well with a bare bones setup like you are doing.
@nvalles2565 2 жыл бұрын
You can now find solar lights inc ones that are motion sensored.
@2675gordo 4 жыл бұрын
Come to vegas and test it here under our current temps and THEN i ll buy one. U go to test it in a place where everyone is wearing winter clothes. This is the longest infomercial i ve come across
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Will do. What's your address Gordo? Just kidding. You know a good resource for that is HoboTech. He has done some great tests in climates like yours. If you don't follow his channel you probably should check it out.
@thecooky4944 3 жыл бұрын
I like your review of the fridge and Soler set up but your boy was just so adorable saying thank you
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
😊 thank you
@perezm714 4 жыл бұрын
lil Foot.. so cute!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We love to sneak moments like these in there. Makes it so fun for us to look back on every year. Fun to know others enjoy the little family bits as well.
@TheGratitudeAttitude 4 жыл бұрын
So much great information, Drew and May! thanks for sharing! We have wanted to add solar this year... So perfect timing for your video! I noticed that you slept in the Clam Venture in the first segment of your video... I'm soooo glad we got our Clams last season from that seller on Amazon. They have gone up to $245 this year... What a deal we got at $136... East is so so adorable and the last clip with May and "Rye" (spelling) is just beautiful... I know you two are treasuring every moment. ❤️ ~ Maria ps. Congratulations on your channel! It is exploding! (in a good way! LoL) I can appreciate all the work you put into it... Just producing a one minute cooking video for Mandy Lea's virtual "uCamp with nüCamp" took a few hours!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We are super thankful as well about the Clam. Again, thank you SO MUCH for sharing the great deal! You got the spelling right on both Rye and East. Thanks for the congrats. Yes, it is gaining some momentum. Hard to keep up with the comments lately, but also so fun meeting so many new people. We must have missed your cooking segment on Mandy's channel. What episode is that? You are so right in that a short film can take quite a lot longer than you anticipate. Hope all is going well for you and your family Maria!
@TheGratitudeAttitude 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Hey Drew and May... here's my recipe clip for Spiced Lentil Salad in Mandy's episode #2 of uCamp with nüCamp. I think I'll post it to my channel too with the PDF of the recipe in the description... We always take this on our trips... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d9WZg65nqZzaip8.html
@dshe8637 2 жыл бұрын
Those walkie-talkies look like a lot if fun, but remember to keep little ones in sight at all times.
@vigilantmoth7947 3 жыл бұрын
Sorry I only found your channel last week. You've got good content. Very nice family. If I recall you're going to Southeast Asia soon. I look forward to your vids when you return. Good luck on your mission. I'm pulling for you.
@essequamvideri 2 жыл бұрын
I ran a BougeRv 30qt fridge set to ECO mode at 38* with high 70s ambient outdoor temp, running on Rouffiel K53 (same as Rockpals 350w) kept it running on a single full charge for about 14.5hrs... Adding a 100w NewPowa solar panel to the kit later this month, and expect to be good to go.
@xplorefurther 3 жыл бұрын
I have a 12L Iceco fridge connecting to Jackery Battery (290), which is wired to 12V Dual Battery. However the cigarette light connector from the Iceco always loosen from the Jackery. Otherwise, I really like the bluetooth app for monitoring the temperature while driving, and it's power consumption. We camp out in non-electric campground and rely on the Dual Battery (Genesis). It has no issue to the cranking battery so far. Definitely, we will consider Solar panel.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
We all seem to have that cigarette lighter issue with the ICECO. Some folks use tape. I think the best trick is to add a rubber gasket to the male end (that didn't come out right :))
@theresas.5806 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this video I used your code and bought the solar panel ! I really appreciate the thoroughness of your videos - very clear descriptive and helpful. I wish I bought the rock pal in the first run but I will appreciate them so much more my other brand of foldable solar panels started melting in the Az desert/ not the panel the connections all coming apart glue melting etc. these are more expensive and they look very sturdy! Looking forward to receiving them!
@Master-Blaster-4x4 4 жыл бұрын
to everyone this concerns we bought this fridge and found there is No way to turn off the blutooth if you are sensitive to the radio/microwave radiation it gives off like we are, this radiation gives us headaches and it mutates the cells in food over time, you may want to research and do due diligence before buying....
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Oh wow! Shows how naive we are. We have never heard of this. We don't use much bluetooth due to the draw it has on our camera and phone batteries. Thanks for sharing, we will have to look into this more.
@FloridaManConstruction 4 жыл бұрын
Great video, beautiful family!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
You are so kind. Thank you!
@ACheshireCat2001 3 жыл бұрын
Interesting how many power stations, fridge/freezers are coming out... and other neat toys to use off grid.... got the toys fridge, power stations and portable panels, was curious what your power station was rated at for watts... not volts... I was testing my Goal Zero Yeti 500x, a new toy, with the parallel chaining adapters... Puget Sound Washington ....overcast most of the time, was glad the 500x had the watts in and watts out display... I checked the volts enough to figure the volts stayed to same for one or 4 panels. 11.2 to 11.4 volts charging the power bank for the fridge/fusion cooker toys the day before so power was down to 61% and my watts from the panels were from 5 to 80 watts as shade or clouds covered the 178 watts in 4 panel I out out it got the power station back up to 95% the 500x is rated for 150 watts max input. The MPPT controller seems to be a key to being able to put larger panels on, the protection from over powering ... the Goal Zero site does do panel matching, the 200 watt panel was listed as charging the 500x in 3-6 hours, the 50 watt panels are smaller in weight and parallel is easy to do.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
The power station in this video holds 280 watts of power and I believe its peak watts are 300. BUT, our current favorite power station is the Bluetti AC50s. Best of both worlds in terms of Jackery and Rockpals. MPPT, Regulated Power, and Fast Charging on Solar! It feels good to finally have a small-ish power station that can do it all. Yes, we learned that you can't overpower as well. Meaning on those cloudy days you can double what the power station can handle and that is fine. Gives you more surface area to capture energy. But, if you are out hiking and the sun comes out you don't have to worry because the power station won't allow the extra watts in. Meaning you can't overload it. Wish we knew this years ago!
@ACheshireCat2001 3 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks saw you leaned panel on fridge at one point, picture this idea to push up your results... a silver tarp or even a survival silver blanket, put part of it over fridge and lean the panel in direction of sun against fridge on blanket, so that the blanket is a couple feet sunward of the panel flat on the ground... serves two purposes deflects sun heat from fridge and directs a little more sun at panel... directional directing of just a bit more light at panel. How much does a silver tarp or space blanket cost? I have a 30 foot and two 15 foot extension cords from Goal Zero for the Goal Zero products... one gets cord power drop with DC power... minimum cord length counts too.
@johnboudreau2738 2 жыл бұрын
Love the old school camper.
@sspence65 2 жыл бұрын
charge time is dependent upon the load, total battery capacity, current battery capacity and pv output. A jackery can charge just as fast as this unit if you have a bigger pv panel, or reduce the load.
@robv8504 2 жыл бұрын
Now they just need to make an all in one power station with fridge and freezer!
@PlayingwithSticks 2 жыл бұрын
They have to be getting close. Last year a few companies came out with the solar panel integrated into the fridge/freezer.
@nicholaswise2630 2 жыл бұрын
I imagine everything is easier to cool when you are in Alaska. I'd love to see how it does in the south.
@PlayingwithSticks 2 жыл бұрын
Very true even when we did the home test we only did it 75° I believe. This is typically the temperatures we camp in the mountains in the lower 48. HoboTech has some really good tests in the desert and he uses a lot of insulation and awnings etc.
@dzunglu7184 4 жыл бұрын
Mini coolroom for fish hunting. Sometimes you can catch a fish about 4”7!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
I like that idea!
@JR-zm2yu 3 жыл бұрын
New to your channel and i appreciate all your efforts and attention to detail. I'll check it out tomorrow, here in S FL.👍👍💜🙏
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Glad you are enjoying it J R.
@johnd1536 4 күн бұрын
Just subscribed- miss the mountains and pines. Just relocated out of Colorado to ND
@ianalvarado4477 2 жыл бұрын
I loved your video showing how much power is used! I wondering if you happened to test how much power it used when using the fridge/freezer function for this ICECO 20??
@jnava121 4 жыл бұрын
nautical twilight , sun is down below the horizon but the glow still gives light
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
That is a neat term we have never heard that before. Love learning little things like this!
@DoritosResidue Жыл бұрын
This might be too small for my needs but gosh darnit it's too cute.
@NoZenith 11 ай бұрын
Thank you for this. I watched so many of your videos but I skipped right over this cuz I wasn't shopping refrigerators. I'm shopping this specific unit and here is a video from you guys lauding it! LOL Do you still use it?
@drivin69 4 жыл бұрын
i always liked the sounds of 12 volt ice makers....
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We have never heard one. We honestly didn't know they existed until we made this video.
@drivin69 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks the fridge you got sounds cool and sounds like it is really low volts i am talking about an acuwall ice maker bro ,, they sell 12 volt ice makers..me i would get a big giant 60 quart cooler and throw a 12 volt ice maker inside it and drill a hole for the cord.. i may and i say this because i like two creat stuff i may decide two wreck the ice maker and drill a hole or cut a hole so the ice does not fall in the tray but slides right into the cooler.. if possible... yup you add 1 two 2 gallons and they make ice all day long... until the water is gone
@mikemead2315 4 жыл бұрын
jason hullihen, Using an $100 ice maker is an idea that get passed around from time to time. They are really cheap compared to a 12v compressor fridge. A few youtube videos out there of real people trying it. Bottom line was it just cant keep up. The tiny cubes melt really really fast (like about the amount of time the next batch came out), and it takes a lot of power to make that fast ice. It is such a neat idea though that someone has to be able to come up with a scheme that works for them - recycle cold melted water faster to make new ice faster; colder climate; starting with pre-made ice and use ice maker to use ice water to extend the purchased ice longer; ??? Hope you figure it out😃. Would be interesting!
@voltron5128 4 жыл бұрын
Exactly what I was looking for....great concise video
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it! Thank you. Love the Voltron username.
@CC-gt3ro 3 жыл бұрын
My jackery 1000 runs the dometic cfx3 45 for 120h so 5 days with the fridge at 41F and ambiant temp 77F. i haven’t tested yet outside under the sun, i will give more test result after june and my first trip.. but at home it uses only 7.79w per hour. 187w per 24h. And it is really precise at the minute. The usage is really constant and predictable. I tested the solar charging and was able to fill from 21% to 58% just by plugging it in the morning 2 or more hours at the rate 118wh. The efficiency is good so adding 20% battery with solar give you one extra days of fridge.
@honeyiroam 3 жыл бұрын
I love that you mention the cord to the iceco can extend to the front where the 12v plug is. I've been eyeing these coolers for some time but we do so much offered, I wasn't sure how we would cool it for multiple days at a time. I thought we would have to end up throwing some ice in it and then we just have a very expensive cooler. I'll check it all out, thanks for the video.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely love these ICECO coolers. Currently own the JP40 as well. That thing sips watts too! But, if you are offroading, which we like to do from time to time as well. We like to point out two things. #1 the ICECO 12 volt plugs seem to slip out of the female adapters quite easily. Easy fix just pick up a rubber washer and put it around the female end for it to hold. Others tape it with blue painters tape. Second all of these fridges regardless of the brand don't function very well as a cooler. They are better than nothing, but nothing like an insulated cooler. You would think they would hold ice well, but they really don't. Now there is a cooler from ICECO that is designed to be used as both a cooler and a fridge. It is insulated to do exactly what you are saying. However, this increases the weight of the cooler quite a bit. But, if you have decent solar you would be surprised how long you can run these in the field. Last summer we went the entire season without buying 1 bag of ice!
@honeyiroam 3 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks thanks for all the info! you're awesome. I haven't approached the 12v coolers because we were intimidated and didn't want to waste $$. but definitely going to take the plunge because we need it! we always have to stop for ice for our yeti, does a good job but we need an upgrade for sure, tired of soggy food! we have a small solar bank but will likely upgrade when we go out west and will do more boon docking that way. all the best!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
I find most people who invest in the mid range which is like an alpacool ,a BougeRv or ICECO are generally very happy about the purchase. I think why many people choose the ICECO is it the most affordable fridge that has a Dan Fross compressor. If you follow Bob Wells. He has tried out all the coolers from very expensive to very budget and he lately is telling everybody to go with the mid range.
@Raynor88 2 жыл бұрын
2:44 Its the bright at midnight? Thats cool!
@BobPauls 2 жыл бұрын
Your commentary is quite misleading regarding the stat of charge variation under load. It’s a lithium battery you’re using not FLA or AGM. Lithium has a very different charging and discharge profile! The voltage does NOT drop off until the state of charge is typically down to less than 10% of full charge!
@pamflowers8364 4 жыл бұрын
Really nice informative video. Iceco looks like the way to go.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We are pretty convinced! It wasn't hard to convince us though, as many subscribers from this channel have been sharing with us how much they love their ICECO fridge/freezer. It is always nice to get some real world advice from the community. Typically we buy something and then find out quickly there is something better out there for us. Luckily this time the community helped us get off to the right foot.
@TheEcono 2 жыл бұрын
If the bears are around 🤣 ... Yeah hello Alaska 🤣🤣🤣
@mikehughesdesigns 22 күн бұрын
Your "canned--ham" Shasta reminds me of the one my grandparents had...
@PlayingwithSticks 22 күн бұрын
I enjoy seeing these videos from time to time spark a little nostalgia in someone. Thanks for sharing.
@h20bearboy65 2 жыл бұрын
I have a 100 watt remity solar panel on my suboverlander, and run that into an Ecoflow river pro 720 KW solar "generator". Charges up great. so on my first extended trip - I put in the 20 Q ICECO fridge freezer ran it at 35 degrees temp, , and ran it off the Ecoflow. Essentially - the unit would stay at 100% charge during the day. at night it would only draw down about 10-12% of the charge in the Ecoflow. On the way home i switched vehicles, no solar panel, so i would run the Iceco off the car battery (ac adaptor/ cig lighter) while i was running during the day, and then at night, just plug it directly into the Ecoflow. as before, it would draw down 12 - 14% for a 10 hour night. so I ran 4 days without recharging the riverpro - worked like a charm,. I do have one big complaint - and that's with the Iceco refrigerator. even though the temp was set at 35 degrees, the readout showed the temp varying between 29 degrees and 39 degrees - that kind of temp swing (if it was really happening) is not the best scenario for keeping food cold and fresh. I tried looking at the settings - looking for some sort of tolerance range setting, but could not find any - either on the control panel on the fridge, or in the app .
@DoritosResidue Жыл бұрын
Good to know how the riverpro performs with this refrigerator. I have the riverpro with the extended battery. I've been looking ace this very iceco model to purchase. I have read so many comments and reviews no matter which brand portable refrigerators they all have do not have an accurate reading. I'm pretty have my mind set on going with iceco especially because of the compressor they use.
@shwartz166 11 ай бұрын
Your video was very educational and informative. Thank you so much.
@rowenabautista 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting so much knowledge about camping!! My boyfriend & I recently went on a camping trip with friends and feel it's ESSENTIAL for us to learn more to go on more trips on our own, especially during this pandemic. Stumbled across your page & your cute family reminds me of my sister & her family! Your content is super informative & helpful for planning our next outing. Thank you for sharing your insights! This is my new favorite channel :D
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Our pleasure Rowena! This is so awesome to hear. Love finding out that these videos are helping others.
@bigguy5840 3 жыл бұрын
Hahaha waiting in Alaska for a gloomy day 6 months later. Nice video thanks for posting.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Isn't that funny. This place always has a gloomy day. And when I went to make this video it seemed like the sun never wanted to leave.
@bigguy5840 3 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks that’s pretty amazing, thanks for the content your videos are aways fun to watch.
@BlackfingerGarage 4 жыл бұрын
Nice to see someone using Rockpals. It’s a shame that so many people out there only review Jackery because Jackery gives those out for free like candy to youtubers.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Love our Rockpals. However, we also love the Jackery too. We typically mention both in our videos although we don't own a Jackery. You are right they do give them out like candy. But honestly, in terms of budget solar Rockpals and Jackery are at the top. And in comparison to high cost solar they both hold their ground against the pricier versions as well. We like to tell friends to use a little of both. Rockpals for quick charging off the solar panels and Jackery for regulated power on those rainy days.
@clange50 4 жыл бұрын
Other people have reviewed rockpals. Will Prowse really liked the 300w unit until someone mentioned amazon reviews about dead units and no support. Yeah, you're probably going to get a great performer, but if there are issues..
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
@@clange50 Good point. On our channel everyone who has worked with them has had great customer service. The last person we talked with had a humming sound when charging or on, I can't remember. But, the next day they had already sent him a new unit no questions asked. I think channels the size of Will's can help keep businesses honest. Hoping that is what happened there.
@clange50 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks If they are supporting their products that would be stellar. Hope they continue to do so.
@justinfowler2857 3 жыл бұрын
Plug your trailer into the rockpal. Then put the fridge inside and run it off of an inside outlet. Then you can just get a longer ac cord to the trailer. Longer DC cords will reduce the amount of power that the unit will ultimately receive.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Oh my goodness! What a great idea. And why didn't we think of this! That has been our concern with the longer cord. Also the fact that the fridge was out with bears. We owe you for this one Justin.
@w8knb8kchop88 3 жыл бұрын
Look at that view. Well done my dude epic clip.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the views! Always hoping to inspire someone out there.
@JulieAdams98 3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video! Thanks so much for these ideas!!!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
You are most welcome Juliette. Glad you enjoyed it.
@CherokezPittman 8 ай бұрын
Great video! Renewable energy is such an important topic. If you're into outdoor camping or RVing, I highly recommend checking out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It's a versatile power station with a massive capacity, powerful output, and fast recharging. Plus, it's built tough and even waterproof! It's perfect for keeping your devices and appliances running during your outdoor adventures.
@qolspony 3 жыл бұрын
Alaska got to be the best place for a thermoelectric cooler. It never gets hot enough to make these units useless. And judging by the sun, it's heaven. North Carolina not so much.
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Good point there.
@sharonhorton5512 3 жыл бұрын
He's adorable.
@sharonhorton5512 3 жыл бұрын
Do they gave a bigger size?
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Ahh thanks!
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Yes. I think we put it in the description. The 42 or 45 liter version is great in that it consumes almost the same amount of watts as the GO20, which is half the size. However, the GO20 I believe is the only one that does all refrigeration, 1/2 and half, or all freezer. The other models I believe are purely refrigeration. But, most people only use the refrigerator anyways. For us the freezer has been fun as a party trick, but really we have never used it out boondocking.
@maykouhansen6713 4 жыл бұрын
Great video! Love the fridge!
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Maykou. We were pretty impressed with the fridge as well. Did it show? Drew was getting a bit excited in this videos 😆
@paultennis9569 3 жыл бұрын
Great video and thinking of solar panels and frig. Also you have a great family your son tripped me out with the talkies be safe enjoy
@PlayingwithSticks 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Paul. My wife will tell you the fridge and solar were the best upgrades we ever made to our camping. I think I am in agreement as well. I put it right up there with our clam tent.
@ICECOFREEZER 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the nice video! 😊
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
Our pleasure! We were pleasantly surprised with these results and I know quite a few others on a budget will be as well.
@patricialacava4472 4 жыл бұрын
I bought a GoSun Chill I am very disappointed with it. I am glad to hear that you found one that works.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We haven't heard of this brand before. Looked it up and it seems to have a nice simple aesthetic like a Dometic fridge. Out of curiosity what was the issue you had with the fridge Patricia?
@patricialacava4472 4 жыл бұрын
Playing with Sticks The DC plug is poorly made. I have broken two of them in six months. The spot weld on it detaches. The battery can not last through the night. I have two batteries. One works as it should, but the other one will only charge plugging it into a wall socket It will not charge with the solar panel. The thermostat is all over the place, so who knows how cold it gets. It is not insulated well and warms up quickly. As for GoSun as a company I do love their solar cookers. I have 4 of the GoSun cooking tubes. The Grill and the Sport are fantastic. The Go is great for boiling water. The Fusion needs work on the battery end so only rates 3 stars. I hope that the company goes back to the drawing board and prefects the Fusion concept.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
@@patricialacava4472 Thank you for sharing all this. You have really peaked our interest with these cooking tubes. We have never heard of these before. Looks like we have some researching to do.
@douglasangelflores6796 3 жыл бұрын
You guys are awesom God bless your family
@MrRayMac1963 4 жыл бұрын
I run a 100 watt panel and it will keep my fridge running for days, but I plan to add a second one just for the margin of safety.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
That is amazing. Honestly we had no idea before doing our tests that a little 100 watt panel could harness so much energy from the sun.
@MrRayMac1963 4 жыл бұрын
@@PlayingwithSticks Yeah, but its got to be a good one. There are a lot of "so called" 100 watt ones that don't do anything near that, but yours obviously does. The absolute best is PowerFilm folding ones, their 120 watt one is what the military spec ops use. internal redundancy so even if the panel gets shot, it still will function. But crazy expensive.
@sierramantrvlnus 4 жыл бұрын
Very informative. Information packed video! It looks like a really good system. Charging speeds are the first thing people should be aware of as well as proper solar panel output even on them cloudy days. Consumption of energy as in powering your toys should also be in you're figuring.
@PlayingwithSticks 4 жыл бұрын
We honestly didn't even think of charging speeds when we got this fridge. We were more concerned with the size of the portable generator. But you are right size doesn't matter too much if you properly factor in the charging speed and consumption of energy of your toys.
Playing with Sticks
Рет қаралды 63 М.
ABRACADABRA TV
Рет қаралды 9 МЛН
Jasonoid - Solar Power, Batteries, and More!
Рет қаралды 653 М.
HOBOTECH
Рет қаралды 276 М.
ReeWray Outdoors
Рет қаралды 110 М.
Jon & Teresa's Epic Adventures
Рет қаралды 82 М.