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Topic: Solar charger/battery for camping

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Jikki

16/8/2016 at 9:41am
Location: Bucks
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We normally take our electric coolbox with us for camping, the one where you can plug it into the car on the 12v or use the plug and plug in when we're on electrical hookup.

This year we're roughing it.... no electricity for us - but with all this sunshine, I wondered whether there was a solar charger or battery or something that we could plug it into instead. Does anything exist and if so where do I look for one?

thanks
p.s. already have my solar lights packed... :D

marg6

16/8/2016 at 10:09am
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it wouldn't work! you would need a leisure battery and a massive solar panel and even then with all that the cooler would flatten the battery within the day

WestonDave

16/8/2016 at 12:15pm
Location: Bath
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Most of those electric cool boxes run at something like 45W on 12v which if my physics is still intact after 30 years works out at about 4A.

In theory you could probably get a 45W solar panel but it would be pretty big - my 15W folding one is about A3 when opened out. But of course that would only work at that level in bright sunshine so you'd need a battery. Those are around 100 Amp hour capacity so at 4A you'd drain it in 24 hours (without any solar input).

The cost of that rig would be horrific - better to chill the box down well before you go and maybe factor in buying a couple of bags of ice cubes when you go shopping to help keep the box cold.

cabbieman

16/8/2016 at 1:58pm
Location: North Warwickshire
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Take a passive cooler. One which just relies on ice to cool it down. With careful management, you could easily last 5 -7 days

cabbieman

16/8/2016 at 2:02pm
Location: North Warwickshire
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006Z97832/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471352417&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=igloo+cooler&dpPl=1&dpID=41g9t9ftmJL&ref=plSrch

Something like this

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Jikki

16/8/2016 at 2:17pm
Location: Bucks
Outfit: 9 berth Tent

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Thanks for all your replies and suggestions.

Guess solar is not the way to go ;( but it was a nice thought!

Grampian91

16/8/2016 at 8:26pm
Location: Midlands
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Solar for heating and cooling will require quite a bit of battery storage.

With the costs involved its probably cheaper to pay for a hookup pitch.

navver

16/8/2016 at 10:06pm
Location: West country
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Or buy a 3 way fridge and run it on gas.

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