Im taking my boy camping for the first time ever, but I’m not sure what kind of electric reel I need for a 6amp electric hook up. We only need to charge the phone and tablet plus run a mini fridge for his medication that has to be kept constantly refrigerated at all times.
Any advice will be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you.
I would be very wary about using a mini fridge for medication.
At best they will cool to 15 deg C below ambient temperature. On a warm day the temperature in a tent can easily reach 30 deg C, a hot day even more. Under those conditions the inside of the mini fridge will be upwards of 15 deg C.
I bought one to keep my milk in at work, in summer a new bottle would go off overnight, in winter it would freeze overnight
As said check that your mini fridge can maintain the correct temperature.
You can buy purpose made coolers for medicine from Amazon and medical suppliers but they are pricey.They will run off any hookup specifically made for camping such as the one Urbster has suggested but you may need one with a 240v or a 12v socket depending on what connection your fridge has.
Another way to do it which I sometimes use is to buy a cooler bag specially made for medicine, again from Amazon or medical suppliers. Some of these will keep medicin3 at the right temperature for up to 12 hours with the correct freezer bags. Many campsites will freeze the blocks for you if you explain why they are needed. In fact some have kept my medicine in their fridge for me for several days when our camping fridge failed.
Above posts are spot on, you NEED a proper RCD protected socket(s) for safe use in tents. The link shown is typical of type and price, but available from many outlets.
And you will likely need a PROPER thermostatically controlled 'compressor' fridge to safely store most temperature critical medication. A Peltier/Thermoelectric 'fridge'/coolbox/cooler (they really cannot be regarded as fridges!) is just not reliable/capable enough, as it operates at a constant 15-18c below ambient without any way of controlling that, it can easily reach 45C inside a tent on a sunny day, which would give you up to 30C INSIDE the cooler after a few hours exposed to those ambient temp, but then again, say overnight when the ambient drops to 12-15C, the cooler will get down to below freezing! Best to regard them as assisted coolboxes NOT fridges, a proper fridge should be able to constantly maintain 0-3C for safe storage of perishable foods at ambient temps of up to high 40Cs, obviously medication may require different storage temperatures, but a good fridge should be adjustable to suit.
Proper portable 12v/240v compressor type camping fridges are rather expensive I'm afraid, probably circa £200 for the very cheapest, £400 for typical, but a fairly often used alternative is a cheap small table top 240v domestic fridge which can be circa £100, downside it they are rather unwieldy things to manhandle when camping!
I have emailed the camp site asking if it could be kept in a fridge, still waiting a reply. I have a medical freezer box but again this only keeps it safe for 12hrs.
Quote: Originally posted by Sian50 on 06/8/2022
I have emailed the camp site asking if it could be kept in a fridge, still waiting a reply. I have a medical freezer box but again this only keeps it safe for 12hrs.
Thats probably your only safe option. Many sites offer fridge facilities for tents. And to be fair, i dont think ANY 'camping' fridges work the same as the one in your home.
Caravan fridges can struggle in extreme heat. But tents become like ovens. I walked into a few on a show site when it was hot the other week. Ive been in cooler saunas. No way could i have 'lived'/slept in one.
We had the Login model for seven years camping (it cost £99 then!) ... had it all over Europe ... kept it covered with a tarp cover outside the tent so that there was plenty of air circulation ... even in 40 plus degrees weather is delivered excellent chilled beer and the freezer box kept things frozen.
Keeping it upright whilst travelling is recommended.
We have a 3 way fridge in the caravan, it normally works fine but once temperature exceeds 30 ish it struggles to keep at 4 degrees.It was 40 in France in June and July on some days.
The site we were on in the Loire hired domestic fridges so we had one, as did others. Don't want food going off.
We have purchased a fan kit for the van fridge, which I will fit before our next outing, apparently work well.
We have also bought a 12v 40 litre compressor fridge from Halfords as they were reduced to £200, in fact less to me with my forces discount card!
It has a mains adaptor and it can be a fridge or freezer you set the desired temperature.
It's very quiet too.
We tried it at home, it cooled down to zero very quickly. It will fit in the car boot They have wheels and a collapsible pull handle.and is not too heavy. They do a big 75 litre one too.
Ideal to keep essentials cool!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by Sian50 on 06/8/2022
I have emailed the camp site asking if it could be kept in a fridge, still waiting a reply. I have a medical freezer box but again this only keeps it safe for 12hrs.
These are much better as they can be recharged but are expensive. However needs must etc and I considered buying one before I sorted the fridge out.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Hook up
via mobile 05/8/2022 at 5:50pm
