Fridge in car

[RevDusty]

Hi all, I have a powered camping fridge in my car. With my battery and a solar panel, I should have more than enough power to keep things cold throughout the week.
However, I'm concerned about leaving the fridge in the car due to heat build up in the car during the day. I'm not sure dragging a long cord from the car to tent shade is a good idea.
Has anyone done this? Any advice? If I leave the windows cracked, I know ill come back to a far more dusty car than I would otherwise.

[Sham]

Hi all, I have a powered camping fridge in my car. With my battery and a solar panel, I should have more than enough power to keep things cold throughout the week.
However, I'm concerned about leaving the fridge in the car due to heat build up in the car during the day. I'm not sure dragging a long cord from the car to tent shade is a good idea.
Has anyone done this? Any advice? If I leave the windows cracked, I know ill come back to a far more dusty car than I would otherwise.

You might consider putting the fridge on the shaded side of the car during the day. Of course the sun moves, but that's pretty easy to figure out. I've fought with keeping a fridge from the sun, and I will tell you that one it hits the fridge, it heats up inside very fast. Leaving the fridge inside a vehicle is almost as bad as having it in direct sun.

[RevDusty]

I'm wondering if throwing aluminet over the car will help, although there wouldn't be much of an air gap....

[Popeye]

I'm wondering if throwing aluminet over the car will help, although there wouldn't be much of an air gap....

You need the air gap.
If I was doing this I'd think about making a shelter out of Themax/Iso therm, etc. Kind of a miniature hexayurt. Open as few times as possible.

[gaminwench]

If you go the aluminet route, get 3 or 4 large pool noodles to put between the net and the roof.

[RevDusty]

If you go the aluminet route, get 3 or 4 large pool noodles to put between the net and the roof.

I like that idea!
Although I'm also thinking of constructing a heavy gauge extension cord and moving the fridge under the shaded tent area.

[ygmir]

a small "pup tent" is pretty dang cheap and would have screened vents and such. you could add some tarping to cut more sun out of the equation. with a good heavy fridge, you'd probably not have to worry about it blowing over/away.

[RevDusty]

a small "pup tent" is pretty dang cheap and would have screened vents and such. you could add some tarping to cut more sun out of the equation. with a good heavy fridge, you'd probably not have to worry about it blowing over/away.

I'd still need to do shade over the tent, which may take me back to aluminet over the car, but of course, the tent would be a lot smaller, so there's that...

[art walsh]

Not a good idea to leave in car.
The fridge takes heat from inside the fridge and expels it to the surroundings. If the car is closed, the heat will build up inside the car.

[RevDusty]

Not a good idea to leave in car.
The fridge takes heat from inside the fridge and expels it to the surroundings. If the car is closed, the heat will build up inside the car.

Yes, of course. I can't believe I didn't think of that!
Thank you.
...gotta figure out my scheme for the fridge now....

[BBadger]

Do you power the fridge directly from the charger (i.e. DC power) or does it go through an inverter (AC power)? If it's an inverter, the voltage drop will be negligible for a reasonably sized extension cord to your fridge. 10-25ft would be just fine. Just make sure nobody trips over it, so cover it with carpets or cord covers, and stake it down with nails.

Definitely shade it, but keep it outside/well-ventilated area. Under your tent's shade structure or something would be ideal.

[RevDusty]

I'm running it off DC. Planning on getting some 8 gauge cable to minimize the voltage drop. And hoping that works...