Fridges?

Thanks for that Fewe!

All I know is that it works.

WARNING to all you using those 12v.coolers.
These things are fine for beverages, lunchmeat, cheese and the like. ( remember when yer Mom sentcha ta school with a balogna sandwich in a bag and ya never got sick from the warm balogna at lunch time?)

The best cooler out there will only cool to 40 degrees below ambiant temp. That means that if it's 80 deg. in the truck,,,the best you can hope for is 40 deg. in the cooler.

Things like roast beef (deli included) chicken (roasted like from walmarts deli, KFC leftovers etc.) will go BAD fast! This stuff will give you the worst food poisoning/s#!ts you can imagine if it's not kept COLD.
Coolers don't keep anything COLD!

If you are really going to cook fresh food in the truck, ya need a real fridge.
There are no if's-and's-or butt's about it.

Stay safe!

 

Good point on the cooler temps. However... when running I kept my rig at about 70 degrees. Minus 40 equals frozen food. While parked (overnight/day sleep etc) I'd set the opti-idle to 60 (winter) or 78 (summer). Never had a problem with spoilage.

Hometime, perishables came off truck.

 

I recently bought a Kooatron Fridge. It comes with both cords for use with an inverter or without. I'm using the 12v plug since I'm a company driver. It cycles on and off as needed, which has to save power. Haven't had it long enough to know how well it'll work in the summer, though. And the only place it'll fit is on the passenger seat (I'm in a Prostar). It cost me $180 at Flying J. I've seen it at Loves for $200.

 

1nonly, If thats the new one that has freon but no compressor, I'd be interested in how well it works. That may be the ticket. If ya have a "pulp thermometer", how about putting it inside and take some temps please?
IF it's really a refridgerator and not just a cooler, I'd be real interested.
What I'm doing works fine but nothin works forever! Infact I've had to replace several of the office-cubes over the years due to vibration killing the compressor. Let us know what you find.

 

According to the manual, it uses "thermoelectric refrigeration technology" instead of a compressor. I'm not sure what exactly that means

It's model number KCR-40B if ya wanna check it out.

 

thats Japaneese for "compressor". =) (IDK...just messin')

 

Thanks 1nonly!

Checked it out and it is a real fridge! Heres a description of how it works from a website.

"A Solid State thermoelectric module acts as a heat pump to rmove heat away from the fridge, utilising state of the art, unique heat pipe technology for improved performance. Heat from the thermoeelctric module is absorbed by the heat pipe, vapourizing the liquid refrigerant and rapidly moving heat away from the source, allowing for faster temperature drop. Uses environmentally friendly R134A refrigerant.This technology has been widely used by the Military, Aerospace and Computer industries primarily for rapid heat transfer.!"

Underlining above is mine.
Yes it uses liquid refrigerant which makes it a refridgerator and not just a cooler. The description also said that it cools 52 deg. below ambient. That's a big deal and about what a fridge with a compressor will do.

I will have one as soon as my other one quits!

 

looks like you can pick one up at home depot for $200. Wonder if i can wire it to run off the existing wiring for the swith in the sleeper? will have to ask the KW people when they wire up my inverter...

 

i would imagine you can wire it up.if it is a 12 volt fridge--on the dash it is just off and on-and at the back just a positive and negative wire--not sure with a lease tho--cant just cut and hack the wires--might have to put the right plug on the fridge