Helen Back Gets a Real Fridge:
November 3nd, 2023
Happy Birthday Matt!
This summer, we learned that our 12-volt cooler was not very good. We tried to mitigate the large current draw by placing it on a multi-function timer control but that didn't help much. The cooler used a constant 4 amps when running. There was no thermometer control and it only cooled to a certain degree relative to the ambient temperature. We couldn't trust it with meat and our milk spoiled quickly.
For most of our September trip, we used ice. This was a nuisance because the cooling mechanism is open to the interior of the cooler and we had to keep water (melting ice) from the electrical components. We resorted to packing the ice into closed plastic containers which took up most of the cooler space. We also wrapped the cooler with blankets trying to make the ice last longer.
One of the guys at the club (who has refrigeration on his boat) told me about BougeRV and I looked into it. They sell portable 12-volt refrigerators. . . actual compressor-driven refrigerators.
We've been watching for 'specials' and got a good deal a few days ago. We ordered the smallest one they make and it arrived yesterday!
The little thing is quite amazing:
It has a 20-liter capacity.
It is thermostatically controlled and can be operated as a fridge or a freezer.
The temperature can be set anywhere between -8F and +50F (-22C and +10C).
It uses less amperage than the cooler, varying from 3.7 amps during initial cool-down to a meager 1.8 amps (maintaining cool).
It has a 110V adapter (handy if we have shore power).
It has an adjustable battery protection function which cuts power to the fridge when the battery voltage drops to a certain point. Then it restarts when the battery is charged up. In the default mode, it cuts out at 11.3 volts and cuts back in at 12.5 volts.
It has a storage compartment for a power pack that could operate the fridge independently for 6 hours (but the power pack ain't cheap).
I think our big (solar charged) AGM battery will handle it just fine. If not, we'll add another battery.
Also on special was the custom-fit insulating cover so we got that too.
We don't like the colour and would have preferred white to keep the thing from becoming an oven when the sun hits it. Maybe I can talk Donna into making a fitted white cover for the cover :) or maybe we can hang a curtain in front of it.
After being on transport, the fridge had to sit upright for 24 hours before we started it so we waited until today to plug it in. Look for a performance test in an upcoming post.
Music:
We played at the 'open mic' last night and it was a most enjoyable evening. Neil didn't make it but Dave (lead guitar), Tina (bass guitar), Tom (cajon and bongos) and special Tim joined us. The evening started slow so we were asked to do five songs instead of three in our first set and it went well. The evening got busier and we didn't get to do a second set.
We Played:
Neon Moon (Brooks and Dunn 1992)
Two Pina Coladas (Garth Brooks 1998)
Piper to the End (Mark Knopfler 2009)
Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Habershon/Gabriel 1907)
Sympathy For the Devil (Rolling Stones 1968)
When MartyBro was here this summer and listening to random music on the google assistant thing, I heard a really nice song. I asked the machine what song was playing and it said; " 'One of Those Days' by Eilen Jewell".
I could just imagine Jackie (with The Riverhouse Band) singing it so I told her about it and last night they played it! It was as awesome as I thought it would be.
Click on this link if you'd like to see a shaky video of it. . Jackie Sings
Thanks for reading our blog!
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