Reddit reviews Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator 16 Quart(15 Liter) Vehicle, Car, Truck, RV, Boat, Mini fridge freezer for Driving, Travel, Fishing, Outdoor -12/24V DC

I've heard, but haven't bought yet that Alpicool is quite popular among van dwellers. Might be wrong, but it looks like it can run only when plugged in/while the car is running and then is just a regular cooler while the engine is off. Seems like a good alternative.

Would love to hear other people's actual experience with it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYS3TR

With a budget of $400, I'd start with a small Alpicool for around $200. That's a good price on those, and they sip around 1/2 amp/hour@12v, meaning you'll need at least 36Ah of battery (.5Ax24hx3d).

Bump to 50Ah of usable power, for some wiggle room, and you can pick up something like this for $170.

The only other thing you'll need is wiring. A kit like this has most of what you need, toss in a cheap manual isolator to keep it from draining your starter battery, and you're left with a few crimp connectors and maybe a socket (might as well get a kinda-nice one).

That puts you $10 over-budget, but it'll do everything you asked for and more, and be a nice little setup to expand someday with solar or inverter or whatever. If you can score a cheaper second-hand battery initially, that'll help budget-wise, but I wouldn't bother skimping on anything else except maybe the 12v socket. The one I linked is just a nice feature to have USB and volt meter built-in, so you can reduce cord/adapter clutter if you like, and have an idea where you're at on power reserves, monitoring it manually. Downgrading that to a simple, "dumb" socket would put you within the $400 budget.

Alternator charging alone will work if you drive all day for your job. A combination where solar is augmented by driving is most likely to succeed.

The simple solution is 200 watts of solar panel, 2 golf cart batteries in series, charge controller, and a small fridge like Alpicool C15 ($200).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B073WYS3TR/

What I have is a Haier 1.7 cubic foot fridge. I added a cubic foot of insulation and the freezer compartment is full of plastic bags of water / ice so that the ice keeps it cold when there are rainy days.

There is more information at:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=27624

If you plan to stay near grocery stores a small ice chest is sufficient. The stores have refrigerators and freezers that will keep your food until you go get it. Keeping 10 pounds of ice is not necessary. For example, I like broccoli. Frozen is cheaper than fresh and takes less prep. I can get a bag of frozen and have broccoli for 3 days. It thaws and actually helps keep other food cold.

You can start with one plan then buy stuff and switch to a new plan. Just don't get a 12 volt thermoelectric cooler. It will suck the life out of your battery.

Hey I'm not the OP, for more info please go to the original post to congratulate them. :)



Personally I DO live in a van, it's a 1992 Chevy G20 Gladiator. I have a memory foam mattress on top of a wooden platform, totes and cardboard boxes for storage (food, clothing, etc.) underneath. having the mattress off the floor gives space for storage, and also insulates the mattress from the heat or cold of the ground.

For privacy I have tinted windows, non-adhesive window film, collapsible foil sunshade for the front window, and black bug screen mesh like this for the side windows.

For water I use sturdy Arizona tea jugs. I have a basic Coleman camping toilet for nighttime and emergency uses - some people simply use pee bottles or five gallon buckets.

If it's cold at night I have a [12V electric blanket](https://www.walmart.com/ip/TREKSAFE-12-Volt-Heated-Travel-Blanket-White/54609929] and/or a 12V "car seat" warmer that I put under the mattress. I also have a propane Little Buddy heater which I have not yet used.

My main luxury item is an Alpicool C15 refrigerator powered by two 35AH "house batteries" (in parallel) which are charged using a Battery Doctor isolator. The Battery Doctor is run by my alternator when I drive-it only starts charging the house batteries after my van battery is full. The fridge uses 5.8AH per day. I used a cooler for a year, but the drawbacks are constantly buying or procuring ice (like from soda fountains), and food spoilage from it getting waterlogged, plus having to drain it frequently.

For hot meals, I use a 12 volt "lunchbox cooker" (works similar to a crock pot) which is powered in my cigarette lighter while I drive (or I can run it with the house batteries through a 12v splitter - the Alpicool is plugged into the other side. I also have a propane camping stove which I have never used.

I have a USB mini fan to run at night, or I can run my small regular fan through the 300W power inventor where I can also charge my laptop and/or phone (I usually charge the phone in the cigarette lighter).

I don't make any money if you buy from any of these links, but I only used them for illustrative purposes - I encourage you to shop around on Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, Walmart, check yard sales, etc. find the best priced similar item that works best for you. You don't have to get everything all at once - I didn't. But if you can get a basic minivan or van (seats removed), a mattress (or sleeping bag even) on a frame, and some jugs of water, it's a start.

I have this one, got it on sale though.

https://www.amazon.com/Alpicool-Portable-Refrigerator-Vehicle-freezer/dp/B073WYS3TR/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=alpicool&qid=1555029345&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I'd recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYS3TR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bLRKDbM3N887K

I got one about a year ago for when I travel so I can make smoothies at the hotel. It works great and they come in a lot of different sizes. Will work as both a freezer and a refrigerator

Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator 16 Quart(15 Liter) Vehicle, Car, Truck, RV, Boat, Mini fridge freezer for Driving, Travel, Fishing, Outdoor and Home use -12/24V DC and 110-240 AC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYS3TR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1eo5CbZ62J2YZ

Used it for a year and no problems. On 24/7. Can freeze or be fridge. Minimum power draw. Cycled on for about 15 minutes an hour max. Great price.