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Portable refrigerators are game-changers for people who live off the grid or on the road in vans and motorhomes. These handy appliances offer the cooling and freezing benefits of a standard refrigerator but with the added convenience of portability.
If you live in a tiny home, van, or motorhome, a compact fridge is essential to keeping your beverages and food cool whenever you need them, wherever you are!
However, charging a portable refrigerator can present a challenge, especially if you need to use it in remote locations without access to grid power.
The good news is that you have multiple options. Understanding the best way to provide a reliable electricity supply to your fridge can optimise your appliance’s performance and durability while improving reliability.
Here are some common charging methods to keep your portable fridge running smoothly.
Solar Power
Solar power is a great way to charge your portable refrigerator.
There are many benefits to embracing solar power, both in the home and on the go.
Solar charging gives you a clean, renewable energy source that lowers your carbon footprint and empowers you to generate electricity wherever there’s sunlight.
Innovative Smart Devices like the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator can make all the difference on road trips or off-grid adventures. It gives you convenient access to cooling and freezing capabilities using renewable energy.
One unique feature of the Glacier is that you can use a 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel for direct solar charging — the balance of the system is built in!
Using solar provides a much more sustainable, reliable, and convenient way to power your devices. It allows you to keep your portable refrigerator running — and the items inside it cold or frozen — anywhere there’s sunlight!
Pros
- Solar can power just about anything — even your whole home!
- Glacier is an all-in-one portable solar refrigerator — it even makes ice
- Offers true energy independence
- Easy to transport and store
- Clean, renewable energy
Cons
- Requires a significant investment
- Solar charging can be slow compared to on-grid electricity, depending on available sunlight.
Battery Charging
Some portable refrigerators run off a battery and can recharge using other batteries. You can purchase a plug-in battery or connect it to your vehicle.
If you recharge your portable refrigerator using a car battery, look for 12V power adapters and AC/DC power connections. You can use 12V power sockets or the cigarette lighter socket on your vehicle. Connected to the 12V cigarette lighter socket, your portable refrigerator can keep your items cool via the car’s battery.
However, the power draw will continue once you switch off the engine, which may drain your battery. To avoid this, consider a battery isolator switch. You can also consider an auxiliary or deep-cycle battery.
Portable batteries can offset the potential risks of a dead car battery.
For the EcoFlow Glacier, you can use the RIVER 2 Max Portable Power Station for portable battery backup. Alternatively, you can use the DELTA 2 Portable Power Station w/220W solar panel for even longer run times and take advantage of additional solar charging capacity.
A portable power station provides a reliable and sustainable energy source that can cater to the power needs of multiple devices — including your portable refrigerator.
Pros
- Compatible with many vehicles
- Quiet and compact
- Ease of use
Cons
- Runs the risk of depleting the car battery
- Requires planning charges carefully
AC/DC Charging
AC/DC charging lets you recharge your portable refrigerator from anywhere you can access the grid. If you’re camping or motorhoming, you can often plug into shore power — grid-powered campsites are not uncommon.
However, this naturally reduces your options when choosing a campsite, as you’ll need to stick to those with available hookups. You’ll also incur ongoing costs since motorhome parks charge fees for electricity usage.
Pros
- Convenient and reliable
- Doesn’t require portable power sources
Cons
- Requires access to the grid
- Campground electricity fees
Conclusion
A portable refrigerator offers benefits in a wide variety of situations.
Whether you’re looking to live off-grid, in a tiny house or motorhome, or need reliable refrigeration for camping, fishing, or road trips — there’s an option that’s right for you.
With all the charging options available, you can ensure that you always keep things cold.
You’ll be left wondering how you ever went without a portable fridge in no time!
The type of portable refrigerator you choose also impacts the different charging methods available.
With the EcoFlow Glacier, you get access to three built-in input options: AC, DC, and direct solar charging. Plus, with the EcoFlow Glacier Plug-In Battery (sold separately), you can extend your fridge’s runtime to 40 hours without a recharge!
Consider all the options available to supply your portable refrigerator with a reliable power source, and select the one that best fits your lifestyle and routine.
Make the right choice, and you can enjoy cold beverages and foods whenever — and wherever — you like!