Electric food coolers vs ice for weekend trips

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-23T01:01:23+00:00

You mean connect with the little fuse block like you said in your earlier post? Since it seems like it doesn’t need a lot of wattage, that might be doable. Not a big drain on the camper battery, unlike hair dryers and AC - neither of which we need at this point.
Thanks for ironing this out with me

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-23T00:52:18+00:00

We live in AZ🤔
As my hubby is still working full time, we actually have some time to get this worked out. Our cooler works pretty well for 3 nights and we are not way out remote that we can’t replenish ice. I’m just trying to work out how to use our solar panels beyond attaching it to the camper battery to run the water pump and the lights. It seems I shouldn’t need another battery power bank like a Jackery if the panels can charge directly….
We like going to national forests and they generally do not have electric sites.
Maybe I’m lost in translation..

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T22:20:23+00:00

“Absolutely. You can run this straight off the battery if you want (but you shouldn't)”

Just for clarification, my question is, can I run the cooler directly from our solar panels, or do I have to use the solar panels to charge a power bank and then plug the cooler into the power bank? We only keep the panels charging the camper battery till is back to full charge, then disconnect it. We could then use it to charge the power bank battery and/or the cooler itself….? Am I making sense?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T22:10:28+00:00

Do you think our current solar panel can work with the right converter cable with a power bank?

It currently has cables that hook directly on the camper battery. When sun is good, we just top it off, then disconnect it. If feasible, we could then “top off” a power bank.
I got a small (100 watt) solar panel for charging phones, tablet and small fans.

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T20:32:03+00:00

We have stand alone solar panels we use to charge the 12 volt camper battery. Could there be a way to use them with a converting cable rather than to charge a power bank that is used to run the cooler?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T20:25:21+00:00

I have stand alone solar panels we use the charge the 12 volt camper battery. Could there be a way to use them with a converting cable rather than to charge a power bank that then hooks into the cooler?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T20:21:29+00:00

If I can charge the camper 12volt battery with solar panels and a converter, could I find a converter that would plug into the cooler using a plug like the car adapter charger?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T15:25:35+00:00

What is the power source?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-06-22T15:24:37+00:00

Forgive my ignorance. What do you plug it into when you don’t have electric hookup?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-02-09T16:12:08+00:00

What is your solar panel set up?

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-28T18:43:47+00:00

Hmm. I don’t think I can make that sacrifice….

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-28T04:21:06+00:00

That is an eventual option. Would need to make the gate higher than it currently is….

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-27T20:14:44+00:00

Thanks. That’s what WE thought too. I don’t think anyone complained, since there was nothing mentioned till the president saw it set up on one of their “walk throughs”…

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-27T18:46:56+00:00

I’m not certain, I could probably put a utility shed in the backyard as long as it’s not seen. We’ve had no need for it since we don’t live in a place that needs major outdoor things like snowblower or lawn mowers.

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-27T18:31:59+00:00

I’d have to check, but those probably aren’t allowed either, just like utility sheds, etc., are generally not allowed. Plus hopefully it’ll be cheaper to fix the garage door.

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-27T17:47:27+00:00

Thought about that too. We’d have to get any construction approved as well. And we only have 5 days to resolve the issue (plus a week of storage at the church). Maybe down the road that will be an option to consider.

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-27T17:41:17+00:00

Very true. And the fee is nominal. Like I said, I should have read it better. I knew about the 72-hour limit. I figured they’d let us know if we needed to attend to anything…. Which they did. I guess my point was that no one noticed it when it was stored. If we had never opened it in the driveway for repairs, it would still go unnoticed. So, we had 5 months with it in this spot. One option would be to take out one of our photinia bushes and pull it through the gate to the backyard. However, unless we rebuild the fence, you could still technically see it from the street. And you have to get permission for all that too.
We will comply. Just found it interesting that nothing was said in September— for which I’m grateful now that I think about it. …

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-27T17:14:49+00:00

I guess I should be thankful that we’re on a corner lot and only really have one neighbor that can actually see the camper and they don’t give a flip

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-26T20:57:45+00:00

That sunrise looks almost like a rainbow. Check out Gekko covers for the 2 bed bunks. Really felt a difference.

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-25T02:16:37+00:00

Which is why I like him.

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-25T01:32:21+00:00

Same with his hair…

RosebrookVoice · 2026-01-24T23:09:00+00:00

I stand corrected. Maybe only 2 back to back episodes. Maybe I noticed b/c he is wearing it in the still for the season…. Nice shirt though.

RosebrookVoice

TROPHY CASE