Camping 12-Volt Fridge/Freezers: Everything You Need to Know

Have you ever become frustrated trying to keep your food and drinks cool for long hours during a camping trip? Or you just got tired of the stress involved in meticulously packing cooler boxes around with you? If yes, you need to learn about camping 12-volt fridges/freezers.

Having a camping 12-volt fridge/freezer amidst your camping luggage will make your trip more fun and less stressful. You don’t have to go through the stress of stocking your car with ice solids that cannot serve you for as long as you would want. It feels more annoying to open your cooler box to get something chilled and find out that the ice solids are already watery. It’s true; not getting cold drinks when needed can turn you down.

Yes, a camping 12-volt fridge/freezer can be your best companion for a vacation or get-together trips. However, it’s alarming seeing some people still going on camping trips with cooling boxes. How could that be when there’s a better option available? It is simply because the camping 12-volt fridge/freezer is yet to become the most common option.

That’s shocking; but reasonable.

It’s hard to invest your hard-earned money on something you barely know about its efficiencies. That’s why I am writing this article to show you what you might have been missing ignoring this efficient cooling device.

Meanwhile, this blog post aims not to compel you to get a camping 12-volt fridge/freezer at all costs. Instead, I want to present the cooling device from an objective point of view and allow you to make your decision.

Without much ado, let’s explore this fantastic choice for your camping trips. Meanwhile, it will be best to first know what the camping 12-volt fridge/freezer means from the start.

What is a Camping 12-volt Fridge/Freezer?

A camping 12-volt fridge/freezer is a portable mobile refrigerator that runs on 12-volt DC power. You can power this cooling device with your car or truck’s 12-volt electrical system either while driving or not. The camping 12-volt fridge/freezer helps keep your food and drinks cold or frozen.

As you might have also guessed, the camping 12-volt fridge/freezer helps you to have chilled drinks when outside of your doors. It is a perfect choice for you when going on vacation or camps in a remote place where cold drinks are not available nearby. It also helps preserve your food for as long as you want to stay in the camp.

How Does It Work?

The camping 12-volt fridge/freezer cools via a traditional condenser and compressor system. Unlike most absorption-styled fridges and freezers that use the complex propane-reliant cooling system, the cooling device adopts more straightforward techniques.

Because camping 12-volt fridges/freezers run on 12 volts, they can get power from a car or truck’s battery. These camping 12-volt fridges/freezers cool your food and drinks using a refrigerant. Meanwhile, the refrigerant would first get pressurised before it gets hot and cooled in a set of fins where it transforms into liquid. The liquid passes through a narrow channel and vaporises into liquid.

This simple vaporisation process makes the refrigerant cold enough to sustain your food and drinks for longer hours. The gas draws heat from the camping 12-volt fridges/freezers’ compartment, producing the appropriate temperature. This whole cycle repeats itself when the newly-warmed refrigerant returns to the compressor.

Having learned how camping 12-volt fridges/freezers works, the next best thing to know is how to power them.

Best Ways to Power Camping 12-Volt Fridges/Freezers

One of the highest points of camping 12-volt fridges/freezers is the easy access to the main power. It should gladden your heart to know that you can power your camping fridge or freezer in several ways. That means you can explore more than one power source.

However, choosing the best way to power your camping 12-volt fridge/freezer depends on how often you want to use it. If you plan to use it for just one or two nights, it wouldn’t need as much energy as it would require if you want to use it for a whole week.

No matter how long you plan to use your camping 12-volt fridge/freezer, let’s take a look at some of the hassle-free ways to keep it running at a maximum functioning level.

1. Generator Power

If you have a portable generator that functions efficiently, you can enjoy your camping 12-volt fridge/freezer for as long as you want. Whether a 12v upright or drawer fridge, you can plug your fridge into your portable generator and kick off your picnic event. One of the cons of powering your camping fridge or freezer is that you will need to buy fuel to power the generator itself. Another low point of this situation is that the generator’s noise might disturb the camping if it’s a silent gathering.

2. Battery Power

This option seems the most common in recent days. Out of noise concerns, many people choose to power their camping 12-volt fridge/freezer with a battery instead of a portable generator. Camping 12v fridges come with AC/DC power connectors and 12volt power adapters that make it easier to power your camping fridge or freezer using your car’s battery. Interestingly, most cars – especially 4WDs – in the present market feature 12v power sockets. However, if you drive an old model car, the cigarette lighter socket will suffice.

3. Solar Energy

Solar energy can be the best power source for your camping 12-volt fridge/freezer if you can afford the cost. Of course, several affordable solar panels can efficiently power your camp fridge. Mind you, solar energy can be more cost-effective and last longer than car batteries and generators. Hence, you might want to settle for this power option.

Having learned about the best ways to power your camping 12-volt fridge or freezer, it is also essential to learn how to save power. The reason is that you can run out of power at any point, which can be a frustrating situation in a remote campground.

How to Reduce Your Camping 12-volt Fridge/Freezer Workload?

Ensure your camping fridge or freezer has a trusted seal that makes the refrigerator stay cool for an extended period. Don’t leave your power source on for long hours. Try to disconnect your camp fridge at intervals. Ensure that the items you put in your camp fridge or freezer are pre-chilled. Make room for good ventilation to reduce your camp fridge’s energy use.

Final Words

Taking a camping 12-volt fridge/freezer along when going for a camping event can make your trip more enjoyable. You don’t have anything to worry about with your food and drinks. All you need to do is get a reliable power source out of the main three power options mentioned above and kick off your event without fear. It also allows you more space and defrosts more quickly.