Freezer/portable battery

[Habanerojefe]

Hi all. I have an electrical question for anyone who’s knowledgeable in that field.

Q: I have an Insignia Freezer chest plugged in working great. If I lose power, can I plug it into my fully charged Yeti 400? Is there enough juice to trickle charge and keep food frozen like for a day or so? Obviously no electrician, hope someone can give me some idea. I’ve attached specs for each. Thanks in advance!

 

[Proud Prepper]

You need enough power to start the freezers compressor. I would just plug in the freezer and see if it turns on the compressor. Of it does, then try adding another electrical item.

 

[Jayson]

Just don’t ask Al Bundy to help you...

 

[DrHenley]

That inverter is actually a 300 watt inverter with 600 watt surge. It's right on the label. False advertising!
It will run the freezer once it's started but won't start the compressor.
Per Insignia customer support the startup draw is 15.4 amps.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questi...question/3dad8bcc-7ca0-32bf-8dbd-257b2ba1f8e8You'll need something like a 1000 watt inverter with 2000 watt surge. Once started the draw is very low.

 

[Mountain trapper]

You'd be better off getting a generator. Minimum of 3500 watt. Be careful when you look at generators because they like to put surge watts first now days. They might advertise a 3500 watt unit that is actually only 2500 running watts.

 

[GaRp58]

Q: I have an Insignia Freezer chest plugged in working great. If I lose power, can I plug it into my fully charged Yeti 400?

NO, the power station is only for 12V DC...it can charge different things under 12 V, like your laptops and cell phones. IT CAN BE CHARGED WITH 110V/AC...but cannot operate anything on 110 V/AC. What you need is an inverter which can change the 12 V/DC into the needed 110V /AC.
With a full charge then you may be able to run something like the freezer for a very short time but a small generator with 110V/AC and about 2000W-3000Watts will get you about 6-8 hours of electricity on about half a gallon of gas and will cost about $ 60-$70. Using the power station for big things will also end its normal life span too early from the surge draw from something from an electrical motor/compressor which does not have a flat line current draw, but surges as the compressor shuts off and on as needed by the freezer.

 

[DrHenley]

NO, the power station is only for 12V DC...it can charge different things under 12 V, like your laptops and cell phones. IT CAN BE CHARGED WITH 110V/AC...but cannot operate anything on 110 V/AC. What you need is an inverter which can change the 12 V/DC into the needed 110V /AC.

 

[GaRp58]

thanks for the pic, helps to understand more than on the pic from his original post.

 

[Habanerojefe]

NO, the power station is only for 12V DC...it can charge different things under 12 V, like your laptops and cell phones. IT CAN BE CHARGED WITH 110V/AC...but cannot operate anything on 110 V/AC. What you need is an inverter which can change the 12 V/DC into the needed 110V /AC.
With a full charge then you may be able to run something like the freezer for a very short time but a small generator with 110V/AC and about 2000W-3000Watts will get you about 6-8 hours of electricity on about half a gallon of gas and will cost about $ 60-$70. Using the power station for big things will also end its normal life span too early from the surge draw from something from an electrical motor/compressor which does not have a flat line current draw, but surges as the compressor shuts off and on as needed by the freezer.

Thank you. My hope and prayer is to be able to run a small freezer off grid. Are they all too energy dependent, or is there a set up that uses a smaller, less needy freezer?

 

[GaRp58]

Start looking for the 12V or 24V fridge or freezers used in camper trailers, mobile homes and tractor trailers 18 wheelers...I have one in my camper trailer which runs off 12V and 220V and propane gas too.

 

[Habanerojefe]

Thank you for the tip! What 12v fridge/freezer do use? Any issues?

 

[Mountain trapper]

Thank you. My hope and prayer is to be able to run a small freezer off grid. Are they all too energy dependent, or is there a set up that uses a smaller, less needy freezer?

Take a look at a propane fridge/freezer. I had one years ago. Bought it from an RV salvage company. It worked great, no electric needed.

 

[Habanerojefe]

That sounds like a plan. I have lots of propane. It’ll be interesting to me seeing how that works! Thank you for your guidance.

 

[Mountain trapper]

That sounds like a plan. I have lots of propane. It’ll be interesting to me seeing how that works! Thank you for your guidance.

It work great for us. It would even keep ice cream frozen in summer.

 

[Habanerojefe]

Wow. This could be the solution. Thank you so much for your input. Do we know how long propane will keep in those tanks?

 

[Habanerojefe]

I might have to look into RC salvage like you did.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Wow. This could be the solution. Thank you so much for your input. Do we know how long propane will keep in those tanks?

I dont think propane degrades like other fuels do. I've heard people say "forever".

 

[Habanerojefe]

Same here. I guess they’ll last as long as I do. But I hope I have luck finding one like you did. Good idea looking into it

 

[DrHenley]

I dont think propane degrades like other fuels do. I've heard people say "forever".

The propane doesn't, but the tank does.

 

[Habanerojefe]

So the key i guess, is keeping the tanks in a dry, temperate environment

 

[Mountain trapper]

I think the tanks need to be inspected ever 10 years. Thats why I lease the big tanks and trade the small tanks before they need to be inspected.