Cool it!

There are challenges to keeping food cool in a van. Size, power/fuel consumption, and a tilting/moving platform. Fortunately this is a great time in compact low power consumption refrigerator technology. The fridge I chose, runs directly on 12 volt energy meaning there is no need to convert my available power. It can also be modified (sadly it can't be purchased already modified!), to run directly with a solar system and take advantage of day time vs. night time power availability.

That modification involved drilling holes in a brand new fridge, removing the thermostat, and installing a thermometer connected to a new computer system. What it does is run the fridge as cool as possible without freezing the food during the day. It recognizes day time by sensing increased voltage on the circuit caused by the charge current for the batteries from the solar cells. In the evening it falls back to normal refrigeration temperatures.

If there are bottles of fluid or ice packs in the fridge, these are able to keep the fridge cool through the night dramatically reducing power consumption. Some nights the compressor hasn't engaged a single time. Another great benefit is perfectly quiet nights.