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EcoFlow Glacier Portable Fridge – CleanTechnica Tested
Aug
Ice chests have lengthy been a staple of the American highway journey, and larger ice chests are widespread for tenting, picnicking, and some other state of affairs the place you need to eat properly off-grid. Whereas they have a tendency to work nice, and hold you from having to eat canned meals with a heat drink to scrub it down, they’re additionally a little bit of a ache within the butt. Daily or two, you’ve received to dump out no matter ice melted and purchase some new ice, and that ice comes from a provide chain that’s fairly vitality intensive.
Fridges used to make use of lots of energy, and most RV fridges are two-way or three-way fridges that run off grid energy when the RV is plugged in, however are likely to burn propane to remain cool in all different conditions. Parking in an unlevel spot, gusts of wind, and simply driving down the highway can put the pilot gentle out on a propane fridge, and depart you with spoiled meals for those who don’t catch it shortly sufficient. Even fridges that ran on 12 volts used to make use of lots of energy and shortly overwhelm a deep-cycle battery.
However, as with every little thing else cleantech-related, expertise has come a good distance. Variable-speed compressor fridges use as little as 5-10 watts of energy (on common) to maintain fridge meals chilly and freezer meals frozen. Even higher, many compressor fridges are constructed with an upward-facing door that each helps hold the chilly air inside when opened (chilly air sinks) and provide you with some extra counter or sitting house.
This isn’t only a matter of comfort or environmental friendliness. As I’ve identified earlier than, somebody in my household has a medical situation that requires conserving chilly medicines readily available, so it’s usually a matter of life-and-death for individuals who need to get away from the town for a number of days.
What EcoFlow Despatched Me
Earlier this 12 months, the oldsters at EcoFlow despatched me their new Glacier transportable compressor fridge/freezer combo. Earlier than I speak about an issue I bumped into, let’s speak in regards to the options and specs for a bit. I gained’t cowl each little element, however if you’d like these particulars, check out the website here.
In a nutshell, it’s related in measurement to an ice chest, has two compartments inside (with a detachable divider between them), and retains your meals, drinks, and the rest you need at a particular temperature. It’s received controls on the unit itself, but in addition means that you can connect with it by way of Bluetooth to examine on the fridge with out getting it out (however you should definitely give it some air flow, because it generates warmth).
One different actually cool function it has is a built-in icemaker. It’s not fancy like most residence fridges, and doesn’t spit ice right into a bucket, however you’ll be able to pour water into the ice tray, inform it to make ice, and are available again a couple of minutes later to tug up a bit ice bucket. Accidents, drinks, and the rest that might use some ice are well-served. Observe that the unit have to be plugged into AC energy (together with energy stations) or have the battery in it to make ice.
One function I haven’t seen on different transportable fridges is the flexibility to run it by itself battery. Most transportable fridges require you to plug them into an AC energy supply or cigarette lighter-style plug to maintain them going. This fridge has a slot within the again for an non-obligatory battery pack that may energy the unit for over a day for those who pre-cool it plugged in and hold it in Eco Mode. The detachable battery pack could be charged within the unit or by way of a USB-C port exterior of the unit.
Lastly, it’s received some nice comfort options. You will get wheels and a folding deal with for it so you’ll be able to tote it round with out having to hold it. It’s additionally received a wire basket that matches contained in the fridge aspect of the unit, making it simpler to load up and get issues out of it. If you should get at one thing that’s buried, it’s simpler to tug the entire cage out and see what’s on the backside.
Right here’s a humorous video they made (scroll previous it for my assessment):
My Expertise With The EcoFlow Glacier Transportable Fridge
Sadly, my first expertise with the unit wasn’t nice. I took it on a tenting journey and loaded it into my cargo trailer with my different glamping gear. I had an influence station close to it on high of a plastic storage bin that collapsed below the dynamic weight of the facility station, which then shoved the Glacier into the wall of the cargo trailer.
The facility buttons on the Glacier are all well-protected apart from the facility button, which apparently can’t take a success. The facility button received pushed in too arduous, damaging the underlying circuit board and killing the entire machine. Ouch!
However, I’d nonetheless suggest the unit to individuals as a result of this expertise taught me two nice issues.
First off, EcoFlow’s buyer assist is superior. They didn’t attempt to blame me for the accident or battle with me over whose fault it was. They’d me ship in some photos, requested me a number of questions, and shipped one other unit out to interchange it. So, the customer support is strong (not like many tenting gear and transportable cleantech corporations as of late). I wouldn’t suggest abusing a Glacier for those who received one, however the firm clearly cares about its clients.
Second, it gave me a possibility to actually check the unit’s vacuum-sealed insulation. As a substitute of filling the partitions of the unit with insulating foam, the Glacier has vacuum pockets to maintain the cool in and the recent out. This makes the unit each lighter and extra environmentally pleasant. Mixed with the propane refrigerant, it’s some of the environmentally-friendly items available on the market.
For me, the insulation nonetheless stored the meals cool for over a day after the controls went useless, making it doable to maintain consuming good meals on the second day of my journey. So, the insulation is nice, and permits you some further leeway and vitality financial savings for issues like drinks and fewer perishable meals.
I took the alternative unit on a latest journey to go discover an outdated mining city, and the unit match properly contained in the again of my Bolt EUV. Solely on essentially the most excessive sections of highway did the fridge beep at me to let me comprehend it needed to shut down as a result of it wasn’t degree sufficient. We have been capable of eat a frozen skillet meal, have chilly drinks, and in any other case take pleasure in a home-cooked meal away from residence regardless of being far, removed from the electrical grid.
On future trailer journeys, I’m going to maintain the Glacier in a particular compartment on the tongue of my trailer, strapped down and secure from something which may bump it. I additionally put a small piece of froth on the entrance of the unit when shifting it to guard that energy button. The corporate sells a carry bag that I’d suggest buying for those who’re shifting it round so much, so that offers you one other choice to hold it secure.
All in all, it’s a good transportable fridge that checks the entire vitality effectivity and environmental friendliness containers.
Pictures by Jennifer Sensiba.
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