Convert cheap AC freezer to energy efficient fridge. Will this work in a vehicle?

[magentawave]

I was wondering if anyone is running an AC chest freezer in their rig with an inverter and a temperature controller to convert the freezer into a fridge like these guys are doing in their off the grid homes: http://tinyurl.com/yl2uu5n and http://tinyurl.com/catbupa and http://tinyurl.com/ch3us9s

Advantages are that freezers are well insulated which means very energy efficient and super cheap at Walmart for as little as $140. http://tinyurl.com/bmqkben

I know this works in houses but I was wondering if the constant vibration and bouncing around in a vehicle would mess up the freezer? Has anyone done this or know about this?

Thanks
Steve

 

[bonomonster]

Very cool idea

 

[magentawave]

Yes I thought so too! Anyone know how well a home chest freezer will do in the bumpy environment of a vehicle?

 

[java]

I have seen fisherman use them in the back of a pickup with a generator. Not sure about long term life though

 

[aws140]

Cool idea. Subscribed.

 

[madmax718]

I think if you don't run it while your moving you should be fine. Most of these fridges use the standard commercial refrigeration design. They don't like too much movement in operation. Im just wondering how many amps this thing draws, and what size inverter you'd need to operate it. If its under 500 watts, I'd be so game. But if its starting to go into the 1000 watt arena, I start to become unkeen on the idea.

 

[magentawave]

I'm going to call the manufacturer/distributor tomorrow to get the starting and running amps. Not running it while driving probably won't work because there will be times I'll be driving for many hours. I've been looking around online and apparently there are a lot of people successfully running cheap AC fridges in their motorhomes with an inverter. Can you see any reason why an AC fridge could handle a vehicles vibration but an AC freezer couldn't? Is there something very different about the innards of the two?