Covering Your Refrigerator/Cooler with Reflectix
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2018
- In today's video, my Assistant KC and I cover her Whynter 12-Volt Compressor refrigerator with Reflectix to protect it from the suns rays and to keep it cooler. While it's a simple job (very much like wrapping a Christmas Present!) it's benefits are very big.
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Thanks for watching!
I can see why KC is a great assistant for Bob. She jumped right in and helped in the creation of a very functional cover. She and Bob made a great team on this project, and it even looks good too.
The whole time I was thinking "dude, it wouldn't take much extra work to make a convenient lid so you don't have to wrestle that whole bulky cover off". Glad you fixed it at the end.
Lol Ditto!!!
Kragatar j
Congratts! I just knew you’d get to the lid part. Bravo.
Bob u crack me up... u ALWAYS SAY "WELCOME BACK TO MY NEXT VEDEEIO!"
LOVE IT AND ALL OF U ALL!!
TK U FOR BEING U!!!
gayle gomez I think the same thing when he says that. always cracks me up.
If she doesn't mind something sticking directly to the fridge, she could use some double sided tape to secure the reflectix to the lid. That would make it even easier to open and not worry about holding it just so every time she opens it.
There is sticky command like tapes, that is removable, you just need to pull on it, to get it to release!
You mentioned that if taken proper care of that those fridges would last for years, well you are exactly right on that one.
I have a mini fridge like that that I carried in my freightliner, running off a power inverter. I bought it in 1999, and even though we have retired, that mini fridge is still working. It now sits beside my husbands chair on our porch, and is the perfect size to use the top as a coffee table, and the fridge/coffee table now holds his Beer and cigarettes!
It's still working perfect!
Lolll. Rock on ❤
I just love you two. Makes me go to my happy place to hear Bob talk, so innocent. "20'x 100' roll". Love you guys so much!
Great video Bob and KC. Blankets on top really helps with mine too.
KC. What a lovely person you are. So fun it must be working with Bob
What a simple, yet well thought out idea! Thank you for sharing... peace!
Oh-my-wow!i'm so excited for spring.starting my project then.made some definate decisions and can't wait!
I'm glad you thought of the modification of just having the Iid lift off and not the whole cover... That was my initial thought! Good job Bob and KC!
Thanks, a good video . Nice to see KC again .
This works on those little polystyrene cool boxes you get with chilled food delivered in too. You can even line the inside of those too as there is no temp probe or vents to avoid.
That's a good idea on the lid👍👍 I like it☺
Nice video nice to see KC you guys work great together
Happy Thanksgiving, you are so inspiring to me. Thank you. Glenda
Happy thanksgiving Bob. Sending you blessings! Cheers!
Great job K.C. and Bob! Happy Thanksgiving 😎
Absolutely awesome! You guys are wonderful!
Great job. Thank you for the information. I hope you both have a Happy Thanksgiving. Be safe my friends.
Awesome tips, CheapRVliving! Thanks for sharing!
Great video good to see you KC
Great teamwork!
Glad you added the last bit I was going to suggest that.
I really love these videos. i get a lot of really good ideas...even if you're just like a weekend camper this is a good ideas for a cooler too. Thank you :-)
Wow KC! Good job and I bet your cooler will last longer.
Cute video, nice to see you two baby stepping through a project.
Nice job and good idea
Go Team!! 🎉❤🎉. Thank you ❤ Happy trails 🙏🏼🐾🎶
Great idea, Ive been covering mine in a blanket, this will be much better!!
Happy Thanksgiving Bob,Cody Suzanne and KC ❤
Hi, thanks for sharing, great info, Happy Thanksgiving, be safe traveling
👍Living in the boonies forever. I've done this with my coolers for years. It really helps get the groceries home without melting all over the pickup truck. And keeps veggies from freezing in winter too. Great video 👍❤️👌& good job!!
Hey Edith N.
I haven't noticed any issues with sweat or mold. And I've used it in many states. Tho while traveling in Arizona my daughter and I laid newspaper over the foods as extra insulation while using ice. And the newspaper layers did get wet. That was with the cooler flat on the truck bed. Tho often I just use a smaller cooler on the front floor. Maybe if the cooler wasn't opened often enough, things might mold? I have also just laid a piece of the silver insulation under the lid, over the foods, on super hot days.
Thanks for the notice of my comment & good luck.
I've used that silver stuff for years, on so many projects.👍
i cover mine with beach towels and it keeps it cool. but this was just another way of doing it so good job.
Very clever for any refrig or cooler.
Another GR-E-A-T Idea. Gonna do something like this to my cooler...
Impressive your talented people.
Oh I like that idea!!!
Looks good. Thanks .
Glad y'all fixed it in the end. I was going to ask why she didn't do a lid.
Thanks Bob your lifesaver.I made a front windshield sun reflector for my truck, I put it on the outside of the Windshield and use the doors to hold it tight. Wasn't sure if it would hold up under heavy rains and bright sunlight in Florida but so far has proved to be working fine, although it is taking a beating.
Nice job guys. Safe travels. Namaste.
Very ingenious!!! I can use that idea for my Dometic!
We bought the cover for our dometic
Worth the price.
I think Roohba was simply raising awareness. I'm a man, but considering some of the "accidents I've had over my 72 years (scars available for viewing) I appreciate folks with life experiences to share. I ceetainly didn't think of "bolting"" it down. Thanks.
Good job KC!
I was using a blanket on the top and thought about using either reflectix or some 1/2 foam insulation. In the end I bought the cover from Dometic and couldn't be happier. My battery is lasting quite a bit longer running the fridge and it wasn't that expensive..around 65.00 for my model. I checked and Whynter makes a cover for their fridges..around 50.00. I don't always buy something I can make but this just made more sense to me ;-)
I'm glad to hear those covers are properly ventilated. Someone did a test on some covers and the mesh didn't allow enough air flow and the freezer heated up
I covered the door of my Dometic fridge in my 76 Prowler trailer with Reflectix and on top of that I put some upholstery fabric to match up to my counters. It looks really good and I wish I could post a picture of it
Great idea, nice decor tip
Cool I was thinking make it like a toaster cover and you did. Casey I would put my seam in the back of the cooler so I only have one horizontal seam to tape. Will also be less tape and loose material around the vent and thermostat.
Those floorboards have to get hot. I'd put atleast a 1/2 inch of polyiso under the fridge.
Good job÷
ty and happy thanksgiving.
I hope you have that fridge bolted down. If she has an accident that can kill her. I had a mini motorcycle in the back of my suburban and had a wreck. it hit me from behind , and I lost my memory for a week. Very dangerous. That could be your next video Bob. Just saying. I would hate for something to happen.
hey Bob, hope things are well, good video, tc
If you have a sleeping bag on board that will work as well. Not sure if folks on the west coast use those much but a cheap one can be had at walmart etc. Obviously watch the vent When its cold outside use it as a comforter, you will be more comfy sleeping, the refrig won't need it. I think styrofoam underneath is a good idea as well. I think someone mentioned that covers are available but I would check the r value. Sleeping bags are rated by temp. Get the lowest temp bag available at a reasonable price. Rating are not necessarily accurate so go for the lowest temp. You could also make a styrofoam box to fit over the cooler as it sits on a styrofoam pad. Lots of good ideas in the video comments.
I have the same fridge in my solar powered short bus with 500 watts.
Life is better with refrigeration !
See ya at the RTR...
I agree with your gorilla tapes pretty awesome stuff but you haven't tried military duct tape yet have you? You can pick it up usually at any Army Navy Surplus Store I still have 2 rolls that 20 years old... Gorilla Tape is based on Military duct tape I pick up military duct tape for a big huge roll for about five bucks to 6 bucks if it can withstand put on the side of tanks and helicopters and plane and sticks without coming off unless you pull it off I'd say that's pretty good stuff.. withstands high winds in the desert in Afghanistan and Iraq on tents it'll seal a busted radiator hose on a vehicle and even splint a busted arm and fingers
@@mikemead2315 you should be able to get it at any army navy Surplus Store and you can also get it at the PX on any base if you have a military card and can get on the any base.. I have a surplus store near me it's called General Jims.. where I buy mine if I can't get to Grayling Army / National Guard and get on the base which that's about 50 miles.
away from me.. like I said it can range in price from $5 all the way up to 7 I have to go and like the comment above they call it 100-mile-an-hour tape.. I always have at least 5 rolls one in each car one in the basement and usually in various tool boxes LOL
@@georgeandrews2839 yep best tape ever don't matter the temperature or the product to use it on it works great
When I lived in Okinawa we called it Typhoon Tape.
Gonna get to a surplus store soon.... Thanks for the info.
100 miles per hour tape! Lol!
Get some command tape, for the lid! It is removable!
Thumb up on the video. Thumb down on the first commenter who's having a grumpy day!
Thanks you two!
For sticking on Reflitix, nothing is better than 3M mounting tape. The red kind. Regular strength grade.
Reflectix is not insulation. It is a radiant barrier. In terms of R value it's close to zero in your application. To properly use that product on your fridge you'd need to create air gaps between it and your cooler. Install furring strips.
I just got one of those, and doing the same thing I have the insulation sitting right next to it.
You need to strap the fridge down. Maybe make a slit on each end where those beefy handles are and pull them out so you can strap the handles to the floor.
So many great videos! Thankyou...are there groups of van gypsies on the east coast? I would like to find some friends !
All I want for Christmas is to see Bob with a clean shave and a haircut, that handsome devil! 😉
I have used Gorilla Tape and after one year it started turning loose I don't think much about it
Take it easy old man
you are awesome thank you for all your info but I have a few questions for you and others how do I do that can you help me
So has the improvement the reflectics provides ever been measured?
You should try foil tape, very sticky and works great for a lot of things
If you watch to the end you will see that they DO use foil tape.
Yay
its a great idea but Id suggest another cover over the reflextic which wont reflect sunlight in your face when driving..even just a blanket
Florida sun shining through the windshield will turn seats and steering wheels and fridges into unbearably hot items. It would be interesting to see the internal temperature and dc usage before and after.
If money wasn’t an issue what would be the best 12 volt compressor fridge?
Some people are just plain assholes. I admire your positive attitude.
👍😃
Wrapping a cooler shouldn't be a problem and adding any form of insulation can help, but when wrapping a fridge, know how your fridge works before trying. Many fridges utilize the exterior walls of the fridge to shed heat and insulating it would hurt its performance greatly and possibly damage it by overheating.
If you are unsure, a safer and potentially more effective option would be to simply use the reflectix to make a canopy over the fridge to block sunlight from heating it.
,having used various types of refrigation in many types of vehicles for better part of 30 years I can say the very best results come by getting unit off floor and providing max ventilation possible..
Why does getting it off the floor help? Better ventilation? Or does heat come up from the floor?
Often the heat releasing condenser coils are placed in the walls of a fridge, and they should never be covered.
The manual says
"The normal operation of the freezer depends on heat radiation from the condenser.
For the initial use, remove all packaging and allow at least 6” of clearance around
the perimeter of the freezer."
Lol I just said something similar but you beat me to it.
@@Andy-df5fj I just had a rethink, because occasionally the coil is kept separate and cooled by a fan,
and I just noticed Whynter sell an insulation cover
www.whynter.com/product/whynter-portable-freezer-transit-bag/
@@georgegibson707
Based on the link, I agree that Whynter doesn't put the condenser in the walls, but this video doesn't seem specifically directed to Whynter users, but rather anyone using coolers or fridges. It's still relevant information.
Yes. They would do well to look at it with an infra red camera to understand this. The outside around the compressor compartment will be the warmest and uninsulated part of the fridge. Thus, this whole area should not have foil as it will simply be reflecting the internal heat back in. The fans can only remove monecular heat. But the idea is good and sound.
👍
I would glue a Styrofoam box open at the top, then cut a lid from styrafoam insulation and glue your material to the box and cover for easy access.
I’ve tried and sadly didn’t work. I did make a cover made from a thermal curtain, bingo it works.
CCR > convection, conduction; and radiation.. (why insulation works), basically, slowing the movement of hot or cold air..
But....if you cover it with blankets make sure you dont cover the vents! Right?
Helen Reyes. never cover any of the vents no matter what.
A suggestion why not try reach out to the company who makes the fridge and see if they have a refrigerator insulation cover or if they don't ask them to consider making them .
Seems to me the job would have been a lot easier if the cooler fridge was taken out and placed on a picnic table to work. Plus I would have done the lid separately with a piece of polystyrene wrapped in reflexit and used double sided tape or magnets to hold in place
You might have to wrap K.C. in Reflectix so you can maintain. She is a hottie.
In a pinch does aluminum foil work. Yes, I mean Reynolds Wrap. (or the store brand. :))
Yep. Shiny side out. Personally, I think that would be a better option because if your fridge happens to usr the exterior walls to shed heat, aluminum foil wouldn't cripple it the way this stuff would.
Why not move the fridge into the van and moving something not heat sensitive in its place?
I just wrap a sleeping bag to my cooler (like a pig in the blanket). The ice lasts twice as long.
KC , your neighbor Bret here. Never got your info. Sad about that. Message me 😁
Can’t you just line the inside with it?
On the inside, I think only the lid would be practically effective - a radiant heat barrier requires an air gap (1/2" - 1" range) (plastic bubble layer doesn't count) to work well. Don't stack the contents too high! So it would be helpful to have on the bottom of the lid, but still not as effective as the top of the lid because the lid would have chances to absorb and conduct that heat through the rest of the ice chest before (and after) it was reflected from the inside radiant heat barrier. I've been wrestling with the concept all night but I think I have it figured out now!
All these 12v fridges have the WORST insulation. So frustrating.
Sorry I disagree I would not have used Gorilla Tape that's overkill for this project in my opinion just saying
I’ll never buy any “gorilla” product. Had a small thing of glue, my dog got it and chewed it as there is something in it attractive to dogs. She maybe got a tiny bit ingested. What I didn’t know was that stuff expands when it gets wet and expands until it can’t. By the time we figured out something was wrong, she was maybe one day from death. Emergency surgery revealed a stomach shaped mass of stuff that had her completely blocked. Sadly, not an uncommon incident. Happy to say she survived and is now 11 years old. All I had to say when I called the vet was gorilla glue and they said get her her NOW.