Seeking Advice: Emergency Insulin Refrigeration Solutions for Power Outages in High Heat

[AZNOKAOI]

I am reaching out to this knowledgeable community for advice on preparing for an emergency scenario where we might be without electricity for an extended period. This situation could arise from various causes such as a power grid failure, EMP, or other circumstances leading to a complete loss of electricity.

The critical challenge I'm facing is ensuring that my wife's insulin remains properly refrigerated. She has Type 1 diabetes, and it's crucial that her insulin is kept cool, especially considering we live in Arizona, where temperatures often soar above 115°F.

I am currently exploring solar-powered or battery-operated refrigeration options that would be suitable for storing insulin in such extreme conditions. But, I am unsure of their ability to keep power for longer period of time or the draw that these will take to continuously run.

I am interested in learning about portable coolers or refrigeration systems that are reliable in off-grid scenarios. If anyone has experience with such systems, particularly in high-temperature environments, your insights would be incredibly valuable.

Additionally, I am open to alternative suggestions or strategies that might not strictly involve solar or battery power. Gas/Propane powered generators or something alike would be acceptable as well, provided that they can perform without the need to "refill the tanks" if the system collapse, hence my thoughts on solar generation / battery usage. The primary objective is to ensure that the insulin remains at the required temperature, even in the absence of conventional electricity sources.

I recently read the novel by William R. Forstchen named One Second After (Amazing read highly recommended). This left me with too many thoughts on Type 1 diabetes medical care for my wife and I'd getting a little lost in the sauce/options/setups.

I'm not a millionaire, but I am willing to spend what's needed.

I appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations for products that you can share. Your input could be instrumental in helping us prepare effectively for such emergencies.

Thank you in advance for your help and support.

 

[mtptwo]

My first thought was a generator.

But, consider a chest freezer and a temp control module to turn it into a refrigerator. Those will stay cold for days, and even if you open it, no cold air gets out, and no hot air in. Plus, if you fill it with other things, that will help maintain the temp.

 

[Brlux]

Most people don't consider it, but your car is a excellent backup generator. It can produce 500-800W at idle and does not consume much fuel at idle. A smaller 4 cylinder car is on the order or 1/4-1/2 gallon consumption per hour. If you are good about never letting your tank run low you could have several gallons of fresh fuel on hand for running items. Adding an inverter you could power other 120V loads in your home or power tools for a short time with a big enough inverter directly connected to the battery. You could start it up and let it run for a hour a few times a day to keep the fridge and some other small items running. Just need to be smart about Carbon Monoxide poisoning like running an actual generator, and guarding against someone driving off with your running car.

That said you may want to consider a small high efficiency fridge. Lots of companies make 12V travel fridges now with actual compressors. They are very efficient and effective. You can set them to whatever temp you want even below freezing. The old fridges from a few years ago with peltier junction cooling were garbage only able to get down 20-30 deg cooler than the outside temps.
You can run these travel fridges on 12VDC like your car or 120VAC through an adapter from the wall.

For reference Goal Zero makes a good product all be it at a premium price. There are likely to be better value propositions out there from other vendors, but in my experience they make a quality product. Here is a package with a fridge and a medium sized power bank Yeti 700 + ALTA50 it should be able to run their fridge for 2-3 days before needing to be charged up via AC power, Car connection, or solar panels.

 

[QuietM4]

12V fridge/cooler, deep cycle marine battery, and a 100W solar panel. Done and done.

 

[SupportTheSecond]

I have a "solar" generator with 200 W panels that will keep it charged. Would power a small refrigeration unit no problem. As well as be available for other tasks. Not very expensive either.

 

[Cmoor]

I have an automotive 12 volt refrigerator in my overland truck it's 37 qts. temp range is adjustable from -6 to 60 degrees. My 100 AH battery in my truck will last 3 days without re-charging. I would recommend a 100 to 200 watt solar unit to charge a 100 AH battery it should have no problem keeping things cool indefinitely. I have a cheap Alpicool refrigerator cost a couple hundred bucks. I got it five years ago and I was using it everyday for about 2 years with no problem. even sitting inside my SUV in the summer it will maintain 35 to 40 degrees with no problem. I have also kept ice cream frozen for days in it and actually made ice in it too.. All of that even in the Arizona summer heat.

For your use I would set the fridge inside and have the solar charger and battery outside with a good heavy Gage wire coming inside. Don't skimp on the wire coming inside and keep the wires as short as possible too reduce the energy lost to resistance. You could also use the unit if you go hunting or camping.

 

[RufusXG]

12V fridge/cooler, deep cycle marine battery, and a 100W solar panel. Done and done.

This seems like the most straightforward solution, though I might substitute a lithium battery, which can be essentially emptied of charge and then recharged with no ill effects. Only downside is the potential for extended sun-less days, not a high probability here.

As a last line of defense, it's surprising how long a good ice chest stuffed with quality ice packs will stay cold. Having those ice packs to stuff into the 12V fridge won't hurt either.

 

[Racewin]

A battery powered generator plus solar panels to charge it could work. Keep in mind, a fridge has much higher starting loads than running, so probably better to get a dorm fridge.

A more "outside the box" option is a countertop ice maker.

And yes, a traditional gas generator would also work to power your kitchen fridge...again, remember surge/starting loads

 

[campinginaz]

I'm not going to claim that I'm an expert, but for the power source I would go with solar powered batteries and solar panels. You could always start with one battery and one panel and a more batteries as the budget permits. If one battery can be used to power a small fridge, electric cooler, or something similar, and you have several batteries, I think you would be good for the days without sun as well. It won't be as cheap as a gas generator, but the sun is probably not running out of fuel anytime soon and you might not want to rely on gas you have on hand or having to try and get more gas.

As far as a fridge, if it's just for insulin and will be kept indoors I wonder if one of those small office soda refrigerators would be sufficient. They are not very expensive.

 

[superduty38]

The 12 volt travel fridge does not draw much power to keep cool enough for the insulin. I have had several over the years in my semi before the big sleepers with big fridges. With a small solar setup and battery you should be able to keep that small fridge going easily.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

My first thought was a generator.

But, consider a chest freezer and a temp control module to turn it into a refrigerator. Those will stay cold for days, and even if you open it, no cold air gets out, and no hot air in. Plus, if you fill it with other things, that will help maintain the temp.

[mention]mtptwo[/mention] The idea of using a chest freezer with a temperature control module is intriguing, and I hadn't considered that option. The prospect of it maintaining a stable temperature for days is particularly appealing, especially given the extreme temperatures we experience in Arizona. The only perceived issue is that insulin cannot be frozen. Insulin must be stored in a refrigerator at approximately 36°F to 46°F.

I have a few follow-up questions about this setup:

Generator Dependence: How feasible is it to rely on a generator for powering the chest freezer, especially in prolonged outage scenarios? Do you have recommendations for fuel-efficient or solar-powered generators that could sustain this kind of setup? Seems there are generators ranging from Harbor Freight to Honda.

Temperature Control: Could you provide more details or specific recommendations for the temperature control module? I need to ensure that the temperature remains within a safe range for insulin storage.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

Most people don't consider it, but your car is a excellent backup generator. It can produce 500-800W at idle and does not consume much fuel at idle. A smaller 4 cylinder car is on the order or 1/4-1/2 gallon consumption per hour. If you are good about never letting your tank run low you could have several gallons of fresh fuel on hand for running items. Adding an inverter you could power other 120V loads in your home or power tools for a short time with a big enough inverter directly connected to the battery. You could start it up and let it run for a hour a few times a day to keep the fridge and some other small items running. Just need to be smart about Carbon Monoxide poisoning like running an actual generator, and guarding against someone driving off with your running car.

That said you may want to consider a small high efficiency fridge. Lots of companies make 12V travel fridges now with actual compressors. They are very efficient and effective. You can set them to whatever temp you want even below freezing. The old fridges from a few years ago with peltier junction cooling were garbage only able to get down 20-30 deg cooler than the outside temps.
You can run these travel fridges on 12VDC like your car or 120VAC through an adapter from the wall.

For reference Goal Zero makes a good product all be it at a premium price. There are likely to be better value propositions out there from other vendors, but in my experience they make a quality product. Here is a package with a fridge and a medium sized power bank Yeti 700 + ALTA50 it should be able to run their fridge for 2-3 days before needing to be charged up via AC power, Car connection, or solar panels.

[mention]Brlux[/mention] This is something I did not consider for sure. Using my car as a sort of backup generator makes sense now that you say this. Plus, the tips on using an inverter to power up stuff at home are super helpful.

Just a couple of things I'm curious about:

Any specific inverters you'd recommend that are safe and efficient for this kind of use?
For safety, especially with carbon monoxide, any extra precautions I should keep in mind?
And about the risk of someone swiping my car while it's running, any smart ways to prevent that?
About the travel fridge suggestion – that's a fantastic idea! I've got a few questions there too:

Do you have any go-to brands or models for these 12V fridges?
For keeping the fridge running, how does using the car stack up against something like the Goal Zero Yeti 700 + ALTA50?
Apart from AC, car charging, and solar, are there other good ways to juice up a power bank in emergencies?
Really appreciate your insights on this. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

12V fridge/cooler, deep cycle marine battery, and a 100W solar panel. Done and done.

[mention]QuietM4[/mention] So the ideal is to use the solar panel to trickle charge the marine battery as that runs the Fridge? Any estimates on how long this setup could run the fridge? Hours? Days? Weeks?

Thank you for the idea with this, I think it's sparking a setup that could work.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

I have a "solar" generator with 200 W panels that will keep it charged. Would power a small refrigeration unit no problem. As well as be available for other tasks. Not very expensive either.

[mention]SupportTheSecond[/mention] Thanks for sharing about your solar generator setup. It's a relief to hear that you've got a 200 W panel system that can handle a small fridge without any issues. Plus, the fact that it's not too pricey is definitely a plus.

I've got a few questions about your setup:

Can you share which solar generator model you're using? I'm curious about the specs and how well it performs. I see Costco has something like these on sale right now, could power a smaller fridge I'd guess. https://www.costco.com/jackery-explorer-1500-+-2-100w-solarsaga-panels.product.100982895.html
How does it handle the Arizona heat? I'm guessing that's a big factor in how well it performs.
Any recommendations on a small refrigeration unit that works well with a setup like yours?
Lastly, what other tasks do you usually power with your solar generator? Just trying to get an idea of its versatility.
Really appreciate your input. It's super helpful as I figure out the best setup for our needs.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

I have an automotive 12 volt refrigerator in my overland truck it's 37 qts. temp range is adjustable from -6 to 60 degrees. My 100 AH battery in my truck will last 3 days without re-charging. I would recommend a 100 to 200 watt solar unit to charge a 100 AH battery it should have no problem keeping things cool indefinitely. I have a cheap Alpicool refrigerator cost a couple hundred bucks. I got it five years ago and I was using it everyday for about 2 years with no problem. even sitting inside my SUV in the summer it will maintain 35 to 40 degrees with no problem. I have also kept ice cream frozen for days in it and actually made ice in it too.. All of that even in the Arizona summer heat.

For your use I would set the fridge inside and have the solar charger and battery outside with a good heavy Gage wire coming inside. Don't skimp on the wire coming inside and keep the wires as short as possible too reduce the energy lost to resistance. You could also use the unit if you go hunting or camping.

[mention]Cmoor[/mention] I like hearing that your automotive 12-volt fridge and how it's been holding up, especially in our Arizona heat. Keeping ice cream frozen in this weather? Now that's impressive! Insulin be stored in a refrigerator at approximately 36°F to 46°F, so sounds like what you have will help with that.

I'm thinking about your suggestions and have a few things I'm curious about:

The Alpicool refrigerator sounds like a solid choice. Any specific model you'd recommend based on your experience?
For the solar setup, do you have any brand or model recommendations for a 100 to 200 watt unit and a 100 AH battery?
About the wiring – totally get your point on not skimping. Any tips on what gauge wire to go for and the best way to set it up for minimal energy loss?
And just out of curiosity, have you faced any maintenance issues or needed any special care for your fridge or solar setup over the years?
Really appreciate you sharing your experience. It's giving me some great ideas on how to keep things cool, plus some extra perks for camping and hunting too.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

12V fridge/cooler, deep cycle marine battery, and a 100W solar panel. Done and done.

This seems like the most straightforward solution, though I might substitute a lithium battery, which can be essentially emptied of charge and then recharged with no ill effects. Only downside is the potential for extended sun-less days, not a high probability here.

As a last line of defense, it's surprising how long a good ice chest stuffed with quality ice packs will stay cold. Having those ice packs to stuff into the 12V fridge won't hurt either.

[mention]RufusXG[/mention] I like the ice chest idea too. My first thoughts were a Yeti or similar cooler with deep-freeze ice packs. But the longevity route is what I am striving for and the cooler can help in the short term. But, I'm hoping to prep for a 3-6 months of need with the possibility of longer at no additional or drastic changes to the set up.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

A battery powered generator plus solar panels to charge it could work. Keep in mind, a fridge has much higher starting loads than running, so probably better to get a dorm fridge.

A more "outside the box" option is a countertop ice maker.

And yes, a traditional gas generator would also work to power your kitchen fridge...again, remember surge/starting loads

[mention]Racewin[/mention] Thanks for this. The battery-powered generator paired with solar panels sounds like a solid plan, especially with the convenience of charging it up with solar energy. Something like this? https://www.costco.com/jackery-explorer-1500-+-2-100w-solarsaga-panels.product.100982895.html

I've got a few questions on your suggestions:

Regarding the battery-powered generator, do you have any specific models or brands in mind that you think would work well for this purpose?
Good point about the starting loads of a fridge. Do you have any recommendations for a reliable dorm fridge that's energy efficient? I was trying to figure out and understand the wattage from a fridge but generally all if find is "yearly watts".
The countertop ice maker idea is definitely outside the box! Have you used one before? I'm curious about how effective they are in keeping things cool in a pinch.
And about the traditional gas generator - any tips on what to look for, especially considering surge/starting loads?
Your insights are super helpful, giving me a lot to consider for our setup.

 

[AZNOKAOI]

I'm not going to claim that I'm an expert, but for the power source I would go with solar powered batteries and solar panels. You could always start with one battery and one panel and a more batteries as the budget permits. If one battery can be used to power a small fridge, electric cooler, or something similar, and you have several batteries, I think you would be good for the days without sun as well. It won't be as cheap as a gas generator, but the sun is probably not running out of fuel anytime soon and you might not want to rely on gas you have on hand or having to try and get more gas.

As far as a fridge, if it's just for insulin and will be kept indoors I wonder if one of those small office soda refrigerators would be sufficient. They are not very expensive.

[mention]campinginaz[/mention] Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this. The idea of starting with a solar-powered battery and panel and then scaling up as needed seems like a smart approach. It's great to have a setup that's expandable and flexible.

I've got a few things I'm wondering about:

Do you have any specific brands or models for the solar panels and batteries that you think would be a good starting point?
About the small office soda refrigerators – that's a good idea for just storing insulin. Have you used one, or do you know anyone who has? I'm curious about how well they maintain a consistent temperature.
Also, in terms of energy consumption, do you think these small fridges would be efficient enough to run on a solar battery setup without draining too much power?
You're right about the sun not running out of fuel, and it does seem like a more sustainable option in the long run compared to a gas generator.

Thanks again for your input – it's giving me some great avenues to explore!

 

[AZNOKAOI]

The 12 volt travel fridge does not draw much power to keep cool enough for the insulin. I have had several over the years in my semi before the big sleepers with big fridges. With a small solar setup and battery you should be able to keep that small fridge going easily.

[mention]superduty38[/mention] Thanks for weighing in with your experience. It's reassuring to hear that a 12-volt travel fridge doesn't need a lot of power to keep things cool. Since you've used several over the years in your semi, it sounds like you've got a good handle on how they work.

A couple of questions for you:

Do you have any favorite brands or models of 12-volt travel fridges that you found particularly reliable or efficient?
For the solar setup and battery, any recommendations on size or specs that would work well with a small travel fridge?
Just out of curiosity, how do these fridges handle extreme temperatures, especially in a vehicle environment?
Your insight's super valuable, especially coming from your firsthand experience. Looking forward to your thoughts.

 

[Brlux]

Idling a car for a long time would need similar precautions to running gas generator. It should be as far as reasonably possible from an enclosed living space. Consider Carbon Monixide alarms to be extra safe. As for how to keep the car from being swiped that is going to depend on your situation, If it was me I would park it in the back yard behind a locked gate.

As for inverters Sinewave ones are a little more pricey (but not as bad as they were a few years ago). They are better at running motors and sensitive electronics. It really depends on what you are wanting to run as to the size. But I will say the start up surge on a fridge compressor can brutal. A few years ago I had the house running on a 48V Exeltech 1100W inverter and sometimes it would fail to start the fridge which only drew 175W when running, even when there was very minimal additional loading on the inverter.
When we replaced that fridge we got a Samsung inverted drive one which has very soft starts and can easily run on a 300W DC/AC inverter.

I can't vouch for this 1500W Sinewave inverter, having never seen it, but the feature set and price point look right, Sinewave, information display, remote information display, USB-C PD charge ports, Wireless on off remote, battery cables included.

It would be an interesting experiment to gas up the car, park it in the back yard and try running your needs off it for day or two, cycling it on and off to find the duty cycle that supported your needs. Perhaps start with something like 1 hour on, 2 hours off. The Inverter should have a low voltage alarm and then a low voltage shutoff to protect the battery. When the alarm goes off shut down the inverter because it will be unhappy running things with car starter turning over. Start the car for an hour or so and repeat. At the end of your testing go gas the car back up and determine what your actual burn was.

As for small DC compressor fridges Dometic was the original manufacture of that concept, now dozens of companies make them at lower prices and quality. Probably going to have to rely on your Amazon review BS detector.

The car and ~$200 inverter is probably your cheapest option, but if it was me I would probably be looking at a 12V fridge and a 500-1500Wh power pack with 200W+ of solar. If you are handy you can put your own together for cheaper but it will require more hands on configuration and management. The big power packs already have MPPT Solar charge controllers in them, and make for a much simpler user experience.