40 QT 12VDC frunk cooler / freezer PROJECT UPDATES
Jul 14, 2023 22:02:37 GMT
jcreviston and neighbors like this
Post by BoxGods on Jul 14, 2023 22:02:37 GMT
Just letting everyone know that the signup list count, as of today -- 07/14/2023 -- stands at 165/150.
I had intended to focus on the 40QT cooler project after the Slide Out Utility Tray and Camp Kitchen entered production, but I get a lot of people asking about the 40 QT cooler and I know how excited you guys are about this project, so I am looking at running all three projects at the same time.
The aspirational goal would be for the cooler to ship in October / November or at least in time for Christmas. The key word there is aspirational so figure early 2024 to be safe. I will be sending out a project update email next week to everyone who has signed up with more details, and to make sure everyone who has signed up has realistic expectations about how powered coolers work and what they can and can't do.
This next part will likely sound a little negative--especially as I am not exactly Mr communicator--but my goal is that everyone be happy with the product and feel like they have gotten good value for their hard earned dollars.
Based on conversations with a lot of you, most--I would say upward of 80%--already have a good basic understanding of the technology and have realistic expectations. My biggest concern is the remaining few who fall into the following camp: My Uncle's friend's neighbor has a powered cooler made by XYZ company that used two AA batteries worth of electricity on their three week African Safari in 115 degree weather.
12VDC coolers are not magical in that they are based on established compressor driven phase change technology that, unfortunately, has to adhere to simple physics. The R1's frunk is an ideal location for a cooler from a user perspective--you really couldn't ask for a better location--but from a mechanical engineering perspective it is less than ideal. Our cooler design incorporates several features aimed at mitigating or minimizing some of these mechanical shortcomings, but there will still be a few practical limitations for (some) specific use cases.
I will go into more detail in future posts: in a nutshell, you can't fill the cooler full of warm items, toss it in your frunk, set it to zero, immediately hit the road for Moab in August, and expect the cooler to ramp to zero in 2 hours on a tiny amount of electricity. Again, there are some scenario's that may require simple planning and common sense considerations.
Again, sorry if that last bit sounds a bit negative, but better to err on the side of more information than less. As always your questions and comments are welcomed.
I had intended to focus on the 40QT cooler project after the Slide Out Utility Tray and Camp Kitchen entered production, but I get a lot of people asking about the 40 QT cooler and I know how excited you guys are about this project, so I am looking at running all three projects at the same time.
The aspirational goal would be for the cooler to ship in October / November or at least in time for Christmas. The key word there is aspirational so figure early 2024 to be safe. I will be sending out a project update email next week to everyone who has signed up with more details, and to make sure everyone who has signed up has realistic expectations about how powered coolers work and what they can and can't do.
This next part will likely sound a little negative--especially as I am not exactly Mr communicator--but my goal is that everyone be happy with the product and feel like they have gotten good value for their hard earned dollars.
Based on conversations with a lot of you, most--I would say upward of 80%--already have a good basic understanding of the technology and have realistic expectations. My biggest concern is the remaining few who fall into the following camp: My Uncle's friend's neighbor has a powered cooler made by XYZ company that used two AA batteries worth of electricity on their three week African Safari in 115 degree weather.
12VDC coolers are not magical in that they are based on established compressor driven phase change technology that, unfortunately, has to adhere to simple physics. The R1's frunk is an ideal location for a cooler from a user perspective--you really couldn't ask for a better location--but from a mechanical engineering perspective it is less than ideal. Our cooler design incorporates several features aimed at mitigating or minimizing some of these mechanical shortcomings, but there will still be a few practical limitations for (some) specific use cases.
I will go into more detail in future posts: in a nutshell, you can't fill the cooler full of warm items, toss it in your frunk, set it to zero, immediately hit the road for Moab in August, and expect the cooler to ramp to zero in 2 hours on a tiny amount of electricity. Again, there are some scenario's that may require simple planning and common sense considerations.
Again, sorry if that last bit sounds a bit negative, but better to err on the side of more information than less. As always your questions and comments are welcomed.
