Insulating the Forward Compartment

[BruceEA]

I want to put some temperature sensitive items in the forward compartment of my Cougar %er. Has anyone been successful at insulating the front compartment and if so, what material did you use?

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by BruceEA

I want to put some temperature sensitive items in the forward compartment of my Cougar %er. Has anyone been successful at insulating the front compartment and if so, what material did you use?

Bruce, folks may have more context with help and answers if you go up to the User CP on the black bar towards the top left and selected then select signature. Put your year/make/model for both your camper and tow vehicle and that might elicit in context responses.

[BruceEA]

Thanks, just did it.

[ewbldavis]

I dunno Bruce - how sensitive?

Might be best to find someplace inside - maybe under the bed or something.

[BruceEA]

Unfortunately, it needs to be very close to my battery.

[wiredgeorge]

That looks like a great floorplan. I wish our TV were across from our LazyBoy loveseat. When you say "forward compartment, do you refer to the pass through storage or compartment at the front under the hitch? I use that compartment for a couple of folding camp chairs and my 12.5' ladder. That one would be hard to insulate in any fashion because the front landing gear mechanism and battery are up there. For the pass through, how much requires insulation and how well insulated?

[BruceEA]

Yep, Love the floor plan. I'm referring to the front area by the hitch, not the pass-through.
I can always build a box and insulate the hell out of it but I was trying to keep the weight down. I need to keep the temperature below 105 degrees. Since I live in the Phoenix area, it's not uncommon for us to have temps from 110 - 116 for weeks at a time.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by BruceEA

Yep, Love the floor plan. I'm referring to the front area by the hitch, not the pass-through.
I can always build a box and insulate the hell out of it but I was trying to keep the weight down. I need to keep the temperature below 105 degrees. Since I live in the Phoenix area, it's not uncommon for us to have temps from 110 - 116 for weeks at a time.

Any insulated box will reach ambient outside temps eventually, and keep it at that temp longer. I have no idea what you are attempting but from my experience there are 2 ways to accomplish that (depending on the area of the box and the heat generated by the contents)and both require electricity.

One approach would be using a 12v dc thermal cooler. They are not very efficient in high temperature environments. The second option would be a cooler designed for a computer cpu. They have to be affixed to the surface and tubing carries the coolant to the outside of the computer case.

Neither option would be weatherproof and both would require a constant voltage source and some modifications to keep it weather tight.

[JRTJH]

Why not insulate with 1" or 1.5" rigid foam sheeting on the floor cut to fit around the landing gear, a sheet along the "rear wall of the front compartment" and one either attached to the access door or placed in front of the access door. Use expanding foam to seal the edges and stop any leaks. The passthrough should be "cooled sufficiently, to cut two 4" holes in the "rear wall foam sheet (between the passthrough and the front compartment) and install one computer fan "on the right side of the wall blowing into the front compartment and another on the left side of the wall blowing out of the front compartment... That would provide circulation of the passthrough "conditioned air" and effectively seal the front compartment from outside air.

[BruceEA]

That sounds like my best option. I'm trying to find a way to use the front compartment for two Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries that have an automatic cut off at 132 degrees. Since I live in the hot valley of the Sun that often sees temps in the 112 - 118 range, I'm afraid it could get up to 132 in the enclosed fiberglass compartment.

[QCMan]

Why not try the exact opposite and put in a couple of computer fans to ventilate the compartment and keep it from going above ambient? Chances of ambient reaching 132 is pretty slim and muffin fans have minimal draw. You will just need to make weather tight vents to allow increased air flow.

[BruceEA]

That's a real good idea. I could probably find a sensor that would turn them on when the temp reaches 100+ so that they are not running all the time.
Thanks

[ewbldavis]

Good ideas and info here to keep for sure.

I had to look up floorplan - that is a nice layout!

[wiredgeorge]

How large a cooler is needed and for what extent of time will it need to be cool. We carry drinks and meds that need to be cooled when traveling and put them in a cooler with ice packs and everything stays cold till we arrive; even after 8 hours or so.

[McRod]

Why don't you put the batteries inside the RV directly above that compartment? I wouldn't spend a grand for each battery and cheap out on some rigid insulation. JMO.