Don't like the idea at all, the CO2 factor for one, even though you think it would be well vented, you are not going to know when you pass out . the common cold esky that you get in department stores are not woth a bumper, good only for a day at best with normal ice. top of the range is something like the EVACOOL, they are fantastic, a block of ice will last a week if it isn't constantly openned,, equally I have found the TECHNICE mob down at Tooyal st Frankston have a very good unit very simillar and theit freezer modules instead of ice are very good and very cheap .
Don't go the dry ice bit , very dangerous, even to handle which is something to consider with kids .
CRIKEY BUSHNUT!!
A bit rough there!!
A few facts off the top of my head first. Dry Ice is not frozen. It is created when pure CO2 (99.8% pure) is placed under presure in a chamber. It comes out like fairy floss and then pressed to pellets or blocks. Dry Ice is not a everlasting product. It can only be kept under controlled preasure. If I remember correclty, it's about -75 deg. C.
For the average person who go's away 3 or 4 times per year, it is ideal. Dry ice can last up to approx 12 days, sometimes longer depending on size of the esky and quantity of dry ice in esky. A block 12 kg's is about the size of a Besser Block and will last at least a week in a GOOD QUALITY ESKY. The new age rotomoulded eskys claim to be Dry Ice friendly, although you will get heat exchange through the unit therefore condensation and frost on the outside. The ultimate esky's are the fibreglass one's with closed cell uerothane. Eg. Evercool.
Dry Ice is quite safe to use in cars providing there is sufficient ventilation. Oxygen levels must be depleted to about 18% oxygen for a person to pass out. That's ALOT of Dry Ice. Put your aircon on fresh. More than sufficient. I've sold literally THOUSANDS of tonnes of Dry Ice and never heard of a problam with oxygen deprivation in a vehicle. We carry Dry Ice in the cab of trucks with no problams. CO2 is non-toxic. It however can be an asphyxiant in LARGE quanities.
Downsides to Dry Ice is it can freeze food or blow up anthing carbonated if not packed correctly. Also, fresh foods including fruit, veg, meats, etc must be sealed airtight to avoid being carbonated. (absorbing CO2 into the flesh and making it fizzy to taste.) Ever tried a fizzy tomatoe?? Tupperware, snaplock bags, cryovacking, heaps of glad wrap, etc is usually sufficient.
Cold burn can occur if products are placed directly on the Dry Ice. If you want to keep a product frozen, place a folded towl on Dry Ice an d product on that. Dry Ice should always be wraped in paper if only for handling. I handle quite easily with no gloves or paper, but I'm used to it. If you wish the move it unwrapped, just use a tea towel or something. It takes alot of burning to do any real damage. My 6 & 4 year olds play with for fun because it fogs in water. They very quickly learned how to handle it!!
To keep beer and soft drinks cold, Place the dry ice in a plastic bag and seal it as much as possible. Poke a pin hole in it to stop it blowing bag up. Put ice in esky and carbonated drinks in ice away from Dry Ice. The Dry Ice will keep the wet ice frozen for days. Although it will disipate quicker in water ice. Keep your esky on a small angle and drain several times per day to avoid getting Dry Ice wet.
As your esky depletes, replace what has been taken with something else. eg. Towels. Volume of area and water is the biggest killer of Dry Ice. Keep your esky full, dry and tight.
Dry Ice is a great thing for occasional campers and is good value, even though it is reasonably expensive. A 10 kg block could cost around $50. It should last around 5 days, possibly more. Buy 4 bags of ice each day for 5 days on Fraser Is. for example. It could cost up to $100 at $4 per bag. Not unrealistic.
I still use dry Ice when going away even with 2 fridges. I use it to keep bags of ice frozen for my BUNDY Because you've got to have ice in Bundy.
Any questions???
Cheers
