Riding with Refrigeration for medications

[wsgts]

I am going to be getting a '07 Suzuki Bandit at the end of the month after 8 years of only four wheeled vehicles.  Since I want to get into long distance touring, I have got to figure out a way to take along medications that must be kept around 60 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time (they can be above that for short periods).  Being in Florida, this will probably be a challenge.  I want to try to avoid ice, since it can easily get my medications wet.  

Anyone else deal with this problem?  

This is what I use for the car, or airplane.  http://www.medi-fridge.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=3  and was thinking of this for the bike, but haven't talked to the manufacturer yet.  http://www.medi-fridge.com/detail.aspx?ID=22

Thanks,
wsgts

[LENSMAN]

There are some small cooler sized refrig units that plug into a lighter socket. But, they are still quite bulky. Check JC Whitney- they are good for stuff like that. Watch your power consumption. You might have to have the generator modified to put out more juice. That means heavier wire.  Good luck.  Also- riderwarehouse, they specialize in travel gear.

[denydog]

You might try frozen gel packs in a small insulated soft cooler.  You might get some condensation, but if you keep your meds in a plastic Ziplock bag, it should be OK.  Refreezing the gel pack could be a problem, but I stay in motels, so can refreeze them every night.

[Rosanne]

Mate, clicked on the Web Address you supplied and it says that the fridge you have takes a 12 volt power supply, looks like it will easily fit into a top box with a heap of other stuff as well, its worth a look

[MK96xj]

Mate, clicked on the Web Address you supplied and it says that the fridge you have takes a 12 volt power supply, looks like it will easily fit into a top box with a heap of other stuff as well, its worth a look

+1

the item you linked to has teh 12v cord and only draws 25 watts. This is in the range of a heated vest. You should be OK with it.

[wsgts]

Is there anyway to get ventilation to it?  These coolers are thermo-electric, which means they have to have ventilation.  

The only other option is the Engel line of refrigerator/freezer (non thermoelectric) which draws about 3.9 amps x 12vdc = 48 watts or so, which I know will keep the medication cool enough, I just wonder if the 26 pounds for the unit is too much weight?  Specs here:  http://www.i-m-d.com/engel/Engel15main.htm.  Plus, I could throw a few beverages and bottled waters in there as well.

When I rode before, I never did any long distance touring so was at home for medication.  Also, how long would the bike battery be able to keep these things going before is has killed the battery?  (Like for overnight camping)  I can stay in hotel rooms, but would like the option of doing either.

Thanks in advance,
wsgts

[MK96xj]

That unit is preety heavy but I am sure it could be mounted somewhere. It also makes icecubes so if this is done in a seperate compartment you are good to go at the campsite. Just  put your meds in ziplock bags.

The smaller unit, Medifridge, could probably be mounted with a bar type system like a GPS? Maybe?

[wsgts]

The medi-fridge I was thinking on mounting inside a hard case, and then venting it to the outside somehow.  The thermo electrics only keep things 36 degree below the surrounding temperature, and the medication needs to be below 77 degrees all the time, so the temp around the unit has to be less than 113 degree F, and preferably out of the sun somehow.  So, this means I have got to get cool air into the bag it is in, otherwise, it will just build up temperature inside the box.

Anyone ever done this sort of thing?  Was thinking of removing the padding out of a pelican case, and then mounting with marine adhesive.

Later,
wsgts

[bomber]

plus 1 on the gel packs -- I've used em for similar duty in the past, and, if you're motelling at night, you're fine . . .  

I seem to remember that there are packs that contain 2 chemicals that are normally separated, that, when the pack is flexed and they co-mingle, get pretty darned chilly (the oposite of those feets/glove warmer thingies)

have you considered going to the pharmacist and asking?

[wsgts]

I'm actually dating a pharmacist, lol.  

The issue at hand was the extreme temperatures here is the panhandle of Florida, plus I like my medifridge for traveling by car or by car/plane.  In the car/plane environment, the unit is exposed to 70ish degree temperatures, so not a big deal.  On a bike, it is exposed to 100 degree temperatures, which will most definitely cause problems, not the mention camping it will be exposed to 80ish temperatures.  When camping from the car, I just leave the unit in the car.

Thinking gel packs and hotel rooms are in my future.  Oh well, at least I'm still able to travel and do whatever I want.

Later,
wsgts

[Boone]

I dont know how much under-seat room you have on a bandit 1250, but to sidestep the problem of building temperatures, why not try putting it under the seat?  You could mount it there, provided you could make enough room.  Wiring would be easy.  Mount a small fan (Maybe a rigged up PC Processor fan?) on the underside, with a hole cut out to provide some ventilation (Or, two fans - one intake, out out).  That seems like it would keep the temps reasonable.

I suppose you could do the same with a hard case, too.  It would probably be easier in a top case.  Just make sure the surface is white and park in the shade, and you should be well off.

Good luck!

[BillL]

I have a son with type 1 diabetes.  Keeping insulin cool has always been an issue while traveling.  I've included a couple of links for things we have looked at in the past. These things seemed like they would work fine.  We considered them in the past but, never bought anything.

We have not used anything other than ice double bagged inside an old CD/personal stereo foam bag with a little extra insulation and keep it mostly zipped up to keep humidity out.

FRIO

ProtectAll

[Ant]

I dont know how much under-seat room you have on a bandit 1250, but to sidestep the problem of building temperatures, why not try putting it under the seat?  You could mount it there, provided you could make enough room.  Wiring would be easy.  Mount a small fan (Maybe a rigged up PC Processor fan?) on the underside, with a hole cut out to provide some ventilation (Or, two fans - one intake, out out).  That seems like it would keep the temps reasonable.

I suppose you could do the same with a hard case, too.  It would probably be easier in a top case.  Just make sure the surface is white and park in the shade, and you should be well off.

Good luck!

I'm going to assume that the 1250 is the same as the 650 and say there is precisely zip underseat storage Certainly not enough for any kind of cooling apparatus
Putting the unit in a top case and then rigging up a PC fan is a great idea though, put the fan on the underside of the box though obviously otherwise you may find a swimming pool inside your top box

[wsgts]

I guess I was just looking for a good way to keep my medication cold given that I was hoping to be out overnight camping.  I camp now, and just leave the unit in the truck, so no big deal.  

Thanks everyone for the insight, picking up my bandit sometime this week.

Later,
wsgts

[Ant]

Nice one! And remember, even when you've picked it up...