How big a cooler? I know a few other Members have done modifications with PVC I think. Did you simply cut the hole for the heater and circulator to fit in and the rest just sits outside the hole? You think this 48 Qt. Coleman I have will allow the SV to go far enough in so that it does not have to be completely filled?
I used a hole saw bit and cut a hole in the top of a cooler. Works good.
My 24 can coleman stacker is perfect. A 2-3/8" hole saw is perfect for the hole core. It's like a marriage made ii heaven. The hole size fits snuggly around the unit so no additional support/clamping is needed. The depth is also perfect as the Anova sits on the bottom of the cooler and the larger area above sits perfectly on the top of the cooler lid. The fit is so tight that yer not gonna get any evaporation or heat loss. It will hold a full packer, 2-3 large butts, or 3-4 racks of ribs.
The cooler in your pic would present problems. The Anova (and I assume others) have a min/max water level. My Anova's minimum level isn't an issue as it sits squarely on the bottom. 2 inches of water and I'm good. The max level is about an inch below the lid. Your pic looks to be much deeper. What does that mean? Your unit will need to be in about 4+ inches of water to even work. IMHO, that's wasted electricity.
So it's a tossup... Mega cooks? Could be useful. Every day? Not so much. Both depending?
