Thermo electric coolers: Worth it?

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e9999

e9999

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Been wondering whether it's worth it to buy one of these thermolectric coolers. The kind you plug in 12V. Not a true refrigerator. Works with solid-state circuits. Typically goes for around $100 for 2 or 3 cuft.
Are these things working OK? Good enough to keep perishables cold for a long time?
Can they actually cool down stuff you put in warm, like a can of your favorite #6?

watcha think?

thx
E
 
You might be okay as long as you don't expect it to perform like a fridge. You might want to check the specs on the one(s) you're looking at, but I recall these things keeping things about 40 degrees below the external abient temp. If it doesn't get too hot in your area, this might be okay -- where I live, in the summer, this wouldn't do much since temps get above 100 -- a 60 degree #6 isn't quite the same as a 40 degree #6.

Back when I was researching these, I recall The draw on these are pretty high. They might've gotten a little more efficient recently -- something to consider if you plan on leaving it plugged in with the engine off.

I don't think they cool things off very fast. I'm sure your brew will chill a bit, but it might take a day or two. Check the documentation, but they used to say that "for best results" you should put cold stuff in.

It cost quite a bit more, but I got an ARB instead. If you ask me, the fridge is the way to go.
 
E -

>> If you ask me, the fridge is the way to go.

First of all, I agree with Doug. I've used a small commercial 12v/110v fridge in my van for years with good results. But, having said that...

I'm just now experimenting with an Igloo 40 qt thermo cooler in the Cruiser. A few observations...

- Unit draws approx 4.5 amps, on average;
- Draws down the temp at about 10 deg per hour;
- Max observed cooling differential from ambient is ~42 deg... and at less than 85 deg ambient, will start to freeze your brew;
- There is no temperature regulation - unit runs all of the time;
- Like a fridge, these will draw down an average battery overnight... perhaps a bit longer if you're using a deep cycle battery. You really need a solar charging system if you're going to stay in one place for very long.

In all, way better than ice and a useful addition for shorter outings. Now, where's my fridge catelogs...

Cheers, R -
 
They work fine in a cool climate, as long as they are not manufactured in Asia. Don't get sucked in by made in USA, THere is a city in China named Usa, but product labels have the name capitalized.
 
ParadiseCruiser said:
E -

>> If you ask me, the fridge is the way to go.

First of all, I agree with Doug. I've used a small commercial 12v/110v fridge in my van for years with good results. But, having said that...

I'm just now experimenting with an Igloo 40 qt thermo cooler in the Cruiser. A few observations...

- Unit draws approx 4.5 amps, on average;
- Draws down the temp at about 10 deg per hour;
- Max observed cooling differential from ambient is ~42 deg... and at less than 85 deg ambient, will start to freeze your brew;
- There is no temperature regulation - unit runs all of the time;
- Like a fridge, these will draw down an average battery overnight... perhaps a bit longer if you're using a deep cycle battery. You really need a solar charging system if you're going to stay in one place for very long.

In all, way better than ice and a useful addition for shorter outings. Now, where's my fridge catelogs...

Cheers, R -
Click to expand...

whoah, are you saying that leaving the cooler on overnight will discharge the battery as in no start the next day?
no temp reg is an issue indeed, if it gets colder at night, you'll get you steak frozen, not to mention the #6...
E
 
I have a Coleman 40 qt unit that I used for trips and it works great as a COOLER. The entire volume of the cooler can be used to store food and drinks without the wet mess and the space taken up by ice. Like a cooler, items that are not pre-cooled before placing into the cooler will take a while to cool down.

I don't have a problem with the power consumption as I usually take the cooler into the house/motel room and plug it into the 110V wall outlet to keep it cool overnight. If I do leave the cooler running for any extended period of time, I have a PriorityStart! that removes power to the cig lighter before the battery is drained down.

One main advantage of the thermoelectric cooler (besides the lower price) is the light weight. Since it only weighs a couple of pounds heavier than a normal cooler, I can actually carry the cooler fully loaded on and off the truck.

My local Pepboys has a 20 qt unit with built-in battery and temperature control. The literature claims that it will run for 4 hours on a full charge.

I have another smaller one, a 8-can sized one that sits permanently behind the center console. It is used to keep baby bottles and diet Cokes cool in the summer heat.
 
I also have the Coleman 40qt one and it works very well IMO. I've had it for about 2 years now, got it at Walmart for about $85 and it came with the 110v->12v adapter (which btw is handy for charging a 12volt battery if you don't have a charger at home). It cools rather slowly but I usually put stuff in that is already cool, or a ice-pack or something. I've ran mine for 14+ hours continous on a normal battery and was able to start fine...definetly showed signs of drainage but it did start without any problem. (technically by the numbers my battery should have been dead, but it started fine...so your mileage may on that, I have a Costco battery in mine, nothing special)

They are really light, you have to strap them down or something to keep them from moving. The Coleman one you can use as a fridge (upright, open the door like a fridge) or down like a normal cooler. I've found having it vertical works WAY better, you have to keep the heater/cooler area clear anyway so having it vertical is easier to keep that clear I think...and cool air coming down from the top seems to do better than cool air from the side (inside the cooler).

I just bought a Coleman one for my mom, same exact as mine at Walmart for $67 and it also came with the 110->12v thingy, their's is a wall-plug one but all work the same...really good deal IMO.

It will also heat up to approx 42 degrees above ambient, I heated up some cold pizza once had it near the actually fan blowing in the hot air, actually did pretty good, I was impressed, can't cook in it, but definetly warmed up some cinnimon rolls and pizza (great combination!) :) I switched from cooling to heating and within about 45-60 minutes the pizza was warm, which was not bad at all I didn't think.

I'd love to get a ARB but the price difference, of about $590 is a problem to me when my cooler has done great, and it will freeze things very easily if the ambient temp gets low...but I can live with that.

-Mark Brodis
 
Any fresh food should be kept at 40 degrees or below. Bacteria multiply most quickly between 40 and 140 degrees F. After four hours at these temps your risk of food poisoning is much higher. (Wish I knew where that barfing smiley was.) Cooling at ~40 degrees below ambient eighty outside barely puts you in the safety range and depending on where you are in summer it's usually not that cool.
 
that thread is a tad on the old side.
FWIW, I have long ago come to conclude that thermoelectric coolers are not worth bothering with.
 
Holy thread resurrection!!!:eek:

e9999 said:
that thread is a tad on the old side.
FWIW, I have long ago come to conclude that thermoelectric coolers are not worth bothering with.
Click to expand...
Carte Blanche statements are rarely correct.

In the right application thermoelectric coolers are a great solution. If you just want something to keep drinks cool while you roll down the road Thermo units are a pretty good option. You do have to keep an eye on them or your soda will freeze if you are running the AC.
 
rusty_tlc said:
Holy thread resurrection!!!:eek:


Carte Blanche statements are rarely correct.

In the right application thermoelectric coolers are a great solution. If you just want something to keep drinks cool while you roll down the road Thermo units are a pretty good option. You do have to keep an eye on them or your soda will freeze if you are running the AC.
Click to expand...

you are right, I should have been more explicit and said instead that *for me* they are usually not worth bothering with. I actually have one but I'd rather not have to worry about the usual lack of temperature control or about the big drain on the battery when the engine is not running or about the mediocre cooling in high ambient temperatures. Of course, it's still better than nothing and they are nowhere as expensive as a real fridge so that's something.
 
This one is not real big but great for the food and items you don't want interacting with water. We have kids so packing for meals on the road is big expense and time saver. Also, I think this is going to be a big plus for our pontoon with a grill on board. As long as it doesn't break, I'll get my 89 bucks back in no time.

Btw- it also comes with a 12v plug in so you can use non car battery power to get everything pre-chilled or take the cooler into hotel for overnight stay.

Drinks in can/bottles get ice on them... no good substitute for ice cold beer.


And, I always try to search a thread that's already started before making a post. Makes the moderators happy. :~))
 
78 One owner said:
THere is a city in China named Usa, but product labels have the name capitalized.
Click to expand...

This is apparently a myth. There is an Usa in Japan however but I suspect if the fridge was made in Japan, it would be a major selling point to label it as such. No Usa in China though. There are several Chinas in the US.
 
jasonbraswell said:
This one is not real big but great for the food and items you don't want interacting with water. We have kids so packing for meals on the road is big expense and time saver. Also, I think this is going to be a big plus for our pontoon with a grill on board. As long as it doesn't break, I'll get my 89 bucks back in no time.

Btw- it also comes with a 12v plug in so you can use non car battery power to get everything pre-chilled or take the cooler into hotel for overnight stay.

Drinks in can/bottles get ice on them... no good substitute for ice cold beer.


And, I always try to search a thread that's already started before making a post. Makes the moderators happy. :~))
Click to expand...
You will probably be sad if you want to keep stuff cold on the pontoon in hot weather. The max you can get from a peltier junction(the gizmo that makes thermoelectric coolers work.) is about 40 degrees differential, so at 100 degrees your food will be 60 degrees, not safe for most meat, dairy or fish.
 
I was given one.

I supplement the weak cooling ability with a couple of gallon jugs of water frozen solid.

After a week of camping in 60 -70 degree weather the gallon jugs were still partially solid.
 
I picked up a used one for $25...not expecting it to be an ARB fridge, just a step up from ice-only cooler...will freeze some water bottles to mix in and should be worth the $25. Do hope to get a good ARB/Engel/Dometic at some point
 
See my recent thread on small fridge freezers in this forum.
 
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