12v Cool boxes and fridge's
Discussion
I'm not sure if this should be in the camping section, but I want one for the car not for camping.
I'm looking for a 12v cool box or fridge. Has any one had much experience with these? It need to be fairly small so it can fit in the boot of an MX5. Ideally I would like one that has the capability to actually cool food and drinks, rather than just keep the cool, but I understand they have limited capabilities.
Fridges seem to be better than cool boxes, but are more expensive and seem to run on gas also. Do these work just as well on 12v as gas? I cant see me using the gas part and obviously you can't when the fridge is in the car.
I'm not sure how much I want to spend, it kind of depends how good they are.
I'm looking for a 12v cool box or fridge. Has any one had much experience with these? It need to be fairly small so it can fit in the boot of an MX5. Ideally I would like one that has the capability to actually cool food and drinks, rather than just keep the cool, but I understand they have limited capabilities.
Fridges seem to be better than cool boxes, but are more expensive and seem to run on gas also. Do these work just as well on 12v as gas? I cant see me using the gas part and obviously you can't when the fridge is in the car.
I'm not sure how much I want to spend, it kind of depends how good they are.
The 12V fridges which use a compressor (like a full-size fridge) will draw too much current for a cig socket, they're for boats and campers etc with a more consistent supply.
Some of the coolboxes can do quite a decent job of chilling drinks etc, but it takes quite a long time. To be honest I find using some ice in combo with the fridge is very effective.
Some of the coolboxes can do quite a decent job of chilling drinks etc, but it takes quite a long time. To be honest I find using some ice in combo with the fridge is very effective.
We used one camping at Spa. Caused the mother of all rows!
My dad left it plugged into the 12v socket on his focus all weekend turning it off at night, kept the food cold but flattened the battery. No problem, I'd thought this might happen so checked as we left if he had jump leads, yep he did so I left mine in my car as I transferred everything to his. Battery flat three days later, where's the leads? Not got mine with me. Eh????
The fridge was good though but take a spare battery or a way of charging, they are fine when on the move but can drain a good battery pretty quickly. My full size one would have to sit on its side in the mx5 boot but that's no big deal.
My dad left it plugged into the 12v socket on his focus all weekend turning it off at night, kept the food cold but flattened the battery. No problem, I'd thought this might happen so checked as we left if he had jump leads, yep he did so I left mine in my car as I transferred everything to his. Battery flat three days later, where's the leads? Not got mine with me. Eh????
The fridge was good though but take a spare battery or a way of charging, they are fine when on the move but can drain a good battery pretty quickly. My full size one would have to sit on its side in the mx5 boot but that's no big deal.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
I use one of these under the seat in my van and it does an excellent job of cooling drinks etc. Its in a pretty confined space with limited airflow to it and I was expecting it to struggle in summer but I'm very impressed with it.
I use one of these under the seat in my van and it does an excellent job of cooling drinks etc. Its in a pretty confined space with limited airflow to it and I was expecting it to struggle in summer but I'm very impressed with it.
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