Powering a cool-box
Discussion
I've got hold of a refrigerated cool box that works on a 12v cigarette lighter socket.
I was wondering how long it should last if I left it connected to a spare car battery? I don't really want to do an experiment cause it will knacker the battery once it's been discharged. FYI it says 48 watts on the cool box and I've got a spare battery off a diesel Fiesta (i.e quite big) Isn't there Ohm's law or some equation to work it out?
I'm not expecting miracles, just some slightly cooler beer than normal would be nice. Many thanks for your help!
I was wondering how long it should last if I left it connected to a spare car battery? I don't really want to do an experiment cause it will knacker the battery once it's been discharged. FYI it says 48 watts on the cool box and I've got a spare battery off a diesel Fiesta (i.e quite big) Isn't there Ohm's law or some equation to work it out?
I'm not expecting miracles, just some slightly cooler beer than normal would be nice. Many thanks for your help!
Hi mate,
I have a powered coolbox too. Also runs off the 12V cigarette lighter socket.
The box electronics have a safety function to monitor the voltage across the battery so to always leave enough charge to start the engine. The box cuts off when the voltage across terminals reaches a set value.
Then when you drive round, to Arnage/Mulsanne/Tetre Rouge, just plug it in and it'll chill the beers while recharging the battery. I did this last year, and it was miles better than the year before, which relied on melted ice bought in Blighty!!
I have a powered coolbox too. Also runs off the 12V cigarette lighter socket.
The box electronics have a safety function to monitor the voltage across the battery so to always leave enough charge to start the engine. The box cuts off when the voltage across terminals reaches a set value.
Then when you drive round, to Arnage/Mulsanne/Tetre Rouge, just plug it in and it'll chill the beers while recharging the battery. I did this last year, and it was miles better than the year before, which relied on melted ice bought in Blighty!!
48 Watts devided by 12 Volts = 4 Amps, have a look at the amp hour rating of you battery and devide it by 4 (the ampage you will draw) the answer is how long it will run.
I used to have one of these 12 volt jobbies but it was rarther feeble, I changed it for a gas/240v/12v one by Camping Gaz, its the mutts. No more flat batterys, runns on 240 volt in the garage the night before, 12 volts when travelling, then gas or 240 volts depending on what avalible when I arrive, just be carefull not to get the beer right on the very back of the fridge, it freezes!
No connection to me but found this one on Flea bay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAMPING-FRIDGE-
I used to have one of these 12 volt jobbies but it was rarther feeble, I changed it for a gas/240v/12v one by Camping Gaz, its the mutts. No more flat batterys, runns on 240 volt in the garage the night before, 12 volts when travelling, then gas or 240 volts depending on what avalible when I arrive, just be carefull not to get the beer right on the very back of the fridge, it freezes!
No connection to me but found this one on Flea bay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAMPING-FRIDGE-
Most coldboxes cool to 20 degrees below ambient temperature. Sooo.....if the temperature at LM is its normal 35/38 degrees the temperature inside your coldbox will be a lovely, bacteria cultivating 15/18 (forgetting the effect of it being in your plastic tent!!).
Don't bother it's not worth it. You need either a normal fridge and electric to run it or a 3 way fridge powered on gas (although the 3 way will be at about the limit of its capability in that temperature).
Otherwise read the other fridge thread for suggestions re coldboxes and ice.
Don't bother it's not worth it. You need either a normal fridge and electric to run it or a 3 way fridge powered on gas (although the 3 way will be at about the limit of its capability in that temperature).
Otherwise read the other fridge thread for suggestions re coldboxes and ice.
Piglet said:
Most coldboxes cool to 20 degrees below ambient temperature. Sooo.....if the temperature at LM is its normal 35/38 degrees the temperature inside your coldbox will be a lovely, bacteria cultivating 15/18 (forgetting the effect of it being in your plastic tent!!).
Don't bother it's not worth it. You need either a normal fridge and electric to run it or a 3 way fridge powered on gas (although the 3 way will be at about the limit of its capability in that temperature).
Otherwise read the other fridge thread for suggestions re coldboxes and ice.
Don't bother it's not worth it. You need either a normal fridge and electric to run it or a 3 way fridge powered on gas (although the 3 way will be at about the limit of its capability in that temperature).
Otherwise read the other fridge thread for suggestions re coldboxes and ice.
Yep, we also learned this the hard way a few years back, the temperature a small cooling fridge / coolbox cools below the current ambient temperature heavily outways the length of time you can run the bloody thing!!! Cos it's never gonna run cold!
Maybe a gas powered fridge is more what you're looking for??
I use the three way camping fridge, but don't keep it in the tent! However I would recommend chaining it to something! We only use a very lightweight chain, and it wouldn't take much to cut, but just stops any opportunists.
Basically it chills down overnight so the beer is nearly frozen in the morning, and then struggles to keep it cold all day!
Basically it chills down overnight so the beer is nearly frozen in the morning, and then struggles to keep it cold all day!
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