Aldi cool box and power consumption

[MoodySabre]

Aldi Sunday specials have a 12v/230v coolbox for £29.99. If I go and see what the power consumption is then it will probably state that watts. How do I convert this to Ah?

 

[ccscott49]

You can convert watts to a mps, by dividing the watts by the voltage. Multiply the amps by the number of hours you have it on, thats the AH. But of course, it wont be on, all the time, it will cycle on and off. I would be interested to know what type of coolbox it is, peltier or compressor, at 29.99 I suspect peltier, with it's inherent limitations.

 

[MoodySabre]

Thanks - it's bound to have limitations for £29.99 but for short trips, often plugged into marina power, it might be useful. I appreciate that a Waeco for £143 might be slightly better!

 

[VicS]

It'll probably draw about 4 amps. My Lidl one does. Thats 48 watts since volts (12) X amps = watts.

If they give the power in watts then divide by 12 to get the current in amps.

Multiply the current in amps by the number of hours you will be using it and you get the consumption in Ah.

They are not themostatically controlled so they run all the time. so that means in 24 hours mine will take 24 x 4 = 96Ah.

They use a lot of juice and they are not that good. The cheaper they are the worse they are and £30 is cheap. Good for keeping the picnic stuff ccol in the car for a few hours but no good for long term use because of the power drain on the battery.

 

[pappaecho]

I as wondering if it were possible to fit a thermostat so that the power consumption was reduced. Any ideas?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
it will cycle on and off.

[/ QUOTE ] Oh no it wont. It'll be on all the time

Almost certainly a Peltier element at that price

Mine is supposed to maitain 20C below ambient but i doubt if it will.

 

[whiteoaks7]

The "secret" to good fridges is how well insulated they are. If you can build your coolbox into a well insulated hole and then get the heat out it can work well. I used to have a home made Peltier fridge with a 60W Peltier device that would maintain a couple of cubic feet at below the 4C line with acceptable current draw, but the insulation was three inches of polystyrene and the heat went into the sea. I have to say I wouldn't do it this way again though!

 

[halcyon]

At the moment I am fitting a coolbox to our boat.
It will have an extra 2 inch insulation, a thermostat, and ducted cool input air. Then by filling it with pre-chilled food and / or freezer packs, we will see what power it uses.

Brian

 

[mainmarine]

You could probably use a timer to limit battery drain. when not on mains power.

 

[pcatterall]

We used a peltier type for 2 years in our camper, it was ok within its limitations ( power consumption and cooling ability)
We had decided to bite the bullet and go for a Waeco 35 but are concerned about the weight (15 kg plus contents seems qite heavy for lifting on and off the boat or car boot??)

 

[William_H]

Yes Pete it is very likely that you will find it too heavy to move around much. You will probably end up with a polystyrene insulated box to take frozen or cold food to the boat. The compressor type fridge will cool down quickly when empty so no probs there.
Your alternative is to just use an insulated box and put in bottles of frozen water or drink that will last quite a long time with good insulation. Both IMHO better than peltier type cool boxes. olewill