Electric Cool Box

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Capt_Scarlet

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Just been to Woolworths, and seen an electric cool box - I assume based on a peltier effect device, with fan assistance.

No info on current consumption, or performance.

Best bit is - only £27.95.

I suspect that it is not very good, but as I don't have a boat fridge, I thought it might be better than the conventional cool box that I currently use.

Anybody had any experience of these cool boxes?


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There is an article in this months PBO on fridges, and the downside of the Peltier units.

As they run continuously, there is a big drain on batteries. Not so bad on motor boats, but a killer on sailing boats.

I fitted a Peltier cooling unit into my coolbox. It has not been a real success. Yes, it does cool it down a bit, with a boost when the engine is running, but, as I said, it does run almost continuously, so I don't use it a lot. An expensive mistake.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip
 
most have a device that cuts them off when the voltage drops - in my case that means that when the engine is running it's OK but when it stops it cuts out. This means that the unit is useless at anchor but doesn't risk my battery power! Overall they cool pretty well and are particularily good for car journeys -> boat days.
Best however for day boating/overnighting , IMHO, is a really well insulated cool box with lots of freezer blocks.

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I bought one of these a couple of years ago. I forget the actual number but the current draw is high. Where I find it useful is keeping stuff cold in the car on the way to the boat and having it on when motoring or on shore power. It is pretty useless in cooling down beer, for instance, but it certainly helps in keeping it cold for a longer time. I paid about 30 quid and still think it was a good buy.

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I have been using one for years, bought fron Currys for about £30, I purchased a Colmans 240v/12v power supply from the Calor Gas stand at Soton Boast Show a few years ago and use that when shore power is available.

I agree it is a big drain on the battery but I only use it when I'm motoring, which when I'm cruising is usualy 1 hour in the morning leaving port and 1 hour in evening entering port/anchorage. I have a two battery, manualy switched, 12v system and have not had a problem. It's all down to good managment.

<hr width=100% size=1>The only way to go is by water
 
I use one of these cool box`es on my small yatch, great. plug it in the car on the way down to the boat. uses about 5 amps but change the lid to the ordanary one when not on the electric as it works both ways, the fan will run when unpluged as the cold is converted to electricity!

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I have a Coleman one.Draws 4 amps so I only use it when engine is running.It is useful to load at home run off the ciggy socket in the car on the way to the boat.I freeze the milk/drinks at home before I put them in the box.It works O.K.for me.

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I bought a similar device from Lidl last year.Got fed up with the box getting in the way so removed lid ( all the working bits are in the lid ) and cut it to fit lid of boat ice box.Plumbed in a lighter socket nearby and use it only when engine running or when on shore power ( it came with 12 volt transformer ) Works well but I would not like to run it without engine on because I am concerned about battery drain.We intend going through the canals to the Med next year so we hope we will be able to run it for long periods.When we get there we will look at what other liveaboards are doing before considering fitting a pukka fridge.

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The Peltier unit when conected to electric power takes heat from one side and transfers it to the other, one side gets hot the other cold. If one side is hot and the other is cold it will indeed produce an electric current which could be used to charge a battery! and that is why when it is unpluged the fan in the lid will run for a while. The hole point of this is when you unpug the cool box change the lid.

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Duncan thanks for the input re buying a fridge before we go.We really would like to see what the established liveaboards are doing in the Med before we make a decision.Our current setup is v.Heath Robinson but it works for us.We have just come out of a very expensive refit which means funds are limited.If we go for a fridge we could be looking at a 3rd battery with smart regulator,upgraded alternator and solar panels to make it run.I would hate to do all that now only to talk to someone in a marina in Spain and find out that there is a better/cheaper way.We may find we can run quite happily with ice from marinas/shops as we have done in the past on charter trips in the Med but as these were for relatively short periods it is not possible to form a definite opinion.As long as we are using the engine a lot or have access to shore power our current system works ok.During our trip through the canals it should be all right and our funds will be in a healthier state when we get to the Med - I hope!

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we bought one from Woolies this spring, though it was a bit more expensive than that. It's not the greatest fridge in the world, but will keep thing already chilled cold. It's not great at cooling warm stuff though.

Current draw is pretty heavy - 4 to 6 amps I think, the one we have switches on and off according to temperature inside.

The best way to run them I have found is if your off a decent power source, eg motor or shore power, dump some ice or frozen freezer packs in the bottom and use it as an ice chest. You find the fan doesn't kick in as much.

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ive got one too, an eskimo (usa) great if you run it in the car while motoring but will flatten the car battery in 1.5 hrs if not running. best use is to ferry stuff from home to the coast
stu

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will be interesting to see, mine is a few years old now but was bloody expensive at the time, about 120 quid if i remember right, its got that funny metal in it that gets hot with voltage one way and cold the other + a fan. it draws that much that it shagged the caravan 12v power transformer and i ended up buying a mains adapter for it.
keep us posted
stu

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I have a large chest version, before i go I freeze a gallon bottle of spring water, and pack it at home, and it normally lasts for about 2 days before i need to plug it in.

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We bought one several years ago and took it back 'cos it didn't cool enough. Recently bought Coleman and used on 5-day cruise. Excellent for keeping beer etc cold, but if starting from room temp, takes time to get temp down. We were running it underway and under shore power, but wld think if at anchor need to watch batt drain. In short, highly recommended.

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I borrowed one....

..of these cheap peltier-boxes from a friend while I was rebuilding and changing compressor in my fridge.

It needed about 5 A continiously, but I was staying on shore power during this period so the large drain was no problem. But it would be if out sailing or at anchor.

The funny thing was, it had no means for regulating the effect, so what it tried to do all the time was to lower the ambient temperature about 12 degrees.
So when hot, it barely cooled at all, but during cold nights the contents in the box did freeze.

So several mornings the milk was frozen solid, and several afternoons the beer was luke-warm....

So I´m happy that my regular fridge is back in business - with a new keel-cooled compressor, using less than 1 Ah instead of 5, and keeping +5 degrees - regardless of ambient temperature

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