12 volt cooler

[David]

I am interested in buying a 12 volt cooler and would like to know what experinces anyone has had with these products. Also, any brand recommendations.

 

[Ron]

Great

The 12 volt cooler is great if you don't expect it to be a refrgerator. I think it cools to 40 degrees below the ambient temp and the power draw is somewhere around 4amp hours. We have a transformer so we can plug it into the AC power when we are at the dock. Then when we sail we just switch it to the DC cig. plug.The draw back it, it takes about five hours to cool it down from the start. We usually pack ours and plug it in the night before we head out. On the way to the marina we plug it into the car cig plug, etc.Coolman and Igloo are both good. I used one in an eighteen wheeler for 8 years. Shop around until you see one that come with the transformer and you will save yourself about $30/40 bucks. The coolers run between $60 and $100 dollars and will last forever. You can change the motor in them when you need to for about $20.... Good luck and cold beer.. Ron/KA5HZV

 

[Guest]

Great Deal at Walmart

Walmart currently has a great deal on a Coleman "Powerchill" 40 qt unit at $79.95 with an AC adapter. They had smaller units for about $35-$60, but the adapter was extra.I haven't used it on the boat yet and plan on using it in the minivan as well, but it worked well in a home test run. If you pre-chill everything and put in some "blue ice" you can improve it's efficiency.Remember that they run all the time, in contrast to a refrigerator, so the current draw is going to be significant.There are quite a few articles on these units in the archives (search on "thermoelectric").

 

[Aubrey]

Igloo's "cool"

I've got an Igloo. Works fine, but as mentioned by Ron it takes forever to cool down...just keep power on it all the time and you're golden. Also, won't hold much more than about 18 beers...not enough when you're with a bunch of Nawlins sailors!