Another plug for Halfords - currently their equivalent of the Waeco 35Lt 12v/Mains at half price - (49.99) and the mains adapter also at 12.49. You will see the apparently identical manufactured items for 99.99 and 26.49 on some of the assessory websites indicating that this is a great offer! They have two smaller coolers at similar reductions. May be time-limited so check the website before travelling!
Portable cooler/fridge
- Thread starter audiorob
- Start date
We were looking at Halfords and Harringtons Caravans yesterday and debating whether to get one.
When are/were Lidl selling them ?
When are/were Lidl selling them ?
Hi Robert,
From the title of your posting I an not sure you appreciate the difference between the 12V coolers and fridge. - Please forgive me if I am wrong - but,
There is a significant difference between the 12V coolers and a portable refrigerator. I have both and they each have their uses and duties.
The 12V coolers use a peltier chip, and they have quite limited ability. They need an external mains adaptor to allow them to run on mains power. Typically they can only produce about 15 to 18C difference between the inside of the box and the external ambient. In many cases this might be enough for a pic-nic, where it can be powered in the car during the journey and the noise from the fan can be tolerated for the duration. At the pic-nic site it can be unplugged and used just as a cool box. It can be more easily carried having handles and it is inherently lighter than the fridge box.
If you are looking for better performance, and with more power options, then there are portable refrigerators that use the same system as your caravan fridge are available. As you might expect they tend to cost more, but you have the option of 12V dc, 230V ac or gas, and superior cooling abilities
Both the cooler and the 12V circuit on the fridge use quite a lot of current, and so it is unlikely you could use them for long on battery only. They are really designed to be used when the car engine is running.
I use my multi-fuel fridge box when not on holiday I also use it at home to keep the weekly shop of milk, fruit juices, and beer chilled and ready to use.
From the title of your posting I an not sure you appreciate the difference between the 12V coolers and fridge. - Please forgive me if I am wrong - but,
There is a significant difference between the 12V coolers and a portable refrigerator. I have both and they each have their uses and duties.
The 12V coolers use a peltier chip, and they have quite limited ability. They need an external mains adaptor to allow them to run on mains power. Typically they can only produce about 15 to 18C difference between the inside of the box and the external ambient. In many cases this might be enough for a pic-nic, where it can be powered in the car during the journey and the noise from the fan can be tolerated for the duration. At the pic-nic site it can be unplugged and used just as a cool box. It can be more easily carried having handles and it is inherently lighter than the fridge box.
If you are looking for better performance, and with more power options, then there are portable refrigerators that use the same system as your caravan fridge are available. As you might expect they tend to cost more, but you have the option of 12V dc, 230V ac or gas, and superior cooling abilities
Both the cooler and the 12V circuit on the fridge use quite a lot of current, and so it is unlikely you could use them for long on battery only. They are really designed to be used when the car engine is running.
I use my multi-fuel fridge box when not on holiday I also use it at home to keep the weekly shop of milk, fruit juices, and beer chilled and ready to use.
Another snag is that the present generation of cool boxes don't have thermostats and can freeze the contents if left running outside and overnight.
The early models from halfords did have a thermostat or at least a freeze prevention switch, but this seems to have been "designed out"
If anyone knows of a cool box with such a switch I'd like to hear about it, as i've ruined enough salad stuff to pay for a new one.
The early models from halfords did have a thermostat or at least a freeze prevention switch, but this seems to have been "designed out"
If anyone knows of a cool box with such a switch I'd like to hear about it, as i've ruined enough salad stuff to pay for a new one.
I agree with the comment regarding the difference between collers and fridges.
Most coolers as stated reduce the temp by up to 20 dgrees C. That is fine in cold Britiain where the ambient may reach 20 degrees C, but in the Med where it can hit 35 degrees then the cooler is not going to keep food fresh too long at 15 degrees inside the box. There you definitely need the fridge and preferably a compressor type.
The only good point about the coler is carrying the cold stuff home from the supermarket
Most coolers as stated reduce the temp by up to 20 dgrees C. That is fine in cold Britiain where the ambient may reach 20 degrees C, but in the Med where it can hit 35 degrees then the cooler is not going to keep food fresh too long at 15 degrees inside the box. There you definitely need the fridge and preferably a compressor type.
The only good point about the coler is carrying the cold stuff home from the supermarket
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