Cooling Box Question

[RS_rob]

Right before I ask let me point out that I am aware of if I plug my cooling box in I will flatten my battery in an hour.
I had to post that as I am aware of what responses I would receive from the tech heads.......

OK so I am on EHU & I have a solar panel on the roof, I have never flattened my single Battery.
So.......
How long could I run my cooling if I plugged it in, could I run it indefinitely or given that I am on EHU & enjoying great sunshine still risk flattening my battery.

TIA

 

[138go]

So you are on mains hookup with solar as well. Plugging in a cool box will not flatten the battery as it is being charged by your charger and solar as well.

Don't know the wattage of cool box but if its on the box divide it by 12 to get the amps that it is consuming. So if its 48w its using 4 amps.

 

[prb]

That is the power of your solar panel and your cooling box? What other hotel load is there? It's a basic input/output equation.

 

[Northernraider]

You not got a fridge then

 

[wasp]

I got a cool box and it eats power out of the batteries even with the solar panel, so much so, that I have disconnected it. If we on hookup it’s fine but the batteries on their own cany cope

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[tacr2man]

Absorption type cool boxes are only suitable for use with engine running or with very large solar and /or very large battery capacity or on EHU . 12v compressor type are much more viable and also much more expensive .

 

[Lenny HB]

I was using a large cool box that takes 4 amps last weekend, just ran it durring the day to keep beer cool, just relying on solar & batteries never got below 89%. I have 234a/h of gel batteries and 300 watts of solar panels, fridge was also running for a couple of hours a day on 12v switched by my Votronic solar regulator.

 

[Feltwell]

To the OP:-

Unless you have a ridiculous size coolbox and a very puny power supply, whilst on hookup you should be fine to run it continuously, even without any solar.

I had a thermoelectric type cheap coolbox, and thought I'd try it in the van - we hardly ever have hookup. Middle of summer, lots of sunshine, but not the world's biggest solar panel (120W I think) feeding 200ah of batteries. The coolbox running continuously 24 hours a day was just a bit more than the solar could cope with - after 5 days ( with no driving) the batteries were getting low.

I've now swapped to a compressor type coolbox - much better unit, even managed to keep ice creams frozen & almost as hard as in the freezer at home for over 12 hours in a stinking hot minibus on a Scout trip last week. Not cheap though. However I got it thinking that the power consumption would be much better - so far the jury is out, it got my batteries low after a couple of days in reasonable but not blazing UK sunshine.

We will see how it fares on my trip to France starting next week. I have a feeling I'll be looking to upgrade my solar - more expense and all for some cold pop to drink!

Yes, we have a fridge, and a decent size one compared to many vans - but with 5 of us in the van it's always full - hence why a compressor coolbox to sit between the cab seats and keep soft drinks cold is a very nice luxury to have!

 

[busby]

I can run my Domestic compressor freeze/cold box for at least a night on one leisure battery without solar or ehc,,,BUSBY,,,

 

[Emmit]

I had the embarrassment of having a Battery as Flat as a F&rt when trying to leave the Bilbao ferry after leaving the coolbox plugged in.

We were in an 'All Singing and Dancing' Audi and my shame was compounded by being given a 'Jump Star't by the most battered, rusty Dagenham Dustbin that was driven onto the Ship after everyone had left.

Lesson learned.

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[tacr2man]

The compressor type are far more power light than the absorption type , and far more efficient in high temps . It is also a good move to fit a insulation jacket in high temps . I have a Australian made
twin compressor Evakool It works well even in 45C . Other good makes are Engel, ARB, there is a lot more choice as you would expect in such a climate . http://www.portablefridgesonline.com.au/

 

[SpeedyDux]

The cheap Peltier effect coolboxes only reduce the temperature inside by a limited amount compared to outside temperature, so in a heatwave they are pretty useless.

A compressor type can even act as a freezer. Way more efficient.