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is this possible without a huge amount of DIY? I've a decent passive coolbox, and we're heading camping in france, where we'll have power both in the car and at our pitch. It'd be handy to be able to get the coolbox to cool itself rather than have to buy a bag of ice every couple of days. You can buy cheapish electric coolboxes, I'd prefer to just add the electrical stuff to my existing coolbox, but I don't know what I need to search for to do this...
'electric coolboxes' use Peltier cells.
power in = heat on one side/cool on the other side.
See also stove fans, heat on one side / cool on the other = power out
Compressor fridges are small versions of domestic fridges. We have a Waeco/Dometic 40litre and it's brilliant.....but they are expensive nowadays.
The 12v fridge compressors I've seen are considerably more expensive than a whole Alpicool or similar.
Alpicool are on offer on Amazon (if you have prime), the 20 litre we have is £140 and works great.
My dad modified a passive coolbox years ago using a peltier cell, before electric coolboxes were even a thing using a couple of CPU heatsinks and fans, cutting a hole in the original lid and screwing it all back together. Looks like nowadays you can buy a kit with all the parts online for much less than the cost of a commercially made active coolbox
Search for "DIY peltier cooler 12v"
As above, I really wouldn't bother, yes you could DIY it but Alpicool proper fridge so much better than even a powered coolbox in every way!
You'd probably want some kind of hookup -> 12v converter though as I don't think they run off mains voltage.
Lidl in Germany recently had 12v cool boxes for about 30€. For that amount of money I doubt it makes sense to DIY one yourself.
We've a Weaco 90l compressor fridge-freezer in few van that cools down to - 22°C. It's efficient, but they're an expensive option if you only need it whilst on the journey.
+1 for getting a compressor car fridge. Bonus is that if you have people round for a party / BBQ you can use it as extra fridge/freezer space. Doubt you'll DIY it cheaper unless you use a peltier element which are useless anyway. A compressor one gets to -18 or so in 30 minutes.
As above, I really wouldn’t bother, yes you could DIY it but Alpicool proper fridge so much better than even a powered coolbox in every way!
Except the fact the compressor fridges are 5x the price (as far as I can tell). That's one area where they are significantly worse. I swear half the time people on STW have no concept that people might not have £300 lying around doing nothing.
£132 for the cheapest Alpicool on Amazon right now 🤷♂️
yes, you might not be able to afford it, in which case just use a normal insulated cool box with ice. The “powered” options are so crap in comparison they’re just a waste of money/resources.
£132 for the cheapest Alpicool on Amazon right now
Yeah I checked, doesn't mention a compressor though, the ones that do are £250.
I've got a cheap peltier one, it's not crap at all.
Could just buy one fo these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-Hobbs-RHTTLF1B-Energy-Rating/dp/B00FLTE8OE/ref=asc_df_B00FLTE8OE/
I've got a quest 3 way fridge and its great even in really hot weather. Although I'm not taking it to Spain as you can hire an actual fridge freezer to be brought to the pitch! We get 2 between 9 of us!!
Edit: This is only £60, get 2!! https://www.currys.co.uk/products/essentials-ctt50w20-mini-fridge-white-10205742.html?
I ripped out the camper interior in my T5 last year and have been trying to make do with sub-standard ways of keeping food/beer cool since then so taken advantage of Prime day and bought a 45l Alpicool box down from £240ish to £188. Considering a similar sized Waeco CRX50 is about £600 these day I thought that was decent.
Ice boxes are a faff even if you shell out for a Yeti or something.
The halfway house ones that only cool to ~18 below the outside temperature are obviously only good if the weather isn't warmer than 20 degrees AND they eat leccy.
I've got this one it was 120 quid https://www.amazon.co.uk/Camping-Freezer-Electric-Portable-Refrigerator/dp/B0BVDQV4DF Made some ice lollies in it at the weekend with the kids.
the reason I'd prefer to use our existing cooler is its a lot bigger than most of those (65l) and we make a lot of use of it when off-grid as well as on grid. A similar size powered cooler would be £300. My figuring is even if a peltier cooler was a bit rubbish, it'd help keep things cool in our box (its got great insulation) vs using ice.. but it seems like those coolers are 1-piece - I can't detatch the cooling element from the fan/power (as I want one on the inside and one on the outside of the cooler)..
The trouble with the peltier is it will require you to cut though the insulation a peltier is based on a crystal I seem to remember so you can't have one but I side insulation and one out maintaining the insulation like you an with a condenser and rad with a compressor based system. Other alternative is a small 240 fridge for like a drinks one for when you get there and a small passive or peltier for the journey.