Car cooler from cigarette lighter: choice, specifications

The car fridge from the cigarette lighter is a very useful device in the case of a trip to a picnic or summer cottage, and simply with long journeys by car it will not be superfluous. Not bad, when such a system does not take up much space, but keeps the products fresh and drinks cold not only during the trip itself, but also for a while upon arrival at the site.

Thermoelectric refrigerator in the car from the cigarette lighter

Portable cooling systems are of different types. The most suitable for use in a car is the so-called thermoelectric auto-refrigerator, reviews of many consumers about such models are positive. They are based on the Peltier effect, a thermoelectric phenomenon in which the separation or dissipation of heat occurs at the junction of two dissimilar conductors as electric currents pass through them. Such an automobile cooler from a cigarette lighter is a plastic container or a tissue bag. Such a system can work not only in the car, some models can additionally be connected to a household fixed network. Such an opportunity makes these devices universal. They are environmentally safe, noiseless and, unlike some types of portable refrigerators, are resistant to shaking. Ideal for Russian off-road.

Criteria for choosing a thermoelectric refrigerator: the main characteristics

First of all, you need to determine the required volume of the model. The thermoelectric refrigerator in the car from the cigarette lighter is basically designed for no more than 50 liters. For one family or a small company this is more than enough. When choosing a car cooler from a cigarette lighter, it is better to check how you can fill the proposed volume. It happens that with a seemingly decent size in the container does not fit even a two-liter bottle - neither vertically nor horizontally.

Next, you should think about what functions are necessary: only cooling or cooling and heating - there is also such a refrigerator from the cigarette lighter, the price for it is, of course, higher. But this model is very convenient, when after cooling the drinks you can heat up the dinner. The heating level is 60-70 ° C and the thermostat is monitored. Sometimes there are different cooling and heating modes: economy and mode with maximum load and speed.

It will never be superfluous to power the device not only from the car, but also from the household network.

The body material is usually plastic, but there are also fabric models. Plastic containers are easier to care for, but the fabric containers are folded and occupy a minimum of space in an empty state.

It is more practical to consider a plastic car cooler from a cigarette lighter. Users' testimonials indicate that devices with such a casing are quicker to cool products and retain their temperature longer after power outage than models made of fabric. Inside, plastic refrigerators can be additionally equipped with shelves for volume separation, recesses on the lid under plastic bottles.

The degree of cooling of car refrigerators is a characteristic that is highly dependent on the ambient temperature. Therefore, in the description of the model, it is stated how much lower the temperature "overboard" is capable of cooling this model. As a rule, this indicator varies within the limits of 10-20 ˚С. That is, if the ambient temperature is 25 ° C, then the products in the refrigerator will be cooled at best to 5 ° C.

Disadvantages of auto-refrigerators

One of the main disadvantages of car refrigerators is usually that after the power is turned off, the temperature in the container rises very quickly. The question is, how fast. In different models this parameter is expressed in different ways, but in general, after 2 hours, if the refrigerator is disconnected from the power supply, the temperature inside the container will be only 5-7 ° C lower than the temperature outside, and this fact must be taken into account. But if the model supports a way of feeding from a usual household network and upon arrival it is possible to connect a refrigerator to it, there will not be any problems at all.

Since cooling in such structures is rather slow, before putting food in the car fridge from the cigarette lighter, it's not superfluous to cool them. You can use an additional cold accumulator with saline solution inside.

Technical characteristics of thermoelectric coolers

The strength of the current consumed by the devices lies in the range from 4.5 to 8.5 A, which will not cause an overload of the car cigarette lighter. Power can be provided from the 12 V network and in some models from the 220 V network. The working element in thermoelectric refrigerators can be placed either on the lid or on one of the walls. Remember that you can not block the flow of air to it.

The compartments for the power cord are most often arranged in covers. Pay attention to the length of the cord, it depends on whether it will be possible to install the refrigerator in the back seat of the car without using an extension cord. To change the cooling mode to heating, and vice versa, you need to change the polarity when connecting the power cord. Installing refrigerators can usually be lid up, but some models allow vertical installation, in which case the lid becomes the door.

Features of the design of refrigerators: additional functions

In addition to the fact that the walls of the container can be plastic or fabric, some features of the refrigerator handle. It can be reclining and additionally be a lock that prevents the lid from opening when you carry it. Also, the functions of the handles sometimes make grooves on both sides of the case, in this case there is a snap-on or sliding lock on the body. The lid is necessarily equipped with a sealant, so it usually opens very tightly and in some models is compound - it's convenient when you need to get something small - you do not need to open the camera entirely, launching warm air.

The bottom is provided with a closing drainage port. Sometimes there are even wheels for transportation, in this case, a long handle is provided.

Cost

Many manufacturers of automotive refrigerators are on the market. Here are just some of them: Campingaz, Ezetil, Koolatron, Mystery, Waeco, Mobicool, Indel B. At the same time, the price range for thermoelectric refrigerators without exaggeration is the widest: literally from 3000 to 30,000 rubles, depending on the volume, functions and country- Manufacturer.

Choosing a car fridge from the cigarette lighter, reviews of other drivers about the model you need to carefully study, so as not to be disappointed in the purchase.