Electric Coolers

We've been using our 50 qt ARB fridge/freezer for years in 3 different rvs. It's currently in the basement of our 5th wheel and runs 24/7. No issues.

Closer to $800 when I bit the bullet for a large Dometic model. It has handles, a reversible lid, 12 volts or 110, does not have any external fins, is extremely rugged, cools very fast, can be used as a freezer, and worth the money for us when we went full time.

Thanks for the explanation. I can see where the 12V would be great to have.

austinjenna wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:



gee, a $500 cooler works better than a $69 one. who'd of thunk it.
bumpy


But does it work better than yer similar-size basic hundred dollar "dorm type" fridge/freezer? link to one

Now that we're talkin' compressor units: except for the fact that one is upright and one is chest-style how do these differ?

I am kind of wondering the same question myself. My outdoor kitchen on the fiver has about the same fridge as in your link and it works excellent so I dont know why I would spend 500 on one, can someone help me understand the difference.

Closer to $800 when I bit the bullet for a large Dometic model. It has handles, a reversible lid, 12 volts or 110, does not have any external fins, is extremely rugged, cools very fast, can be used as a freezer, and worth the money for us when we went full time.

Franchesca, the cheap dorm-type reefers don't have the high-efficiency type compressors, and usually won't run off 12V as well as 120V. Most aren't specifically designed to withstand the vibrations of travel, either. The high-dollar compressor types use a much more efficient motor and compressor, and the compressor & gas plumbing are designed more ruggedly.

The big advantages of either type compared to a 3-way are that they cool quicker, and can run off-level. A lot of them used a computer-type muffin fan to improve heat rejection.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

Bumpyroad wrote:



gee, a $500 cooler works better than a $69 one. who'd of thunk it.
bumpy


But does it work better than yer similar-size basic hundred dollar "dorm type" fridge/freezer? link to one

Now that we're talkin' compressor units: except for the fact that one is upright and one is chest-style how do these differ?

I am kind of wondering the same question myself. My outdoor kitchen on the fiver has about the same fridge as in your link and it works excellent so I dont know why I would spend 500 on one, can someone help me understand the difference.

Bull Rider wrote:
Bumpy.

If I ever get back your way, I'm going to track you down....


and buy you a beer. Your dry sense of humor and short acerbic responses crack me up. Maybe I will buy you several beers... :-)


Best regards.

thanks, make that Coronas
bumpy

jake2250 wrote:
Let me just throw this out there,, I am not naming any specific company or brand,, but being in the business,, these early brands of Thermoelectric coolers were at the center of allot of investigations... vehicle and structure.. NOT POINTING BLAME AT ALL!!
Just personnel observations,, These are NOT meant to replace full time units and consume CONSTANT power (12V), They do as advertised,, but get very hot!!! Some are still in service today if used properly.. But again,,focus has been on a few in the past,, be sure to follow manufactures directions and recommendations!!

That's one reason along with not having the fins frost over that I have mine on a 110V plug in power supply and that is on a timer that I have to cycle every 6 to 12 hours for 1/2 to 1 hour off. When traveling w/o 110 I plug it directly into 12V, but that is for less than 12 hours anyway.

I also installed a programmable T-stat, but it generally never shuts the unit off so it's sort of useless.

Larry

Let me just throw this out there,, I am not naming any specific company or brand,, but being in the business,, these early brands of Thermoelectric coolers were at the center of allot of investigations... vehicle and structure.. NOT POINTING BLAME AT ALL!!
Just personnel observations,, These are NOT meant to replace full time units and consume CONSTANT power (12V), They do as advertised,, but get very hot!!! Some are still in service today if used properly.. But again,,focus has been on a few in the past,, be sure to follow manufactures directions and recommendations!!

We have a Dometic camp mobile refridge. It's a 12v/120v/lp. Uses the 1# cylinders. It's what we used when we had the tent trailer. Works great. It also had a little ice cube tray. Its mainly for the sodas and beer. Sold the trailer but kept the camp fridge.

Francesca
I have at least 3 thermoelectric coolers that work well for keeping drinks cold, even in high temps they do ok…
I also have 2 dorm sized fridge/freezer units and they also work great… but they don’t have much of a freezer and the fridge is cooled by gravity of the cold freezer air… they work good but not great… and I have a dorm sized commercial fridge with an ice maker… it works really well as a fridge and makes ice pretty fast with a big ice storage hopper the keeps the ice frozen…

I don’t have one of the fridge freezers mentioned but know a few that do, and they seem to work better as either a fridge or a freezer in regard to quicker cool down and more steady temp hold…
They are too expensive but I think they are worth the price if you really need and use it…
I should have bought one of them instead of the last 2 thermoelectric I bought… the third thermoelectric is small and kept in the car and I use it often for drinks and medical purposes…



EDIT:

I forgot one time I needed more freezer space for an extended stay and I bought an old dorm fridge/ freezer at a flea market and removed the freezer door to allow the freezer air to better circulate… it worked to keep everything (pre-frozen) in the fridge frozen for the duration… it wasn't cold enough to keep ice-cream rock hard though, but it didn’t thaw either… it was well worth the $15 investment…


.