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- Feb 24, 2010
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So while in Halfords over the weekend, I saw they had a special on the coolers.
Before you all roll your eyes and shoot me, here's why I bought one:
- They are cheap (£70 IIRC on special) for a 40L jobbie.
- They cool to 16 below ambient (last I checked, this was England and I'm hear most of the time so...)
- It's bloody large for the price.
I really was not expecting a lot from it and made sure that I could return it if I am not happy.
Boy, was I surprised at....how cr@p it is.
It can be plugged into 240 or 12 with supplied leads. The room where it stands was a cool 21-22C. With this in mind, I was expecting 22-16 = 6C. Let's be pessimistic and go for 10c.
Stocked with beer (from fridge), a couple of of 2L water bottles from tap (cold water) I stood back and watched the digital thermometer do nothing. A couple of taps on the LCD (Hey, works in the movies) and still nothing.
A full 24 hours later the contents had cooled and in the case of the beer, warmed, to 12C. No further would it go. In about 3 hours it had gone from 22 to.......20. Rock on.
I unplugged it this morning before leaving for work (around 7) and when I got home (around 7) it was at 16C. So, once "cold" it keeps its contents, err, tepid. In fairness, the room where it stands gets a log of sun (though it was in the shade) during the day. To loose 4 degrees in 12 hours is not that bad?
Having a look at the Peltier (gismo that makes it cold) it is pretty small. I've got a couple which are about twice the size and get bloody cold.
Maybe the smaller 'boxes work better due to volume?
So, if you are planning a 24 hour trip in the UK, with the aircon on in the car, and would like a mildly cold can of coke when you arrive, you're in luck.
Anything else, walk away.
Another bad point about it is the power consumption. 45W @ 12V is pretty hefty for not very much effect. You'll kill your batteries pretty quickly with it.
After Lincomb, this will be returned to halfords.
For not much more (in multiples
) I can get a NL, Engel or Waeco...
If you were ever wondering, like I was, "maybe it's not that bad?" - it is. Don't buy one (The Halfords one at least)
Market research to continue...
Before you all roll your eyes and shoot me, here's why I bought one:
- They are cheap (£70 IIRC on special) for a 40L jobbie.
- They cool to 16 below ambient (last I checked, this was England and I'm hear most of the time so...)
- It's bloody large for the price.
I really was not expecting a lot from it and made sure that I could return it if I am not happy.
Boy, was I surprised at....how cr@p it is.
It can be plugged into 240 or 12 with supplied leads. The room where it stands was a cool 21-22C. With this in mind, I was expecting 22-16 = 6C. Let's be pessimistic and go for 10c.
Stocked with beer (from fridge), a couple of of 2L water bottles from tap (cold water) I stood back and watched the digital thermometer do nothing. A couple of taps on the LCD (Hey, works in the movies) and still nothing.
A full 24 hours later the contents had cooled and in the case of the beer, warmed, to 12C. No further would it go. In about 3 hours it had gone from 22 to.......20. Rock on.
I unplugged it this morning before leaving for work (around 7) and when I got home (around 7) it was at 16C. So, once "cold" it keeps its contents, err, tepid. In fairness, the room where it stands gets a log of sun (though it was in the shade) during the day. To loose 4 degrees in 12 hours is not that bad?
Having a look at the Peltier (gismo that makes it cold) it is pretty small. I've got a couple which are about twice the size and get bloody cold.
Maybe the smaller 'boxes work better due to volume?
So, if you are planning a 24 hour trip in the UK, with the aircon on in the car, and would like a mildly cold can of coke when you arrive, you're in luck.
Anything else, walk away.
Another bad point about it is the power consumption. 45W @ 12V is pretty hefty for not very much effect. You'll kill your batteries pretty quickly with it.
After Lincomb, this will be returned to halfords.
For not much more (in multiples
) I can get a NL, Engel or Waeco...If you were ever wondering, like I was, "maybe it's not that bad?" - it is. Don't buy one (The Halfords one at least)
Market research to continue...
