Thermoelecric coolers

[AlphaKap]

Has anyone used a thermoelectric cooler in their boat? I know @Bruce installed a full blown fridge but that's probably beyond what I would take on.

I bought a Cooluli 20q cooler for the bedroom to keep cold water. Comes on Thursday so no idea how well it will work. I know they only do about 40 below ambient temperature which is fine in the house which is usually around 75.

There are a lot of other form factors (some like traditional coolers) and maybe something that would fit in the head area. Not sure how warm that gets in the summer.

I think I read somewhere that they get colder when using AC vs. DC so maybe would need to use an inverter.

Or maybe it's just not worth trying.

 

[njmr2fan]

They work well. I picked one up at Goodwill, and only had to buy the cord for it. We load it up with cold drinks and any food that needs to stay cold and plug it in the truck to re-chill everything on the way to the ramp. Once on the water, we again plug it in during our boating until we hit out beach and then it's good for hours. Ours is an old Coleman.

 

[Rick215HO]

I have a Dometic CFX28 cooler for almost two years now (plugs both on AC and DC) I always use it on DC mode when its on the boat. It works great and has taken many beatings and salt on the boat, solid construction. I have never used ice again, beverages and snacks are always cool. It has deep freezing power too. I would highly recommend but its on the pricier side of things... Since its stand alone I use it in the garage plugged on AC when I'm not boating.

 

[drewkaree]

they work well. I picked one up at Goodwill, bought the cord for it and chill everything on the way to the ramp. We plug it in on the lake crossing until we hit out beach and then it's good for hours. Ours is an old Coleman

Sounds like my story! It's got a nice 12V plug, so we've used it in the car on some trips. Our experience is that it'll do a decent job, but it feels like it's being taxed if you're asking it to cool something down. I'll definitely give it a shot on the boat this year (what do I have to lose, right?), but my thought is that it's gonna be better used to keep food at refrigerated temps, and we'll have ice in a second cooler for drinks.

 

[AlphaKap]

I have a Dometic CFX28 cooler for almost two years now (plugs both on AC and DC) I always use it on DC mode when its on the boat. It works great and has taken many beatings and salt on the boat, solid construction. I have never used ice again, beverages and snacks are always cool. It has deep freezing power too. I would highly recommend but its on the pricier side of things... Since its stand alone I use it in the garage plugged on AC when I'm not boating.

Those work on compressors so much more expensive. But they look really nice.

I can't help but think the several hundred or so bags of ice would have paid for something like this.

 

[Dean P]

I have seriously contemplating getting the one @Bruce has. But, it's not cheap. I am! I've been trying to find one I can swing but...still looking.

Check Amazon for other brands and alternatives. Great site to discover and compare.

 

[rkgdmd]

Hey @Rick215HO ....os that Dometic about the same size as the cooler that comes with the boat? Just wondering if it would fit in the same space beneath the seat on my 242.

 

[njmr2fan]

Sounds like my story! It's got a nice 12V plug, so we've used it in the car on some trips. Our experience is that it'll do a decent job, but it feels like it's being taxed if you're asking it to cool something down. I'll definitely give it a shot on the boat this year (what do I have to lose, right?), but my thought is that it's gonna be better used to keep food at refrigerated temps, and we'll have ice in a second cooler for drinks.

Sorry, Upon re-reading maybe I didn't state that quite right. We have cold drinks from the fridge that we place into the cooler along with any food that needs to stay cool. So everything starts out fridge cold. We plug the cooler into the truck while driving to the ramp which then refrigerates the cooler and it's contents. We don't typically put warm drinks in it. We also plug it in during our boating time. It can sit unpowered for a few hours and remain cold inside.

 

[Matt Phillips]

I have a small one I use for trips to/from the lake in the car. It does great with that.

I have some friends who have a larger one they use for the same purpose. Their cooler only keeps a temp about 30 less than ambient temp which on a hot day can make for some warm drinks.

As an alternative, I Freeze Gatorade bottles in the Fridge (only do so in the upright position) and use them for Ice in the cooler. They are reusable and no ice to deal with. As a bonus, I can drink from one out on the lake and it'll stay cold for up to an hour or so on a hot day.

 

[BigPapiBT]

I have a Dometic CFX28 cooler for almost two years now (plugs both on AC and DC) I always use it on DC mode when its on the boat. It works great and has taken many beatings and salt on the boat, solid construction. I have never used ice again, beverages and snacks are always cool. It has deep freezing power too. I would highly recommend but its on the pricier side of things... Since its stand alone I use it in the garage plugged on AC when I'm not boating.

Do you leave it plugged in when anchored (battery off)? I was looking at these but wondering if I wanted a backup battery source to not run it down.

 

[Rick215HO]

Do you leave it plugged in when anchored (battery off)? I was looking at these but wondering if I wanted a backup battery source to not run it down.

Yes, I do have it permanently on (house battery). I have two batteries in the boat, and I also have a NOCO jump starter with me for emergencies. That being said, the cooler has a voltage detector that will shut down the cooler if the voltage falls below a level you can program (three settings I think). I never had a problem.