Making a 12V Cooler

[StandUpGuy]

So in my quest to find the perfect electric refrigeration solution to my TTT, I have formulated an idea, a question really. Its this:

How about making a custom 12V cooler?

In my research on the subject I came across this document:

http://electronickits.com/kit/complete/ ... /ck500.pdf


So Here is what I am thinking. I need a very narrow cooler that gets to around 40 or less in my indoor air conditioned trailer. It does not need to be very large. I was thinking I could mount the peltier device so that the hot sink side of the unit was outside and the cold part inside my cooler. I could hard wire the AC converter. Even if the electrothermal cooling device is not so powerful, it could be OK as long as the cooler was super insulated. Top loading would hold the cold in better than front loading.

So what do you think?

[StandUpGuy]

Here is a link to a 70 watt peltier cooling assembly.



http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=15312+PM

[StandUpGuy]

I have formulated a little test plan of sorts to dip my toes in the water a little on this one. I am going to buy a used 12v auto cooler tomorrow. Sure it is small but it will give me a little bit of an idea of how these things work. I can test it for a couple of days in different conditions. I can see how it cools down in the air conditioned house. I can see how long it takes to cool down and what kind of minimum temp it reaches. I can then test it in the hot garage in the same fashion.

[mikeschn]

Thermoelectric left a bad taste in my mouth when I tried it a few years back.

You can probably do a search on thermoelectric, and find our threads on it...

Mike...

[StandUpGuy]

Thermoelectric left a bad taste in my mouth when I tried it a few years back.

You can probably do a search on thermoelectric, and find our threads on it...

Mike...

I am guessing you used the electric cooler in the galley of your TD? They can only cool down relative to the ambient air temperature I understand.

Also I have looked at the actual plastic boxes of these coolers in the store today. Basically they suck just like a cheap regular ice cooler does.

[mikeschn]

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... moelectric

[StandUpGuy]

I read the linked comments and it relates negative in ways that do not apply to me. I am not using it in temps over 80 degrees. I am not concerned about bringing food home. I am not concerned so much about food in general really. But I understand the negatives and that is why I will experiement with a cheap used unit first. I was also thinking I could strip the components from the used unit and instal them in a super insulated unit I would make.

[eamarquardt]

I bought one of the 12 volt coolers at a garage sale and found it to be slightly less than useless.

Here is something that would be really cool:

http://www.freeportmarine.com/products/NORSCQT-4407

As I understand it, it is the same compressor setup used on the Engle and Norcold ac/dc chests. Efficient and quiet.

Cheers,

Gus

[StandUpGuy]

What brand and model of used 12V cooler did you get at the garage sale? What teperature was the cooler used in? If it was over 80 outside and you used it outside it would certainly suck.

[eamarquardt]

Can't remember the brand. Big enough for a 6 pack. Used it only in the van, I like it cool so the van was probabaly no more than 75f. I wouldn't waste Suzy's money on one of em. They are also POWER HOGS which isn't an issue if your engine is running but is if you intend to run one on battery power.

I think the 40f temperature drop is optomistic at best.

Cheers,

Gus

[StandUpGuy]

Can't remember the brand. Big enough for a 6 pack. Used it only in the van, I like it cool so the van was probabaly no more than 75f. I wouldn't waste Suzy's money on one of em. They are also POWER HOGS which isn't an issue if your engine is running but is if you intend to run one on battery power.

I think the 40f temperature drop is optomistic at best.

Cheers,

Gus

I will be using an AC converter in my TTT if I was to use a DC cooler.

In the van did you put warm beverages in the cooler to have them cool down?

[eamarquardt]

Can't remember the brand. Big enough for a 6 pack. Used it only in the van, I like it cool so the van was probabaly no more than 75f. I wouldn't waste Suzy's money on one of em. They are also POWER HOGS which isn't an issue if your engine is running but is if you intend to run one on battery power.

I think the 40f temperature drop is optomistic at best.

Cheers,

Gus

I will be using an AC converter in my TTT if I was to use a DC cooler.???
In the van did you put warm beverages in the cooler to have them cool down? Can't remember.

[StandUpGuy]

I have no DC electrical system in my trailer plan. Only AC.

[StandUpGuy]

Well I think it will be an interesting thing to seperate the facts on these units.

[StandUpGuy]

I am buying a used DC cooler tonight. In a bit I will be going on a long car trip. I will take the cooler with me and have it holding chilled beverages. I will record the temperature at the start of my trip there and at the end. Then on the way back I will put warm cans of soda in the cooler and see how long it takes to cool down. Again I will record the temps in the beginning and the end of the drive. If the cooler will not perform this simple test at all then my further desire to fabricate a high insulation cooler is useless. If the temperature is anywhere near 40 degrees then there would be room for improvement and further testing is in order.