We will recommend purchasing a product that comes with a long cord. This will help you while charging as the power outlet igloo electric cooler could be far from the ground. You do not want to be carrying an extension cord on trips, and hence this is necessary.
Just plug your cooler into the cigarette lighter on your vehicle and you’re done. They can cool down to the set temperature in under half an hour. Some of them can be set to nearly freezing temperatures, allowing you to pack items that you may not have taken otherwise. If you’re looking for the best bang-for-your-buck off-grid refrigeration option, it’s hard to beat thermoelectric coolers.
Dometic CFX3 35 Powered Cooler
The Dometic CFX3 35 Powered Cooler produces impressive cooling/freezing. It wasn’t super noticeable most of the time, but became a lot more so during a quiet night, especially in a small space like an off-grid tiny home. It’s basically a standard Igloo cooler with a thermoelectric cooling apparatus built-in. It has an intuitive seven-stage digital temperature control on the front that lets you switch between warming or cooling mode and set the temperature you desire. This helps reduce overall power draw to save you money and keep your food at the proper temperatures. Some of their models come with digital LED displays and have a simple push button for switching between hot and cold instead of being required to physically swap out a cord.
Plus, you can always keep this product plugged in without needing to stop for purchasing ice. We were very happy with this factor as it saved us time while on the trip. In case there are a lot of snacks inside, the handle is long enough for 2 people to hold it at one time. This compact unit features sealed hinged lid with a thermal igloo electric cooler pane window and carrying handle. The 12 Volt SnackMaster plugs directly into your cigarette lighter socket and has a removable shelf which you can use as a wine cooler. If you want to plug the cooler into an AC outlet when you get home, or you are in a hotel room, Igloo sells an AC power converter separately for about $50.
The thermoelectric coolers are on the market are designed to be used as a cooler on the go or as a stationary cooler. Most can run with a cigarette lighter adapter and are treasured by soccer moms and truck drivers who need cold drinks on the road. As Igloo claims, this thermoelectric model was able to reach 36º F below ambient temperature. However, most thermoelectric models reach 40º below ambient, so we aren’t that impressed. And just as it states helpfully on a sticker on the lid, it won’t really cool contents from room temperature — you need to pre-chill them before using the cooler. This is also the only thermoelectric cooler we tested that doesn’t also have a heating function.
Depending on the weather, we typically only run it for about 3-4 hours per day – just enough to ensure everything remains cool. So, first, decide on the number of people and snacks that you need to carry and then decide upon the size. It is just that the cooling mechanism is placed right inside the lid, and there are perforated vents on top and below.
They have a small selection of thermoelectric coolers (2 of them actually!), and both models are based on a similar 40-quart structure. The Coleman Powerchill comes in both a cooling version as well as a cooling/heating version for a slight upcharge. But the Igloo iceless thermoelectric cooler will provide you with a safe space to store your food without any ice. Just plug it in, and your drinks will stay cool even at high temperatures. If you need a family sized refrigerator for a hot climate thermoelectric coolers aren’t for you.