There are also some notable quality control issues that can result in the product breaking shortly after purchase. In terms of performance, the Igloo Breeze 28 is capable of dropping the internal temperature by 36 degrees while the larger and more powerful Powerchill 40 bumps this number up to 38. There is no heating feature here and we do wish the lids were a bit more robust, but they come in at a very attractive asking price and are quite reliable despite these small flaws. Both units can be plugged into any standard 12V outlet or, with the inclusion of a 110V adapter, can be plugged into most power sources on a car or RV.
When we looked at the temperatures from the two data-log thermometers, it was clear that the insulation and cooling power of these coolers is insufficient for use outside on a hot day. As soon as the sun hit the spot they were sitting at around 10 a.m., the temperature would climb above 50 in a better cooler or all the way up to 70 in a cheaper cooler. Things only dropped again when outside temperatures fell below 70 overnight. If you need to keep food (or anything else) below 40 degrees, you’d be better off using ice. When surrounded with ice, perishables are protected from heat for two or three days. So long as your food is in a waterproof container, even melted ice will typically keep food at safe temperatures for another day or so.
We specifically looked for an upgraded or higher-tier cooler to compare with mainstream models, and settled on the Dometic – TC35-DC-A because of its thermostat control. Dometic isn’t the only company selling a model like this, but they have a good reputation among RV and van enthusiasts. The Igloo is the only cooler that we tested which fits comfortably between the front seats of our tester’s minivan, but that’s not enough to make it a good buy. After thorough testing, we’d check out the small coolers from Wagan before we’d settle on the Igloo for this role.
A Brushless Motor that is designed to replace existing Thermo-Electric cooler motors. That goes double when you consider that ice doesn’t need electricity to do its job. A 120-volt adapter will help if you’ve got power hookups or a hotel room overnight, but that’s not usually an option if you’re camping. As expected, the temperatures in the evening were much better, finally dropping down below 40 and even freezing in one unit when outside temperatures were in the 60s overnight. But that’s still not the performance necessary to keep perishable items like potato salad safe if you have to unplug when you’re stopped. For a control, we loaded the top-ranked model from our review of the best coolers, the ORCA – 40 Quart Classic, with 20 pounds of ice and checked its temperature at the same time.
The cooler receives its power through a direct current (DC) car adapter plug and power source or via a DC-to-DC, alternating current (AC) or battery-converter setup. As with ice-only coolers, you can use Kool Mate thermoelectric coolers on trips, while camping or during parties. Additionally, you can use Kool Mate thermoelectric coolers as additional refrigeration for your home, office or dorm room. When you plug in a typical freezer or fill a typical cooler with ice, you can expect a pretty consistent internal temperature. Many are rated to +/- a certain range compared to the outside air. So if it is extremely hot outside (100F) and your electric cooler has a minimum temperature range of -40F ambient, then you will only experience a storage temperature of 60F!
For the sizes that we tested, manufacturers rated the cooler performance at 40 degrees lower than the temperature outside the cooler, but that assumes a lot of things. Coolers for drinks and snacks have another major hurdle to overcome. Even when the cooler has good insulation, If you’re opening the lid constantly, the heat rushing in makes efficiency quite poor. We searched for coolers that igloo cooler with wheels customers liked most, and found a set of five with fairly good reviews and a similar set of features. We wanted to compare with a 45-quart ice-filled cooler from our cooler review, so we settled on that size as a baseline. If you’re looking for a cooler that has a bit more room, the 45-quart Wagan – EL6244 has the right features and design to make the most of thermoelectric technology.
The lid opens in two sections, and you also get a set of wheels and an expanding handle to help cart all your drinks around. It has two separate compartments for cooling and freezing, and it comes with a connection cable for 12-volt connection. Although this cooler is more expensive, it has a quick chill capability so there is no need to pre-cool your food. Check if the leakage is from the bottom of the unit and if plug is in drain (if applicable)
Check with the temperature on the freezer settings (cold enough). Instead of installing the on/off switch on the same wire as the main device, it is installed on a separate circuit. This circuit doesn’t draw much current, so it can be as long as you need.
While they have had several model changes and facelifts, their top two thermoelectric coolers (as far as we are concerned) are the Breeze 28 and the Powerchill 40. The Igloo Iceless 26-quart cooler is the ultimate solution for keeping your food and beverages cool for tailgating, camping, and other outdoor activities. Cool on the go without the mess and inconvenience of ice in your car, SUV, RV or big rig. Iceless cooling performance is powered by thermoelectric technology. This cooler cools down to 36 degrees Fahrenheit below the outside temperature. It plugs directly into any 12V DC outlet (cigarette lighter) for easy power while traveling.