Cozy home - How to choose a car refrigerator

A car refrigerator keeps food fresh and drinks cool throughout the entire trip. It not only provides comfort, but also helps to avoid unnecessary expenses on buying food on the road. Let’s consider how to choose the right device, what types exist and what you should pay attention to when buying.

Cooling method

When choosing a car refrigerator, it is important to understand the first thing you should pay attention to is the type of device. There are only three main ones: absorption, compressor or thermoelectric. Each has its own characteristics, pros and cons.

Absorption refrigerators

They work on the principle of absorbing heat using liquids and gases. They mainly work with electricity (12 V, 220 V), but there are also gas models (propane, butane).

Inside the absorption refrigerator is a mixture of water, ammonia and hydrogen. An electric heater or gas burner heats this mixture, causing the ammonia to evaporate. Then the ammonia condenses and cools the interior of the device.

Pros — the main advantage of absorption refrigerators is their versatility in terms of power sources. They can operate from a car battery, as well as from stationary electricity or gas, which makes them ideal for camping. In addition, such refrigerators operate silently, which is also a plus.

Cons — these devices are not very effective in very hot weather and take longer to reach the desired temperature, compared to compressor models. It is also important for them to stand on a flat surface to avoid problems with the circulation of the cooling mixture.

Absorption refrigerators are best suited for long trips and camping, where you can use gas as a source of energy. They provide silence and independence from the electrical network, which makes them convenient for use not only in a car, but also in nature and in long-term parking conditions.

Compressor car refrigerators

They work on the same principle as household ones. They use a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, turning it into a high-temperature liquid. This liquid passes through the evaporator, where it evaporates and absorbs heat from the interior of the refrigerator. The compressor then compresses the refrigerant again, and the cycle repeats.

Pros — the main advantage of compressor refrigerators is their high efficiency and ability to maintain low temperatures, even in 30-degree heat. They can provide temperatures down to -18 ° C, which allows them to be used not only for cooling, but also for freezing products. Compressor refrigerators also consume less energy compared to thermoelectric models, which makes them more economical in the long run.

Cons — the disadvantages include their higher cost compared to thermoelectric and absorption models. In addition, they can be noisy due to the compressor, which can be inconvenient when used in small, enclosed spaces (such as a car or camper).

Compressor refrigerators are ideal for long trips and extreme conditions where stable and efficient cooling is required. They work well in hot weather and are able to maintain the desired temperature for a long time.

Thermoelectric car refrigerators

Use electric current to create a temperature difference on the Peltier elements. When current passes through them, one side heats up and the other cools down. The heat is removed from the heated side using a radiator and a fan, and the cold from the cooled side is used to cool the interior of the refrigerator.

Pros — the main advantage of thermoelectric refrigerators is their relatively low price and simple design. They are compact and lightweight, which makes them easy to carry and install in a car. In addition, such devices do not contain moving parts (except for the fan), which reduces the risk of breakdowns and simplifies maintenance.

Cons — thermoelectric refrigerators are less efficient compared to compressor and absorption models. They are able to maintain a temperature 15-25 ° C below the ambient temperature, which may not be enough in very hot weather. In addition, they consume more energy during long-term use, and this accelerates the discharge of the car battery.

These coolers are best suited for short trips and use in moderate temperatures. They are ideal for cooling drinks and food at picnics, barbecues or short outings.

Car Refrigerator Volume and Size

Think about how often and how many people will use the refrigerator. For short trips and one or two people, a 10-20 liter model is enough. For longer trips and a family of four, it is better to choose a model with a volume of 30-50 liters.

As for the physical parameters, it is important to make sure that the refrigerator is the right size for your car and does not take up too much space.

Power Type

Car refrigerators can operate from different power sources:

12 V and 24 V: these models operate from the cigarette lighter and are suitable for most cars. 12 V is the standard voltage for cars, 24 V is for trucks.
220 V: these operate from a standard household outlet, but can be used in a car using a voltage converter (inverter).
110 V: some models of car refrigerators can operate from a 110 V network using an adapter. Usually, these are compressor and thermoelectric refrigerators.

Before purchasing, make sure that the selected model matches the voltage of your car and supports the necessary adapters for connecting to other sources.

Cooling

It is important to know what temperature the refrigerator can maintain. Compressor models can reach -20 ° C, while thermoelectric ones can only cool 15-25 ° C below the ambient temperature.

The presence of a digital display and the ability to fine-tune the temperature will be a plus.

Maximum power consumption

It is important to consider how much energy the refrigerator consumes. This parameter directly affects the service life of the car battery and the efficiency of the device.

For example, thermoelectric refrigerators usually consume more energy, since they require direct current to operate the Peltier element. For small models (up to 10 liters), this is on average 30-50 W, for medium (10-30 liters) — 40-60 W, and for large (more than 30 liters) — 50-70 W.

Compressor refrigerators are considered more energy efficient: small models (up to 20 liters) — 30-50 W, medium models (20-40 liters) — 40-70 W, large models (more than 40 liters) — 50-100 W.

Absorption refrigerators are even more energy-hungry when using electricity: small models (up to 30 liters): 80-100 W, medium models (30-50 liters) — 90-150 W, large models (more than 50 liters) — 120-250 W.

It is worth considering that high external temperatures increase the load on the refrigerator, requiring more energy to maintain the desired temperature inside. Frequent opening of the door also increases energy consumption.

Some refrigerators have different operating modes, such as an economy mode, which reduces energy consumption. But the freezing mode, on the contrary, consumes significantly more energy compared to the standard cooling mode.

Number of sections

Typically, car refrigerators have one main section or two separate ones. Almost always, the temperature in them is maintained the same, but the fact of a pair of sections allows you to more effectively organize the interior space, separating, for example, food and drinks.

Some models come with removable shelves, dividers and convenient organizers, which also increase the ease of use.

Cable length

The length of the cable of a car refrigerator usually varies from 1 to 3 meters. Longer cables provide greater flexibility in placing the refrigerator inside the car, which is especially useful in larger vehicles such as minivans or campers. A three-meter cable can allow you to place the device, for example, in a tent near the car during parking.

A short cable is suitable for a small car, when there are no problems with access to the cigarette lighter or other power source.

Tips for choosing car refrigerators

For day trips and picnics, where portability and lightness of the device are important, a compact refrigerator with a capacity of 5-20 liters with thermoelectric cooling will be enough. For short trips by car, when it is important to keep food fresh for several days, it is worth focusing on car refrigerators with a large capacity (20-50 liters) with compressor cooling.

And during long expeditions and trips, especially to remote places where access to fresh food is limited, a compression car refrigerator with a freezing function will be indispensable. For a minivan, camper or the ability to use the refrigerator even outside the car, it is worth looking at models with a long cable and convenient handles for carrying.