Do you need a car refrigerator?
Avid travelers are surely familiar with this kind of equipment, because it is an important factor of comfort on a long car trip. Long-haul truckers, touring musicians, business travelers, and even just tourists with a car refrigerator in their vehicle can stop worrying about their diet, without resorting to dubious roadside diners or fast food at gas stations.
Also, a car refrigerator is often used for local trips - Sunday outings and picnics, trips to the countryside. It is especially important to have one in the car when vacationing with small children - after all, kids need not only fresh air, but also healthy food.
And few people think about the benefits of a car refrigerator in urban conditions and everyday life. Many models of car refrigerators can not only cool, but also heat their contents. And this immediately adds to the number of potential users anyone who is used to having lunch at work with homemade food.
Understanding the design of a car refrigerator
A typical car refrigerator is a sturdy box with a tight lid and a carrying handle. The interior space is insulated from the external environment so that the refrigerator maintains the desired temperature even when turned off. This effect is achieved through double walls filled with polymer thermal insulation material. The simplest and cheapest solution is thermal insulation using ordinary foam or expanded polystyrene. Models with polyurethane foam filler retain temperature somewhat more effectively.
For short trips, you can get by with a thermal box or thermal bag with cold accumulators. But on a long summer trip, a thermal bag may not be enough. A full-fledged car refrigerator is equipped with an electric cooling system that allows you to keep cold for many hours.
What types of car refrigerators are there
There are three most common types of refrigerators for cars, which differ in the cooling method. They all have different efficiency and their own operating features.
- Thermoelectric.
The most affordable segment of car refrigerators. Their cooling system is based on semiconductor plates (Peltier elements). When current passes through them, the inner side of the plate cools down, and the outer side heats up. For faster cooling, such models are equipped with fans.
If you change the direction of the current, the plates will heat up from the inside. Thus, a thermoelectric device can also be used to keep food hot.
Thermoelectric refrigerators are popular due to their practicality and affordable cost. They are not afraid of shaking, vibrations, or jolts. This is reliable, eco-friendly equipment. The disadvantages include minimal functionality and average energy efficiency. The temperature inside the chamber can drop by about 12-24° below the ambient temperature. The minimum temperature is about 0°C (plus or minus a few degrees depending on the model). It is better to put already frozen or chilled products there. The volume usually does not exceed 40 liters.
- Absorption or electric-gas.
These models are very good in terms of efficiency and economy. They are equipped with a cooling circuit in which a refrigerant circulates (most often a water-ammonia solution). The energy source can be not only electricity, but also a gas cylinder with a burner. Inside such a refrigerator, it can be 20-30°C colder than outside. The temperature drops to about 0°C.
But such refrigerators are usually quite bulky (volume from 20 liters and more). They do not tolerate shaking and tilting very well. A common malfunction is associated with damage to the cooling circuit and refrigerant leakage. Therefore, models of this type are more often used as stationary camping refrigerators. They will be convenient at the dacha, at a campsite, or while fishing.
- Compressor.
The most expensive, but also the most effective solution. In terms of operating principle, they resemble ordinary household refrigerators. Their cooling system contains a refrigeration circuit with refrigerant and a compressor. The minimum cooling level is about -20°C. They cool down the fastest and consume the least energy. If the model can cool down to -22°C, it is a real road freezer.
Modern compressor car refrigerators have a temperature adjustment function. In addition, they are equipped with a built-in discharge protector. This device disconnects the refrigerator from the on-board network when the voltage drops and prevents the battery from fully discharging.
The disadvantages of compressor refrigerators, in addition to the high cost, include large dimensions and not the highest reliability. They should be protected from tilting, strong shaking, and impacts.
Can a car refrigerator be plugged into a wall outlet
The power source for a refrigerator in a car is the on-board network. All car models can operate from the cigarette lighter. Many support not only the 12 V standard, but also 24 V.
If the model supports power supply from a 220/240 V network, it can be connected to a regular household outlet. This is the most versatile and practical solution. Such a device can be turned on long before the trip so that it reaches the required cooling level. The ability to power from a household network will be useful on vacation or at the dacha.
It should be noted that powering from an AC network requires a special adapter or a built-in voltage converter. For some models, the adapter has to be purchased separately.
Selection nuances
When choosing any refrigerator, you need to think about how it will fit into the car's space. There are built-in models that are designed for installation between seats, in armrests, or in a niche of a spacious cabin. Portable refrigerators can be placed in the trunk (if there is a possibility of connecting to the network) or on the seat. When installing the device in the cabin, it is necessary to provide it with sufficient ventilation. And for a large model, also reliable fixation.
In addition, when choosing, you should pay attention to the additional functionality of the model you are interested in. For example, some refrigerators are equipped with wheels and retractable handles for easy carrying. A small thing, but very pleasant for a young mother behind the wheel. And someone else might find the ability to connect to a home outlet more useful. It is important to think through such details in advance.
The online store "Rozetka" offers a large assortment of various travel refrigerators. Here you can choose thermoelectric or compressor car refrigerators with the necessary functions and a suitable price.
