As you can probably imagine by now, manufacturers have to get creative in order to come up with low-energy products. The result is that there are many different options sold as 12v vehicle refrigerators, but they are not all created equal. let's see.
Electric cooler
Electric coolers are the aforementioned landscaping freezers. They help keep ice frozen by using a small electrical current.
These types of coolers are very affordable, but they are not very effective. Simply put, they take the heat inside the cooler to the outside. There is no real refrigeration. Plus, they require a fair amount of energy to do the equivalent of freezing your ice for a while.
These are great solutions if you're only going to the lake occasionally on weekends or Sunday afternoons and don't want to spend too much. But if you need real refrigeration, stay away from them.
Thermoelectric 12v cooler
Thermoelectric coolers are another relatively affordable alternative to true 12v refrigerators. While they're more effective than electric coolers at keeping food cool, they won't keep your ice frozen.
These types of coolers use Peltier technology to stay cool. Here's how it works: When you run an electric current through two different metals, heat is transferred from one metal to the other. As with compressors and gas refrigerants, heat is removed from the surrounding area, cooling the interior. The walls of the 12v thermoelectric cooler are filled with tiny Peltier cubes that keep the inside of the cooler from heating up.
12v compression refrigerator
In most cases, a proper 12v compression refrigerator is the best choice in terms of power efficiency and cooling capacity. Of course, while they won't be as expensive as a refrigerator in the kitchen, they're still more expensive than the other alternatives here.
That said, a good portable compression refrigerator will meet your travel refrigeration needs. For starters, they are very efficient. Many of these systems are designed and engineered from the ground up to run on 12v electricity, so they have features like power save mode to prevent battery drain or dual compartments for freezing and cooling to further save power. In fact, they're efficient enough that you can run one indefinitely with the proper solar panel setup.
Another thing to consider is how far you can drag it. Many portable refrigerator options don't take this into account, or if they are, it's minimal at best. A good compression refrigerator has enough handles and sturdy wheels to transport and move it around.
You also have to plan for certain uncertainties for your portable refrigerator, such as the fact that you are outdoors, getting in and out of your vehicle. You'll want something designed to take a hit when you're out and about, and a good compression refrigerator takes that into account. Cixi Zhuoyue Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. is an oxygen concentrator factory in China, as well as a chest freezer manufacturer. The company not only provides Solar DC freezers but also sells electrical appliances such as vehicle refrigerators and DC chest freezers.
