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I've just bought a brand new coolbox from Ebay but need some advice please. It's the sort that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car - just tested it and it's working fine (well, it's making a noise so I assume it's working lol).

I don't know anything about how to use these so any advice appreciated - do I leave it plugged it all the time or will this drain the battery? Does it keep pre frozen ice packs cold? Do I need to 'run' it for a while before putting stuff in it? Any help appreciated - as you can see I haven't a clue! Off camping tomorrow so will be trying it out. Stupid time of year to try out a coolbox - I know

Thanks in advance

You should really only use it when your car engine is running, it will flatten the battery quite quickly otherwise.  Ok to let it run a little say when stopped to refuel, but I would say anything over half an hour is risky, depends on the state of your car battery.

If you use EHU you could use it via a mains adaptor, otherwise just use as a normal coolbox when on site.

Putting in ice packs or frozen food will keep things cold longer.  You could freeze some milk or juice, or say some of your other stuff like sausages, burgers, chicken.

as above as in i wouldn't run one from a car battery unless the car engine was running ie on your way to the site etc,if you have EHU (electric hook up) then you can buy  the mains adapters which power 12v electrical equipment like the ones in the links below...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_211677_langId_-1_categoryId_165657

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/redirect.asp?redir=http://www.towsure.com/product/13991-Mains_Rectifier:_240-12v

Thanks everyone. Garry C - I've just been to Halfords to get an adapter - I'll be able to use it in the tent now.

I agree Peggybabcock - I think things will keep pretty cold this week - sleet and hail forecast for the North Norfolk coast - plenty of hot water bottles, fleece blankets, hats & socks packed in the car!!

good to see you got one ok fostermum

my halfords 35ltr coolbox states that it will cool to around 20 degrees below the outside ambient temperature which with the summer we just had it near abouts did with the  thermometer we kept inside,average temp in the box was around 5-8 deg c which was pretty good going when the outside temps did get up,and at night it would drop to around 2-3 deg c,it did freeze up twice but i thawed it out by removing the lid and placing it near  the fan heater with warm air blowing on it for 5mins which did the trick,concidering it was on for two whole weeks non stop it did a damm good job and the beers and fresh produce were always well cold...

fostermum

we have just bought the outwell electric cool box and the instructions say turn off for an hour if turned on for more than 48 hours i dont know if this applies to all electric coolboxes. does anybody else turn theres off for an hour?

 I have a small halfords coolbox that stays in the car during the day to keep anything I buy cool in the day But I was lucky enough to be given an old electrolux absortion fridge that runs on gas or electric so I keep that in the TT connected to the hook up and tranfer all the stuff inot that when i get back to site.......and its silent, quite big for what it holds but a great bit of kit.

I have left the halfords box switched on in the car overnight more than once and it has not discharged the battery.....not that I would recommend doing this, I just forgot to switch it off. I do keep it running in the car for maybe 4-5hrs if we are out for the day though, and also use it in my van in summer when working and its left on all day its only 35watts so does not a huge drain on the battery

hope this helps

I have the outwell one and tend to swtich it off at night

humming annoys me and it's pretty cold anyway