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This season we will be going EHU. One of the things I’m interested in getting is a powered cool box to forgo the hassle of freezer packs.

I am limited in space and cash, so a “proper” small fridge is not an option, so I am looking at the 12v Peltier coolers.

My main concern is the noise they make. I assume the fan runs constantly and there is no thermostatic cut off. I have read many posts where people state noise as a major flaw. I know noise level is very subjective, but are they indeed too noisy to have running at night in the tent?

I’ve had the “brain wave” of putting it in the car and running an extension lead (outdoor garden type) to it if the noise is too much, what do you recon?

When I used an electric coolbox on a boat it was only actually running when the engine was on, typically 8-10 hours a day. That was plenty to keep everything cold as long as we were sensible (i.e. not leaving the door ope and not putting warm things in but leaving them until they'd cooled).

So you could probably get away with not running the coolbox overnight - of course if you're going to the South of France it will be different!

Glen

Well the consensus appears to be that whilst some noise is inevitable, due to how these devices work, it does not appear to be too bad.

I also appreciate that some cleaning maintenance of the fan assembly will help increase life and reduce noise; and I have no fear when it comes to dismantling thinks to find out how they work.

Given I also have the options of simply not running it whilst asleep, or putting it in the car, I don’t think noise will be a problem.

I now have the question of which model to get, but I think that will probably be decided by which retailer is giving the best price. I like the look of the CampingGaz Powerbox and the way you can have it like a “normal” fridge with front door; but there’s plenty of time to look around.

Hi Audsleyl.

                  Not sure where if you are going to use your fridge abroad or not, but for Southern France we used a Waeco CF25 fridge, which is a compressor fridge, with superb performance, and even though a compressor, noise was never an issue, even in the tent in the dead of night, when the compressor would occationaly kick in, the sound was almost silent, just another type of fridge for you to consider, although the Peltier type are fine, they can only cool to below ambient, which can be an issue in hotter climes.

I’m strictly UK bound at the moment, and don’t see that changing.

Those Waeco units do look good though, and worthy of consideration; I see they also do Peltier units.  Never heard of them before reading posts on this site.

Ta.