The cooling performance was also the best we saw among all the coolers we tested. It’s still not as cold as ice, but it’s more convenient. It should be noted that this cooler does not, however, have a cooling system powerful enough to freeze, and it works best when fully packed with pre-chilled food and drinks. The unit includes both AC and DC power cords, allowing it to be used in cars or on boats, as well as with regular wall units.
This is easily managed, but needs attention of the user. After four weeks of testing five best-selling models in the summer heat, we’ve concluded that electric coolers are not actually very good at keeping things cold. If you need to keep food at a safe temperature over multiple days, check out our review of the best coolers that use ice instead of ineffective thermoelectric devices. But if you only need to keep drinks or your lunch a bit cooler while you’re driving, the 29-quart Koolatron – P27 Voyager is the best thermoelectric cooler in a disappointing lineup. As Igloo claims, this thermoelectric model was able to reach 36º F below ambient temperature. However, most thermoelectric models reach 40º below ambient, so we aren’t that impressed.
As soon as they’re unplugged, they’re just a normal Igloo cooler again. But in our modern world of portable batteries, that’s less of a problem. The brand has plans to eventually release an Igloo battery as well, according to a spokesperson. An ICF cooler can safely be used in your vehicle when powered using the included 12V DC power cable. ICF electric coolers have built-in 3-stage battery protection that will automatically turn your cooler off before ever getting close to draining your car battery. However, as noted above, this model holds more than its size would indicate, given the space available that would normally be filled with ice.
It can also hold food and snacks for an entire family’s lunch and dinner menu. Despite its size and price, the Cooluli is also built to last. This thing can literally run 24/7 for an entire year and still get the job igloo ice chest done. On a boat or out camping, it won’t be a huge drain on your battery. We still recommend solar panels as a great way to keep it going. A 7.5 A fuse for something that draws ~4.6 A (55W/12V) sounds about right.
While they’re a bit heavier than backpack coolers or soft coolers, electric coolers ensure safe perishable food storage for longer durations. The included power cord is a generous 8 feet long, and the 40-quart capacity holds about igloo cooler with wheels 44 cans, which is plenty of space for a couple of days’ worth of cold drinks and snacks. In an unexpected advantage of the thermoelectric cooling mechanism, much more of the internal space can be used for food and drink.
However, it does a decent job of temperature control and has a fairly large capacity. If this simplicity does the trick for you, and you don’t mind a few downfalls, you might be alright with this lackluster cooler from Igloo. However, to increase its efficiency, you can pre-chill or pre-warm the food. Also, for most of them, the plug tends to overheat with extended use.
It also locks the lid in place which is a nice feature. That means if you have a solar source handy, you could potentially run this all day and not even touch the battery. Plugging in and going iceless extends the length of time you can cool and expands options of where you can cool. We weren’t expecting these coolers to perform well in the hot sun, but look at these results and think about what conditions you’ll actually be using your cooler in. Refrigerators use a coolant (like R-22, the modern replacement for Freon gas) that changes from liquid to gas inside a coiled metal tube. That process sucks all the heat out of your fridge very efficiently.