For someone looking for a great enhancement to their vehicle that will not break the bank, the addition of one of the many car fridges available on the market can be very appealing. This article briefly discusses the implications of installing a car fridge in your automobile.
There are two basic types of refrigerator suitable for in car use. The first is a cheap car mini fridge. These are the units you will often see for under a couple of hundred dollars. They do a fine job of cooling beverages while you are on the road, but do have some serious limitations.
These cheap units are, due to the technology they use, inherently very energy inefficient. This means that if left connected to an unsupervised car battery they will draw it down rapidly. Due to this attribute, these cheap units are best used only when your vehicles engine is running. When operated for an extended period with the motor off you risk ending up with a flat battery and unable to start your car.
If your aim is to have a car refrigerator that you can use on an ongoing basis, you may want to invest in something more expensive than one of these cheap mini fridges. Quality compressor technology 12v fridges are more appropriate for this type of application.
Compressor style fridges are very energy efficient, and high quality models using only a little over one amp are available if you are willing to pay the premium price. If you need to be able to leave your car fridge running for an afternoon – without the vehicle idling – you will need to purchase a quality brand such an Engel, ARB or National Luna.
Whether your requirements are for a car fridge solely for use while driving, or for both driving and stopovers, you should have no issue finding one suitable for your needs.