Fridge in Boot

[doddsredoubt]

Can anybody tell me on answerbank if I can put my electric fridge in the boot of my car and plug it in to the cigarette lighter adapter in my boot.

Thankyou for any help.

[Dodger666]

Why not? assuming the boots large enough. I'm sure there's more than enough ventilation for it should it need any.

[puternut]

Do you mean a mains operated one - or a 12v one?

{Silly question I know}

[bookbinder]

You can't do that with a regular, household fridge, because the voltages are different. You can, however, buy a coolbox that plugs into your car electrics. Some car makers offer them as extras, or you could try Halfords and similar stores.

[doddsredoubt]

I have just purchased a 12v coolbox from Halfords.
But on their leaflet which came with the coolbox it states:
Don't operate in a confined space such as a car boot
Don't leave the unit in a sealed car or boot whilst in use
The unit is designed for operation in vehicles with a negative earth,if your vehicle has a positive earth terminal,the cigarette lighter end of the adapter must be rewired by a competent electrician. ???????????????????????????????? Help please.

[doddsredoubt]

Sorry I forgot to mention I have a cigarette lighter connection in the boot of my Volkswagen Golf.

[bookbinder]

This is very strange. I have had two or three Volvos, and Volvo offered a coolbox that plugged into a socket in the boot. I never had one, but there was no mention of not using it in a sealed boot. After all, that's what it's for, isn't it? Ask a Volkswagen dealer for some advice, or go back to the maker of the coolbox.

[rnchugg]

All it basically means is that you need sufficant air flow around the cool box to allow it to "breathe". with a hatch bach remove the parcel shelf so there is plenty of ventilation. A saloon has a "sealed" boot. I have been using 12v cool boxes fpr the last 5 or so years in all number of different vehicles. Just make sure there is enough air or they can get hot and cause a fire. Just MAKE SURE you dont leave them plugged in and running while the engine is switched off. They can flatten your battery quite quickly.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou bookbinder & rnchugg,I will get in touch with Volkswagen tomorrow,and yes I have a hatchbuck I didn't think about taking the parcel shelf off.

Thankyou to you both much appreciated.

[chas2008]

these things are not that good, they only say just for arguments sake, cool 10deg lower then the actual air temp.
So if your boot is 40deg(in summer) the coolbox is 30deg !! no cool beers .

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou chas2008, I will try it to see if it works with the parcel shelf off,have got in touch with Volkswagen and they say the Electic Cool Box will work in the cigarette lighter terminal.

Thankyou for your help much appreciated.

[Old_Geezer]

Of course they can not be in a sealed place. The heat they extract from their inside has to go somewhere and it will heat up the enclosed space, making a poor environment for it to work in. Heat needs to dissipate.

Cool boxes are ok in the short term, but do better at keeping things that are already cold, cold. In my experience they struggle a bit trying to cool things that start off at room temperature. Ok for what they are, but no fridge substitute.

[doddsredoubt]

Old_Geezer,it will only be workin from my house to Bournemoth,which will only take about two and a half hours then we will be in a B & B.

Thankyou for your help much appreciated.

[Dodger666]

In addition to the items you want to keep cool put some frozen ice blocks inside the cool box too. If you transfer the stuff out of your fridge and pack the box just before you leave home it will be fine.

To save shopping as soon as we arrived, we used to take milk, butter etc from the Midlands to the Welsh coast regularly, we never had a problem and that used to take about three hours.

[doddsredoubt]

Thankyou Dodger666,we are coming from the South Coast to Bournemouth B&B for a few days then on to Devon for a weeks rest.

Thankyou for your help much appreciated.