Plug in/thermoelectric coolers

I picked up a popular thermoelectic cooler from T/A last year. A few months ago the cord started getting hot and eventually the plug deformed(melted) due to the heat. I am not sure what happened here, but I will not buy another like it.

 

I have a Coleman 40Qt cooler. Ive had it for a year now with no problems. Since April till recently Ive been working for a construction/industrial cleaning/hazmat removal company. I drive and operate many different trucks and cranes within the company. None of which have any sort of AC. In the summer I kept my cooler in my work truck where it ran all day in 100*+ and sometimes the water I had next to the fan would freeze! I am pleased with it and it has more than paid for itself. My dad has an igloo cooler at his work in US Steel where I know it gets 100*+ from doing jobs there. He has not had a problem with his either.

 

i got an old coleman that is held together by duct tape but it works perfectly. keeps my stuff nice and cold. it plugs straight into the cigarette lighter plug.

 

I had the exact same thing happen!
I believe what is happening is the screws that hold on the cover over the fan are actually screwed into the wires underneath. If you remove the cover I bet you will see that the wires are indeed nicked. I simply wrapped some electrical tape around the damaged spot and replaced the cord. You have to be very careful when screwing the cover back on though.

 

I have owned for 3 years a Koolatron A20 cooler from koolatron. Never any real problem. It work's fine for small items. I also have an Igloo 32qt Hot/Cold cooler. Work's fine cooling the items down. One thing I do know is a good 4" cleareance around the exhaust fan or top. This is really needed to provide the proper air exchange. I find if it's less than 4". It doesn't cool has well. I sometime use the cooler at home 24/7 and have created ice on the inside fin's. Then I will hear the fan blade chipping away at ice. I just defost it and everything is fine.

 

Oh for those who don't understand how the links are to work.
Copy the link that is provided to another webpage.
Subsitute the correct "dots" or add to the proper URL link.

I don't have enough to post to include links, yet.

So do a search for Koolatron website or Compactappliance website.
Add the http colon two forward slashes in front & the dot com afterward.

 

Petro is about the only place I have seen igloo's

 

I use the Coleman Powerchill 40 thermoelectric unit (the blue/white one).

There are things you can do to insure proper operations. The most important thing to do is to remove the outer cover and clean the thermoelectric plate (looks like a heat sink) and clean the dust bunnies out of the fan. Ditto the internal plate and fan, but dirt usually don't collect there.

Every two years (if you're as lucky as me) you'll have to replace the fan motor. You can get one from Coleman, or buy it from Petro. Other retail outlets may carry them as well, but, I know Petro has them. In the end you'll drop $25.00 regardless of where you buy it. It's easy to do, and takes about 15 minutes, start to finish.

Keep the cooler situated so that the motor and plate vents get adequate air circulation. If a coat, or some other object covers these vents, the unit will not function. The same could be said for jamming it into a corner where the air won't get into the vents.

My cord gets hot, too, but as long as it keeps on working, so what. So far I haven't experienced a plug melt-down.

2xR likes the Coleman.

 

the company i might consider driving only allows a 1000w inverter/converter. will that be enough to power the cooler, laptop and maybe something else.