Will a plug in cooler kill your battery?

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Garlicbread56, Apr 12, 2013.

  1. OFTOTR

    OFTOTR Medium Load Member

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    Jul 19, 2011
    Toccoa GA
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    They draw around 4 amps running. Unless your batteries are toast, you shouldn't have a problem.
    In older trucks, when I was off for a few days and forgot to unplug the cooler before I weItnt home, the truck wouldn't start usually after 2 days.

    There are only one or two moving parts in these thermoelectric fridges. No, the fans don't last forever, but they sure as hell should last longer than they do.

    I don't know how many of these fridges I've had over the last 25 plus years, maybe 12-15?

    It doesn't matter what brand they are, they all die after 1-2 years. Yes, they are fairly easy to fix if you can find the parts.
     
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  3. special k

    special k Light Load Member

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    Sep 6, 2008
    Ontario Canada
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    I usually leave mine plugged in all week and my truck sits at 12 home at least 12 hours a a day. I get coolatrons and might have put in 6 fans in 20 years on 3 units. I'm lucky because they warehouse them close to me and have a company store for small parts. I have seen the fans at t/s though. I clean the lint out of the fan and heat exchanger periodically too. I keep mine in the bunk with the curtain and the bunk a/c on low . I think it works a lot better that way.
     
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  4. StayBusyTrucker

    StayBusyTrucker Medium Load Member

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    Mar 25, 2013
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    If its a coleman my last two trucks would not start right at the 12 hour mark.Thank goodness I have a auto start/stop. U button on this trk starts right up at the last minute.
     
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  5. mladen86

    mladen86 Medium Load Member

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    Aug 23, 2012
    Chicago,il
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    Few days ago i forgot to unplug my coleman,after almost 24 hours i came back to truck and started no problems.Batteries are more then 2 years old.
     
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  6. Cab Lizzard

    Cab Lizzard Light Load Member

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    May 16, 2011
    MIA
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    Been thinking of getting one of these. How cold are your drinks when you got the air on low and curtin closed ?
    Koolatron has them for easy pay on their web site.
     
  7. allan5oh

    allan5oh Road Train Member

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    Winnipeg, mb
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    A good quality fridge is a better bet, but that's not always an option. Maintenance is key here, batteries should be replaced every couple years anyways. If anything isn't working right any sort of draw at night will kill the batteries quickly.
     
  8. Giltner1

    Giltner1 Light Load Member

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    Apr 13, 2012
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    I run the fridge that comes with the truck and also a plug in 40 qt Coleman cooler, it drains the batteries, within 6 hrs. And I drive a 2013, the batteries are the gel type.
     
  9. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    What else is in your truck that stays on ALL the time , clocks , qualacom ?
     
  10. MoGooder

    MoGooder Light Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2013
    Kenosha, WI
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    Some trucks have a 3 battery system and some trucks have a 4 battery system. I never had a problem with a 4 battery system running a cooler, CPAP and QualComm on a 10 hour break.
     
  11. Cswann1

    Cswann1 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 31, 2012
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    Agreed. You can't take these coolers and just plug them in and forget them. They require some attention. I have mine riding shotgun in the passenger seat with the business end sitting right in front of my AC vents. If I don't unplug it periodically it'll freeze my stuff. Also, you need to defrost the heatsink that is inside. If you reach under the plastic grille you can feel it and see if it's caked up with ice/frost. Place a folded paper towel under it and unplug for a couple of hours. Once the ice is melted I take the wet paper towel and clean the floor with it :D
     
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