Anyone tried using a portable 12v cooler in your plane?

[Jack Allison]

While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
volt electric coolers designed for use in a car and I started wondering
if anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work?
Any issues with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not
having to deal with ice?

Thanks!

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RK Henry]

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:37:42 -0800, Jack Allison
> wrote:

>While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
>volt electric coolers designed for use in a car and I started wondering
>if anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work?
> Any issues with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not
>having to deal with ice?

I used one in my Warrior once or twice. This was a Koolatron. As
nearly as I could tell, it worked just as well in the air as it did in
a car. Strapped it down in the baggage compartment and threaded the
cord up front to the lighter socket. You just need to make sure the
vents are clear so it can get cooling air. It doesn't appear to make
any electrical noise that might constitute a hazard to radio
navigation. DC current flows through the semiconductor thermoelectric
device and the small electric fan is very quiet, both electrically and
audibly. There appear to be no problems at all.

If there's an AC converter then it will keep your stuff cool (or warm,
if it's reversible) indefinitely while in a hotel room. No extra
weight for ice or water. No pouring off water or spilling water all
over everything. No water dripping from whatever you take out of it.
No chasing around looking for replacement ice. It works better if it's
pre-cooled though and it can take quite a while for it to cool down a
load of room-temperature sodas, but if they're already cold it'll do
fine keeping them that way. That's where the AC converter can help,
you can start it cooling down the night before you leave.

This assumes that the electrical system is 12 volt. For a 24 volt
airplane you'd probably have to work something out. I suppose if the
lighter socket is already powering a computer or GPS then that might
also be an issue.

RK Henry

[Nathan Young]

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:37:42 -0800, Jack Allison
> wrote:

>While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
>volt electric coolers designed for use in a car and I started wondering
>if anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work?
> Any issues with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not
>having to deal with ice?

I would check the current draw on the cooler. Coleman lists their
PowerChill40 at 4 amps @ 12V. Most cig lighters on light GA have ~ a
5 amp circuit breaker, so not much margin.

Also, I have spent some time messing with peltier coolers. The unit
that I had required about 50% higher current than steady state during
initial temperature ramp.

-Nathan

[Paul kgyy]

How many cans of beer do you consume per hour of flight?

[Ben Hallert]

Like the boaters, just hang a mesh bag full of soda out your window.
You can secure it to your seat with some rope, about 20-30 feet should
be enough to dangle the drinks beneath and below your aircraft for wind
maximum cooling.

Don't forget to retract it before landing or any heavy maneuvering,
otherwise adverse reactions may occur.

Ben Hallert
PP-ASEL

[xyzzy]

Jack Allison wrote:

> While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
> volt electric coolers designed for use in a car and I started wondering
> if anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work?
> Any issues with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not
> having to deal with ice?

I've used one in a car before and not been real impressed with the
cooling capacity.

[john smith]

In article om>,
"Paul kgyy" > wrote:

> How many cans of beer do you consume per hour of flight?

I was going to say it doesn't keep the six pack of beer cold enough. ;-)

[Ben Jackson]

On 2005-11-03, Jack Allison > wrote:
> While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
> volt electric coolers designed for use in a car and I started wondering
> if anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work?

I got one for plane use, but never actually used it for fear of draining
the battery by forgetting to turn it off. I also don't take many flights
where ice is insufficient. My experience using it with the AC power
supply is that it will not cool down warm cans -- it will only keep cold
cans cold. A good icepack will keep your drinks cold durin a layover,
but I suspect the mini fridge will just let them warm up and then be
unable to chill them.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Jack Allison]

john smith wrote:

> I was going to say it doesn't keep the six pack of beer cold enough. ;-)
When compared to MontBlack's PMC, *nothing* keeps beverages of any sort
cold enough. So, Paul...care to enlighten us on PMC v2.0? Wheels?
Hinged lid? Padded seat on the top? All of the above? :-)


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jack Allison]

Ben Hallert wrote:
> Like the boaters, just hang a mesh bag full of soda out your window.
> You can secure it to your seat with some rope, about 20-30 feet should
> be enough to dangle the drinks beneath and below your aircraft for wind
> maximum cooling.
Hmmm, didn't consider this as one of the disadvantages of a low wing :-)
Well, that and the storm window on a piper would be a one can at a
time deal.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Montblack]

("Jack Allison" wrote)
> When compared to MontBlack's PMC, *nothing* keeps beverages of any sort
> cold enough. So, Paul...care to enlighten us on PMC v2.0? Wheels? Hinged
> lid? Padded seat on the top? All of the above? :-)


Padded seat is a must. PMC used too often as a table - then you have to move
everything ...

Wheels are also a must.

I've given in, a drain will be added too.

PMC will be white next year.

Hinged lid? If I can do it without ruining 'the casket's' Fred Flintstone
lines, sure.

Now, about PMC v2.0 ...Think composites - oops, I've said too much.


Montblack

[john smith]

In article >,
Jack Allison > wrote:

> Ben Hallert wrote:
> > Like the boaters, just hang a mesh bag full of soda out your window.
> > You can secure it to your seat with some rope, about 20-30 feet should
> > be enough to dangle the drinks beneath and below your aircraft for wind
> > maximum cooling.
> Hmmm, didn't consider this as one of the disadvantages of a low wing :-)
> Well, that and the storm window on a piper would be a one can at a
> time deal.

Don't forget the broomstick you need to stick out the window to keep the
cans from banging against the fuselage as you haul it in.
Ah, the joys of high wing flying! Just open the door and haul in the
rope!

[Darrel Toepfer]

Jim Burns wrote:

>>Wheels are also a must.
>
> Don't limit your imagination, oh king of the garage sale!!!
>
> pickup an old battery powered wheel chair or one of those dreaded electric
> scooter then make the PMC a mobile party pack!

Maybe the BBQ thieves could get zzoooms?

[Jim Burns]

> Wheels are also a must.

Don't limit your imagination, oh king of the garage sale!!!

pickup an old battery powered wheel chair or one of those dreaded electric
scooter then make the PMC a mobile party pack!

Jim

[Mark Hansen]

On 11/4/2005 09:25, Jim Burns wrote:

>> Wheels are also a must.
>
> Don't limit your imagination, oh king of the garage sale!!!
>
> pickup an old battery powered wheel chair or one of those dreaded electric
> scooter then make the PMC a mobile party pack!
>
> Jim
>
>

Don't stop there. A little robotics and you could make it act like
a puppy and follow you around the area.


--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
Sacramento, CA

[George Patterson]

Mark Hansen wrote:

> Don't stop there. A little robotics and you could make it act like
> a puppy and follow you around the area.

A little ingenuity in the design of the drain, and it'll even be able to pee on
fire hydrants.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Jim Burns]

Just so it don't hump our legs! (it would shake up the beer)
Jim

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:dxNaf.46$w_6.33@trndny09...
> Mark Hansen wrote:
>
> > Don't stop there. A little robotics and you could make it act like
> > a puppy and follow you around the area.
>
> A little ingenuity in the design of the drain, and it'll even be able to
pee on
> fire hydrants.
>
> George Patterson
> Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your
neighbor.
> It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.

[Newps]

Mark Hansen wrote:
> On 11/4/2005 09:25, Jim Burns wrote:
>
>>> Wheels are also a must.
>>
>>
>> Don't limit your imagination, oh king of the garage sale!!!
>>
>> pickup an old battery powered wheel chair or one of those dreaded
>> electric
>> scooter then make the PMC a mobile party pack!
>>
>> Jim
>>
>>
>
> Don't stop there. A little robotics and you could make it act like
> a puppy and follow you around the area.
>

You can get a golf pull cart that is battery powered. You attach a
device about the size of a garage door opener remote control to your
belt and the cart follows you wherever you go, at whatever distance you
want it.

[Montblack]

("Newps" wrote)
> You can get a golf pull cart that is battery powered. You attach a
> device about the size of a garage door opener remote control to your
> belt and the cart follows you wherever you go, at whatever distance you
> want it.


You turn around and the thing is empty! What the #%^*?


Montblack -- "Heal"

[Montblack]

("Montblack" wrote)
> Montblack -- "Heal"

"Heel"

Montlack
No chew toy for me tonight.

[Jack Allison]

A drain...nice touch. As this is an aviation event related cooler, I'm
assuming it would be a "quick drain".

Thought of another one: bottle opener mounted to the side. Heck, this
sub-thread could be a post of it's own...something along the lines of
"Hey gang, what features for PMC v2.0?"

Nice to see we can keep you busy with a winter project. Hehe, I like
the composite idea.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[soxinbox]

I have used these in my car before. The cheap models are built in china, and
are almost to scary to use in my car. The cord wires are usually undersized,
and the connectors are extremely cheap. Bottom line is the wires and
connectors can overheat in normal use. Do you want to trust your life to the
skill of a $2 a day child laborer in his/her 10th straight hour of work.
Sounds like an Apollo 1 scenario waiting to happen.

"Jack Allison" > wrote in message
...
> While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
> volt electric coolers designed for use in a car and I started wondering if
> anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work? Any
> issues with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not having to
> deal with ice?
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Jack Allison
> PP-ASEL-IA Student
> Arrow N2104T
>
> "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
> with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
> you will always long to return"
> - Leonardo Da Vinci
>
> (Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[JJS]

"Jack Allison" > wrote in message ...
> While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12 volt electric coolers designed for use in
> a car and I started wondering if anyone has used one in your plane? If so, how good/bad did it work? Any issues
> with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not having to deal with ice?
>
We bought one before we took a camping trip to Colorado last August. Don't waste your money. We returned ours. It
was a Coleman. They recommended that you do not use ice in it and the 12V cooling was pitiful.




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[Howard Nelson]

"JJS" <jschneider@remove socks cebridge.net> wrote in message
...
>
> "Jack Allison" > wrote in message
...
> > While cruising through Wal-Mart this evening, I saw a couple of those 12
volt electric coolers designed for use in
> > a car and I started wondering if anyone has used one in your plane? If
so, how good/bad did it work? Any issues
> > with the plane's electrical system? Was it worth not having to deal
with ice?
> >
> We bought one before we took a camping trip to Colorado last August.
Don't waste your money. We returned ours. It
> was a Coleman. They recommended that you do not use ice in it and the 12V
cooling was pitiful.
>
I have one also. I think the specs are that it will keep the insides approx
20 degrees F cooler than the outside. We used it on a summer road trip. OAT
was about 100F so inside of the cooler was 80F. Took several hours to reach
that level. Inside the car with A/C on it would keep butter from melting but
that was about it.

Howard