Customer Reviews

Koolatron Kool Auto Kaddy

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've had my Kool Kaddy for a couple of years now. I've always wanted an iceless cooler. I basically like it, but there are a couple of things you need to be aware of. I also have an Engel MT45 fridge and an Igloo marine cooler. They all have their place and I like them all. The Engel definitely outperforms them all but its $$$. Thus why a thermoelectric cooler can be a good choice. The issues are price, weight, temperature control and efficiency (current draw). Refrigeration style (Engel) is way more efficient and has temperature set point but also way more costly and heavier.

The thermoelectric coolers cool down an amount from the ambient....typically 35 to 40 degrees F. So if you're traveling in your air-conditioned car you should get down to 40 degrees or so. Just keep it out of the sun. They do take a couple of hours to get there depending on how cool your food was when you put it in. I have the AC-DC converter so I plug mine in at home while I'm packing to pre cool it.

The biggest issue with the thermoelectric cooler is the current draw....typically 3.2 amps @12V. If your traveling, then this type of cooler works great and 3.2 amps is no big deal for your alternator. And if staying in motels, you just take your cooler inside with your 12v adapter. If you are camping where the car isn't going to be driven, then you shouldn't leave it plugged in for more than overnight as you'll chance draining your car battery the next time you go to start the car. Sometimes I take a milk jug frozen with water to supplement the cooler for times when I have to leave it off when car isn't being driven. I also take jumper cables as I've left it on too long and the car wouldn't start and had to beg for a jump. Just beware of amp-hours being consumed when car engine is off.

The real pluses are that its a fairly light cooler (similar to regular ice coolers) and you don't have to feed it with ice all the time and you don't have water sloshing around in the bottom. It's also a fairly inexpensive cooler.

The cons are that its somewhat power hungry as thermoelectric technology isn't the most efficient. Also you have limited control with what temperature its at.....but so is the same problem when using ice. I have a thermometer in mine and so can periodically monitor the temperature. I think these thermoelectric coolers do a pretty good job. I've found the cooler works best if not 100% filled to the point that the fan area is somewhat blocked.

Product works fine and as expected. You should order the 110 Volt AC to 12 V DC power adapter (AC 15) with it to let it cool down in the night before you go on a trip.

I used this for the first time Christmas day and it kept everything as cold as my refrigerator. I plugged it into a wall outlet the night before and the temp got down to 34 degrees empty so when I loaded it up the next morning and drove for 3 hours everything was as cold as it was when I filled it.

This product worked very well. For its price it is well build and reliable. Amazon performed its normal two day deliver and we were on our way.

We used it for an auto trip and it provided continuous cooling without out any hassle. With its 40 degree cooling differential, we found that during our travels in New England in May we were able to keep items frozen in the bottom to bring home the following week.

Have been using this cooler on vacation trip and it's kept out food cold and fresh at all times. Easily plugs into the car. Great size for hauling a fair amount of food. However, be sure to check the dimensions because this is a large unit.

Like another reviewer my Koolatron with specified AC adaptor died after one night while pre-cooling beverages on AC current. I tried to see if it would run on one of my two Honda CRV DC accessory plugs but the cheaply made cooling fan was flat dead. Turned this baby into an expensive ice chest! The good news is I bought it thru Amazon and the return was practically hassle -free. I had thrown out the flimsy box it was shipped in and had to purchase one for the return. I will probably try another Koolatron model as I think the majority of reviewers had good experiences and the appealing concept of shedding melting ice cubes and blocks while on the road is worth another try.
Hopefully, it is not the hot running ozone smelling converter (See other reviews) toasting the fan or I am off to the Post Office again.

I was looking forward to using this on our camping vacation since the sites have electrical outlets. I added the AC converter to the order and tested the unit overnight when it arrived and it worked fine. Then, on the overnight cool down before leaving on vacation, it quit. No fan, no cooling, no heating, nothing. Tried it with the AC converter and then plugged into the 12V supply in the SUV, no luck. I write tech manuals for a living so I actually read them and I had followed all the instructions to the letter. The 2 page manual doesn't suggest any remedy so I will contact mfg for replacement.