Re: koolatron 12v cooler drain my battery

lbbs wrote:
> I saw koolatron 12v cooler for the road.   Just wondering how many hours can
> you run on the battery before it could be damaging effect on the battery.

I have had one for several years.  I run it 4 or so hrs with my 550 cranking amp 
battery, and still start.  It will run for quite a while longer, but I haven't 
done it deliberately to find out how long. (!) When I replace I will get an 800 
or 850 CA battery, however many amp-hours that translates to.

In a previous vehicle, I used it for several years and the original battery 
lasted the expected
6-7 or so years.  Maybe it was 8 but I don't think so.  I did discharge that 
battery a number
of times with the Koolatron.

When on road trips or car-camping we run it nonstop, except overnight or when 
stopped for more than 3-4 hours.  We have had no significant effect on battery 
life, that we can tell.  And, in my climate we get clear notification of battery 
problems around this time every year, or maybe in another month when we get 
temps to -20 or -30.

It is quite econommical compared to using a cooler with ice.  On a three-week 
road trip it would be easy to spend $2 per day on ice, plus drowned food from 
the meltwater.  That is almost half of the cost of the Koolatron.  Another long 
trip, and a few camping trips, and it is paid for in ice not purchased.

Another trip and you can save enough onice to buy an AC/DC converter to plug it 
in when stopped overnight, or for extra cooling at home when getting ready for a 
party.

I am not putting in the cost of booster cables because you already have them.

GaryJ