What is a compressor cool box?

- The coolest way to save space on board -

Compressor coolers are ideal for campers, sailors, and road users. They are suitable for use on sailboats and motorboats, as well as in automobiles, trucks, motorhomes, and caravans. They not only cool quickly but also keep food cool for long periods of time due to their well-insulated sides. Most compressor coolboxes have a built-in carrying handle and are lightweight. 

How much energy does a compressor cool box consume?

The energy use of a compressor cool box

A 12 or 24-volt cigarette lighter can be used to connect coolboxes to your on-board power supply. Many models are also compatible with 230 volt shore power. The current drain of a compressor coolbox is affected by a variety of external factors, including location, time of year, and ambient temperature. Consult the information on the energy consumption label if you want to keep your food and drinks cool for an extended period of time (European Union energy label). All of our coolers include information on annual power consumption and efficiency class.

Do you want a cool box to go outdoors with or take with you on short boat trips that does not need to be connected to a power source? For short trips, we also offer affordable passive boxes that use a thermal pack and keep your food cool without any electricity at all. Take a look.

How do compressor coolers work?

A camping compressor fridge that is also suitable for taking on board

Compressor coolers are similar to home refrigerators and can even freeze food and drinks. To achieve cooling, a compressor is used to apply pressure to a refrigerant gas, which turns into liquid at extremely high temperatures.

The gas is heated and the resulting heat is released into the environment. Because it is under pressure, the gas cools and turns into a liquid. Lowering the pressure causes the coolant to evaporate and the gas to absorb heat from the surrounding environment, cooling the interior of the compressor cooler. These cool boxes can reach temperatures as low as -18 °C regardless of the ambient temperature.

The closed cooling circuit returns the coolant to the compressor and the cycle starts again. Compressor coolers can be operated regardless of their ambient temperature.

Which compressor cool box should I buy?

Want a cooler that is suitable for motorhomes, powerful, easy to use, and quiet? Find out which model is best for you in our SVB Cooler Test 2022. We have compared a number of marine ice boxes that are also perfect as cool boxes for car trips and camping. Popular products such as the MOBICOOL MCF-40, MCF32, DOMETIC CoolFreeze CFX-50 or the ENGEL compressor cooler MT45F-S compete in our SVB Coolbox Test 2022 - for boats, camping and cars. You'll find the ideal model for your needs thanks to our in-depth comparison.