A portable fridge is a storage chest that regulates its internal temperature with the help of an external power source. Unlike a conventional cooler, a portable fridge does not depend on ice or refrigerated packs to maintain its contents cool.
Compression cooling and thermoelectric refrigeration are the primary technologies powering portable refrigerators and freezers. Meanwhile, you won’t include the third technology (permeation refrigeration) because it’s less common through mobile models and doesn’t work unless it’s perfectly level.
For the most part, an ice-cold cooler will suffice. On the other hand, buying a portable fridge online is better if you want to keep stuff cool and fresh for several days or need precise temperature control. As such, portable refrigerators are particularly popular among:
- Anyone who wants to use their fridge as just a warming mechanism (more about that below).
- Campers who would like to eat healthily in the woods.
- Hosts of outdoor parties who don’t want to deal with the frozen ground to chill drinks.
- Families on vacation who keep fragile snacks on hand for car trips.
People on road trips will require a large refrigerator to serve perishable foods on a hot day, and anyone who wishes to stay their beauty products or a few drinks chilled on their counter.
What Are Portable Compressor Refrigerators and How Do They Work?
In compressor refrigerators, a pump transports refrigerant fluid to a high-pressure condensing chamber located outside the refrigerated compartment. After that, the fluid passes through a narrow valve and into a low-pressure evaporator located inside the refrigerator compartment. When the liquid in the condenser is pressured, it heats up and escapes into the outer chamber, releasing it into the air. The temperature then drops as the fluid passes into the pressure drop evaporator. The fluid circulates between the two, keeping the cold indoors while spreading the hot air outside.
Advantages of Portable Refrigerators
Portability
Sure, it’s self-evident, but it’s also the main attraction. It’s fantastic to get a device that you can take on the road and use to make camping more convenient.
Control
You can’t control the temperature if you unload ice into a cooler. Meanwhile, when you buy a portable fridge online, most probably it will have temperature control, so you can keep meat fresh or frozen yoghurt frozen while also chilling a beer.
There Is No Melted Ice
Coolers are great for drinks, but they’re not so great for sandwiches or other foods that need to stay dry. But with portable refrigerators, there are no such problems.
What to Check for in a Travel Refrigerator
In the end, the sort of technology you choose is less significant than the refrigerator itself. So, choose a device that meets your storage, durability, and power requirements. And when comparison shopping, keep the following in mind:
Weight
Is it necessary to lift this equipment into and out of small spaces? Will you be transporting it to a distant area, or will it remain in your truck at all times?
Source of Energy
Most portable refrigerators have multiple AC and DC power adapters but always double-check since you don’t want to pack for a trip only to discover you’re missing a plug.
Durability/Warranty
Some designs are more resistant to damage than others. So, if feasible, examine a sample at a store or from some other camper, then be open about the demands you’ll place on it.