Thermoelectric cool box
A thermoelectric cool box is an electric cool box with no compressor. It cools only a limited amount below the air around it, so it is less effective on a hot day than a compressor box.
Where you'll see it
Thermoelectric cool boxes are listed as electric cool boxes on product pages, often with a car plug, a mains plug or both. The maker's page should name the power supply and the conditions it suits. Campsite pages may mention hook-up in the same context, so check the site's stated supply before you rely on it.
What to check
- The power supply the maker names, such as a car socket, a mains hook-up or a battery.
- The cooling the maker states, and whether it suits the weather you expect, given that it cools only a limited amount below the surrounding air.
- The site's stated hook-up supply and the appliance's label before you plug in.
- That the cable and plug are made for outdoor hook-up, as the maker directs.
- Where it sits: in the shade and out of direct sun.
Related terms
- Cool box: the wider group of insulated boxes that keep food cold.
- Compressor cool box: the electric alternative that works like a small fridge.
- Hook-up: the campsite electricity supply that many electric boxes are plugged into.
Read more: Electric cool boxes explained (UK) and the electric cool box power calculator.