My only big purchase of the season. Electric Cool box from go outdoors an Outwell 24L. Just switched on for a play to see how quiet it is. Not too bad really. Just need to rinse it out to eradicate that plasticy smell. Read instructions Cool it first, best to really chill food for the best effect, Before putting food in, for the coolbox to become really cold.
So is it still best to put frozen water ect for optimum usage?
Heather
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
We have that model and are very happy with it. It was purchased to replace a Kampa box that started to get very noisy after a couple of trips and so far (nearly 2 years) it is still nice and quiet.
We don't bother with frozen bottles or anything like that but just chill everything before it goes in. Switch it on a couple of hours before use and make sure you set it to cold and not hot! (Don't ask me how I know that ).
They recommend that you switch it off for an hour after every 48 hours continuous use. We do this first thing in the morning when the outside temperature is usually at its lowest. We keep some bubble wrap to put on top of the food to ensure everything stays cool during this time.
------------- Regards,
Richard
2011
May: Crowborough (*****)
June: Oldbury Hill (*****)
July: Rother Valley (*)
August: Gate Lodge (Cancelled)
September: Graffham
I have had one of these now for 5 years and it's been brilliant. Unfortunately, last week in Cornwall towards the end of the week, it finally gave up the ghost. I can't grumble really as it's been a faithful servant. I have ordered another from Go Outdoors. You get what you pay for and it's excellent for our needs. I need to get another before I go camping to Boroughbridge in a couple of weeks time.
i took one back last week as ive decided to buy a fridge for the awning as opposed to this, seeing as how it will only chill to -20c so if its 35.c it will only chill to 15.c not really good for anything
Thank you for your replies folks. I'm pleased that I have had feedback from personal experience of this product. Thanks for the tips Richard, espeacially with the bubble wrap great idea.
Do you chill your foods by just putting in the fridge or into freezer but only to really chill the food rather than freeze. Sorry if it sounds daft.
Mantrachant, thats where I bought my coolbox from Go Outdoors in Stockport, they had them at a reduced price. I thought it would be a good investment. I had a look at the Aldi one, but I did like the additional features of the Outwell.
Sheffgrow, I did toy with the idea of a mini fridge, but I had to think of the practicalities. The coolbox suit my needs the best, because of space and also I can run it on the car battery en route to campsite ect.
Hey, that's a good question. Mine is still in . I didn't know it had to be removed. I thought at the time it looked a bit 'unfinished' and unsightly. Been camping with it twice now with the polystyrene in! Will have to get OH to have a look!
I've just bought one, although it's in the retro orange and brown colour. I've been testing it, and after an hour of being on in the house, it's still only 10C less than the outside temperature. It's supposed to have a performance that cools it between 18C - 25C less than the outside temperature. Is this only if I put in cool food? or have I got a duff one?
Oooaaa, I did'nt notice any polystyren, it seemed fine. It ran very quietly. My sister said everything was still cold. I used bubble wrap. chilled food before going into the coolbox. When I use it again I will test it for it's temprature. But I have mislaid the instrunction. Doooh.
I've sent mine back, as I tested it again, and after 2 hours it was only cooling it down 8C. I'm not impressed with the place that I bought it from, as they say they have to check it before they give me my money back. Never offered me another one and now I'm left without a coolbox for the holiday. I've never had that before, they ususally offer to replace it without any checking etc.
To be fair an electric cool-box is what it is, but one thing that it is not is a fridge.
So for keeping meats and dairy etc at safe fridge temperatures, you really do need to get a fridge.
A cool-box is fine for keeping beers/wine and soft drinks etc chilled, but imho that is about the limit for any cool-box.
If you need 12v/24v and mains capability, and you wan't fridge type performance, over and above that of a 3 way camping fridge.
Then it's best to go for a portable compressor fridge.
We have been running a little Waeco Cool-freeze CF25 since 2008, and it has been a little belter, and still is.
Even when in France and Temps have hit +55Deg C in the car, the little Waeco has kept everything chilled and safe.
This year, the Waeco was left running in the car 24/7 for 3 weeks whilst we were camping in the South East of France during July, with no ill effect to the car battery.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: just bought Outwell 24L Coolbox
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