Can cooling box kill the battery?

ICE, Equipment, Options
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Doctor Zoidberg
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Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by Doctor Zoidberg »

I’ve recently bought 12V cooling box (a fridge) for my car. So now I’m wondering is it safe for my battery to keep it working when I’m not driving? Also my Qashqai turns engine off on traffic lights. Does it mean this fridge would drain my battery faster or even kill it? Or Qashqai can control the usage of the battery and I don’t need to worry about it?

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gloucester
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Post by gloucester »

Surely it's obvious it will "drain the battery faster"?
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Deleted User 10757

Post by Deleted User 10757 »

Second that - cooling is a high current draw and if you are running an original troublesome battery then you will be stranded.

Try a cold box packed with ice
Qashowner
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Post by Qashowner »

Depends where it plugged in. Cool boxes, especially this weather, can have quite a drain on the battery, would be better to instal a relay so when ignition is off the cool box is also off. I once wired my own tow bar without a relay and my caravan fridge drained the battery in just over an hour, beware.
Past cars Mercedes B Class, S Class, E Class Estate, E Class Coupe, G Wagen, 260E interspersed with Peugeot 406 and Audi Coupe.
Doctor Zoidberg
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Post by Doctor Zoidberg »

I have to say that cooling box only sounds serious but it's just a box with a fan. It's not an AC. Nothing fancy really.
I am pretty sure that leaving it on with engine turned off would be a mistake, but on running engine... it's just a small fan afterall...
Qashowner
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Post by Qashowner »

Just googled one for sale at Halfords and it draws 3.5amps @12v, so not just a fan
Past cars Mercedes B Class, S Class, E Class Estate, E Class Coupe, G Wagen, 260E interspersed with Peugeot 406 and Audi Coupe.
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MikeGC
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Post by MikeGC »

I remember a neighbour buying a new Renault 5 in February 1986
He accidentally left the interior light on overnight.
That flattened the battery to the extent that he needed a push start in the morning on his way to work.
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xavpiq
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Post by xavpiq »

I think there's a management system to prevent battery drain. For example, infotainment is automatically switched off after some time when engine is not running. I guess the same occurs with 12V plugs.
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Qashowner
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Post by Qashowner »

xavpiq wrote: Thu Jul 21, 2022 11:44 am I think there's a management system to prevent battery drain. For example, infotainment is automatically switched off after some time when engine is not running. I guess the same occurs with 12V plugs.
Not sure about that, yes the radio turns off after about 20 minutes if you sit in the car and when you open the drivers door, but the little red light on my USB plug in stays lit. I haven't stayed looking for too long to see if that does go out when outside the car.
Past cars Mercedes B Class, S Class, E Class Estate, E Class Coupe, G Wagen, 260E interspersed with Peugeot 406 and Audi Coupe.
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