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FAQs
What level of cooling performance can we expect
from a Koolatron cooler?
A
Koolatron cooler can maintain its contents at a temperature
approximately 40 to 45 Fahrenheit (22 to 25 Celcius) degrees lower
than the temperature of the surrounding air. It is best to load
pre-cooled food or drinks into the cooler. As a rule of thumb, it
takes about one hour per pound of material loaded into the cooler to
bring it from room temperature down to maximum cold. At a
temperature of 80 deg.F (27 deg.C.) the contents of the cooler can
be maintained at approximately 38 deg.F (3 deg.C) (Normal household
refrigerators are usually maintained at 45 to 48 deg.F. (7 to 9
deg.C). At a temperature of 90 deg.F (32 deg.C.) the contents of the
cooler can be maintained at approximately 48 deg.F (9 deg.C).
Can a Koolatron cooler freeze and
make ice cubes?
The Koolatron
cooler was designed to function as a cooler and does not have ice
cube facilities. Operating in an air temperature below 65 degrees F.
the contents could become frozen slowly or frozen foods could be
kept solid for some time. Most Koolatrons are not thermostatically
controlled and run at maximum cold. ......( ask about the Koolatron
“Arcti-Kool Freezer”, model F86 ) ((Specialty coolers with
thermostatic controls are available for Medical, Scientific and
other Premium applications))
What
temperatures can be expected from the Koolatron cooler in Heater
mode?
Temperatures in the range of
130 to 140 deg.F ( 54.4 to 60 deg.C). This is hot enough to bring
hot food to a pot luck dinner or a picnic. Practice safe food
handling wisdom and do not keep food in the Koolatron on Heater mode
for longer than about 45 minutes. These temperatures are in the
prime bacterial growth range so it is very dangerous to store foods
at these temperatures for long periods of time. If you have a long
way to go, bring the food refrigerated and cook it at the
destination.
If you need dedicated Heater Boxes, Koolatron
can provide these (with no cooling capability) ranging in
temperature up to 160 Degrees Fahrenheit ( 71 Degrees Celcius). At
the upper temperatures these are used for “Seniors” meal delivery
programs, or School meal programs. Mid range Heater Boxes are used
as portable incubators for rare animals or for incubating medical
swab cultures on the way to the lab. Lower heat settings are used to
keep utility workers mitts warm or for storing construction
adhesives in winter so they can be dispensed in cold weather. (Super
precise temperature holding is available)
How much power is consumed by your Koolatron
coolers?
Most of our current
production coolers consume 4.5 amps at 12 volts. The conversion is:
4.5 amps (X) times 12 volts (=) equals 54 watts. The P-9 consumes
only 3 amps. = ( 36 watts) On household current the power consumed
by each cooler is less than 1 amp at 120 Volts.
If my vehicle’s engine is turned off, how long can
I safely leave the cooler plugged into my cigarette lighter socket
before compromising the battery’s ability to start the vehicle?
The safe answer here is approximately 3 hours in most
situations. Actual conditions will vary depending upon the number of
electrical devices that have been switched on during the last part
of your drive (wipers, lights, blower, defogger, radio, cell phone,
aux heater, cooler and or other accessories) and what driving
conditions have just been experienced (high speed highway or stop
and go traffic).
Further limitations and factors are the
relative condition of the battery and it’s charging system as well
as season, temperature, and weather conditions. Under ideal
conditions a cooler could be run for many hours on just battery
power. Under the worst combination of conditions, accessories could
potentially deplete the battery in 10 to 20 minutes. Some vans have
10 or 12 bulbs lighted when the interior lights are on. Just these
lights can drain a battery below starting power in about 15 minutes,
without any other electrical device being present. Good judgement is
required when making the decision about whether or not to leave any
device plugged in while away from the car.
Sometimes I don’t know how long I will be away from the
vehicle,
how do I ensure that I have starting power when also
running a cooler ?
To completely
eliminate the burden of energy management, use a Battery Saver. It
allows you to leave the cooler plugged in PERMANENTLY. The Battery
Saver will automatically switch off the cooler when it senses that
the vehicle's battery has dropped below 11 volts. (That is about
half discharge in most vehicles). This will leave plenty of power to
start the engine. When the vehicle is started, the Battery Saver
reconnects the cooler and active cooling begins automatically. In
conditions where you expect the cooler will be switched off for
extended periods of time, do not store any foodstuffs in the cooler
that will go bad under these conditions. Stick to softdrinks and
bottled water which can be consumed at temperatures above
refrigeration range. How long does the cooler stay cool when
unplugged? This is very dependent upon conditions. Koolatron coolers
are extremely well insulated and will provide many hours of cool
protection, even when switched off. Try to keep the cooler in the
shade. Instead of leaving the cooler in a vehicle overnight, use an
AC adapter which converts standard 110 Volt AC power to 12 volts DC
and plug the cooler into mains power when not driving.
Is there any way to power the
Koolatron cooler while away from a vehicle?
Yes, we have a Koolatron Portable Power pak
that has a power socket which can be used to power a cooler or other
12V accessories. This unit has about 17 amp hours of capacity so
should run a cooler for 3 to 4 hours. It recharges at home or in
your vehicle. The Portable Power unit has booster cables attached so
can be used to start your vehicle in case the vehicle’s battery has
been drained. This unit also comes with a built in air compressor
for emergency inflation of tires and other air filled devices.
Can I put ice in my Koolatron
cooler?
Yes BUT not loose (any
water inside the cooler will splash up under the cooling fins and
short circuit the electronics). Put the ice in a sealed container,
NOT a plastic bag. That way you can use the ice for drinks and it
will help to rapidly cool the contents on really hot days. Keep the
ice container at the opposite end from the cooling fins. This way
your contents get the benefit of two cold sources and you are not
blocking the interior air circulation.
Can I put the cooler in the trunk of my car?
NOT recommended. The coolers give
off heat externally while cooling. If this heat is shed into a
closed space like a trunk, it will eventually heat up that space.
These coolers need good ventilation to cool properly.
How do I calculate the volume capacity of my
cooler?
Put the cooler in the
chest position. At the halfway point in depth measure the inside
length, width and height in centimeters. Multiply these three
dimensions by each other. This will yield so many cubic centimetres.
One cubic centimetre is equivalent to 1 millilitre. Divide your
cubic centimetres (millilitres) by 1000 and you now have the
capacity in Litres. Multiply litres by 1.0567 and you will have the
capacity in U.S.Quarts. OR multiply litres by 0.881 to get Imperial
Quarts.
If I need Warranty work
performed or need spare parts, how do we arrange this?
In North America call 1-800-265-8456 or
e-mail to service@koolatron.com Mention your location, model of
cooler and problem and/or parts required. If you don’t know the
model number, measure length width and height so we can identify the
cooler. We have factory service centres at the following
addresses:
Canada Koolatron
27 Catharine Ave.
Brantford, Ont.
Canada N3T 1X5 1-800-265-8456
U.S.A.
Koolatron
4331 Commerce Ct.
Batavia N.Y. 14021 U.S.A. 1-800-265-8456
U.K. Koolatron Europe
Unit
C3, Knights Park,
Knight Road, Strood,
Rochester, Kent ME2
2LS. U.K.
Phone 44-1634-297383 Fax 44-1634-297374
Is there any time limitation on running the
cooler on the AC adapter while in the house, office or dormitory?
These units are designed to run
24/7. Make sure that there is good air circulation to the cooler
vents and for the adapter. This will assure long life for both.
Can we use a battery charger to
operate a Koolatron cooler?
No,
not directly. When plugged into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter
receptacle, a battery charger can be connected to the vehicles
battery to keep it "topped up" while the Koolatron is running.
Are there any concerns with long
term full time operation?
Do not
place the adapter on carpeting since this tends to block the airflow
up through the bottom of the case. Instead, put it on a brick or
tile or other smooth surface. Every few months the external fins may
accumulate dust to the point of blocking the airflow. Take off the
end panel and vacuum and brush away any dust on these fins and fan.
The internal fins may accumulate frost and ice occasionally during
operation (frequently during humid weather). To defrost, simply
reverse the current by unplugging the power cord from the small
pigtail cord near the base of the cooler and replug putting the red
mark to the arrow putting the unit into heater mode. The ice should
melt off in 2 to 3 minutes. Remove any ice that falls off and wipe
up any melt water.
MAKE SURE TO REPLUG INTO COOLER MODE
OTHERWISE YOU WILL COOK THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE UNIT.
Why does my cooler work on the AC
adapter but not in the vehicle?
Some vehicles do not have power to their cigarette
lighter sockets when the ignition is off. If the vehicle is running
and the relevant fuse is good but the cooler still will not run then
get the cigarette lighter socket tested.
Why does my cooler work in the vehicle but not on the AC
adapter?
Make sure the AC adapter
is plugged in. Check with a multi-meter to determine if there is at
least a 12 volt DC output voltage from the Adapter.
Can we use an AC Adapter other than
the one supplied by Koolatron?
Not recommended and may void warranty.
What should I check for if the
cooler is not running at all?
1.Are both ends of the power cord
plugged in?
2.Is there power coming from the socket or
adapter being used.
3.Check for kinks, knots or other damage to
the power cord.
Is it allowable to
use a 12 volt extension cord to run the cooler further away than the
10 foot factory cord will reach?
This is NOT recommended. There is a voltage drop in
long cords so cooling performance will be degraded.
Is a Koolatron cooler strong enough to sit on?
In most cases yes, but it's not a
good practice as a heavy person could warp the lid thus affecting
the seal and the cooling performance of the unit.
What are some common complaints and
how do we deal with these?
The Coolers are too cold and tend to freeze
things inside: Move the cooler to a slightly warmer area of the
home, office or dormitory room. Leave the lid open slightly (say
by putting a pencil between the body and lid) ((this may necessitate
more frequent defrostings)) Unplug the cooler for a period of time
each day. Stand the cooler up into the fridge position. Cold air
will leak out the bottom of the door and cooling performance will
be less.
The cooler is not cold enough:
Place the cooler in chest position so the cold
air stays inside. Make sure it has an ample power source. A weak
power adapter or low voltage in the vehicle can cause decreased
cooling performance. The fan must be running and all air vents internally
and externally must have free access to air. Do not park the air
vents up against curtains, walls or other obstructions. Make sure
the fins inside and outside are free of ice and dust.
If you have an questions not answered here,
drop an e-mailto service@koolatron.com
or call our toll free number 1-800-265-8456. Our operators
are very knowledgeable, very friendly and will be happy to assist
you.
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