Can a Car Refrigerator Be Used at Home?
2 Answers
Car refrigerators can indeed be used at home. Here is some relevant information about car refrigerators: 1. Most car refrigerators currently available on the market are designed for dual use in both cars and homes, and they come with either a car power cord and a home power cord or a home voltage converter. It is worth noting that car refrigerators are divided into two main types: thermoelectric (semiconductor) and compressor-based. Among these, compressor-based car refrigerators are the most suitable for home use, as they employ traditional refrigerator technology, offering advantages such as large capacity and high cooling efficiency. However, they also have the drawback of being less portable when used in a car. 2. On the other hand, thermoelectric (semiconductor) car refrigerators are compact, capable of both cooling and heating, pollution-free, eco-friendly, and easy to carry. However, since they do not use refrigerant for cooling, their cooling efficiency is lower, and their performance can be affected by environmental conditions. For example, if the ambient temperature is 30 degrees Celsius, the car refrigerator can only achieve a temperature of 5-10 degrees Celsius, making it unsuitable for freezing.
I've tried using a car fridge as a temporary mini fridge at home, mainly for drinks and fruits. When going out, just unplug it from the car, and when back home, connect it to a power converter plugged into the wall. You can buy those 200-yuan converters online to transform 12V to 220V. It works decently, no problem chilling beers in summer, though it's noisier than a household fridge and has limited capacity—just enough for a few cans of drinks. Long-term use might consume more electricity, leading to higher bills, but it's quite handy for emergencies or storing food after picnics. Its compact size is perfect for singles or small families, taking up little space. Just be careful not to buy low-quality products, as the converter might overheat and cause a short circuit.