Coleman Powerchill

[AZsix]

Does anyone have a Coleman Powerchill? I saw one tonight at Wal Mart. Not a bad option to a cooler if you are camping with electric hookup or you can even plug into your cig. lighter. I had a refrig. in my truck when I used to run over the road and I got nervous letting it run for more than 24 hours without running the truck. I don't know what kind of drain this would put on a TV.

I would be interested to hear any feedback.

BTW it was about $40 cheaper at Wally World than it was at Colemans website.

[AustinBoston]

Does anyone have a Coleman Powerchill? I saw one tonight at Wal Mart. Not a bad option to a cooler if you are camping with electric hookup or you can even plug into your cig. lighter. I had a refrig. in my truck when I used to run over the road and I got nervous letting it run for more than 24 hours without running the truck. I don't know what kind of drain this would put on a TV.

I would be interested to hear any feedback.

BTW it was about $40 cheaper at Wally World than it was at Colemans website.

For camping purposes, we were not impressed with the one we had.  We gave it away.

The important thing to keep in mind is that they cool to 40

[beacher]

I purchased the one at Wallyworld, (it includes the AC adapter), two years ago.

I tried it on a trip to the High Sierras, an eight hour drive from my home in Long Beach.  Well, I can report that there were no dead batteries, and I didn't buy any ice!  However, it worked just like AustinBoston said.  As long as the A/C in the TV was cranking at a comfortable 75-80 degrees, the Powerchill did it's thing.  However, when the sun was hitting the side of the TV where the Powerchill was packed, it's performance dropped accordingly.  With full hookups you can use the AC adapter and it will keep things 40 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature, (which is not saying much in the High Sierras in July at 101F degrees)!!

End Result?  I use it as my office refrigerator at work where the building A/C is always kept at 75 degrees.  It works fine in an air conditioned office for keeping water, sodas, sandwiches, and lunch leftovers cold!

I was considering the Dometic RC4000 which is a three-way refrigerator just like the one in the PopUp.  Or, the Coleman Stirling model.  That was until I purchased a Coleman 50 quart wheeled Ultimate Extreme cooler for $40 on sale at Sports Authority.  If you pre-chill it like the instructions say to a block of ice really does last six days! :U

[GemmySan]

...That was until I purchased a Coleman 50 quart wheeled Ultimate Extreme cooler for $40 on sale at Sports Authority. If you pre-chill it like the instructions say to a block of ice really does last six days! :U

I am on my second season with the Ultimate Extreme Coleman 50 qt cooler and I could not be more pleased.  I believe the Ultimate is everything that the Extreme lacks.
 
 July 06 - 6 days with temps in excess of 95 and one at 102 degrees.  I pre cool with frozen blocks a day ahead. Place all frozen food on top of the blocks (quart size milk cartons qty 4) then place a 20lb bag of ice on top of that - some juggling maybe required depending on quantity of food.  Limit access to cooler to early a.m. and try to only open 1 time a day.  I also have a Gizmo Cooler Cover for the 50qt and place the cooler in the shade if possible.  Results after 6 days:  I still had ice in the bag and milk cartons.
 
 Don't confuse the Ultimate Extreme with the Extreme.  I am very well pleased with ours and I don't leave home without it.

[D-mo]

I dont have a "powerchill" but I have a "koolatron" ...which I think .. may basically be a similar unit.  We first started to use it when these things were first released .. back in the mid 90's ... and we found if you pre-froze all your meats, (including wieners)  and kept the little monster inside PUP it would do quite well.  Our meats would remain frozen for 3 days/keeping the other stuff nice and chilled in really warm weather.

d-mo

[OC Campers]

We have the Igloo version of the Power Chill.  I bought off of E-bay 2 years ago.  We use it only when we have hookups.  It works vell except when it is hot outside.  It cools 20 degrees lower than the outside temp.  If it is cooler outside we have had thngs freeze.   But if it is hot outside we bring it inside the popup and all is fine.  It is really nice not having to buy ice and it is a lot easier to locate things in it.  Another nice thing about it is I can pre-load it.  I plug it in at home and as I buy fridge items I stick them in the electric cooler instead of grocery bags inside our big fridge.  

When in transport, we put the cooler in the back of the truck and run it off the trailer batery.    We have also used it for partoes at home.  Fill it with cold beer and soda and it works great.
 
Jacqui

[wavery]

We have the Igloo version of the Power Chill.  I bought off of E-bay 2 years ago.  We use it only when we have hookups.  It works vell except when it is hot outside.  It cools 20 degrees lower than the outside temp.  If it is cooler outside we have had thngs freeze.   But if it is hot outside we bring it inside the popup and all is fine.  It is really nice not having to buy ice and it is a lot easier to locate things in it.  Another nice thing about it is I can pre-load it.  I plug it in at home and as I buy fridge items I stick them in the electric cooler instead of grocery bags inside our big fridge.  

When in transport, we put the cooler in the back of the truck and run it off the trailer batery.    We have also used it for partoes at home.  Fill it with cold beer and soda and it works great.
 
Jacqui

Ditto

The only difference is, we will run ours on 12V if we are just doing a 2-day weekend. (We have 2- 29 series batteries).

BTW Jacqui......I didn't know that you are Sveedish.. :p

[fritz_monroe]

I'm happy with ours, but you do have to know its limitations.  I only use it for transit or when we have hookups.  I also don't use it if it is too hot out.  Most of the time, we keep drinks in it.  I wouldn't trust meat in it.  I doubt that I'd buy it again.

We also have an Igloo Extreme Ice Cube.  It is awesome.  If I was going to buy another cooler, I would definately buy this one again.  I put 2 frozen milk jugs in it and I've always come home with them still partially frozen.  3 or 4 day weekends are no problem for this cooler.

[AZsix]

I dont have a "powerchill" but I have a "koolatron" ...which I think .. may basically be a similar unit.  We first started to use it when these things were first released .. back in the mid 90's ... and we found if you pre-froze all your meats, (including wieners)  and kept the little monster inside PUP it would do quite well.  Our meats would remain frozen for 3 days/keeping the other stuff nice and chilled in really warm weather.

d-mo

I used to have a "koolatron" years ago when I owned my tractor trailer and it didn't have a refrig. I did really well. Do they still make them?

Thanks to all that have replied regarding the powerchill. I think I will sink my money into an ultimate cooler.

[OC Campers]

Ditto
 
The only difference is, we will run ours on 12V if we are just doing a 2-day weekend. (We have 2- 29 series batteries).
 
BTW Jacqui......I didn't know that you are Sveedish.. :p

Nope no swede in me.  Just bad typing:D :p .
 
Jacqui

[D-mo]

yep .. still sell them up here in Canada.  I upgraded mine and installed a new higher velocity fan that was available after my origional - rinky - dinky fan gave up.   The  new fan is like a computer fan ... alot quieter and much more efficient.
you could try ebay ... they are occasionally there .

d-mo

[Mike Up]

I'm on my second powerchill. The transformer didn't give, but the cooling mechanism in the cooler itself did. I didn't have a receipt or anything and Coleman replaced it with a new one. They even picked up the old. Coleman is a standup company for sure, even if some of their products are not.
 
 
I love it because I never have to buy ice. It's never got hotter than 50 inside it, but that similar to an ice cooler. I checked what my ice cooler read, and it was 50 degrees with 2 ice blocks in it! So I'm not doing any worse off. Also, if you don't have a refrigerator coil cooling fan, you're likely around 46 degrees on your standard refrigerator also. Only after I added the fan, was I getting 40 and below on hot days.
 
Just keep your powerchill under a bunk, or anywhere out of the sun and you'll do good. I keep my beverages in it, under the awning, while I keep all my meat and dairy in my refrigerator.
 
Also keep in mind if you keep opening the door or adding warm pop to the powerchill, you'll take the temp up. Do it gradually and give it time to cool back down and you'll be in good shape.
 
The biggest problem was that the first didn't even last 1 year. I hope the second does. The first was black with a silver door. The replacement is black with a gold door. Hopefully it's the new and improved powerchill.
 
Also watch out for the portable Dometic 3 way fridges, the RC3000 and RC4000. The 3000 is 35 quarts (1.24 CF) and the 4000 is 33 quarts (1.17 CF). The Powerchill is 40 quarts (1.42 CF). A small PUP fridge is only 1.9 CF so those portable Dometic fridges are 'small'.
 
Have a good one.