​​Could a Portable Electric Cooler Drain Your Battery?​ 

Camping season is here! It is time for a getaway from the usual routine into nature. When you are camping, you still want modern conveniences, such as coolers, lighting, and charging stations for electronics. While we like the great outdoors, some of us can’t live without certain things we take for granted.  

How do you make sure your electronics work in the great outdoors? Where else but your vehicle? Its electrical system can handle the additional load from the devices you plug into it to power your appliances. 

A good example of an appliance is a portable electric-powered refrigerator. They look like the coolers you would put ice in for a tailgate, but they run on 12-volt or 110-volt AC power. That means plugging into your vehicle’s electrical system. However, while convenient, keeping an electric cooler or refrigerator plugged in for an extended period of time can drain your vehicle’s battery. A drained battery may prevent you from starting up your vehicle when it is time to break camp.  

You can avoid draining your vehicle’s battery by being smart about how you use your electrical items. You can simply run these devices while your engine is on. With the engine running, current is going through the electrical system without interruption. Please monitor the fuel tank to ensure it does not run out.  Some vehicles have a 12-volt outlet that cuts power when the ignition is off. If you keep your device plugged into that outlet, you can avoid draining the battery overnight.  

Other solutions may not require running your vehicle’s battery to power these electrical appliances and devices. A portable power station or generator is a safer option for keeping your campsite or tailgate party going. As long as you have enough energy, you should be able to run overnight with your items plugged in. A secondary battery with deep-cycle capabilities should also work.  

One thing you should have handy, if you have these items plugged into your vehicle, is a Low Voltage Disconnect tool. That will cut off power to the battery when it detects the current below 11.8 volts. Most devices andappliances have been built into them.  A programmable timer is also a handy way to conserve energy from your vehicle’s battery.  

Keeping your portable appliances and devices working as intended is one thing. Preserving their ability to be used again is another. You can precondition your device before connecting it to your vehicle, keep it in a cool place before use, and use it properly and as intended.  

If you need to have your vehicle’s battery checked or replaced, the service and parts departments at Barry’s Chevrolet are here to help you. Contact us to get your battery ready for the next camping trip or the next time you need to connect your electric refrigerator to your vehicle.