Why You Should Go for an Air Cooler Over an Air Conditioner?

In the ongoing debate of air conditioners vs air coolers, we list down few important pointers that will offer a clear idea of why you should opt for an air cooler.
But first things first, should you buy an air cooler?
A cooler can be used by everyone, especially people living around hot and dry weather. One can choose from a dessert cooler, a window cooler or even a personal cooler, depending on the requirements.

Read on to know more about why to choose an air cooler over an air conditioner.

Have you ever wondered about how an AC or an air cooler functions and how does it affect the quality of air in your home?

An air conditioner circulates the internal air of the room over and over again, whereas an air cooler pulls fresh air from outside and then cools it down. Also, air cooler doesn’t make the air overly dry like an air conditioner. Because of the way it operates, an air cooler offers better quality of air for your room. So much so, that the air circulated from an air cooler is preferable for people with asthma or dust allergy.

When it comes to value for money, an air cooler definitely scores high over an AC. Even though both end up cooling the room, an AC can cost anything ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹60,000, whereas a cooler will be available from ₹5000 to ₹15,000. Also, apart from the initial cost of purchasing, even the operating cost of an air cooler is less than an AC. You can approximately expect 80% less electricity bill from a cooler as compared to an AC, making it economical in the long run.

Going green is something that concerns all of us, and air coolers trumps the card here as well. Air conditioners use CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) and HFC (hydro-chlorofluorocarbons) as their refrigerant, which is quite harmful to the environment. On the other hand, air coolers are eco-friendlier, since they use water as the refrigerant.

Air cooler requires no installation, which is a cumbersome task in the case of an air conditioner. Whether you have a window AC or a split AC, they require additional arrangements for installation. An air cooler, on the other hand, can be simply moved into your home as an appliance. Many of the air coolers also come with castors, making it more convenient to move them around from one room to another. As you can see that air coolers definitely have their own place in the world. Especially, since they come with such a host of features like silent operation, remote control, multiple speed settings and more. Moreover, nowadays coolers are digitally enhanced and aesthetically pleasing to fit right in.

How Does an Electric Cool Box Work?

If you’re on the search for a camping fridge, you might want to consider a cool box. There are several options to choose from. But no matter your requirements, they keep the air in the interior cool to ensure that your drink and snacks stay refreshingly cold.

If you’re wondering how an electric cool box works, then learning about the technology behind them may make your decision easier. We have created this handy guide to answer some of your questions.

There are several reasons to purchase coolboxes, such as providing additional space for campers to store food on travels. But the main objective is to keep food and drink cold while they’re not stored in a fridge. Even without the need for ice, these electrical coolboxes will keep your food cold for the entire getaway. Whether you’re a first-time camper or wanting these products as a second fridge at home, a coolbox is a handy gadget to have.

So, how does an electric cool box work? Electric coolboxes use a Peltier effect as a cooling method. It is placed on the coolbox’s lid so that it’s out of the way of food and drink. Along with a fan system, it transfers heat from the inside of the box to the outside to keep beverages cooler for longer.

In addition, coolboxes get their power from a 12V port in your car or mains at home or a campsite. If you leave the battery on in your car without starting the engine, this power could drain your vehicle’s battery. However, it’s a great option for keeping food and drink cool while you’re travelling.

Not all portable fridges offer the same experience because they use different technologies. A thermoelectric cool box is lightweight, uses 12/24V for power, maintains an ambient temperature, and utilises a cooling power that prevents mould build-up.

Alternatively, the technology used in compressor fridges is powerful and can even keep snacks frozen. Plus, it operates at low power and performs well in various environments. Many cool boxes using this technology are also suitable for solar operation and feature integrated battery protection.

Finally, gas-powered cooling technology allows you to keep snacks cool while you’re travelling off the grid. They boast a silent operation, making them one of the best products for quieter areas or where people are sleeping. They’re also available in a 3-way power option – 12V and 230V, and a gas operation.

Making a Simple Cooler

Line the outside of a lidded cardboard or plastic box with foil. Glue the aluminum foil to the outside of the box and lid. Go with a box that’s large enough to hold the items you’d like to keep cold. A shoe box or small plastic tote, for instance, would work well if you just need to store your lunch.

Attach the foil to the box so the shiny side faces out. The more light the foil reflects, the less heat the box will absorb.

Smooth the foil after you apply it, so that it wouldn't be wrinkling too much.

If you’re using a cardboard box, glue foil onto the inside, too. Use a single sheet of foil large enough to cover the entire interior. Carefully mold the foil into the corners, and try not to tear it. Lining the inside with foil can help keep the cardboard from getting soggy.

Glue bubble packaging, thick fabric, or packing peanuts inside the box. Glue your insulating material to the lid’s underside and to the bottom and sides of the box’s interior. Recycled packaging materials, thick nylon, or cotton are all good choices.

Avoid covering the lip of the lid with insulating material, and make sure it can still fit over the box.

Buyer’s Guide to Coolers

Coolers provide an easy way to keep food, beverages, bait or your day’s catch fresh during transport on land or water. Your choice of a cooler (or coolers) should depend on the size of your crew, the duration of the outing or cruise and of course, your budget.

Coolers vary in size, type of construction, durability, impact resistance, ice keeping ability and in other respects, including handles, hinges, latches and in some cases, wheels for portability. There are three basic types of coolers: soft-sided, hard-shell and electric coolers, which do not require ice.

Soft-sided Coolers

Soft-sided coolers are good for keeping food and beverages for one or perhaps two days. Designs vary: some consist of a hard inner liner with an insulated fabric shell, sort of a hard/soft cooler; many are flexible inside and out, which enables them to be compressed for compact storage; most offer features that hard-shell coolers don’t, such as padded carry straps and exterior pockets for car keys, cell phones or a GPS.

They fit nicely into the crowded environment of small boats, with soft exteriors that enable them to squeeze into odd nooks and crannies along with other gear aboard. Soft-sided cooler capacity varies, from small models that only hold a couple six packs up to much larger sizes.

Looking for a hardshell cooler with ultimate durability that can take a pounding on a heaving deck? Then consider a roto-molded cooler. These coolers can take almost any amount of abuse. The impact resistance of these coolers is excellent and the hardware is outstanding. All boast strong, rubber T-latches and robust, self-stopping lid hinges. Most include recessed grab points, non-skid feet and handles that store out of the way. Ultimate durability costs, but if you want one of the most “bullet proof” coolers that money can buy, one of these might be for you.

What Size Cooler Do I Need?

The size you select should depend upon the intended use, the number in your party and how long you will need to keep items cool. A small soft-sided or hard shell cooler is fine for a day trip but longer outings need something bigger. How big? Cooler capacity is generally stated in quarts or capacity in 12-ounce cans. One quart equals about 0.75 cans, so a 24-quart cooler will hold about three six packs or 18 cans.

Another way to gauge capacity is to divide the capacity in quarts by 30, so a 60-quart cooler equals two cubic feet. When selecting a cooler, remember that about 30-50 percent of its capacity will be taken up with ice. For three people on a day trip, a 40-quart cooler is generally fine. For the same group on a weekend camping trip, a 50- to 60-quart cooler is good. Try not to buy a cooler that is too large, as tightly packed coolers keep food colder and longer. Purchasing a jumbo sized cooler and filling the excess space with ice might seem OK, except for the expense and extra weight you will have to carry.

Conversely, an excess of air or open space inside an overly large cooler makes the ice melt faster. An exception to this conservative approach is offshore fishing coolers. How big are the fish you plan to catch? We can’t answer that, but we can say that most anglers would be loath to cut their trophy sized catch in half in order to bring it home! Examples of coolers commonly used for offshore fishing excursions include coolers by Igloo, Engel and YETI in the 150-250 quart class.