How does a coleman electric cooler work?

The unit probably uses a TEC (thermo electric cooler) Basically it is a flat semiconductor device that displaces heat from one side to the other when current flows through it. There is also a heat sink and fan that attaches to the "hot side" to remove the heat. The other side is the "cold side" which does the cooling. If the fan doesn't work, the TEC won't work either. If the TEC is bad, then it may be able to be replaced or it might not be depending on how it is attached. The wiring is simple and may include a fuse that could be replaced or connections that have failed in time. On a side note, I find the units worthless working or not.

If it's a unit that uses a compressor, then it is a hit or miss repair. If the phase loop failed, repair is near impossible except for a qualified HVAC technician. Bad wiring or a thermostat is repairable.

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RE:

How does a coleman electric cooler work?

My husband has been given an older coleman electric cooler that is not in working order. He is a mechanic and very adept at repairs of all sorts, and would like to fix it. He needs to find out how the system operates when it is working, in order to start looking for the specific problem.

The older Colemans (thermoelectric coolers) use the Peltier effect. Voltage applied to a solid-state module causes one end of it to get cold. The cooler also has a fan to stir the cooled air around. If the solid-state module is drawing current, it's working, so your husband needs to either correct an open circuit or replace the module, about $40 from Coleman. At their best these coolers aren't very efficient, and I've never seen one by any manufacturer that got below 40 F. They will keep pre-cooled food cool and that's about it.Coleman now makes a much more efficient cooler that uses a Stirling-cycle heat pump.