Can You Install a Small Fridge In a Car?

A small fridge in a car is a great convenience. There are problems to be solved in such an installation. Some are with the car and some with the refrigerator. It’s a reasonable thing to do, however, as long as it isn’t used for drinking while driving.

One solution to the problem is to use the systems already in the car. Refrigeration and A/C are basically the same thing. The difference is that the cold air in a refrigerator is confined to an insulated compartment. Many cars use the A/C system to keep the glove box or console cool enough for sodas. These systems do not get very cool, and are not true refrigerators. Nevertheless, anyone who works on rear A/C in limos and conversion vans can plumb a cooling system into the passenger compartment or trunk of a car. This is a practical and reliable solution, but not the only one.

An ordinary mini-fridge, intended for a dorm or family room, can be installed in a car. It will have to go in the trunk, making it less convenient. It will also require an inverter to supply household current from the 12V DC in the car. Refrigerators use a lot of power, so a large and expensive inverter is needed. This arrangement could easily cost more than the refrigerator. It does make use of readily available components, though.

Refrigerators intended to run on 12V are available. They come in two classes. One is the very expensive type intended to be used in motor homes and travel trailers. The other is the solid-state thermocouple type. RV refrigerators are big and designed to use another source of power in addition to the 12V. The solid-state type is closer to what is needed in a car. These are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of them are engineered to fit between the seats, as a console does. Even if the car already has a console, it would not take a great deal of modification for one of these refrigerators to be slipped conveniently into the passenger compartment.

The solid-state refrigerator is both the best and the cheapest solution to having refrigeration in a car. They also have another advantage. They use very little energy. And, since there are dozens of these units available in stores and online, finding one that will work in a given car should be easy.