ACOPOWER&LiONCooler 12V Portable Car Refrigerator-52 Quarts/50L,Battery/Solar Panal powered Fridge Freezer with App Control,-4°F-68°F Electric Compressor Cooler for Camping RV Truck and Boat

Went Camping 85deg out, kept fridge at 35deg for 3 days and dropped battery by 1 of 4 bars, Diff trip; 1 100watt Solar Panel will keep the battery Fully charged with intermittent clouds (May need solar cable adaptors depending on Panels) Bring on every big 3+ day trip.

I have the 52qt in the back of my fj cruiser, currently just with a ratchet strap through the tie downs and to the front and rear fj tie downs and another across the front and it appears to hold in place solidly. I might remove the wheels to save an extra inch or so. But it fits next to the power outlet longways front to back and there is enough clearance in this configuration to open the fridge door.I spoke with Lynn from acopower who was very helpful and I collected a unit from the walnut California office. If anyone else is wondering they clarified you can safely leave power connected even when the battery is fully charged and the battery is turned on. That is important for me as I want to have the fridge connected to car power when driving and automatically be running off of battery when the engine is off/overnight. (The manual states it should be disconnected when battery is charged).I also have the 90w acopower solar panel which appears enough to run the fridge and charge the battery.The construction is somewhat plastiky; it’s clear all the money has gone into design, the li battery and the compressor which it appears upon inspection it is indeed a high quality lg unit.Setting the unit cold it will get from room temp to fridge temps super quickly, maybe 15-20 mins. As you move to freezer temps (down below freezing) the cooling rate slows as it works harder so definitely want to prechill it from ac/dc/solar rather than use the battery if possible.I don’t have a good overnight run time report from the battery yet as I’ve used it at high altitude at cold temps so it didn’t really need to work too hard.Acopower could probably have a solid overland/offfroad version if they added tie downs to both sides rather than just the rear and offered it in a squared off design without wheels so it could sit easily in a slide.For the price I think it’s great. If you are mainly using it for extended vehicle journey/overlanding you save the cost of buying another car leisure battery which you then need to find space for and also don’t need a dc/dc charger to keep that battery maintained from the alternator or main battery.Space-wise it fits a surprising amount. Mainly because all the space is available unlike a cooler where you add ice or ice packs. It’s profile is smaller than my 55qt lifetime cooler (great cooler) and appears to hold more as no ice.If it’s not clear from the instructions. You have to power the battery on with the button on the actual battery if you want that to be in an active state or to charge. The fridge will run from mains/dc without the battery inserted or with it inserted and turned off but it won’t change if not initially turned on.I have it in a big open space in the back of the fj. You probably would not want to run it in too much of an enclosed trunk space because of the heat kicked out from the vents as the compressor works.It could probably also do with a little extra insulation, once turned off the temp can climb quite quickly unlike a cooler. Maybe I’ll add another’s layer on top of the lid. But works fine when used as designed.The mobile app is ok (search for “portable freezer” in the App Store) and you can fiddle with the settings remotely with Bluetooth whilst driving which is good. It’s a bit flakey if the app is left open and then used again after a period - tends to just crash/close but opening it again is then fine. The first time you pair it (or it looks like afternoon removing battery) you have to reconfirm the pairing by pressing the cog icon on the fridge when it prompts in the app.I’ll update it after a few more months of use if anything interesting is learnt. But I think a good product so far that fills a specific need I had for ac/dc and battery power at the right price.

I use this product for football tailgating activities and it has performed very well so far (four games). I plug it in at a hotel to cool it and charge the battery, then switch to battery power and load it into a van, plug it in to a generator during tailgating, and again switch to battery power during and after the game.I tested the freezer capability on the first night and it quickly went to around 0 degrees and froze some freezer packs that I use for other coolers. When used as a refrigerator, my primary use, it easily handles around 60 brats from a meat shop, several packs of hot dogs, condiments, fruit, miscellaneous beverages, etc. with no problem.The interior light is handy, the controls are easy to use and understand, the cooling seems to be quick and even, and the battery does not appear to have gone below 75% yet even after running the refrigerator for around 4-5 hours.Since it is an electronic appliance, I recommend treating it with more care than you would treat an ordinary cooler. We treat it relatively gently while loading and unloading, keep it out of direct rain, and avoid stacking a lot of stuff on top of it. While the unit is perfectly strong and reliable, these are just common sense precautions for any complex appliance. I have been extremely impressed with my 52 quart LiON Cooler!

Those who have been following my reviews may have noticed that I am an aficionado of both car freezers and battery power stations. In 2020, I had asked my favorite battery brands, Goal Zero and Jackery, to create a new product that would combine a car freezer with a battery built in, but feedback was left unanswered. Imagine my geeky surprise when an Indiegogo campaign popped up into one of my social media feeds that promised exactly what I was looking for: a self-contained car freezer that did not require hauling around a power station — the Acopower LiONCooler Pro. I was now faced with making a decision. Do I back a crowdfunding campaign for a company I never heard of and could potentially lose money on (I have been badly burnt once before)? Or do I get an older model from Amazon that would ship NOW and has the option to be returned if I did not like it?I chose the latter option and bought the Acopower LiONCooler X40A in November 2021 to evaluate. Would this appliance deliver on all the things I wanted from a car freezer? If yes, would I want the upcoming Pro model?WHY A CAR FREEZER?Car freezers have been vastly useful for road trips. Having ice-cold drinks and refreshing fruit in 110F heat at a rest stop — without having to constantly drop by a gas station to refill ice and drain melted water — had been such a blessing and time saver.It has been nearly two years since I purchased my first car freezer, and since then I had reviewed and compared eight of them from friends, coworkers, and family. Perhaps more interesting was that they all (including those by Smittybilt, Whynter, and Costway) were manufactured by Alpicool who also sells them under their own brand. Last year, I found the “ultimate car freezer” that had served as my favorite since: Costway 53qt/50L dual-temperature car freezer (a clone of the Alpicool T50). It allowed me to bring both refrigerated AND frozen food to camping trips at the same time. Imagine surprising the kids with ice cream when it is hot outside?Alas, there was one inconvenience with them all: a battery power station had to be brought along, taking up precious cargo space, adding carry weight, and additional planning needed to keep said device charged. A car freezer with a built-in battery that could be charged by AC, 12V car port, or solar panel would be very convenient to have — and that is where the Acopower LiONCooler line of products come into play.ANALYSISThe Acopower LiONCooler X40A is the type of car freezer I had been wanting for some time — one that has a battery built in so it could run independent of a power station. With a replaceable 173Wh battery (11.1V) and using between 25W-50W of power when cooling, it could last as short as 3.5 hours to at least 7-12 hours, depending on ambient and internal temperature, operating mode, and other factors. The colder the surrounding is and more of the content is chilled, the less the compressor has to work to keep things cool, and the longer the battery can last. Surprisingly, about 25% battery was still remaining after 16 hours of testing at 32F in 68F ambient! That was mighty efficient! In freezer mode, one should only expect about half the running time.When cooling temperature is reached, the LiONCooler idles at around a 2W power draw. This means that it can last long enough for a party at the park and possibly also on a hot, sunny day on the beach. Of course, usage can be extended by plugging it into a power station or solar panel.42 quarts (or 40 liters) holds a good amount of food and drink for a family of five for 3-5 days, depending on how much is consumed and what ingredients are brought. The bottom compartment is long enough to fit a whole rack of ribs, but one should take note that the temperature difference between the top and bottom was 4F-10F. This was due to the condensation coil running only along the bottom 2/3rd of the compartment. Depending on what temperature you set the appliance to, it could mean the content on the bottom could freeze and the top barely being within the safe refrigeration range. Some temperature compensation (TC) configuration may be needed (as with many car freezers) if the set temperature does not match the actual one inside the compartment. This was the case with my unit, and I had to dial the upper -6C (“E6”) and the middle -12C to -6C (“E7”) ranges from -4F down to 0F. (Search the web for "YuenX LiONCooler X40A review" to see how.)Finding the single, LG compressor at the top — a space shared with the removable, rechargeable battery — underneath the control panel was surprising. The placement keeps dirt away from the internal components, whisks any generated heat away, and is a nice design touch. However, it made me wonder if that layout prevented condensation coils from being run around the top third compartment, resulting in the top third being 4F-10F warmer than below. I did find surprising how relatively light it is (33 lbs @ 25″ L x 15.9″ W x 20″ H) compared to past fridges I had used. The compressor is rated for rough roads up to 35 degrees steep for short periods at a time and should never exceed 45 degrees while in transport.As with all car freezers I had tested, cooling was rapid. The inside went from 72F to 32F within a VERY impressive 20 minutes and dropped to 0F half hour later. The compressor would shut off once the set temperature was reached, conserving energy and providing silence. A memory function kept the set temperature after recovering from a power loss. Reliable thermometers confirmed the temperatures within expected fluctuations.Tip: A car freezer’s performance and energy consumption depend on the ambient temperature and how much of the content is already cold. The cooler the surrounding is, the faster the appliance can chill and the less power is used.The standout feature of this car freezer is its connectivity options. It can be charged or powered via an AC wall outlet, 12V or 24V car port, or 12V-50V solar panel (at max 10A). Inputs cannot be combined or you may damage the appliance, and a 20′ MC4-to-5.5mm solar cable is included. The solar input is capable of accepting up to 120W @ 10A. However, only up to about 82W of input power is actually utilized: about 40W-60W goes to the compressor and 11W-22W to charge any seated battery (at up to 2A). Battery bumps to 37W charge (3A @ 12.6V) when appliance is off. The built-in battery can be charged while left in the appliance or independently with an optional AC wall brick (at 37W). In both cases, the battery must be turned ON to do so. I was told that this was per customer request. The car freezer seamlessly switched between plugged-in and battery power (if latter was on). Additional batteries are available for extra runtimes.Caution: Charging inputs cannot be combined without potentially causing damage. Either use AC wall, 12V/24V car port, OR solar panel ONLY. Do not plug two inputs at the same time!Cleanup was simple through the addition of a drain hole. The chest-style lid firmly stayed shut, the wheels (in combination with a telescoping handle) helped move the appliance around with ease, and both side handles felt solid. At the back were some tie-downs to help secure the fridge to the car, and on top are 2 cup holders and a non-slip, glued mat. LiONCooler is rated for IP24 weather protection against water spray from any direction. (Keep it out of the rain!)Acopower’s control panel has a 2.1A USB port capable enough to recharge a tablet, and has a Bluetooth 4.2 app available for remote control from up to 30′ away. Unfortunately, the apps are not named the same: Android’s is called “Solar Freezer” and Apple iOS’s is “Portable Freezer”. I used neither because I was unaware of them until reading the manual recently. Instead, I had the LiONCooler connected to the Alpicool “Car Fridge Freezer” app I had already been using with previous brands, adding to my theory that this particular car freezer is made by Alpicool. Technical support said Iceco, however. Maybe Iceco’s are made by Alpicool too? Regardless, the app allows me to monitor and configure temperatures and also perform advanced programming without having to do so on the physical control panel itself.This unit has three levels of car battery protection to prevent it from completely draining your vehicle’s battery.Overall, as much as I like this Acopower freezer, the noise level of the LG compressor is a bit on the higher side, but perhaps should be expected considering how hard-working and efficient it is. Furthermore, the rather large temperature differential of 4F-10F between the bottom and top thirds of the compartment gives me some concern about how I would have to pack my food. Would I still recommend the LiONCooler X40A? Yes, I would. It is very unique, nearly checks every box on my “want” list, provides a better feature set for the same price as other brands I had tested, and ran a surprisingly long time on a single battery charge. This has now made me curious to see how much better the upcoming LiONCooler Pro may be.TIPS- Important: Let car freezer rest for 10+ hours after delivery to allow refrigerant to settle before use or you will cut the product’s life short!- Test the compartment with a reliable thermometer prior to useIf temps are more than +/- 5F degrees off, you may need to re-calibrate the appliance. See Temperature CompensationTip: To check battery level and voltage when power is off, hold Gear (Setup) icon on the Control Panel for 3 seconds. Appliance must be plugged in to a power source or the seated battery must be turned on.COMPRESSOR POWERTo set: When powered on, briefly press Settings button to cycle between Max (Default), Eco.- Max: Useful when surrounding temperature is 86F+ (30C) and Fast-Cool is needed. Runs compressor at a higher speed- Eco: Uses less energy. Temperature fluctuates slightly. Could ruin compressor in the long runBATTERY VOLTAGE PROTECTIONTo set: When powered on, hold Settings for 3 seconds. Cycle between High (Default), Medium, Low with Settings button.- Car freezer will turn off when battery reaches corresponding voltage level. High 11.6V / Medium 10.1V / Low 9V- Incorrect setting could leave you stranded with a non-starting car. When connecting to:-- Battery power station. Use Medium or Low-- Car. Use High or MediumPOWER ON-THE-GOIf you plan on taking the appliance with you on a trip, there are multiple ways to power it. Ensure the source can provide at least 60 watts. Some options:- 12V/24V DC car outlet- 110V AC wall charger- Its own, removable, rechargeable 173Wh battery- -- Additional batteries are available and can be independently charged with an optional AC wall brickSolar panel(s) connected directly to the car freezer-- Caution: Do NOT use this at the same time as charging with the car outlet or AC wall brick!-- Even though the solar port is capable of receiving up to 120W, only up to about 82W of input power is actually utilized: about 40W-60W goes to the compressor and 11W-22W to charge any seated battery (at up to 2A)--- Battery bumps to 37W charge (3A @ 12.6V) when appliance is off- Battery power station paired with:-- 100W+ Solar panel(s)-- Car charger-- See “Runtime with Battery Power Stations” to find the right battery size for you- Gas or propane generatorAcopower recommends charging the built-in battery with the AC wall brick to at least 30% before continuing with other methods and heading out for your trip.PROGRAMMINGTo enter programming mode: Turn unit off but keep plugged in to a power source (or turn seated Battery on). Hold “Settings” button for 3 seconds until “E1” displays. Cycle through options with “Settings”, change values with “+” or “-“. Accept setting by leaving the screen blinking until it stops a few seconds later. The various configurations can also be changed with the Bluetooth-connected app (which also is the easiest method). Search the web for "YuenX LionCooler X40A review" to see what each option is for.TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION (TC)Car Freezer not cooling at the correct temperature? If you find the temperature displayed on the control panel is different than what is actually inside, the discrepancy can result in content overcooling or being too warm. For instance, if you meant to keep fruit cool at a set 40F, but the true temp inside is 32F, you will unintentionally have FROZEN fruit. Or, if you wanted to keep meats frozen at 29F, but the true temp inside is 36F, you may find the content having melted. Search the web for "YuenX LionCooler X40A review" for more details.RUNTIME WITH BATTERY POWER STATIONSTo calculate how long the car freezer could be used for (without its built-in battery) with a power station depends on its battery capacity (Wh) and how much power (W) the appliance drawsNote that this car freezer can run a LONG time with its own, built-in battery. Testing surprisingly found it operating for 16 hours at 32F in 68F ambient with 25% battery still left! That’s extremely efficient! In freezer mode, expect only about half the runtime.Examples are with a Jackery Explorer 1000 (1002 Wh). Halve the time when used with a Goal Zero Yeti 500x (500Wh)- Plugged into AC port: 1002 Wh x 0.85 / Device Wattage-- About 10-15% (0.85) of power is lost during conversion from DC (battery) to AC, which is normal for all power stations-- As short as 17 hours (1002 Wh x 0.85 / 50W)Informal testing found an estimated use of 500-600 Wh/day as a fridge. It was idle much of the time- Plugged into DC port: 1002 Wh / Device Wattage-- As short as 20 hours (1002 Wh / 50W)- In reality, because the unit stays IDLE most of the time, it should last a LOT longer than the hours listed aboveThe car freezer only uses power to reach or maintain the set temperature. Once there, it goes idle to minimize power draw. As such, the appliance could last a lot longer than the times listed above. Ambient temperature (how hot it is around the unit) greatly impacts how often and for how long the freezer’s compressor kicks in. The colder it is outside, the less power is used.COOLING EFFICIENCY- The colder the set temperature and/or the warmer the ambient (surrounding) heat, the more energy will be used-- Keep in a cool location and out of direct sunlight for best efficiency-- Consider putting the appliance in an insulated bag for better cooling- Ensure adequate air flow (4″+) on all sides of the unit, especially where the fan vents are- The more frozen/cold items are inside, the longer they can stay cool/frozen. Avoid opening the lid too often or for too long- An insulated, protective cover should be considered to help maintain internal temperatures better. I was unfortunately not able to find one for this AcopowerCONCLUSIONWhen I had asked Goal Zero and Jackery in 2020 to create a car freezer with a battery built in, little did I know that Acopower already had the LiONCooler series in development. They took this a step further by making the Li-ion battery removable and solar charging capable — the outdoor geek in me was excited and salivating! I tested the car freezer for a few weeks to see if all my prayers in such an appliance were answered, but alas, even though it satisfied most items on my checklist, it fell short in a few areas. First, I had to adjust the Temperature Compensation values for the two upper temperature ranges because the factory default was off by about 4F each. This is not uncommon to do with car freezers and thankfully, the Alpicool app made it very easy to set. Second, there is a big temperature differential between the bottom 2/3rds and top third of the cooling compartment, requiring you to be mindful on how food and drinks are to be packed. Third, the battery only charges at about 1A-2A @ 11.1V (11.1W – 22.2W) when housed within the car freezer, making it slower to fill up than I would have liked. Independently (or when appliance is turned off), the battery can charge at 3A @ 12.6V (37W).Despite the three, small shortcomings, there is no comparable car freezer on the market that offers the same or better capabilities — at least none from the major players like Goal Zero, Jackery, Ecoflow, and the like. Fast cooling car freezer? Built-in, removable battery? Solar charging capable? Wheels and telescoping handle? Very efficient compressor with surprisingly long cooling time? Check, check, check, check, and check! I am excited to see what Acopower has to offer with the upcoming LiONCooler Pro version — the company certainly has captured my attention!