Thermoelectric coolers are great for day trips, tailgating, boating or even overnight camping trips. Instead of ice, these coolers rely on a thin, flat electronic assembly called a Peltier device. When a DC electric current flows through the device, it transfers heat from one side to the other, so one side gets cooler while the other gets hotter. The hot side is attached to a heat sink, so that it remains at ambient temperature, while the cool side goes below room temperature.
In a thermoelectric cooler, Peltier devices can reduce the temperature by up to 36 F below the ambient temperature. Besides portable coolers, Peltier devices provide cooling for climate-controlled jackets, DNA analyzers, astronomical instruments, lasers and industrial electronics.