I am on the road all the time and decided to try one of these electric lunch boxes. However, many of them have not very good reviews on ebay or amazon.
Can anybody recommend a decent product which works and heat up food in car within 1 hour?
Thanks.
What a hot take
Using electricity from a running car to heat up food will be energy-intensive
In a vehicle, already driving around?
What additional load do you think such a warmer would impart on the 12v system that would require additional engine rpm to drive the alternator?
For something like a 50w lunchbox compared it would likely be in the very very low single digit % (probably under 1%) range at worst.
There's laptop car chargers drawing more power than these things.
Have you used 12 DC to heat water molecules?
I have and it's nothing like 240 AC.
A lunchbox like this is maintaining heat in an existing warm container/contents.
They aren't crypto mining….
@SBOB: I don't like to eat warm food that has been left for hours in a sealed box stewing in germs.
It's either serve it cold like a đ„Ș or đ„ as đ.
Actually, itâs exactly the same. Pour 2000W 12vDC into heating it, will work just the same as a kettle on 240v. Power is power, regardless where it comes from.
Actually, itâs exactly the same. Pour 2000W 12vDC into heating it,
There is no such thing as a 2000W 12V DC food heater.
will work just the same as a kettle on 240v. Power is power, regardless where it comes from.
Bull.
A 2000W 240V AC microwave/kettle will only draw a safe 8.4A (estimate).
A 2000W 12V DC food heater will draw 167A (estimate) and will have a high probability of melting an unmodified 12V socket or wiring if the fuse doesn't blow quick enough.
@rektrading: If youâre pulling 167A through a standard 12v socket, you deserve whatâs coming to you.
2000W is the same end result be it ac or dc. No difference.
A 2000w 12v dc food heater would have large cable to connect direct to battery. Your point is moot.
A 2000w 12v dc food heater would have large cable to connect direct to battery. Your point is moot.
Yes,
That sounds like something OP would do every day to heat up their lunch.
@rektrading: Ever heard of hardwiring? Jesus. And if youâre not hardwiring a heating appliance in a vehicle, you simply should not be using one. I get you have no idea or experience in using or running low voltage systems, but just quit while youâre ahead.
P.s. there are connectors available which allow for a high current connection, but this would need to be hardwired anyway- look up Anderson plugs if youâre interested.
used a generator and a microwave.
"Are you sure you want to waste fuel on a warm meal?" - rektrading
What about a thermos?
I almost bought 500ml one but when I checked it in the store it is small.
Larger model?
Or get more than 1?
Thereâs a âbig bossâ thermos one but itâs pretty expensive https://www.amazon.com.au/Thermos-Stainless-Vacuum-InsulatedâŠ
Kmart has this
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/2l-stainless-steel-insulate⊠Canât say Iâve tried it but itâs large and cheap.
Apparently the trick is to pour boiling water in first let it sit, then empty and dry before you put your food in. Also making sure itâs pretty full so thereâs not too much air.
Aldi had electric lunch warmers earlier this year, might find some showing up on marketplace by now https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/lifestyle/aldi-electric-lunchâŠ
Thanks
Buy 2, 500mL
I reckon you can put in on the engine and it be fine.
U just canât get the classic chargrilled finish on Coleâs snags like you can on the engine block of a â96 Holden Commodore. Coat hanger aerial, missing petrol lid cap and 1 or more panels totally different colour to body is preferred to tie the look together.
Gold. What is it with the missing fuel flap? Is it akin to the teardrop tattoo or something?
Stolen
Broken
Or both after fuel was siphoned
road tripped across the US, put pies under the "hood" for dessert, perfect temp!
Sometimes put left overs on the parcel shelf/dash for lunch, even in a foam takeaway box it was warm enough to eat even with the AC on. Grab a muffin or waffle from breakfast and sit it on the dash for a nice warm morning tea
I wanted to try slow cooking ribs in foil on drive days but the mrs wouldnt let me
I am on the road all the time and decided to try one of these electric lunch boxes. However, many of them have not very good reviews on ebay or amazon.
Use them correctly and they are fine. They are NOT a microwave, they won't heat your food in a few minutes. So you need to plan ahead, it normally takes a few hours to warm up the food.
The key word is they are warmers, not cookers. So some people pre heat the food in the morning at home so the warmer just keeps them warm till they ready.
Good point, I thought they can actually warm food from cold/room temperature
Good point, I thought they can actually warm food from cold/room temperature
You can indeed warm cold food. But as above, they are not microwave speed devices. It's more a hour or two to warm cold food, not minutes.
Most people fail at this stage. Oh I want lunch, put the food in, and 10 mins later complain it's still cold, this warmer is crap….
1-2 hours is fine for me. Do you know any reliable products?
@Kennard: I bought the Jaycar one. It can definitely cook cold food — it can even do things like frozen lasagne, but only if you're driving for 2-3 hours.
Now to find one big enough to store 2 servo meat pies, and a side of chips n gravy.
There is usually a lever inside most car models that opens an awesome heating element …
On most models it's marked "Hood" ;)
15 pages of bonut. 25 pages for bonnet.
Just go into 7 eleven and use their microwave
Or any petrol station, or shopping centre (baby change rooms have microwave normally)
The microwave in the baby change room is for baby bottles and food not for your lunch. If youâre not with a baby or young child you shouldnât be going in the baby room at all.
Men can now get pregnant. They like pregnant females can crave hot leftover pasta at any time.
@rektrading: Itâs for babies once theyâve popped out, men are absolutely able to use the room if they are caring for a baby or toddler. The microwave is not for mummies lunch either, itâs for the babyâs food.
@rektrading: Yeah for sure - that doesnât change what the room is for. Itâs for babies who have exited the womb. You know this. If you want to be that weirdo heating up pasta in the babyâs microwave, then you do you.
@morse: In an ideal world maybe but the number of senior citizens and shopping center workers I've seen using them has been amazing…
@lainey13: Iâve never seen it happen here on the Gold Coast.
Once I saw a good who looked like he was pretty much running a business/WFH in one - he had a toddler and baby though. He had his laptop out, some paper spread out and was talking on his mobile whilst the toddler ran around and he held the baby. He was still there two hours later when I needed to go back for another change. That was an interesting but legitimate use of the room.
@rektrading: Also TBH I wouldnât want to be spending anymore time than what I needed to in there - it generally smells like poop because a major use of the room is nappy changes.
Wow, I didnt know they have microwave for public use.
They don't… Only scum 'tradies' use them for public use, the microwaves are for heating items you BUY from the store.
I see:)))
Hey OP I have used both linked devices for the last few years to heat lunches on the go or on job sites and have been extremely happy with both products.
1 hour would heat up lunch left overs like meat and veg in a foil food type container sealed with a lid from frozen and half the time from fridge/cooler bag.
No personal experience but have seen others onsite get good results heating frozen pies and mymusclechef type meals in the plastic trays.
https://www.automegastore.com.au/12-volt-portable-oven-stove
https://www.jaycar.com.au/12-volt-large-portable-stove/p/YS2âŠ
Excellent, thanks a lot, looks really good and appreciate you sharing your experience.
Hey mate, I have used a travel buddy oven in the back of my dual cab for the last 5 years, it has worked without fault. I have even bought a small rolled chicken roast and throw that in with some spuds and live deluxe in rainy days. Frozen pies/soz rolls are also a winner in it. Highly recommend
https://www.12-24voltovens.com.au/travel-buddy-12-volt-marinâŠ
I second this, theyâre brilliant, especially with an insulated door!
Thanks a lot mate, I ll check it out, appreciate your recommendation.
What you need is a travel buddy. When and if you order call them and ask for the cigarette plug to be changed for an Anderson plug and get one installed in the car. Best money I ever spent.
Agree with this, I used the supplied cig plug and it soon turned to custard due to a loose fit. Changed it to a 50a Anderson with no more worries.
Thanks for the tip.
Looking really good, nice design. Thanks for sharing.
After a couple of bad experiences with Kickstarter, Indiegogo. I would stay away.
Just remember that in those sites your pledge is for the hope that you will get the perks. It isn't a purchase.
I like the design and what it can do (if it will deliver) but potential october 22 delivery is a bit too long to wait. I prefer to check it in shop before I buy something.
I have been waiting for about 4 years for the delivery of the geareye. At least they still send monthly emails.
I also got into a campaign for some nice suitcases that I can't remember the name. Paid for the set. Got one little carry on case and a promise of the other two. They never delivered and disappeared.
I'm not backing any more campaigns.
Using electricity from a running car to heat up food will be energy-intensive.
Are you sure you want to waste fuel on a warm meal?