Alpicool / Battery Issues?

I did a search for this but didn't find anything... I'm wondering if anyone has gone through a similar issue:

I had an Alpicool C20 in my last 2 (2012 and 2016) Priuses. I had no problems with my 2012, but when I used it with my 2016 (plugging it into the 12v adaptor), one day in the morning I had a pretty bad scare, where it seemed that my electric motor//battery had issues, as I had very little power and the motor got really loud.

I took it to the dealership but nothing really popped up and I never really got an answer, so my two questions are:

a) Should I not leave 12v accessories plugged into the 12v adaptor (when out of the car or what not)
b) Should I not be using 12v fridges, like the alpicool while in the Prius?

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Christian

 

First of all, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for such a well-written and detailed response. I've honestly never received such a helpful answer to a question online. Thanks!

Great info all around, and no, I never just used accessory mode (thanks for reminding me of some of the different terms such as ICE, etc - it's been a while). I've since sold my 2016 prius (in the market for a 2020 or newer pretty soon), but I was pretty familiar that I needed to have the car in Ready mode so I could use the main battery and all that system. I wonder, however, if perhaps one of those times I just put it into accessory mode and that had something to do with the issue.

Regarding the noise... it just really seemed like the motor *really* struggled to get up to speed, if that makes sense? It felt like perhaps the electric motor wasn't working at all, you know? Just much, *much*, less torque getting up to speed. And this would happen after every stop / stop sign / red light. I would gas it, and really have to kind of floor it to get any traction going whatsoever. I was afraid I was going to get stuck on the side of the road, which is why I took it to the dealership, but no news.

I couldn't find the amps on the Alpicool C20, but found this on the amazon page:

• Dimensions:22.4 x 12.6 x 12.6 inches
• Capacity:21 Quart(20 Liter)
• Voltage: 12V/24V(DC)
• Rated power: 45W
• Temperature Control Range:-4℉～50℉
• Noise：≤45dB
• Net Weight: 19.84 lbs

Ah... a quick search later I found this, which should be fairly close to what I had:

This Product
This Product Alpicool CF45 Cooluli Mini Fridge
Power Draw in Watts (steady) 0.8 W N/A
Power Draw in Watts (heating) N/A 29.7 W
Voltage Use (cooling) 13.25 V 13.84 V
Amperage Use (cooling) 4.01 A 2.45 A


I hope that makes sense, as I'm not super familiar..

So, do you think I should be fine leaving my alpicool little fridge plugged into the 12 v adaptor, as long as I don't just leave the car on accessory mode and either have it on ready mode or just completely off? That's what I understood from your excellent explanation.

Thanks again, so much, Professor. (love your profile pic as well...)
Christian

 

Thanks again, Professor.. Yeah, it wasn't anything related to the Driving Mode... it just seemed like the ICE was *really* struggling to get going out of a full stop, but thankfully later on it went back to normal.

I'm just glad to know I should be able to use my alpicool again with my new Prius hoping nothing happens haha..

Hope all is well, and thank you again for the excellent response and information.