Check the temperature of the location where you plan to use the thermoelectric cooler. Thermoelectric coolers maintain an interior temperature about 40 degrees cooler than the outside air. If the outdoor temperature is lower than 74 degrees Fahrenheit, pre-chilling is not required. If the temperature is higher than that, place items in the refrigerator to keep them cold until you are ready to leave.
Place the items in the cooler. If the cooler will be kept in an area where the temperature is lower than 70, pack it as full as possible to keep items from freezing.
Place the cooler in a location in the vehicle that is not confined and hot so that the ventilation unit can work. Do not place it in the trunk. If you place it inside the vehicle, open the windows or turn the air conditioning on. Do not cover the vent on the top of the cooler.
Connect the cooler's power cord to the vehicle's 12-volt input. In older vehicles lacking such inputs, use the cigarette lighter input. The cooler can also be connected to the air-conditioning outlet with the proper accessories.
