I love the summer. Kids on break, vacations at the beach and excessive sweating in a car while on a stakeout.
While summer is the time for family fun, it is not so enjoyable if you are a detective sitting in your vehicle while on surveillance. According to Meineke’s research, a car interior can quickly reach 109 degrees with the air conditioner off in 80-degree weather. Here in Arizona, and many places in the Southwest, our average summer temperatures far exceed the 80-degree mark and inside vehicle temperatures surpass the 150-degree mark. Local news outlets love to show viewers how to bake cookies from the convenience of their car. But unless you want to bake like a cookie as a detective, you need something to keep cool.
I am always looking for innovative ways technology can enhance our law enforcement experience. In this article, I review the IcyBreeze V2 Portable Air Conditioner.
The product
The IcyBreeze V2 Portable Air Conditioner is an innovative device that uses ice-cold water instead of Freon to produce cooled air. Fresh air is drawn from hidden vents in the top of the cooler, pulled across a heat exchanger and then chilled. The cooler looks like a traditional polyethylene camping cooler, except for modifications on the lid.
Features
- 3-speed fan blows up to 25 MPH
- Integrated vent and stay-put flexi-hose
- Dual lift handles
- Integrated pull handle for easy maneuverability
- Large wheels roll easily over any surface
- The lid has two cup holders and integrated stops
- Made in the USA
General information
- Holds 30lbs of ice
- 38qt interior holds 49 cans
- Interior dimensions: L-18.5 W-11.25 H-11
- Exterior dimensions: L-23.5 W-16.25 H-18.5
- Dry weight: 16 lb.
The claim
IcyBreeze claims it can reduce air temperature by 35 degrees for four to six hours without adding humidity to the air. This means that in a 100-degree vehicle, the air coming from the cooler should be about 65 degrees.
Testing the IcyBreeze
I purchased the IcyBreeze V2 Pro with two IcyBlocks, a 6AH lithium battery and a charger. The 6AH battery should last 1.5 hours on high. The goal of this test was to determine how long the IcyBreeze could continue pushing out cold air from the inside of a typical surveillance vehicle.
I used a 2020 Toyota Sienna with a dark tint that was stationery in direct sunlight.
The IcyBreeze would have to fight against 110 cubic feet of hot air. I placed the cooler on the floor behind the front passenger seat and set thermometers and hygrometers on both the inside and outside of the vehicle.
To test the IcyBreeze, I used a digital anemometer to read the air velocity, air temperature and air humidity coming out of the cooler.
Test 1:
For the first test, I parked in direct sunlight. The inside starting temperature was 126 degrees. Remember, this is the worst-case scenario a detective can face. I did not use IcyBlocks, only cubed ice.
Here is the data:
The machine cooled for about two hours before it was ineffective. The data, however, is interesting. The outside temperature was excruciatingly hot, but I parked in direct sunlight, which made it hotter. The temperature in the sun registered at 130 degrees while the temperature coming from the glass was 136 degrees. Even though the ambient temperature was increasing from hot to hotter, the IcyBreeze V2 cooled the vehicle two degrees and did not add any humidity to the inside of the van.
In this extreme heat, even on high (registered 12.8 m/s or 26MPH), I barely could feel the frigid air two feet away. The IcyBreeze is not strong enough to cool a person under these extreme conditions.
Test 2:
Test 2 was just like a real surveillance operation. The vehicle was pre-cooled with a starting temperature of 79.8 degrees inside and 108.2 degrees outside. I also used the two IcyBlocks.
I sat inside the van during the testing process to document the IcyBreeze V2 performance, not just to take readings.
Hour 1 was comfortable and I felt like I had the van AC on.
Hour 2 I switched to the battery pack. The air velocity remained the same (about 25MPH) with the battery pack. The inside of the vehicle was getting hotter and the ice inside the cooler was about half melted.
Hour 3, the battery pack was still going strong. The IcyBreeze was still cooling about 20 degrees cooler than the inside temperature of the van. I started to get uncomfortable, but not enough to call it quits.
Hour 4, I got out of the van but left the cooler running. The IcyBreeze temperature and humidity were the exact same as hour three. What surprised me was the battery didn’t die until 2.5 hours after installation instead of 1.5 hours like the manufacturer listed on their site.
Key takeaways
- The IcyBreeze is lightweight and compact, making it perfect for throwing in the back of your surveillance vehicle.
- It is made in the USA and the build quality is superb.
- Real-world testing proved a 60-degree cooling difference in extreme conditions.
- Real-world testing proved a 20-30 degree difference in normal hot surveillance.
- Battery lasted longer than expected.
Recommendation
Detectives spend an average of one to three hours on active surveillance with their vehicles turned off. The inside of a precooled vehicle can increase over 50 degrees in that time. Under normal surveillance conditions, the IcyBreeze V2 is an exceptional tool to use in the field. The 6-ah battery even lasted 2.5 hours on high.
For police operations, I recommend the IcyBreeze Ultimate with two IcyBlocks and extended tubing. Cubed ice melts too fast. Even after three hours of cooling, the IcyBlocks remained frozen. The IcyBreeze Ultimate also has rubber latches, a better handle, and larger wheels, which is what we need out in the field. As a bonus, the Ultimate has a mister system that works great in dry conditions.
For more information on the IcyBreeze, click here.
Stay safe and stay cool.
