from your experience what is the best brand ?

iFridge - as long as it's running mac... although the android fridges aren't bad, they draw to much elec and you may find viruses in the ice box.

Engel for sure.
They don't come tougher.

I've had several Waecos and still have one working one the older CF series are temperamental on the voltage supply, I needed to run heavy duty wiring to the tray in the ute before it was reliable and the threshold for the low voltage cut out (to protect your battery) is set too high for my liking and cuts out too early. Plus the control panel on some models warps in hot direct sunlight and affect the buttons and it's operation.

Though the warranty is pretty good and some of the issues have been addressed in the new CFX range.

Car fridges are a rip off, $1000 bucks for 50 litres, or a new fridge in the kitchen, $1000 for 500 litres.

Engel..

Agree Engel is the best (i have one) but the problem with them (at lease the version I have) is that they dont have a thermostat that maintains the temperature at a certain setting. They just have a scale of 0 through to very cold. This means that temperate in the fridge at a certain setting varies depending on whether the fridge is sitting in a car that is 50 degrees (common camping during the summer) or out of the car at night (also common camping).

I think Engel released an anniversary version which had a proper thermostat. They are the go if you can get one.

Engels are also not as efficient or insulated as others.

In all other respects, particularly durability, they win hands down. On balance I would prefer the durability.

National Luna used by the World Health Orginization worldwide . Outstrips the Engel in performance but is pricey.
Engels are great for how rugged they are and are a reasonable price.
I usually run the NL as a freezer and two Engels as fridges when camping.
Don't rate the Waeco as two separate units have let me down, one a warranty replacement for the first.

anything with a danfoss compressor (I think it's actually called something else now) Engels sound like a truck driving past when in a camper and I have had to replace more engels than waecos (running 10 fridges for hire and personal). Waeco have pretty average insulation compared to some other danfoss fridges (more insulation means a bigger outside size though)and their digital control used to be pretty easy to stuff. The engel also can have problems getting air to circulate around the evaporator.
The best setup for camping is also 2 smaller fridges one as a fridge the other as a freezer.

I've got an Evakool 80L had it a year so far runs 24/7 as my beer fridge
connected to a battery and solar panel. They are made locally (Caloundra),
so if there is a problem i could always just drop it in. The price was very good too,
got it direct from the factory, but sure that BCF had them on special a while ago at
under $800 compared to nearly double for a lot less capacity from an Engel.
For a family of five when we go camping it holds enough food so that we can
forget about supermarkets for 10 days.

Evakool - had it for 8 years running 24/7. Recently replaced the wiring loom for $120, I imagine it will go strong for next 10 years. Works very well on 12 volt. I have an 80 amp deep cycle and can park the car for 2 days no worry.

Essentially same mechanism as a Waeco placed in the best esky you can buy. I imagine if I put in a bag it would work better.

If you want a good wettie - buy it from a company from a cold place ie Rip Curl / O'Neil. If you want a goo esky / fridge buy it from a hot place - Sunshine Coast !!

Plus you can put stickers all over it from every place you go

I have one of each, the wacoe is an old 80ltr, never had any issues and it runs 24 - 7 as a freezer until I go camping.
The other is a 50 lt Engle I bought brand new, stopped running on 12 volt when it was really needed, cost over 300 to fix , over rated.
Wacoe for me

Fridgemate 60l Fridge Freezer is worth a look.

Can be all fridge, all freezer or 60/40 split.

Very robust, had it a year, stacks of insulation. Needed heavier duty wiring laid into the boot to stop the low-voltage cut-off.

Plenty of stories of people who've dropped them off utes, etc and they've kept going.

Works well in utes vans and 80-series size upwards, but too long for anything else.

Evakool have a wide range of quality. The Fridgemate are good, but I'd be very wary of some of the mock-Waeco products they sell.

there are a few bits of wrong info above
Up untill a few years ago, there were only two choices for 12v dc compressors. Danfoss, or the engel sufaji swing motor.
The engel swing up to 40L only uses 2.7amp while compressing. The danfoss uses 4.5a while compressing. That said the danfoss is more powerfull and doesn't need to run for as long when acting as a frij. There are two size danfoss. BD30 and BD50. The evakools use the smaller bd30 compressor and I have used alongside other brands (we had a lot at work) and I dont rate. They also have an exposed coil(evap) which is another feature I'm not a fan of. THe old waeco's had a low voltage cut out whcih I think you could change witha jumper at the compressor. As it was fixed it can catch people out. Especially if you had voltage drop (by using too small a cable) from the supply. the newer cfx models you can change from the controls.

When an engel dies it's $600. The danfoss units are more repairable. Talk to a repairer and there's not much in it.

Nowadays there are chinese and italian danfoss copies which are used in all of the cheap frij's Id stay away from them.

For a rugged frij but bulky ther are trailblazer, snapper etc

You can also go eutectic (cold mass) storage with autofridge. I have used these and they are excellent but expensive.

I have also used Normal and extra thick trailblazers. I used to think insulation was important, but if you are using as a frij (pening and closing a lot and pulling stuff out and putting in) they tend to lose their cold air and run a lot anyway. I'd rather have less bulk and more battery.

By far the biggest mistake is to have voltage drop in your cable and not maximising the battery system that supplies the frij. You have to factor in the cost of that also.


3way fridges use heaps of DC (12a) and aren't meant to work hardly at all in high humidity. In normal climates on gas they are good. Dc only while engine running.

^^^^ All true myusernam

I had Engels for over 30 years, had a good run but also some dramas, the last time was told it's over $600 to get fixed as the whatever comes as one piece. I've now have a 47L ARB (3years), so far all good, built heaps better in my view, a lot quieter, won't rust or dent, better layout, has low volt cutout, is just as good as my old Engel battery wise (better) and has digital temp adjustment and readout. But it does have electronics and does need a good voltage supply but hey I've been very happy with it and glad I didn't go Engel again, just saying

SandS said..


so far , i like the idea of a plastic box ! evakool fridgemate !!!!! looks the goods ?????

that bloke who confused ....... spot on !!!!

First post after lurking for ages............

Thats a chinese fridge that you can buy from ebay cheaper........but better with an evakool warranty /techni - ice warranty.
I run a Waeco but would buy the new 39litre engel with the plastic surrounds for $699 ish, much better value for a few extra $$$. I reckon thats good value.
I camp alot. My fridge is permanently on in the back of my car. I run a bog standard toyota main battery and a 100ah agm under the bonnet. I could sit for three days without turning on the car before I am down to a 50% SOC from the fridge.

Get a dual battery system with a VSR and use a minimum of 6 b & s / AWG from your aux battery to your fridge. Then piss the standard plugs off the fridge wiring and wire in an anderson plug to give you a firm / solid connection. I can show photos if your interested.

Cheers.

DunkO said..

cisco said..

You should have a serious look at these fridges.

The white fibreglass ones have the best insulation and they run Danfoss compressors.

www.evakool.com.au/../

Engel are great and have been around for a long time but why do they still have steel cabinets?? The Engel compressors are reciprocating rather than rotary and not terribly efficient electrically.

OK for 240 volt but chew up 12 volt batteries.

We've got the white one. Dad purchased it for the Middle East and got it shipped over.

The best. Costly but the best

You got it!! The fibreglass box has the best insulation.