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Explorer Fridge/Freezer DC65 first impressions

Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 17:37

Member - Flynnie (NSW)

Article Overview - Portable Fridges
The debate over which fridge is the best on the market is one of the most contested discussions in the camping recreation. In this article we look at the range of features and the major issues to consider when comparing brands and models. View Full Article...
The new fridge has been with me for a week now. Explorers are pretty well known but the current model is different to the older ones in important ways and are different to what is on the manufactures website (in need of updating). They do look much the same as the older models. The DC65 is the smallest in the current range, the others are DC85 and DC110. The unit I ordered is the standard model DC65 with no added options at all.

Explorer DC65
Explorer DC65


It has been running on 240 volt with a little bit of running off a 12 volt battery. The new Explorers differ from the old in having built in 240 volt capability. If both 12 and 240 volt are plugged in it will use the 240 volt if it is available. Takes a minute or so to switch from one to the other. Also supports 24 volt.

Rear power connectors. The 12 volt lead is hard wired. The 240 volt lead is removable
Rear power connectors. The 12 volt lead is hard wired. The 240 volt lead is removable


I am most favourably impressed with it. I knew they were good but it is much better than I had hoped for. The build quality is excellent both internal and external. When I picked it up my nephew, a refrigeration mechanic, came with me. We saw a few under construction and he later commented on a lot of things that impressed him. Back at his place he used his IR thermometer and some other gear to check its cooling performance and he gained some insights into some of the detail design. All was good. So we went out and got a carton for more "testing".

Rear of unit showing three hinges for the lid
Rear of unit showing three hinges for the lid


Left side view showing fan and high/low swich for compressor
Left side view showing fan and high/low swich for compressor


The DC65 is approximately 820mm long x 520mm wide x 430mm high. The other two in the range differ by height being 530mm and 660m high.

Freezer lid door open
Freezer lid door open


Freezer lid door closed
Freezer lid door closed


The fridge section is 42 litres and the freezer section 23 litres. For the beer drinkers out there the fridge section holds 19 Cooper's stubbies standing upright in the deeper part of the fridge section, middle area of the fridge. The other 5 easily fitted in the top area on the left and there was plenty of room for food as well. The upper part is a bit deeper than the photos would suggest and is very usable. It is also cool, being only a degree or two warmer than the deeper section. In another fridge I have (different brand) the upper area is a lot warmer than the lower. So the Explorer refrigerates its whole volume not just part of it as on some fridges.

Before ordering the fridge I spoke to Steve Cochrane who makes them. I was impressed by his matter of fact way of presenting his product. He did not knock other brands and I appreciated that.

The hardest thing in the end was deciding whether to get the DC65 or DC85. The fridge is to live on the tray of my landcruiser and I wanted to be able to look into it with the lid open without straining on tippy toes. There is a price to be paid for having higher than average tray height on my cruiser and that price is the smaller fridge of the two. The extra 100mm height of the DC85 was just too much. Also the lower height of the DC65 better matches the height of my Spacecase but that is not that important.

It looks at the moment that I will normally run it with both fridge and freezer thermostats set around about 5. I have a bit of testing to do to get a feel for the best settings to use.

Next a dual battery setup and a lockable quick release type of mounting system to secure it to the wooden floored tray. Tips on mounting would be appreciated.

Flynnie
On top of dune 2009 Simpson Desert
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ThreadID: 73595 Replies: 3
Views: 493 FollowUps: 5
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AnswerID: 390401   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 20:15

Mrbrush replied:

If I ever had to buy another fridge that`s the one I`ve had in mind.

To mount in tray as I have done.
Get some galvanised chain and join between handles with some D bolts.
Get 2 S/S eye bolts and bolt to tray on each side of fridge.
Only need to drill 5 or 6mm hole.
Join centre of chain to eye bolts with some Turn Buckles to suit.
Place a piece of solid density foam under fridge before you tighten Buckles.
You should be able to shake the whole truck with your fridge.
You could even use 4 Turn Buckles, one for each handle.
Eye bolts can be removed if you need the tray for something else.

Cheers
Reply 1 of 3
AnswerID: 390404   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 20:29

Maîneÿ . . . replied:

before you mount the fridge - first look UNDER it
you ask "why" ???

Often the manufacturer uses the base area to form some of the insullation, they put large rubber bumpers there to keep the fridge base well off the ground to allow air to circulate under the fridge, this free flowing of air should be maintained.

Maîneÿ . . .
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Reply 2 of 3
FollowupID: 658164   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 21:08

Mrbrush posted:

Owners manual of the Liemack recomends 50mm sponge or a spring base.
My engel cover covers the base completely.
Unless it needs to draw air from underneath I can`t see the problem.
If the base is insulated why would it need air circulation ?.
FollowUp 1 of 5
FollowupID: 658215   Submitted: Sunday, Nov 08, 2009 at 08:41

RV Powerstream P/L posted:

The free flow or air would depend on whether the unit has a specific air cooled condensor or is skin condensed and if the condensing is skin condensed then the air is not than critical.
I believe the TrailBlaza is skin condensed so this one copuld be similar.
Ian
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FollowUp 2 of 5
FollowupID: 658234   Submitted: Sunday, Nov 08, 2009 at 10:03

dbish posted:

Best way to check if its skin condensor is run frige in a shady area & feel outside & bottom areas if they are hot then they may be part of the condensing area.
FollowUp 3 of 5
FollowupID: 658326   Submitted: Sunday, Nov 08, 2009 at 20:44

Member - Flynnie (NSW) posted:

When an IR thermometer was used on it the sides were one or two degrees warmer than the ambient temperature. Never occurred to me to check the bottom surface. I think the sides would be the heat dissipating surfaces not the bottom. Steve Cochrane mentioned keeping air space around the sides. I am pretty sure it can be mounted with insulating material underneath. After all when placed on carpet the bottom of the fridge rests on the carpet.

There are four legs one in each corner that would keep the bottom of the fridge about 10 mm above a firm flat base. At the moment I expect these will fit on rubber pads when it is secured to my trayback. So an air gap will be maintained unless I change my mind and use a foam or rubber mat. I think an air gap will be handy with the wooden floor in avoiding condensation between the fridge and the floor. Could be wrong.

Perhaps I should have been more specific about suggestions for mounting it. It has four handles. If turnbuckles were used would four be enough? I was considering two per handle giving eight in total. Thinking was this would spread the load on the handles better than having one turnbuckle which would place the load only on one side of handle. Would this be overkill? Are there other better ways of clamping down the fridge and if so what may they be? There have been some suggestions already and I appreciate the advice already given.

The fridge needs to be removable but relatively hard to steal when on the tray.


Flynnie
On top of dune 2009 Simpson Desert
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The longest journey begins with but a single step
FollowUp 4 of 5
FollowupID: 660435   Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 at 19:59

Member - Flynnie (NSW) posted:

Just a final follow up before this thread is archived.

I got the beer count wrong. It can hold 20 Coopers stubbies upright, not 19 as stated in the main article.

Very pleased with it.

May do a follow up later on the installation and dual battery setup etc. Perhaps in the new year.

Flynnie
On top of dune 2009 Simpson Desert
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The longest journey begins with but a single step
FollowUp 5 of 5
AnswerID: 390407   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 20:41

Member - Porl replied:

I had a DC45, sold it, now regret it, but I didn't need a freezer when I sold it. That said I could now have used the freezer as the dairy and meat chiller with the vacuum packed meat and the fridge as the fruit and vegetable compartment at about 6C.

Super versatile unit.
Reply 3 of 3

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