12v Fridge COMPARISON test - 13 Fridges tested…

No winners, but 40L Waeco had the lowest power consumption...

can't be right, must be an Engel!!!! In a Patrol....with a 3.0lTD.....with Cooper tires.....and a Uniden UH010......using Castol Magnatec....(changed every 5k)....and a redarc battery isolater....hehe

Leroy

I'ii stick with my DTV Reefer 90ltr in the camper thanks.

Nope, should be Waeco, Prado GXL 4.0L V6 Auto, Wrangler MTR,
Gme tx3400... Ok I'll agree with Redarc isolator... Hahaha

Gee. i didn't know there were so many Reefer / Liemacks. I have a DTV 90 and love it. 6yo now. I dont mind push starting the patrol every morning..... Just joking!!!

Yep mine works really well, 3 days on two battries and thats also running elec pump in camper, lights at night x 3.

The thing I like about the DTV 90 is it holds 32 cans seperate from the food basket, so there is no need to keep putting warm cans in as you take some out.

mi toughts exactly.....

Leory

same question being asked on overlander.

ah so just spamming everyone with bull bleep then...

useful thread.
Hope dave deletes it..

we must wait and see...u know his tactics...all mouth! and no facts

Simply because some 'people' would not believe the results if I posted them here and now, that's a fair assertion ??

The attitude of some is totally negative, so no inside information about the tests will be posted here, by me, till the results are officially published !!!

A fact is, the fridge testing report is 20 pages long !!
As to mouth, well I have no reply :-)

When the results are published, post a link. We expect "teasers" in magazines, not public bulletin boards.

Until then, this is an absolutely pointless thread.

Hi truckster sorry to get off the subject but how did you go at Wonnagatta ,heading up this thursday coming in from abbyyard track how did you go Thanks

Hey Pat.. Didnt have any probs what so ever.

Jackaroo on Kumho ATs did it.

and is this a real comparo or just another amps test

published when you send $5 and your postal and email address to....

LOL...

There's only two sorts of fridges available anyway. There's Engel and then there's the others.

:-)

Excellent questions Phil, we'll soon see how the test answers them.

"Can't think of anything more important to know about a fridge!!!"

Only one bigger question on my mind... How long to get them down to 2 degrees C... I like my beer icy cold.

Blue!! The quickest cooldown is definately the Reefer/ Liemack. Absolutely no doubt.. Michael.

Micheal......depends on which compressor is in the fridge...no doubt about the 240v being the quickest to pull down.....its oversized and is frequency driven....want more cold...turn it down and it speeds up...simple

.....depends on which compressor is in the fridge...no doubt about the 240v being the QUICKEST to pull down.....

NN, you of all people, being a qualified fridge mechanic, should know that there has only been ONE type of compressor ever used in the Reefer/ Liemack range....
the Mitsubishi rotary compressor :-)
as the danfoss compressor was NEVER used in the Liemack fridge!

And yes, as you say the Reefer is the fastest fridge to freeze anything....
bet yer fingers hurt typing that, L0L

its the fastest to pull down ,,,,AND THATS WHY ITS POWER HUNGRY its oversized and its cop goes out when running at full speed....not to mention the extra losses at the inverter stage!!!!

hahaha

Is it a boring, useless and inconclusive thread simply because of the snide follow up remarks ?

I would not winge if the entire thread get's deleted in full !!!

Can someone ask for it to be deleted totally please, just to satisfy those not interested in the results... but still want to read it and continue making the same negative statements!!!

Thanks in antisapation
Mainey...

It's a boring, useless, inconclusive thread because it contained absolutely no useful information from the first entry....................

By the way, most of the mags have done these sort of comparo's before, most of the fridges haven't changed in design, so I don't see what you could really add that would be "revolutionary".

Unless of course you sell them ansd are in the market for a bit of free advertising (Like Bill, Fitch).......................................

Mainey,

Boring because it's been done to death both by the magazines and by anecdotal evidence on this forum. Any tests done by these magazines are about as certifiable as the anecdotal diatribes launched periodically on this forum. Indeed, some of the forumites border on certifiable but not their methods :))))

Useless as per GaryInOz's reply - no useful information at all.

Inconclusive because undoubtedly there will not be an overall winner, clear or otherwise. Magazine revenue dictates this.

As other posters have pointed out, everyone will make their decision based on their own requirements and means. Nothing else matters.

But I guess you got the result you were looking for. The fish were leaping into the boat LOL

Gary hit it on the head on all counts!
Gramps hit it on the head too!

"... just to satisfy those not interested in the results... but still want to read it "

Read what? War and Peace? or Scuffy the Tugboat?

Its like a WAIT FOR THE NEXT MODEL GU IT WILL BE A V12 blah blah blah...

i am hehehehe

he must be confused with the Scottish highlands....

Leroy

the Vic highlands aint certified either?

aaaw crap the reefer couldnt be faulty......
geee what can i say

Reefer ST70 used 55.5 over 24 hours, so something is not right....

Similar sized EvaKool used 53 amps
so yes something is not right !!!

Is it the Reefer using too few
or
the EvaKool using too many??

Nudenut posted this followup
"aaaw crap the reefer couldnt be faulty......
geee what can i say....?"

Your right NN, the Reefer was not faulty,
the wiring system was !
But you will have to read the test notes to see it.

it obviously wasnt a reefer using a 240v compressor then was it!

and how could they stuff up the wiring when they got the others right?

Nudenut posted this followup
"it obviously wasnt a reefer using a 240v compressor then was it!
and how could they stuff up the wiring when they got the others right"

Glad you asked, they only used 8mm sq power cables to power each fridge, and I believe you would be aware Reefer does "specify" and actually supply power cable that is considerably larger than that for their fridge, yes because they actually do use a 240v Mitsubishi rotary compressor with a 'soft start' powerstart system, which works similar to an inverter in principal, however has the ability to make the compressor run harder on hot days and also recharge the Aux battery.

The 8mm cable used on the test is much larger than specified for the 12v fridge compressors, hence they had no power problems.

Hope I have answered your questions :-)

We knew it was a mitsi compressor Mainey!

yes but i understand they must've been wrong....i refer you to mainey for that answer as to why

Thanks NN, yes the last test they did they had to "average" out the results, simply because they had more fridges than they had amp testers at the time.

This time they used 'mathamatics' instead of using indivual amp testers to get their results.

Looks like a prefectly good thread so far, what's the basis behind it being deleted...doesn't make sense to me...Mainey posted...doesn't like the comments and wants it deleted...poobah!

Ray,
When you get the abridged results you see being posted by people who have only read the end results as published, it is not showing the full story.
Question; why is the EvaKool amp draw so high ??
this will not be reported here, because it is NOT in the published report and that is a real pity because it then becomes a biased test result !

i'm with you mad dog

poobah!!

your right.
drink lots of beer get a big fridge.
draws a lot of power get another battery.
still not enough power buy bigger batterys .
still not enough power buy solar or gennie
only problem is when do we get the time to drink the cold beer after all the setting up.
cheers

Yes, I fully aggree with you, however when you ask a salesman the current draw of your (proposed) new fridge you will be expecting him to tell you the truth so you can then buy and set-up the Dual Battery system to suit the fridge requirements, not put in what he tells you then find out he did not actually know the real current draw at all and you have to buy a bigger Aux battery.
You have to know the requirements of the fridge before you spend money on batteries, not buy the battery first!

In the real world this test is un-realistic....

Why you ask.. because they only placed a packet of frozen peas in the freezer compartment of all the fridge/freezer units, and as any qualified fridge mechanic will admit, that is not the ideal method of testing any fridge/freezer as the frozen food in the freezer keeps the temperature far lower and save 12v power simply because of this.

This can be varified by checking the relevant f/f numbers verses the single compartment fridges.

jim....your right...i'm going out ( maybe i might make it..donno yet) to get a bigger fridge...for the mates grog!..not mine..i dont drink...well not since guzzling came in lol

mainey ? what a f/f number?

Mainey are you telling us that tests wre carried out using a single packet of frozen peas?...and why isnt it realistic?

but i also want to know ..were the measuring instruments certified?

"however when you ask a salesman the current draw of your (proposed) new fridge you will be expecting him to tell you the truth "

Not really, I'd be shocked if 1/5th the plebs working out there had any idea what you were talkin about. Most are kids workin for drink bucks for saturday night - sad but true.

NN,
I assumed you as a fridge mechanic would be aware of the letters f/f as a term associated with a Fridge/Freezer, my error, sorry.

Yes, I'm stating that the Freezer section of all Fridge/Freezer units actually contained one (1) packet of frozen peas.
However NN as you, by your remark, obviously believe it's a completely realistic testing method to put only one packet of frozen peas into the Freezer section to replicate normal every day use, and that the fridge will still give accurate and realistic test results, I will not question your wisdom.
I could explain why it will not give realistic test results, but you have made up your mind, so I will not waste the electrons.

Ask yourself why are the EvaKool and Waeco f/f amps are so high, when compared to the single cabinet fridge, maybe that tells you something...

Yes, the measuring "instruments" were certified, however the power system cables actually were not as is specified by the relevant fridge suppliers.

well blow me down...never heard of f/f being short for fridge freezer....blow me down......

one packet of peas? I have not said its realistic! i want to hear from you why!....so i know what your knowledge of refigeration is?

Certified instrumnets in the highlands?.......i hope the report tells all?
any how, how do you know so much ie power cable undersized, measuring sticks used were calibrated certified instruments....where you there?.

Nudenut posted this followup

well blow me down...never heard of f/f being short for fridge freezer....blow me down......
one packet of peas? I have not said its realistic! i want to hear from you why!....

Then NN can I ask you just one very simple question,

Do you honestly believe it's a "realistic" and a "real world" test to place only one packet of peas into an EvaKool 42Lt freezer section or a Waeco 27Lt freezer section, (not the fridge cabinet, the freezer section) and then expect the test results to be classified as "realistic" and in their own words to "see how each performs under identical circumstances" even when the freezer sections are totally different capacity's the contents remained the same, so the test results are "flawed" for a start.

NN would you actually conduct a test of a fridge/freezer this way,
no I honestly don't think you would... :-)

But I will let you answer in your own inimitable way, however a simple 'yes' or 'no' is desired, but unfortunately not expected :-(

Realistically the freezer section of a fridge/freezer (F/F) should be full of "product" (food), as the eutectic ability of the frozen 'product' even if its only water filled drink bottles actually assists to maintain the fridge/freezer temperature constant, being full of frozen food will actually reduce the power consumption considerably, compared to a half empty, or is it only a half full fridge.
That is the working principal behind the eutectic Autofridge.

This ‘test’ mistake is shown up by the excessively high power consumption figures of the two large fridges mentioned, simply because they were not filled to the same percentage of capacity as was the smaller fridges.

Each fridge compartment contained the exact same contents, irrespective of the fridge cabinet size, the smaller 40Lt fridges were almost full of cold food hence their low power consumption, and the larger Waeco and EvaKool were nowhere even near half full, they started at a very distinct disadvantage, simply because they in fact had to cool down vast quantities of ‘air’ and not the already cold food within the fridge and/or freezer cabinet.

If you buy an 80Lt fridge you fill it with 80Lt of food, not only 35Lt, lets get “realistic” and face the fact you simply buy a bigger fridge to take away more food, and the fuller it is the more economical it runs, simply because the more cold food it contains relevant to cabinet size the more the eutectic principal applies and keeps the cabinet cooler.

NN if I have stated something you think is not correct please feel free to correct it for me.

Firstly and I don’t want to be picky….but and as I do understand what you are trying to tell let me correct you if I may….

Your term “eutectic ability” is not correct…..(unless you refer to a eutectic fridge)….so in this case the correct method of explaining is to use “product storage”?

But you have not explained why the larger amount of product ratio per unit is required to ensure a fair test!

I will tell you…….it stops the compressor from short cycling (stopping & starting very frequently) as the bigger the product load the longer it runs to pull down but once it achieves temperature the product holds the cabinet at a lower temperature longer.

Are you saying that for the tests to be fair it should have been arranged so that each fridge had the same amount of product ratio based on cabinet size? If so its about the first time I am in accord with you!!!!

But I am confused…….if you know the tests carried out were not a true and realistic method of testing such items …Why did’nt you just say so in your opening post? rather than letting us believe that the tests will tell all….I refer you to this statement of yours “Simply because some 'people' would not believe the results if I posted them here and now”…..Now your telling us they, the tests, are a load of crock sheit…. Geesus Mainey….

And they have used mathematics to reach conclusions …? This aint right….. Not fair at all…one must use actual measured currents…..and certified instruments at that …..Mainey you must agree, using OEM data and extrapolating such data, to reach conclusions is simply “pulling the wool over our eyes” rather testing the actual Equipment…meaning their fridge… Certified Tests will tell us!!!!…… but your aware that Reefer also does this 'mathematics mirror and smoke' stuff when they try to explain why a 240v inverter driven compressor is more efficient than a 12v reciprocating designed to operate on 12v..??

And what are your qualifications for umpteenth time!!!!!

NN, I asked you a very simple question
and you were not abusive, thanks… :-))

NN said.. “I will tell you, it stops the compressor from short cycling as the bigger the product load the longer it runs to pull down but once it achieves temperature the product HOLDS the cabinet at a LOWER temperature LONGER. Mainey are you saying that for the tests to be fair it should have been arranged so that each fridge had the same amount of product ratio based on cabinet size?
If so, it’s about the first time I am in accord with you”
(NN, Yes, that is what I have said, good to see we can reply without arguing)

NN said.. “But I’m confused, if you know the tests carried out were not a true and realistic method of testing such items, why didn’t you just say so in your opening post? rather than letting us believe that the tests will tell all, I refer you to this statement of yours “Simply because some 'people' would not believe the results if I posted them here and now”…..
Now your telling us they, the tests, are a load of crock sheit”

NN, yes I am
I invite you as a qualified Fridge Mechanic to comment on the test procedures used.
That’s why I called it an “UN-believable fridge test”, with the UN in caps :-)))
Un-fortunately I also assumed people would pick up on the “UN” and see the test for what it is UN-believable, UN-realistic and UN-obtainable in the bush.

Question;
does an EvaKool run at 53 Amps daily and the Waeco at 62 Amps daily, if NOT then the test is UN-realistic and UN-true, and the reason the test results are so high is simply because the tests were not REALISTIC and relevant to the size capacity of the fridges involved, as I said, if you buy a 80 Ltr fridge you put more than a packet of ‘peas’ into the freezer section, everyone knows to get a realistic battery life you put food or even drink bottles filled with water into the fridge freezer, as it will assist to hold the temperature lower and therefore will also conserve battery power.
If they do use that power then I’m bewildered as their websites don’t state that figure!

NN you said; “And they have used mathematics to reach conclusions …?
This ain’t right, not fair at all.
One must use actual MEASURED currents and CERTIFIED instruments at that.
Mainey you must agree, using OEM data and extrapolating such data, to reach conclusions is simply “pulling the wool over our eyes” rather testing the actual Equipment, meaning their fridge Certified Tests will tell us!”
Ummm, NN, yes that’s what I have said

Quote from article p71.. We elected to use calibrated shunts, which work by measuring resistance, the positive wire from each fridge was connected to one end with the other going to it’s power supply. The small wires coming off each are 4mm sq dual core running to a Hoiki data logger which records the resistance in milliohms and then using “Ohm’s law” we were able to CALCULATE the amount the amount of power each fridge was consuming.

The question I asked “is a packet of peas a realistic test method, and if you (NN) would actually test a F/F in that way? as I believe you would actually put a realistic amount of food into the Freezer to obtain a Realistic test result…” as I have previously posted & without a fight or argument on my mind, and I believe your answer would be a resounding … No.

* * * * *
Another very IMPORTANT point that has not been picked up by any poster to this ‘useless’ thread is the Battery voltage used in the UN-real test was actually PRE-SET to a CONSTANT 13.8 Volts, yes the battery power stays continuously at 13.8 volts, which as anyone with any intellect will confirm is an almost IMPOSSIBLE feat to be attained permanently at a camp site with a fridge running, you would need a generator to be running constantly, yes day & night, as the 12v Danfoss (and probably also the Engel) compressor, will definitely loose refrigerant pumping capability as the available battery voltage drops which will cause the compressor to run slower, therefore it pumps less refrigerant per hour and the fridge temp actually raises instead of getting colder.

I believe the test criteria are absolutely UN-obtainable in the bush and totally UN-realistic, giving illusory results, hence the term “UN-believable” fridge test results was used.

Mainey… qualified ?

Great reading, If you dont own an evercool fridge you aint patriotic, as it is Aussy made and works well,forget about the rest buy the best.
And I aint associated with evercool.

Regards BILLS

Bill
Not sure what you are referring to re "great reading" but as for the fridge comment....they are all good if they meet your need. Cheers

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't the Evacool use a Danfoss 35 or Danfoss 50 refrigeration unit??? I don't think they are made in Australia.

Not disputing the effectiveness of the units, though........

Garrinoz, Correct evercool use a danfros unit made in GERMANY not tiawan or others,but the cabinet is made in AUS with AUSSY Metal and the unit designed in AUSSY.

you been too long in the bush ?

Geez I wish......

What is IFS and where can I get some?

Gary,

Insufficient
F--k---g
Service

Available in most Austrailian specialist 4x4 stores!

Avagoodn
Pezza

I know what you mean.

"Gday, do you have any accessories for a Kia Sportage?"

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