Hi
I am new to this
forum so like to say hello to everyone first. I have been looking at your pages as a visitor for a while and would like to get a answer to a question that may have been answered already .
The fridge is used about 4 times a year in a hut which has a very old 10 year+ 80 -100watt? solar panel ( never really looked but going from its size) It has a 100amp hr battery on it. I have a cheap generator and a 40amp battery charger for battery top ups . I had been using a Gas fridge but on our last trip when shaded temps reached 42 c the temp in side the fridge was 15c
I go away to the above mentioned for a week at a time temps will be in winter 2- 25c during the day and in summer 28-40 c .
The fridge sits inside a shroud made of metal fridge panels ( coolroom steel foam steel) for extra insulation during the hotter months with vent holes etc.
I have tested the fridge for a few weeks now with a half load of goods pre chilled .
set on 1.3 on the dial and temp gauge in the centre /centre of fridge I have got around 17 to 19 amps a day with temp at 3 to 4 c out side temp 20-25c
set at around 2 + temp at -2 Fridge used 36 amps in the same 24hr period outside temp 24. I will be using the fridge as a fridge not as a frezzer but took the -2 to be what would be needed at higher outside temps
I have recently purchased a perfectly good, immaculate engel 540e which unlike the rating on the side draws about 4.4 amps on start up and then hoover around 3.8 to 3.9 amps from a freshly charged battery. I have rung up engel the other day and asked why there was so much differance from the published data to the actual and he said compliance now is a lot more accurate as was when
mine was published and yes it was around the figures I have quoted.
So this is the question I would like to ask
1. How much better on power consumption are the newer engels I know the plastic model has another fan so this has a slightly higher consumption than full steel unit but close.
2. The quality of the newer engels and the older ones are they still the same. In my phone conversation with Engel I asked about the made in thailand . He said that the swing compressor was made in Japan then all the parts were assembled in Thailand.
3. If the newer Fridges are over 40% more economical on power than
mine ( I am Talking about in 12 volt not 240) I was considering selling
mine and buying a plastic one and cladding it checker plate . I would only do this if the newer engels had the same quality as the old ones and the consumption was less.
If anyone has any information on the above on power consumption of the newer fridges or other brands of fridges . Remembering I will only change if there is a significant change in power consumption otherwise I will keep what I have.
Sorry about the rambling but am trying to give all info.