Fridge Test
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 18:24
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Member - Peter J (VIC)
Last thing I want to do, is reignite a topic bigger than the middle-east peace process.
All I am after is a current portable fridge comparison, by an independent body, using scientific methodology.
I am not after opinions (like A**holes - everybody's got one !!).
I have seen chioce magazine have done a test, but it's a bit old and will cost me 10 bucks. I would be prepared to pay if the test is fair dinkum. Has anyone read it ??
Please help, as my darling significant other is considering strapping the 300 litre Fusher and Pakkell (NZ Accent) on the roof racks, and grabbing a few hundred extension cords from Bunnings.
I have done a lot of
forum reading on this matter. Geez, I thought the Holden Ford thing polarised the nation.
Reply By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:04
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:04
Peter,
There was a test by 4wd Monthly done a couple of years ago in a Lab. I have the magazine and if you Mem Mess a fax no I will fax it to you tomorrow.
Cheers,
Jim.
AnswerID:
98165
Follow Up By: Member - Peter J (VIC) - Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 11:00
Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 11:00
Thanks Jim, but I don't have a fax. I'II chase it up from 4wd Monthly.
Cheers
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 19:02
Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 19:02
Happy to copy it and post it to you.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:07
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:07
As a "fridgie" ... I am actually more qualified to report on Commercial Refrigeration and Air conditioning, however most of the "domestic" fridgies I know comment that "Fusher and Pakkell" don't really make the grade here in Qld... too much humidity for them I believe.... so you might want to re-think that idea if you wanna do the Cape!
:-))
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Peter J (VIC) - Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 11:01
Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 11:01
It's okay - The wife's going to sew up a transit bag LOL
FollowupID:
356745
Reply By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:25
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:25
Yeah ok, no clear winner with the Dec 2003 choice test.
They said "None of the models tested stood out as being the complete package"
Compressor models tested:
Bushman SC-35
Engel MT45F-G4
Evakool RF47
Waeco CF-40
Coldest temp at 32c
Bushman....-15
Engel...-16
Evakool...-25 in freezer -2 in dairy compartment
Waeco...-17
Coldest temp at 43c
Bushman...-7
Engel...-6
Evakool...-19 in freezer +7 in dairy compartment
Waeco...-10
Temp variation when ambient changes 10-43 c
Bushman...2.4
Engel...0.3
Evakool...7.1 with divider out...13.2 with divider in
Waeco...2.6
Engel the most frugal with the battery
AnswerID:
98169
Reply By: Member - Jiarna (SA) - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:32
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 19:32
Hi Peter
I have the article, from the Dec 2003 issue of Choice magazine. They compared 4 compressor fridges around 40L size - Bushman, Engel, Evakool, and Waeco - as well as one 3-way and 3 thermoelectrics.
They were tested at 3 ambient temps - 20 deg C, 32 deg C, and 43 deg C - as well as cool down time, temperature variation, current draw, noise, and more.
If you'd like a photocopy, hit me via email (jiarna at bigpond dot com) and I'll post it to you. Or you could pay the $10 for online access to the report.
Cheers
John Oodnadatta
AnswerID:
98170
Reply By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 20:26
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 20:26
>All I am after is a current portable fridge comparison, by an independent body,
>using scientific methodology.
I have an old secondhand Finch 3 way. One of my mates has an Engle. Another of my mates has a Waeco. We're all independent, we're all experienced engineers and we're all happy with our fridges.
Just buy on price, capacity, type of use (do you need gas? how often will you use it?) and what sort of quality you think they are when you look at one in the flesh. Life is too short to worry too much about fridges.
Mike Harding
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:26
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:26
Makes pretty good sense to me.
All they do is keep things cold. Nothing more nothing less.
Have you ever stood around a BBQ and heard people arguing about Kelvinator or Westinghouse or LG or whatever. No? Why? Because it's just a bloody fridge. Keeps things cold, it won't iron your clothes, polish your shoes or mow the lawn.
If the size and design is right, then it works. Despite all the bickering, most are reliable and will keep your food/beer cold.
Cheers,
Jim.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: AdrianLR - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:05
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:05
Although its not a very useful article as others have said, if you're near the city the State Library has a copy in the Reference section. The main flaw is that it's unclear whether they tested full or empty.
It seems from all of the reviews/opinions as long as you have an unlimited power supply everything works. It's only when you start to take into consideration how YOU will use it in YOUR vehicle/camping do the differences become important
Good luck deciding!
Adrian
AnswerID:
98198
Reply By: cokeaddict - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:27
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:27
Personally i believe its luck of the draw. With todays fast production line selling, anything can happen to any brand. You can have situations where the assembler was having an off day and didnt solder 1 wire properly, the fridge still passed the final inspection but end user loads it up for trip and bingo, it stops working. ......Luck of the draw really.
They can do all the tests they want, you cant predict the future.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Smocky (NSW) - Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 01:39
Monday, Feb 14, 2005 at 01:39
Cokey, don't I know that !!!!!
I agree with you, although some are designed with different porpoises. For 3-way, I'd be happy to purchase my $399 repco again despite the initial problems. They swapped it without hesitation and this one works fantastic.
WHEN I come to buy a compressor fridge, I will buy whatever I perceive is good value at the time. I don't really care whether it's an EvaKool, Waeco or Engel. I KNOW that the loyalists will say there is a difference, but I reckon they are living in the past. Today, they could all have come from the same F*&$ing factory anyway.
Cheers.
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Reply By: HILLI - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:27
Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:27
This subject has been done to death.
Talk about flogging a dead horse !!!
Just work out the size you need and your budget, really they are all pretty close(amp's), some are plastic, some tin. same compressor's in most
Hilli
AnswerID:
98206