Two Zone for the Engel,

Tony,

Firstly, I haven't used one so my information is second hand.

If you already own a 40 litre Engel fridge and you are looking at an occasional increase in capacity, they are very good. Obviously there would be an increase in running time and therefore power usage to cool the larger area.

The bottom of the fridge will be the coldest, therefore veggies, cheese and other food that doesn't require extra cold conditions can be placed in the upper zone basket while beverages, etc., live in the bottom. It would just require experimentation with an appropriate setting that keeps the bottom area cold (below say 5 degrees) without freezing the contents.

All up a good solution for the "current owner" of a 40 litre Engel who requires the additional storage capacity.

But, if you have a larger family where an 80 litre fridge is your primary requirement and you haven't yet bought one, I would suggest an 80 litre Waeco or Engel with dual freezer/fridge compartments would be the better proposition.

I recently bought an EvaKool DT47RF because the new roller drawers in the Jeep meant that my nearly-new Engel 40 (anniversary) wouldn't fit in height-wise on the fridge slide. After a few months now with the EvaKool - I've decided to turf it in favour of a 32L Engel - which will fit under the tail gate on the slide. Given that it's not a 40, on occasion I want some extra room in it for when we are in the caravan down at Omaroo. TwoZone looks like it is the answer.

I've also heard that because there is 8 litres less volume in the Engel 32 (over the 40), that the TwoZone actually works a little faster in drawing-down to the pre-set temperature.... hopefully meaning that it will cycle a little less too.

Does this sound reasonable or am I just fooling myself?

Hello Tony

I have used a TWO ZONE on a 40ltr Engel and highly recommend it . I ran the bottom as a freezer and the top as a fridge . Used this way means that you have a good supply of your favourite steaks , roasts , and precooked meals such as curries and pea soup . The bulk of prefrozen food acts as a mass bank of 'cold' and actually simplifies alternator/battery/generator running and also permits rapid 'pull down' of warm beer . We mounted the Engel by removing the fifth seat in the Disco , and faced the fridge foreward . This allowed good access to the fridge while driving or while stopped . The large freezer area is also handy for bringing home country killed beef , barra's and muddies . Having used it I would find the smaller freezers on the other options inadequate . At home I remove the TWO ZONE and run the Engel as a bar fridge .

They only work when you run the bottom as a freezer.
Hopeless as a fridge only - in a 40lt anyway.
Running as a freezer drew too much pwr from the batt.
Sold the lot and now have 60l evakool dual temp. Happy now especially with the height etc.

I had a 39L Engel which wasn't big enough for our needs. Briefly (and I mean briefly) considered the two zone.

Sold the Engel for $650, added the $350 a two zone would have cost and bought an 80L Waeco from the Fridge Shop for $980. Now I've got a genuine 82 litre Fridge/Freezer. Couldn't be happier.

Cheers,

Jim.