Fridge on or off when not in use
Submitted: Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:36
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28792
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14
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willow 2839
I recently purchased a second hand Engal 40 litre fridge. It is an older model, which is green and off white in colour. I use it as often as i can but have kept it off when not in use. Could people elaborate as to whether I should keep the fridge running at all times or is it OK to leave it off when not needed.
Regards
Willow.
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:39
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:39
Next to the lounge with a few coldies in it :)
I turn
mine on once a mth to make sure its all kewl
AnswerID:
143430
Follow Up By: willow 2839 - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:54
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:54
Truckster,
In the sering heat of NW NSW where i live this would be a great idea, but can you possibly imagine the grief i would cop from my princess. I am sure most males could relate. Idea great in theory but not practical.
I think i will stick to your second suggestion.
Cheers.
Willow.
FollowupID:
396934
Follow Up By: Nudenut - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:03
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:03
next to the lounge with coldies is not practical ????? WHY NOT??
sounds like a ripper of an idea......hehehe
FollowupID:
396938
Follow Up By: gramps - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:40
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:40
Willow,
C'mon, suck up. Store a few of the princess's favourite coldies in there as
well :))))))
FollowupID:
396978
Reply By: Bros 1 - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:41
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 10:41
willow 2839,
I have a 40 Lt chescold and i give it a run on 240 every month or when i remember.
Something to do with the juices inside hardening. True or not i will still run it every so often.
Cheers,
Bros.
AnswerID:
143431
Follow Up By: Nudenut - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:00
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:00
a chescold is a different type of system..it uses the absorption principal, where-as the engel is a compressor type system......neither of which should require running but.....
always a but somewhere eh?..Electricals do like to be used......eg switches, electronics etc etc...these are the most common causes of failure due to being idle for so long.....
FollowupID:
396936
Reply By: flappa - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:02
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:02
I only use
mine when its needed , couple of times a year.
I turn it on a few days prior.
AnswerID:
143435
Reply By: Utemad - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:07
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:07
I only use
mine when it is needed. Although that is a few times per month :-)
AnswerID:
143436
Reply By: John L G - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:34
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:34
Willow,
I was caught recently having successfully tested my old engel prior to a trip on 240V and everythjing seemed honky dory.
Laoded the truck up the night before leaving only to find the 12V side of the equation to be inoperative.
Quick change to the waeco solved the problem but could easily have been a real holiday wrecker.
John G
AnswerID:
143442
Reply By: westBob - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:43
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:43
never turn my old chescold off if it oinot in the camper its in the pantry full of coldies
AnswerID:
143444
Reply By: Member - JD - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:59
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 11:59
Hi Willow,
After I use my waeco 80 I turn it off and clean it with warm soapy
water,This keeps the unit smelling clean and fresh,and also give plenty of recharge time for my aux batt,on start up for our next trip I generally fire it up a day or so before I need it, to get it proper temp,..I also add frozen ice bricks to help the unit get to temp without working to hard..I've had my fridge for two years now and it works for me..but if your concerned about it keep it running..after all its your redbacks that bought it...personal choice I think?.
JD
AnswerID:
143449
Reply By: Suburbanmiddy - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 12:14
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 12:14
Hi Folks,
We have a 40L Engel, about 5 years old now. The Engel people told us when we purchased it to always have it turned on, use it as a second fridge or freezer. We keep it in the laundry as a second freezer and the only time we turn it off is to clean it or to transfer it to the car when we are going away. It has never given us any problems.
Regards.
Suburbanmiddy
AnswerID:
143452
Reply By: Jodi - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 12:50
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 12:50
Ours is only about 2 month old now and until the novelty wears off it is in the lounge with a permanent stock of beer (or wine for us girls). Yesterday in the heat it made a journey out to the deck and swimming pool via an extension lead and kept us 'hydrated' for most of the afternoon - although did nothing for the sunburn...
I do believe ours will eventually shift to the shed where it will be left running with a couple of beers - apparently that's the best way to do it.
AnswerID:
143457
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 13:03
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 13:03
Mine lives in the back of the Patrol....permanently attached to slide and wired with both plugs (240v and 12v) as
well as the remote temp sender for the thermometer which sits on the dash. It runs 24/7/365, sometimes with nothing more than a couple of bottles of
water in it.
At night, I plug the 240v extension cord into the bullbar-mounted inlet socket, so that 240v is powering the fridge overnight as
well as an on-board battery charger (older-style Arlec 4amp unit set on the trickle charge setting).
I believe it is better for fridges to be run all the time.
Cheers
Roachie
FollowupID:
396951
Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:25
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:25
Instruction manuel recomends regular use and suggests using it as 2nd fridge freezer. Having said that many people only use them when needed - depends on how often you go
camping. I use
mine for 2-3 days every 3 weeks
AnswerID:
143485
Reply By: Member - Raymond - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:30
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 16:30
Hi Willow
An old timer fridge mechanic told us with the compressor fridges your turn them on once and then leave them on. The Engel is now 18 years old and has not be turned off except to be defrosted, always keeps the drinks cold
Ray
AnswerID:
143490
Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 20:00
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 20:00
Have a 20yo Engel and a 3 yoEngel. Both get turned off when not in use.
Have never had a problem
FollowupID:
397017
Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 20:37
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 at 20:37
Run 'em as much as you can..... Nudenut (fellow fridgie) mentioned electricals need to be run and I agree, but I also believe the refrigeration circuit needs to be kept operational. Our 70 Litre Trailblaza is our "second" fridge! Works a treat!
AnswerID:
143542
Reply By: scottcamp - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 at 20:41
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 at 20:41
Hi All,
Bought a waeco CF-50 May 2004 and have never turned it off since I bought it. Even when it is empty I have left it on, it has performed faultlessly. I also bought a waeco CF-18 for day trips but I turn this off all the time, it also performs faultlessly. S I guess from my experience it really does not matter.
Regards
Scott
AnswerID:
143733
Reply By: scottcamp - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 at 20:41
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005 at 20:41
Hi All,
Bought a waeco CF-50 May 2004 and have never turned it off since I bought it. Even when it is empty I have left it on, it has performed faultlessly. I also bought a waeco CF-18 for day trips but I turn this off all the time, it also performs faultlessly. So I guess from my experience it really does not matter.
Regards
Scott
AnswerID:
143734