Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 at 13:39
Michael, I'm not sure what you can make of the variety of opions and information presented in response to your question. Unfortunately an opinion on fridges is like an @rsehole. Everyone has one.
In my view, many of the opinions expressed above are quite unhelpful and quite wrong, but as an opinion, I guess the poster is entitled to it; as long as it is clearly expressed as an opinion and not a fact. On the other hand, much of what can be interpreted as 'statement of fact' or first hand experience above reflect my experience as well.
I am not an expert, but I've had a Reefer 70 Litre DTV (dual temp, verticle) for a couple of years. I bought it largely because of it's shape and front opening, but I did a fair bit of web based research before buying it.
As I understand it, the current Reefer is based substantially on the previous Liemark, but there have been some changes in programming etc.
My fridge is very well built. Powder coated steel outside, all stainless steel inside. It probably uses a little more power than similar ones from other brands, but not dramatically so. I normallly get 2 days running from a 120AH battery, but this varies with ambient temp. On a recent 16 week trip to Kimberly, NT and
far North Qld, I ran two 120 AH AGMs. We had many stops of between 2 and 7 days and I only ran the generator 5 or 6 times on the trip. The fridge performed perfectly. It was particularly good at 'pulling down' warm stuff to cold. Meat put in the freezer or drinks put in the fridge were frozen or cooled in about the same time as our home fridge takes. My brother in law has an Engle. Also a good fridge, but it has much less 'pull down' capacity. On a recent trip to
Fraser Island, he had it running as a freezer. He put a heap of fish fillets in it to freeze. Three days later they were still a bit soft.
My fridge is cabled via 10mm sq cable.
So, I support the following views:
It (based on mine) is a very good fridge.
It may draw a little more power than similar sized Engles etc, but it seems to have much greater cooling capacity.
If you get it, I recommend a good deep cycle battery, as large as you can carry and afford and minimum 10mm sq cable.
If it is inn good working order and the price is right, it is probably a good buy.
Another fact to consider. I believe Refrigeration Research has gone out of business. Their strength was in portable commercial refrigeration, but this is not a big market. Their smaller fridges (like mine) were just too expensive to compete with Engle, Waeco and the many other brands, which are also good fridges, just with different capabilities.
I paid just under $2,000 for my fridge (RRP at the time was around $2,200). I have seem my fridge recently on a clearance sale in a local camping store for $1,500. Warranty is not an issue for you. Service may be, but due to their design, any fridge mechanic should be able to find his way around it.
Good luck with sorting the wheat from the chaff in the responses you have received.
A thought: If it is your neighbour who has it, see if you can borrow it for a couple of days for a trial. No need for any science, just some basic tests. Can you get 24 hours (or close) from a reasonable deep cycle battery (with cold contents). Will it cool warm beer in a 'reasonable' time.
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Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 at 14:02
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 at 14:02
Afternoon Norm,
Thank you for your response, it was an honest post of mine with no hidden agenda at all and I appreciate yours, and everyone elses input..
As you say, everyone is entitled to an opinion, and nobody should have a problem with that, however good to hear some first hand experiences on which to try and base a decision........after all this whatever way it goes could be wrong.......lol lol
True there is a lot of chaff among the wheat but fun sorting it out.....I think;))
Have already thought of borrowing it but need to be a bit tactfull given the circumstances.
Thanks again
Michael
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