Engel information please

Hi Deserter, It would but what Kev was saying is that the "new" plugs provider greater contact and hold the connection better when things get rough or an item that is in the back of a S/Wagon for instance moves and dislodges the cigarette lighter plug.

Regards

Mark

Deserter,
Your 40litre has the new compressor that only pulls 2.8Amps when the compressor is running, so easily runs off cig socket.

All the old A series Engels pull 6.0 Amps, which is borderline for the average cig socket (they get hot).

Thanks Guys, since several of you think that it's a 15 litre unit and there is a"15' in the plate designation, then this is probably what is is. I just ran a tape ovet the bin and cubed it, getting 12itres l but Engel might have upped the figure. Is there a way of actually measuring the amps drawn so that you don't stuff up or do you always have to get this figure from the manufacturer(or label plate) If the ciggy socket gets hot should I just pull it and get a direct battery connection made up?
Despite it's age it goes very well and will drawn down to minus 13
so I just can't bring myself to chuck it.

How do I post a picture of the unit and the lead I've got

Wigger,
To measure amp draw, use an ammeter - most Digital Multimeters will measure up to 10 amps. Just follow the instructions, which usually means you put the red lead into the 10AMP socket and turn the dial to the 10AMP setting. The two leads need to be in series to measure current.

If you like, here is the advert from a 1991 brochure which is the following model (B series). Maximum draw is listed as 3.7 Amps per hour (the compressor doesn't cycle continuously). But the Engel figure for the A series was 3.9, which usually means the compressor draws 6amps when running.

Image Could Not Be Found

I've fitted a fan to my old B-series - you can get a circuit diagram off the net, that turns a 12V fan on whenever the compressor is running. I don't use cig sockets for fridges - too unreliable - theres plenty of good alternatives - merit plugs, Anderson plugs, deans ultraplug etc

Phil, where did you come up with the brochure from? That's pure gold! I bought my first Engel in 1984, actually I traded my goat gun (Remington Mohawk .222) for it. Vintage. I'd even forgotten what it looked like till I saw this.

Cheers. Mick

Mick, I'm a hoarder!!
Its the brochure from when I bought my first Engel. Had spent years before that trying to make 3-way fridges work!!

39L Engel cost $870 (with discount) in 1991.

Phil, Thanks It looks just the same as that MRFT 515 in the catalogue. Can you enlighten me as to why you fitted a fan and under what circumstances anyone else would need one?

Got it . It's obvious that the case lettering reads "MRFT515A" so
it draws 6amps as you said.

Frightening but true. Considering I was earning about $240 a week back then, it was a bloody HUGE investment. I remember it cost me a months wages but on my first trip out over the Gunbarrel in 1985, the ability to carry Fresh (frozen) meat was a luxury beyond measure. Actually, the Engel cost me more than my matching Westinghouse fridge and freezer combo! lol. Mind you my Nissan 720 Kingcab 4x4 only cost $9800! Sheeet, the fuel on this years trip to Rudall is going to cost more than that!

M.

Wigger,
A fan improves the efficiency of the fridge - it will use less power overall if its in a confined space.

The fan only draws about 0.15amp, but the compressor doesn't need to cycle as long, if the warm air is pushed away by the fan. In the back of a ute, it may not make much difference.
http://www.gpsoz.com.au/faninstall.htm

Phil, thankyou for the wiring up guff. It is very helpful. I was also going to get some polystyrene sheet and do a 3 way wrap, excluding the meshed area, because the fridge will be on the back of a ute. is this OK . Ask the question because on house fridges with no coils on the back there is a heat transfer through the walls and I don't want to impede this, obviously, if the Engel works on the same principle.
If you're near M'bah call in for a beer. E/M contact "donnedx@hotmail.com

Wigger,
Adding an extra layer of insulation around the outside works well, and probably better than the bags they sell these days. My newer fridge has the 1cm thick square floor mat glued around three sides and underneath as well. Got the mat in a pack of 4 from supercheap - and just used contact adhesive to attach it. Looks pretty neat too. I didn't bother with the lid, but you could do that too. I would have done it to both my fridges, but the extra 2cm of width meant it won't fit inside my canopy.

I'll keep you in mind for Muwullimbah, but won't be that way this year.

Cheers
phil