Waeco C18 compressor
Submitted: Friday, May 15, 2009 at 09:19
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Member - Porl
Hi all
My wife bought an expensive ipod so I need a toy too.
Been thinking about a truly portable fridge/freezer that maybe can be used to keep the bait frozen and out of the food fridge, maybe used to quick chill beers and wine, maybe store it in the back
seat of the ute permanently for those drive by wish I bought those but don't have an esky moments.
Its the Engel MD14E v the Waeco C18
Engel - amazing power, pulls down to 20C- within 1.5hrs at ambient 30C. Current draw between 0.9 to 4amp/hrs.
Downside, it's only 14L, though its a bit smaller than the waeco.
Waeco - cr@p lock fitting, dodgy plastic that looks like it could break easily, the stock standard danfoss compressor. Upside is it seems a bit bigger but not a convenient bigger. The inside of the Engel is a flat rectangle the inside of the Waeco has one deep compartment and one shall compartment - not great for my bacon curing.
The noise of the engel is a worry, rated at max 45db, WTF?
Anyhow, does anyone have any experience with the current draw average of the Waeco and has anyone used it as a freezer etc all those things.
Of course, the Waeco is a lot cheaper than the Engel.
Thanks
Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:17
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:17
What's the Price difference Porl? I have the CF18. Good little unit. Works well even in 50C temps that the vehixcle often gets to in summer. Excellent as a freezer. Only setback is that it is 12/24 and you have to have the Waeco converter to plug it into 240AC.
Normally I operate the Engle MT45 as a freezer and my Waeco CF50 as a fridge on long trips. Same overall current draw. All my fridges have taken a fair bit of harsh treatment over the past 4 years and performed well, including the CF18. The CF18 does have that deep weel to one side meaning you can stand up a carton of milk and or a few wine bottles. Great for keeping the goodies cold on the trip
home from the supermarket in the middle of summer as well (or the grog cold on the way to a mates BBQ). Very handy little fridge.
Cheers Mick
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AnswerID:
365003
Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:25
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:25
Gold, you have one.
I have an ancient waeco, the first 30L unit to come out, nothing digital, has never missed a beat, has been trashed. It has only ever melted the plug that goes in cause i kept getting drunk and leaving the lid off so it kept going and overheated.
So i an't got nothing against waecos.
Now the CF18, do you think you can make ice in it? i can't really make ice in my 30L waeco, i can but it takes like a couple days, or so it seems.
I understand an engel can set a tray of ice cubes in a few hours (am I dreaming?)
And do you think the average current draw of the CF18 is small due to the size the large motor needs to refidgerate? I know the engel 14L can rev down to 0.9amp/hour and if you factor in a 40% duty cycle then I figure my 0.7amp/hr solar panel should actually keep the battery topped up.
I can get the engel for $599 but i can pick up a CF18 at the waeco seconds factory for between $300 and $400 quite regularly it seems. thats a big price difference as you gather, so its a torterous decision - build quality over compressor performance reduced capacity and noise issue and a big price difference.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:54
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:54
Something wrong with your 30l.
I can freeze half a dozen 2 litre bottles of water in my 50 or 80 litre wacko in a day.
Im am also in the market for a wacko 18. I want to sell my wacko 50 and have the 80l in the rear and the 18l up front so I dont have to stop for a cold drink or a snack.
The only price I have seen for the 18l is $537 at BCF
They do look a little dated in terms of styling but Im not bothered.
I am also hoping there is someone with real experience in this model
FollowupID:
632636
Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:58
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:58
hey
Ross
I was looking at the Seconds
shop, a few scratches sounds fine to me. In a month my scratches will cover the
shop ones.
To find it you hit the waeco advert button on the main
forum page, then at far right at the top of the waeco main page you see a button for "factory seconds". That takes you to another
shop site.
I can save the delivery fee by driving down to the
shop.
Currently the C18 (and I hope there's no difference between the CF18 and the C18?) is listed for $370.
My waeco has awful insulation and no turbo button i notice the 50 and 80's have, that might be the reason for its "under performance".
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:02
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:02
and
ross i notice you're in WA, gotyatackle in
Perth have the Engel MD14E for $595. And what might be of interest to you is that it has a top separate opening lid, hard to describe, but it's so you don't have to lift open the entire fridge door to get inside - while you are driving.
You can see the little door at their site picture:
http://www.gotyatackle.com/store/product.asp?ID=2846
FollowupID:
632639
Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:10
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:10
Thanks fior that ,I didnt know about that Engel model or there was a C18 and a CF18.
Do you have the insulation bag on your 30l?
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:14
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:14
No, no insulation bag, but the making ice experiments were done in an ambient temperate of about 26C out of the sun at
home so I figured it wouldn't make that much of a difference.
As a fridge, or to keep things frozen its been great.
On setting 1 at the beach in winter (
brisbane) shortly after new it overnight drew less than half an amp/hr average. Was very pleased.
As for C18 or CF18 I think it's just typos, I can't find the C18 on the Waeco site or the CF18 on the factory seconds site, i dunno.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: techo2oz - Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 15:11
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 15:11
There is a difference between the c18 and the cf18. CF uses the Danfoss and the C uses a cheaper chinese unit.
I have been using an CF18 for about 5 years now and it hasn't missed a beat. I use a big 80 for the tucker and the 18 for beer. Also overnight trips away etc. The only complaint I have is that
the knob is easily bumped. A small change can start freezing the contents as I like to run it at around 0-1 degrees.
I can run nearly a day and a half on a 24AH battery but have made my own battery box with solar reg. A 36 Watt panel keeps everything ticking along quite nicely. My longest trip away with this setup was 3 weeks. That is topping up everyday and removing contents every night. :-)
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 16:32
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 16:32
thanks for more clarification techo2oz, you'd think the tech person from waeco responding to my query on the C18 would take the time to tell me the differences as between both and not just what is in the C18, i guess thats why he/she is not in marketing, good info.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Ingo57 (NSW) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:59
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 10:59
The WanKo is cheaper than the Engel for a reason!!!
Go with the Engel!!
AnswerID:
365011
Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:04
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:04
hmm, that old debate. I wnet to Olbis the other day, they had engels, new and old, stretching out from their storage room out all across the display showroom, i reckon 20 in all, all with notes on them describing the error funtion causing the return.
There were a few waecos there too of course, I just think the olden days of the engels running forever might belong to those old days.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:11
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:11
[quote]The WanKo is cheaper than the Engel for a reason!!![/quote]
Because its better value perhaps???
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Ingo57 (NSW) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:17
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:17
Hahaha!
Apparently the 20 in the showroom were waiting for the 60 odd Wanko's to be cleared out of the workshop! LOL
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:19
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:19
well as i've said, the Engel latch is a lot more sturdy and friendly and easy to operate opening and locking mechanism, and i can access stats on the temperature pull down rates and the power consumption. ie better build, probably more powerful compressor but bloody noisy as well.
When i was at Olbis i was able to sit both units side by side and compare. (oddly no sales staff wandered over to me to make a pitch, geez i had my credit card in my pocket, they seemed to sit behind the counter on computers).
I was going to get the engel but I came out with second thoughts.
So i was after some reasons for the waeco.
If i can get a half price C18, perhaps I can live with an annoying latch.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Ingo57 (NSW) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:31
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:31
No worries mate, have mates with Wankos and they are happy with em.
I just like having a little stir when it comes to fridge questions.
Good luck with your decision
Cheers
Ingo (proven and proud Engel owner)
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:40
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:40
Ah yes ,the annoynig latch. I couldnt even open the one on display at Malz,maybe it was broken.
I must keep that in mind as I want to be able to open it with one hand while I am driving.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:45
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 11:45
Hey
ross, then definitely check out the engel MD14E, the top half door is operated by a magnet, very very clever and convenient.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: chisel - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 15:57
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 15:57
Is the Mobicool C18 the same fridge as the CF18? Looks pretty similar in specs/size etc. The mobicool was $330 recently on getawaeco ... I nearly got one. $370 is still ok, I guess.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:00
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:00
I reckon it is, have sent an email to waeco, no response yet.
Must say I'm leaning toward the engel, knowing it can go full
bore at 4amphours or, I have read, 1.8 if just fridging, whereas the waeco will be the 3.5 or not.
If you want to stand 2L bottles upright, can't go past the waeco.
Not my priority though.
Just wish engel has a seconds factory too.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:33
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:33
Ill have to check out the engel too.
Maybe Engel just put their 2nds back in with the other stock LOL
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:05
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:05
late friday news, am on the phone to waeco factory seconds
shop, the C18 they sell is different from the CF18, but only in colour - and that's straight from the tech guy. I didn't bother to ask why.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:36
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:36
Anyone know what info is on the box or the fridge that tells you the size of the compressor.
I may have read the figures wrong but I thought the 18 had the same compressor model number as my 50 and 80 wackos
I know the 50 and 80 have the same compressor but surely not the 18 as well
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:38
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:38
This is the email I got, the compressor is not even the Danfoss, Engel looking more attractive ...
Hi Paul.
Well Paul the consumption figures for The cf18 at 30C and set to 5C internally with all the product down to Temperature and the lid left shut is Approx. 1.2A/Hrs or 28.8 A/hrs per day. The compressor is a wancool which is made for WAECO in China by a company who has been making refrigeration units for 12 year now.
The Latch is available as a separate part and is normally not a problem.
Thanks for your inquiry is you require further information please call technical assistance on the numbers below
Cheers
Sholto
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:46
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:46
Thanks Porl. That is something to consider. They do advertise it as a budget fridge so I guess you get what you pay for.
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Reply By: Member - Porl - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:48
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 16:48
And thanks to everyone, cause without your posts I wouldn't have been pushed to even find out the waeco doesn't have the danfoss compressor, which i had presumed.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: chisel - Friday, May 15, 2009 at 20:41
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 20:41
And thanks to you for actually finding out!! Certainly has made me think twice about it to. Pity the next size up is a lot more expensive.
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Reply By: techo2oz - Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 09:09
Reply By: Member - ross m (WA) - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:22
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:22
I went and had a 2nd look at the waeco 18 at BCF in
Perth.
The info on the box says it has a Danfoss,German made compressor.
Porl got a email from waeco saying it had a Chinese made compressor.
The ones with the Danfoss compressor may be old stock and the newer models in the future will have the chinese job.
Or maybe they have 2 models in the 18 litre size.
As for the catch on the lid,after a little play with it (banging it shut and opening and closing it 20 times),I am certain it is a good design,it just takes strong fingers but I think it will looosen up a little as it wears
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:27
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:27
Yeah I think there is a late reply further up saying that the CF18 does have the Danfoss but the C18 on the Waeco Seconds website has the chinese compressor. Not really a seconds then is it.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - ross m (WA) - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:32
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:32
I sent waeco an email to find out.
The danfoss powered unit is $537 at BCF ,I would rather pay that than have the cheaper unit with the unproven compressor.
I had a look around at for the small Engel but having come across one yet.
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Follow Up By: Member - Porl - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:36
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:36
I see you are in WA, the cheapest price I could find for the engel, now gone up, was at gotyatackle at:
89 Erindale Rd, Balcatta,
Western Australia, 6021
www.gotyatackle.com
No affiliation at all. Never even heard of Balcatta.
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