Compact Fridges under 20 Litres - Waeco CF-18 Engel 13 Lt
Submitted: Monday, Oct 06, 2003 at 02:10
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Palaeoboy
Hi, I have spent a few days going through the
forum archives and read almost every post on
portable fridges, unfortunately they all seem to be larger ones for family camps etc. I need a small portable fridge to store water samples and carry a bottle of drink and lunch maybe. I need something able to be carried down to a creek so a good carry handle is desirable. I thought that a proper fridge would be more suitable than a cooler as I can more acurately regulate temperature and also use it as a backup freezer at
home. I have looked at several models like the Engel 13 and 15 Liters and the Waeco CF18. The 15Lt Engel looks very robust but without handels and its extra weight I have put it at the back of the list at this stage but still open minded. The Engel 13 Lt looked ok but the local Engel dealer said that he didnt feel it as relaibale as their other models and that I may be disappointed. The other model the Waeco CF18 I have seen and looks ok in that it will hold a 1.25Lt Bottle upwright while the other 2 Engels wont. But the same dealer wouldnt recomend a Waeco either so I was wondering if anyone with the Waeco 18 and Engel 13 Lt models could tell me of the reliabily and service experiences. Is there another compact fridge that you may recommend? All the other brands like Evakool seem to start off in big sizes. Many thanks in Advance.
Reply By: JoshinBroome - Monday, Oct 06, 2003 at 03:12
Monday, Oct 06, 2003 at 03:12
Hi,
If you can get a hold of a good one the older model Engel fridges(the green
ones)are indestuctable,I worked for the Main Roads Depatment of W.A
based in
Derby and
Kununurra as a field mechanic,these units would bounce
around the back of work vehicles,falling on there sides and would never miss a
beat,the 15ltr should fit a 1.25 bottle and come with solid lifting handles
at either end.I would think think you could pick up one of these in exc
condition for a few hundred bucks.
Good luck,
Josh.
AnswerID:
32854
Follow Up By: Palaeoboy - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 02:47
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 02:47
Josh, thanks for that suggestion. I will take a look into that option. The later model 15 Litre Engels I saw on display definately didnt have any handles or grips whatsoever. I was hoping to have a handle or strap to carry the fridge one handed in case I have to clamber down a bank or over rocks and need one hand free to keep myself steady. Would the older green Engels be heavier than the modern plactic cased ones? That could aslo be a problem. Thanks again
FollowupID:
23549
Reply By: JoshinBroome - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 03:43
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 03:43
Hi,
Offhand i would say between 10-15kg empty,I think...its been a while.
Regards,
Josh.
AnswerID:
32949
Reply By: mrdesmo - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 14:33
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 14:33
I just sold a 15 litre Engel on ebay, got $355 for it, it was an oldie, but ultra reliable. (I sold it along with a 29 litre as I now own a 45 lt Waeco.) It had a plastic body and no carry handles. It certainly wasn't as portable as you are looking for though. Anything with a compressor I don't think is going to be as portable as you need. My advice, buy a small fridge (15lt or whatever) to leave in the car, and one of those cooler type to take down to the creek. I've seen some pretty good looking units in the Waeco catldog. The coolers don't cool things down in a hurry, but keep things that are already cold, cool. (Does that make sense?!!!)
Anyway, you can pick up a second hand small fridge for around $3-400 and a decent sort of cooler for about $100-150. Be still cheaper than a new fridge..
Cheers
AnswerID:
32998
Reply By: MPS - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 08:20
Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 08:20
Hi
I bought a 13 litre Engel on ebay last year for $350 (it was only 3 months old) still with warranty and have used it often in the manner which you intend to use one.
I have found it to be a great little fridge and is easy to lug around with the carry strap.
Not as robust as earlier models but is lighter due to being plastic casing, weighs about 10 kgs empty. I defintely would reccommend one.
AnswerID:
33086
Follow Up By: Palaeoboy - Thursday, Oct 09, 2003 at 02:17
Thursday, Oct 09, 2003 at 02:17
Great to hear from someone who owns one of these 13Lt Engel or 18Lt Waecos.
Thats good price, I was quoted $600 for one new. It was even dificult to get a look at one, I went to the the distributers who happened to have a wreck one for me to look at. How do you find its ability as a freezer? That model seemed very shallow, can you still put a 1.25Lt bottle in it? Do you find 13Lt limiting in capacity?
Yes it does have a plastic casing but so to it seems do the other current Engels of 15Lt and 21 Lt size. I noticed many casings smashed in the repairshop round the vent holes. I thought that the 13Lt seemed to be less likely to smash like those but wasnt sure.
Hopefully someone with the Waeco 18litre can offer a comparitive view as
well, many thanks.
FollowupID:
23763
Reply By: MPS - Friday, Oct 10, 2003 at 08:08
Friday, Oct 10, 2003 at 08:08
Hi,
you can fit 4 x 1.25 litre bottles lying on their side in the 13 litre Engel or 14 375 ml cans.
As a freezer I have found it works just as
well as the bigger models, I checked temp when running on 240V (via power pack) with knob on 4 and after a few hours found it was -16 degrees C.
Internal dimensions are 350 mm across x 200 mm deep x 190 mm wide
AnswerID:
33298
Follow Up By: Palaeoboy - Sunday, Oct 12, 2003 at 00:42
Sunday, Oct 12, 2003 at 00:42
THats a fair amount of 1.25 Lt bottles. I didnt think it would hold that much just by looking at it. What 240V power adapter did you select? Some seem quite exbleepive. With thanks.
FollowupID:
24022
Reply By: Palaeoboy - Sunday, Oct 12, 2003 at 00:45
Sunday, Oct 12, 2003 at 00:45
How odd, it added bleep to the word expensive, I wonder why?
AnswerID:
33454
Reply By: MPS - Monday, Oct 13, 2003 at 21:34
Monday, Oct 13, 2003 at 21:34
Hi
240 Volt Power pack is one I already had, supplies 12v@6A Max. Yes you are right they are #$%##ng expensive but you get what you pay for.
You can fit 4 x 1.25 litre bottles lying down without a problem............................
as long as they don't leak!!
Regards
AnswerID:
33655
Reply By: woodsta - Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 at 23:55
Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 at 23:55
I have a waeco tropicool classic 18 (unfortunatly 12v only), I picked it up at Big W cheap as it did not have a 240 converter, but I think they were going for about $140 full price. I live in Townsville and use it in the car traveling up and down the coast and it freezes stuff on the bottom at times. I have used it as a fridge plugged into 240 for long periods of time with no real hassels, except that the fan noise can be a bit loud at times, (in a quiet room, cannot hear it in the back
seat). As for how long it will last I have had it for only about 12 months so I'll let you know on a few years.
hope this helps
AnswerID:
34106