Anyone got a DT Evakoo?
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 09:17
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baza
Hi,
Looking at duel temperature fridges (fridge/freezer), evakool seem to have a nice range - the DT models (looked at the new engel, but it is to heavy for me). Has anybody got one? Does it perform ok in duel mode? Just looking at them, I wasn't to sure how the heat (or should that be cold) is transferred through the foam divider.
Also comments on the cheaper RF versions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Reply By: David N. - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 09:40
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 09:40
I have the Evakool and could not possibly be happier.
Mine does a lot of work, the only "accessory" I would highly recommend (for ANY frig!!) is a digital temp gauge with wire probe, available from Jaycar and Tandy, DickSmiths etc which allows you to fine tune your temp settings and packing etc.
Like I said, couldn't possibly be happier with the evakool.
I also have a 3-way Chescold- but it gets very little use these days as it uses a humongous amount of electricity and I prefer not to run it on gas most of the time. The Evakool on the other hand is great- can easily run it on solar indefinitely- or a regular run in your car.
The only thing to remember is that colder temps WILL use more electricity- there is no free lunch. (Hence the digital display with probe)
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Reply By: Rod - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 10:08
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 10:08
Baza
Have an RF60 and I am tickled pink. Have used it so far for 3-4 trips averaging 4-5 days in SE Qld. If I run the freezer at no colder than -7 deg, I can achieve an average current draw of 1.7A per hour at an ambient temp of ~28 deg. This is with the freezer pre-chilled and mostly full. That's a pretty low average current draw over a 24hr period, helped by the generous insulation.
A mate turns his RF60 off at night before going to bed and turns it on in the morning and things still stay frozen.
I have run the freezer to -17, just for kicks, but it obviously cycles more and draws more average current and I can't justify that. From memory, it draws around 5A when running. It just doesn't run that often.
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Follow Up By: baza - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 10:23
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 10:23
Thanks Rod,
Do you know what temp the fridge side is at if the freezer is at about -7 deg, or do you run it as just a freezer?
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Follow Up By: Rod - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 13:31
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 13:31
Baza
Run it as a fridge/freezer and can't recall the temp in the fridge but the milk doesn't go off and the lettuce doesn't freeze and the meat in the freezer stays
rock solid. I'm happy.
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Follow Up By: Rod - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 13:33
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 13:33
Oh, and apparently there's a 'Rod' who works for evakool. I don't know him and have no association. Someone once asked that here.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - David - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 11:40
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 11:40
Baza,
I too have an evakool RF60. Bought it about twelve months ago in preparation for a trip we have just come back from,( plenty hwy,
boggy hole, ulluru,old ghan railway track to finke,
simpson desert).The trial trips prior to the big one the frig worked exceptionally
well, and the same for the big trip. I could not have been happier. Cryovac meals that we took away frozen were still that way at the end of the trip. One week while away temperatures were up in the forties. During this time with the divider in I had the freezer temp at around minus10 and found the fridge temp stayed around 2 or 3 degrees somtimes upto 4 degrees but never higher.As suggested before a temp gauge is a must.
Cheers David
AnswerID:
34695
Reply By: Member - David - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 11:40
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 11:40
Baza,
I too have an evakool RF60. Bought it about twelve months ago in preparation for a trip we have just come back from,( plenty hwy,
boggy hole, ulluru,old ghan railway track to finke,
simpson desert).The trial trips prior to the big one the frig worked exceptionally
well, and the same for the big trip. I could not have been happier. Cryovac meals that we took away frozen were still that way at the end of the trip. One week while away temperatures were up in the forties. During this time with the divider in I had the freezer temp at around minus10 and found the fridge temp stayed around 2 or 3 degrees somtimes upto 4 degrees but never higher.As suggested before a temp gauge is a must.
Cheers David
AnswerID:
34696
Reply By: Rowdy - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 14:35
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 at 14:35
G'day Baza,
I have an RF DT85, that i purchased in Sept 03, just prior to a trip we took out through Camerons corner etc....
I have found it to be very good - low power draw in particular.
However, I was a little disappointed to find that the fridge section (62 litre)was running around the + 6/7/8 degrees C, when the freezer was tuned in to run at about minus 10/11/12 c .....Even when the freezer was turned up, to run at minus 14/15, the fridge section did not reflect that decrease in temperature.
As the trip progressed, I was continually removing small amounts of insulation from the seal around the bottom edge of the divider, in an attempt to get more cold air to transfer in to the fridge section. The best
test, i believe, was to read the temps, first thing in the morning, after the full nights run without opening the lid etc & this is the temps I am referring to..... Perhaps, now that I have removed quite a lot of the seal insulation, along the bottom of the divider, I will get lower fridge temps.....That will have to wait until the next trip to be tested.
I am hoping to achieve something like minus 10c in the freezer, and + 2/3/4 c in the fridge.....
Rowdy....
By the way, I requested that the RF 85 have a 22litre freezer plate installed instead of the standard 44litre plate. We wanted the larger fridge space / less freezer space...
Evacool were very helpful in this regard.
I was advised that the Rf versions are of the same quality as the DT models,same compressor etc, however the Rf comes as a preassembled unit that Evacool simply plumb to the side of their esky .
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Reply By: Member - Oskar(Bris) - Friday, Oct 24, 2003 at 21:41
Friday, Oct 24, 2003 at 21:41
bazza
I have an RF47 and reckon it's pretty good.
The separate freezer section is magic.
I have one of those digital temp gauges as
well. Good stuff.
With the 240V power pack we use it at
home for parties as an outdoor fridge.
Cheers
OskarMrs Oskar on Big Red
AnswerID:
35032
Follow Up By: Member - Bernie. (Vic) - Sunday, Oct 26, 2003 at 23:30
Sunday, Oct 26, 2003 at 23:30
Hi Oskar
Off to the
shop Monday to order a Evakool ( a deal from the Melb 4x4 show)
RF60 my choice is to big to fit in the Prado
So its either the ED50 ( Fridge or Freezer)
or the DT RF47 both about the same size outside
Did you do a comparison on these 2 units ?
if so why did you pick the DT RF47 ?
I assume the whole unit would be a freezer if you took out the divider ?
Regards
BerniePrado TD Auto
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Follow Up By: Member - Oskar(Bris) - Monday, Oct 27, 2003 at 10:07
Monday, Oct 27, 2003 at 10:07
Bernie
I did not compare as I wanted the separate freezer option.
I chose the RF47 because of the size and the price (as
well as the freezer).
I think (and I may be wrong) the RF47 is a tad taller than the 50 and thus it takes taller drink bottles.
If you take the divider out the fridge can be all freezer or all fridge depending on the temp setting.
Sorry this reply may be a bit late for you as we had a big storm yesterday arvo and lost power for a long time.
Whatever you get I'm sure you'll enjoy it (despite the big $$$).
Cheers
OskarMrs Oskar on Big Red
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Follow Up By: Member - Bernie. (Vic) - Monday, Oct 27, 2003 at 23:49
Monday, Oct 27, 2003 at 23:49
Hi Oskar
Thanks for the reply, I got it before I went to the dealer, like you I prefered duel unit just needed a prod to say yes.
I order the the RF47 as at the show they offered all the fridges with
240 converter & a protective cover, got it all for $998 which I thought was pretty good value.
Cheers Prado TD Auto
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Oskar(Bris) - Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003 at 09:29
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003 at 09:29
Bernie,
Sounds like a good buy as the two extras add up to nearly $250 on their own.
I hope you enjoy your travels.
Cheers
OskarMrs Oskar on Big Red
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