Fridge/freezer

"Anything that has a fridge and freezer off inside the same unit is inefficient ( uses lots of power) unless it is a National Luna dual zone"...I'll add the Evakool 47Litre to that exception list too. I have 2 of them and on a 6 month trip running one off the 100Amp/Hr battery in the camper, we would get between 2 to 2.5 days before the battery would get to 11.9/12.0 volts and I'd charge it up again. This was always in 35 to 45 degree days with warm nights too.

Cheers,

Mark.

Hmm, with our 47 ltr evakool, running as a freezer and fridge at -15 and around 1 deg fridge. Ambient above 35 during the day.
We get 4 days out of our nz70.
I think thats pretty good.

T

That's impressive. Forgot to add, the same battery ran the interior lights (4 LED strips lights and an Arlec fluoro) and charged the kids handheld games.

I'm assuming when the battery gets down to 12v it's at 50% capacity, so it's used around 50amps? My usage running the above then is around 20 to 25 amp/hours a day? I'm happy with that based of data from fridge comparisons done by various magazine over the years.

T your 4 days would be about 12 to 13 amp/hours a day? That's super, I'm guessing you don't have a couple of kids using it too? (We have 2).

Mark.

Hi Mark,
Looks like we posted at around the same time.
I was replying to Boobook, the same as you.
Yes, no fluros, but it wasnt packed full, so was down at bit on efficiency due to the increased air space instead of a fully packed fridge, and it was cooling 3 beers/ day ;0.
We use the 20ltr icecool esky to keep lunch etc, to minimise the opening times.
Works really well.

Ran it till the voltage cut out mid arvo, and started low voltage code.

T

Guess I have to ask the question of why not a 80L Waeco?

I have been using mine since buying it in early 2005 and have had it mounted in the back of the car pretty much ever since.. it has seen many 4x4 club trips and cape york etc over that time and has been a great fridge with absolutely no issues.

I use it with a 105Ahr Supercharge allrounder as the auxillary battery and the old style solenoid duel battery setup in the 80 series. Lasts a few days without charging and the battery seems to respond well to charging with a quick trip each day when the fridge is on 24/7.

I chose the 80L with the wife and 3 kids in tow and even then found that space ran out pretty quickly. Now with only two there is free space in it pretty much all the time which is good as I can store vegies etc in it to keep them cold when camping.

Sea dog,

The Waeco 80 IMHO has issues with maintaining the right temperature across the fridge. Stuff that you intend to freeze doesn't and stuff that you don't want to freeze does.

There are lots of posts on this and other sites about how you can manage this but you have to move food around and keep a very close eye on it. All too hard and a breeding ground for food poising as food goes in and out of a frozen state.

The other problem is power use. It draws an average of about 3.5 amps whereas most other fridges, including some bigger ones and Waeco's when not on freeze average 0.8 to 1.2Amps. A 100AH battery would be lucky to last 10 hours if you look after your battery and only discharge it to 50%. More food problems.

The power problem is because of physics. It takes about 3 - 4 times as much energy to freeze water as it does cool it to just above Zero. Hence why ( IMO ) freezing sucks for camping.

Ive had a used Waeco 80 for couple of years and have no issues with keeping things cold in any part of the fridge.
Like any car fridge it takes some practice to get it right
I dont believe food goes poisonous when it goes in and out of a frozen state as long as it never reaches temperatures high enough to breed bacteria.
Im not saying its good practice but I wouldnt ditch my meat supply because it went a little frosty and was refrozen.

Supermarkets are required by law to throw any thawed food out because they can not be sure how warm it got.

I get about 2 1/2 days from the 100 amp battery I have with the weaco 80 on a medium setting.

The thing I like most about the 80 is its wide shape which makes it easy to find things.
Similar sized fridges have more depth than width and you have to stack too much food on top of other food

Ross, supermarkets are required by law to throw it away to stop food poisining.

It's simple, you should not refreeze thawed food.

The last thing you need on a trip away from medical help is a few people with gastroenteritis. I know from personal experience which is why I am so particular about it when camping. It can be dabilatating, and is even less pleasant than at home, running for the bushes in the middle of the night with no time to go find the toilet paper.

Here is one of many warnings from heath authorities on the internet. Vic Health in this case.

" Bacteria in food that is frozen a second time do not die and the food is likely to have higher levels of food poisoning bacteria. The risk depends on the condition of the food when frozen and how the food is handled between thawing and refreezing, but raw food should never be refrozen once thawed."

I just think that you should avoid the problem totally. Rearranging food in the fridge regularly would have to be the top priority after fuel and water otherwise. The means unpacking everything in the fridge to check it and move it. Another no no and a pain in the ....

If you have your system that is good. But I doubt that 95% of people could or would do it dilagently enough to stop refreezing totally.

I have my own steak for dinner over here in the corner tonight thanks.

:-)

Most people are eating refrozen meat nearly every week. Sausages are often made from frozen meat which is then thawed enough to go through the mincer and often refrozen and thawed by the consumer.
Like the vic health dept says"The risk depends on the condition of the food when frozen and how the food is handled between thawing and refreezing, but raw food should never be refrozen once thawed"

I'm not suggesting room temp meat be refrozen,but I see little problem with still frosty meat being frozen hard again.

The reality is ,red meat is responsible for very few food poisonings in the overall scheme of things.
Well cooked red meat is quite safe,not much bacteria can survive 10 mins on a 300 degree hot plate.

The over whelming cause of food poisoning is in the preperation from dirty hands and work surfaces.
When I go camping I place an emphasis on all participents washing their hands with an ethylene based handwash before they go near food.

Most people are eating refrozen meat nearly every week. Sausages are often made from frozen meat which is then thawed enough to go through the mincer and often refrozen and thawed by the consumer.
Like the vic health dept says"The risk depends on the condition of the food when frozen and how the food is handled between thawing and refreezing, but raw food should never be refrozen once thawed"

I'm not suggesting room temp meat be refrozen,but I see little problem with still frosty meat being frozen hard again.

The reality is ,red meat is responsible for very few food poisonings in the overall scheme of things.
Well cooked red meat is quite safe,not much bacteria can survive 10 mins on a 300 degree hot plate.

The over whelming cause of food poisoning is in the preperation from dirty hands and work surfaces.
When I go camping I place an emphasis on all participents washing their hands with an ethylene based handwash before they go near food.

The good news is that nearly all the fridges on the market have been fairly well tested and none of thewell known makes are complete duds.
The majority are using the same BD35 compressor and the Engels have the Sarafuji swing motor.
Look for functions like decent handles,easy to see/use controls,fridge light ect.

Gee. looks like you need climbing gear to access the stuff in the bottom of the unit.
:)

T

How much do they cost?
That shape would suit some ,but my camper has a broad flat area with low height,hence a weaco 80 fits best.

LINK to: 80 litre fridge/freezer

External dimensions -> 495mm deep x 835mm wide

At only 2.5 ah they are more efficient than the Waeco 80 Lt combo

Image Could Not Be FoundMaîneÿ . . .

I see the Waeco is measured at a temp of -15 and uses 2.9 amps while the NL is measured at -10c and using 2.5 amps

Last time I enquired the price of the NLs was like double the comparable waeco cost.
That factor would buy a lot of battery/solar power which would more than compensate for any discrepancy in power usage.
I also believe they are using the same BD35 compressor.