12 volt 80 ltr fridge $600 on e bay

I am ainterested in peoples thoughts on the fridges listed below on e bay. Price is good but the freight is another story. Also the 12 volt lead pictured looks a bit on the pathetic side. Not wanting waste hard earned money what are members thoughts on the product.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/80L-PORTABLE-FREEZER-FRIDGE-12V220V-BOAT-TRUCK-TRAILER-/220676087778?pt=AU_Sport_Camping_Hiking_Food_Storage&hash=item336151dfe2

Thanks for all replys
Den
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Reply By: garrycol - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 15:57

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 15:57
I have the 55l version bought off ebay from a different supplier. Freight was half was this provider wants

The fridge is great - I have used it on a number of extended trips where it got bounced around in hot and cold weather.Mine has very low power usage and I have been very happy with it. A 240v power supply for an Engel is almost the same price as my whole unit.

The cover is not an insulated bag but just a protective cover. I use the standard lead plugged into an cheap cig socket wired direct to my spare battery and the standard cable works fine. The fridge is also reasonably quiet and I sleep next to it in my truck.

Personally I think they are far better value than the mainstream brands.

Garry
AnswerID: 432102

Follow Up By: garrycol - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 15:58

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 15:58
Oh - an 80l is going to be one huge heavy fridge - make sure you really need this size - my 55l is a pretty decent size but would suit a small family.
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Follow Up By: Mikee5 (Logan QLD) - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:06

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:06
Garry, my engel is 12/240 - doesn't need a power supply - unless you are buying a generator lol.
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Follow Up By: garrycol - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 18:30

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 18:30
Some engels (like yours) have an internal 240v power supply to drop down to 12v that the fridge actually runs on - that power supply is worth just under $495.
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Follow Up By: Mikee5 (Logan QLD) - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 19:36

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 19:36
Sorry Gary, I didn't know. I bought my engel 2nd hand in 1978. I don't see why the cost of a power supply should be factored in. The cost to replace the engine in my 'Cruiser would be $12,000. I didn't factor that in when I bought it either.
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Follow Up By: garrycol - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 20:20

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 20:20
The point being - that if a cheap one plays up it may be cheaper to just thow it away than get one of more expensive ones fixed. Having said that the cheapies can be repaired if required.

Is an engel or a waeco that costs three times the price of a similar sized cheapie three times better?

My experience is no - mine cools to -19 if required on a hot day just as well as an engel does and uses about the same amount of power - will the cheapie still be around in 30 years like the engel - I have no idea but in that period I can afford to buy nearly four of them and still be ahead.

Garry
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Reply By: Allan B, Sunshine Coast, - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:20

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:20
Hi Den,

Be aware that this fridge is advertised as "Compressor Free". That is, it has no compressor but is in fact a Thermoelectric (Peltier effect) fridge. These have limited cooling capacity and consume considerable electric power for what they achieve.

For more information on fridge types including Thermoelectric click here for an ExploreOz article on portable fridges.

Also I do not think $600 is especially cheap for this fridge.

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: chisel - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:23

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:23
It's actually "Compressor Free 12V Adapter" etc. ie. it has a compressor, and the 12V adapter is free.

Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:42

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:42
Even though it seems to be a compressor fridge unit from the specs, picture 10 of 11 shows a thermoelectric fridge. :)



Andrew
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Follow Up By: Allan B, Sunshine Coast, - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:42

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 16:42
Hi Chisel, Yes, seems you are correct. I found "Refrigerant R134a" in the specs so it IS a compressor fridge. It also has "Decompressor" over one of the illustrations.... a bit confusing! The product would want to be better than the advertisement!

But thanks for correcting me.

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Bushranger1 - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 17:58

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 17:58
Having used an Engel for 24 hrs a day 7 days a week for 2 years continuously in some very extreme 4WD country I would not trust anything else!

I got my fingers burnt by buying a cheaper brand at the start of my trip & I threw it out after 2 months because it was useless & then I bought the Engel. Also did some work on the cattle stations in the Kimberley & every second station worker has an Engel in the back of their 4wd. Let me tell you those guys are really hard on their gear too.

No I don't work for Engel & I would rather not mention the brand fridge I chucked out.
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Follow Up By: Member - Marc Luther B (WA) - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 18:18

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 18:18
Good call Bushranger1

I have an Engel 21 litre in the back seat of my hilux, and an 80 litre Waeco in my trailer which I run from a gen set, but I never camp near other people so I get no complaints. I don't always pull the trailer, but I always have the Engel in the back seat, and the old engel serves me well.

Cheers
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Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 22:47

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 22:47
Hi Den

We have purchased our Engels second hand - a bit dented but the old bomb proof models. They are only 30 and 40 litre ones, so i don't know if there are 80 litre ones of that vintage. I too think 80 litres a large fridge for which you may need a lot of power. I'd rather an old Engel than a cheapie brand, and with two, there is the option of using one or two as needed for the trip, or one as a freezer and one as a fridge for big trips.

Motherhen
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AnswerID: 432138

Reply By: Member -Ted - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 08:46

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 08:46
I see the listing has been removed from Ebay!!
I have 3 Engels , 2 x 40L in the Patrol one of which is used as a freezer and a 60L in the CT. Great fridges! At the end of the day you usually get what you pay for.
I personally would not look at "cheepies" as some of these imports have no support/spares if something goes wrong.

ted
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 08:51

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 08:51
Still there Ted :)

Andrew
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Follow Up By: Member -Ted - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 10:02

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 10:02
my Apologies. I tried the link above and it said the item has been removed, I did not look for it on Ebay tho.
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Reply By: TerraFirma - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 14:03

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 14:03
80L Fridge Freezer

I presume this is the same one.
AnswerID: 432157

Follow Up By: den57 - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 14:15

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2010 at 14:15
There seems to be a few there with different sellers and different compressors.
But basically the same deal.
Never having bought off e bay, i am concerned about the hard to come by dollar and me thinks i will give it a miss.Have found repco selling a 55ltr fridge freezer, and although smaller, at least you can see before you buy and you can go and see the seller if a problem arises.
Thanks for every bodys input.
Den 57
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