Waeco Design Fault ??

Have been using a 18 litre Waeco as a freezer for the last 18 months and, as other owners of this unit would be aware, the interior of the cabinet has two levels (to cater for the location of the compressor).

The upper level contains the evaporator whilst the lower level has no cooling facility at all.

When stocking the freezer up for an trip, all contents are previously deep frozen in a home freezer.

Now the problem - within 4 or 5 days any food in the lower compartment has defrosted (despite an average temperature of -18C amongst the food in the upper compartment).

One of my travelling buddies uses the same freezer and experiences exactly the same problem.

Do any other owners of this model suffer the same problem ??

Can anyone comment on the performance of the 21 litre Engel as a freezer ??
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Reply By: Dennis Ellery - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:17

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:17
I have both the Waeco CF40 and the Engel 40 litre – I use both in either freezer or fridge mode.
Never had a problem with either. From your comments the Waeco 18L must have a different construction to the CF40
AnswerID: 441376

Reply By: Tenpounder (SA) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:23

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:23
Hi. I am not a Waeco owner, but I am aware of problems with Engels when the volage at the actual unit is not 'up to scratch'. Have you tested the voltage available at the WAECO end of the power cable?
Hope this helps.
AnswerID: 441377

Follow Up By: Stevo - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:29

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:29
No issues with power supply. Connected to 0 B&S Cable (as I mentioned , the upper part of the cabinet runs at -18C)
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FollowupID: 713406

Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:33

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:33
PS I have two N70 batteries in parallel as my secondary supply. One time, I lost the connections to the primary circuit, and was running the Engel on batteries alone, with no re-charging. OK for a while, then the tucker started to warm up. By this time, the power was down to about 11.5V. The system recovered when I fixed it, thankfully.
But when all is functioning OK, the same system copes well (freezer at -12 or better) with temperatures around the mid forties outside in the shade, and well into the 50s in the vehicle.
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Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:39

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:39
Sorry, Stevo, your response and mine crossed in the mail!
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Reply By: Road Warrior - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:31

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:31
Perhaps your thermostat is dicky? I have a CDF35 (which is 32L) and it freezes stuff no problem at all, regardless of the ambient temp. In fact, moving the temp adjustment slide just past half way is enough to freeze my beers.
AnswerID: 441381

Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:32

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:32
Totally agree, the 18L is great as a fridge but as a freezer I've experienced similar problems.
Mind you if you can maintain the temp as low as posible then it will stay frozen. Trouble is that this requires a very strong battery or 240V.

It's odd as cold air is supposed to flow down hill so the deeper well should be the coldest part of the fridge.

Over Christmas the controls on mine shorted out whilst running on 240v, fortunately the fridge was fixed under warrenty.
Dunc
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AnswerID: 441382

Follow Up By: Stevo - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:42

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:42
As you say Duncan, cooler air sinks. I'm beginning to thing that the lower section of the cabinet must be poorly insulated
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Reply By: pop2jocem - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:50

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 15:50
Had the same problem with an Engel 39L bought new in 1998. Doing a trip down the CSR and using an older 29L Engel as a fridge and the new 39 as a freezer we found the stuff stored in the bottom was starting to thaw. Swapped the frozen food into the older 29L and cranked it up and used the 39L as the fridge, no more problems, the older unit kept everything frozen no problems. I too wondered why the top stayed frozen while the bottom thawed. The only reason I could see was that that particular model Engel had the same size evaporator as the smaller 29L and it was mounted to the top. Yes I know cold air is supposed to fall but I could see no other reason. Apparently the later Engels of that size have a full size evaporator so maybe not have that drama or maybe it was too much food and not allowing enough air circulation.
We still have both units and still use the larger as a fridge only
The older 29L still freezes no problems

Cheers Pop

AnswerID: 441385

Follow Up By: Steve63 - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:02

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:02
I'll second this. We have 2 39l Engels. One with full depth evaporator and the other with a half depth evaporator. Starting with frozen the Engel with the half depth evaporator will slowly thaw out.

Steve
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FollowupID: 713412

Follow Up By: Stevo - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:37

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:37
Thanks Guys, you are really making me reconsider the purchase of a 21 litre Engel for dedicated use as a freezer. The evaporator on the new model is only "half length".

That is why I asked the question about the Engel
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FollowupID: 713420

Reply By: Muntoo - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:07

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:07
Seems to be a design flaw. Heat from compressor must be making its way in.

Maybe install a little computer fan to circulate the air better. Although there wouldnt be much room to spare would there. Maybe try and line some better insulation around the lower part.
AnswerID: 441391

Reply By: Member - Scrubby (VIC) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:51

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 16:51
G`day Stevo,
Try this,
Pack the items around and around in the cabinet so there is a small, (50 -- 100 mm is usually enough) hole in the centre that goes from the bottom of the cabinet to the top of the stack, it must allow the cold air to circulate down through the center.
If the stack looks like collapsing place wire trays over it every so often,(I use cheap rectangular cake stands) and then build on the tray again leaving a gap in the center.
I have found I can stack packs of Filleted Fish this way and it will freeze and stay frozen.

Regards,

Scrubby.
AnswerID: 441398

Reply By: Member - Keith C (NSW) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 17:22

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 17:22
G/day Stevo,Yep,I find the same with our 18, we use it as a dedicated freezer. The bottom well is not quite as cold, if I set mine to freeze, it must be almost at max to keep it frozen for any longer than a week in the lower section if your battery isn't at full charge. I have no probs on 240v,It also depends on how often it is opened, maybe re arrange your food every few days, I also found the rubber lid seal to be faulty on ours. Waeco replaced the whole lid , no questions asked, we are happy with ours. Regards Keith
AnswerID: 441402

Follow Up By: Member - Keith C (NSW) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 17:28

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 17:28
Stevo, forgot to add,air must be able to circulate around food in order for it to freeze,if you pack it too tight this may be your problem on 12v. K
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FollowupID: 713435

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 21:09

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 21:09
Hi Stevo

You have many answers above and I would like to comment on our Engel's.

When they are put to freeze, everything inside goes rock hard and stays that way until taken from the fridge. They then take 2 days in an esky to defrost. For the record, on is a 17 year old 39 litre and the other is a 5 year old 40 litre.

Cheers

Stephen
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AnswerID: 441422

Reply By: Stevo - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 at 07:54

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 at 07:54
Thanks for all your advice folks, I'lll ensure there is plenty of air space between the frozen food and rearrange it every few days.
AnswerID: 441445

Reply By: Rockape - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 at 08:04

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 at 08:04
Steve,
because of the cost of your purchase is it worth while trying a basket in the fridge just to give a little air circulation and see what that does. Even thin sheet aluiminum lining the inside may be enouh to transfer cold.

As suggested earlier a very small fan would be good but not much room in there.

Hope you sort the problem out
AnswerID: 441448

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 at 16:28

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 at 16:28
I have the CF18 , run as a freezer ,and have never had the problem others have experienced.

Unit runs off a 120agm battery which is kept topped up by battery charger when connected to 240v.
Setting on CF18 is at "low".
Battery also runs a CF50 and when connected to 240v the CF50 runs off the 240v, via a double adaptor.


Pedro



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FollowupID: 713574

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