portable freezers

Submitted: Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 10:05

ThreadID: 84665 Views:3590 Replies:7 FollowUps:4

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Portable Fridges

The debate over which fridge is the best on the market is one of the most contested discussions in the camping recreation. In this article we look at the range of features and the major issues to

Member - Thomas A (QLD)

hi one and all
can anyone advise me as to what is an efficient fridge freezer please? i have recently purchased a smaller well known popular model and while is seems to be an excellent fridge, when it comes to freezing it is left wanting. if loaded up with previously frozen foods it will hold these contents at freeze point , but in doing so, the motor [ even on 240 AC ] runs continuously, even right through the cooler nights. many thanks in advance. cheers, thomas.

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Reply By: nick b - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:08

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:08

Gooday thomas I looked at this via search on the net ,as you said they run 24 hr a day . green house stuff . efficient maybe comes for the word effervescent " make you feel good ".

Cheers Nick b

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AnswerID: 446842

Reply By: Member - Chris & Debbie (QLD) - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:24

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:24

Hi Thomas
One of the best would have to be Trailblazer Link, these 12/240v fridge/freezers are made at Caloundra. They are bulkier than others but do use 75mm or 125mm insulation. I have had Engel and Waeco but the 50ltr Trailblazer I have now is a lot more efficient, very robust and so far very reliable.
They are more expensive but are custom made with a lot of variations and options available and if you happen to be on the Sunshine Coast you can always drop into where they are manufactured for a look.
Chris

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AnswerID: 446845

Follow Up By: pepper2 - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 12:14

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 12:14

chris,by more efficient do you mean the trailblazer uses less power to obtain the same cooling performance as the others.?

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Follow Up By: Member - Chris & Debbie (QLD) - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 12:32

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 12:32

Hi pepper
Yes they would use less power due to the amount of insulation they use. I run a 50lt Trailblazer and a 27lt Waeco, both as fridges and have noticed the Trailblazer cycles a lot less than the Waeco.
Chris

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Reply By: vk1dx - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:35

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:35

After our son was having the same problems with a 60Lt combo, we decided to get a second smaller fridge for freezing things. The main one is 40Lt and the freezer is 21lt. It freezes the stuff quickly. Its runs at minus 18 and the main at plus 6.

The 21Lt was second hand off ebay. Not the cheapest way out but it is the best for us.

We paid $1299 for the 40Lt and $600 after shipping for the 21Lt = $1899
A new 60 combo = $1799. We ended up paying an extra $100 for the two. Okay; the 21Lt is not new but it ran in the house for a couple of weeks on 12V. And if one packs it in we are not totally lost.

Phil

AnswerID: 446849

Reply By: ChrisGU - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 13:34

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 13:34

What about an evakool? It's an icebox with a fridge bolted on. I don't have one myself, but a mate does and swears by it.

From their website: "It combines the renowned insulated fibreglass cabinet of the EvaKool Ice Box with the world's best refrigeration compressor as manufactured by Danfoss."

The website also shows the current draw for different temperatures.

http://www.evakool.com/DualTemp/index.shtml

Chris.

AnswerID: 446866

Follow Up By: kwk56pt - Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 02:32

Tuesday, Mar 01, 2011 at 02:32

I have a evakool 60 litre. Put a metal , aplastic and a fibreglass cabinet in the sun and the evakool is much much cooler to the touch which suggest to me the cabinet absorbs less heat. I wss able to check this out at a show as all fridges were on display in there stands all with the afternoon sun on them. The national lunar fridge made of aluminium has a sign on it caution hot and it was nery hot to touch.

The combo fridge is a compromise and as it is not easy trying to have the freezer run at one ideal temp and the freezer another. For energy saving I would get a fridge unit and a seperatee smaller freezer. The evakool cabinet is a beauty and the danfoss compressor is very quiet.

Unfortunately the lid latches snap open on corragated roads on mine at least. The manufacturer says the ocky type material in the latches will stretch and the problem will go away. Just flick the latches on a new one and you will see how easy they open.

FollowupID: 719305

Reply By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 13:49

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 13:49

Hi Thomas,

All the major brands, Engel, Waeco, Trailblazer etc will freeze well on full noise. I'm worried there is something wrong with your fridge, All the types Ive looked will maintain a minus temp right thru the hottest summers day.

I own an Engel 40lt and an Evakool 60lt. Both good but If I had the coin and space I'd go for the Trailblazer with 4" insulation.

Cheers Wilko

AnswerID: 446869

Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 16:14

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 16:14

Doh 5" insulation.

Cheers Wilko

FollowupID: 719240

Reply By: AlbyNSW - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 18:41

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 18:41

According to the last 4WD action comparo the Waeco and Bushman were the most efficient although I don't recall whether the Trailblazer were included in the comparison.
The Bushman rep told me that all of the majors were invited to have there product included in the test, some declined.
If you have a search on the net you will find a copy of the test and it is definately worth a read.

AnswerID: 446909

Reply By: Dennis Ellery - Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 20:26

Monday, Feb 28, 2011 at 20:26

HI Thomas,
I wouldn’t rely on that 4WD action report too much – some of their tests don’t compare apples with apples. I have a Waeco and an Engel and they both work well as freezers or fridges as long as you use them correctly. The Engel is fool proof. The Waeco is a bit temperamental, especially if you cook it in the back of a hot 4WD with no ventilation, or you run it on undersized wiring, but it’s still a nice little fridge if you know how to use it properly. They both will cool to 50 deg below ambient.

AnswerID: 446931