Types of Fridges for WA temperatures

Submitted: Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 02:06
ThreadID: 86592 Views:3303 Replies:8 FollowUps:8
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Hi all

It would seem to me that compressor fridges are the only real option for having cold beer in WA where ambient temperatures (especially if locked up inside the vehicle for a while) are easily around 50 degres.

The other types (thermo electric and absorption) appear to only be able to cool to a certain level under ambient temperature - at best about 30 degrees.

Thermo electric seem to be good (low) on 12V power requirements but you will not really get a good cold beer.

Look forward to comments from those that know from experience - and I understand that if you are camping a few days without moving that obviously a 3way or solar powered fridge is a better option, so I am really only looking at this from the point of view that I am usually mobile in hot temperatures and want a cold one at the end of the day.

Ken
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Reply By: gbc - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 06:21

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 06:21
I'm lucky enough to have a two different types of fridge. The 3 way is for base camp setups only - I couldn't imagine trying to use it as a car fridge. Thermo electric are really only a picnic fridge and are unsuccessful as a longer term proposition.
A dual battery and a compressor fridge is a bit of an expense, but once it's set up you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.
I've had 4 different brands of compressor fridges, and have settled on a 60 litre evacool as it suits my purposes, fits the space I have, and I clean it easily (A simple but often overlooked requirement by the two biggest manufacturers)
Work out how you're going to set up the vehicle, measure the fridge space, then go shopping.
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Follow Up By: KenInPerth - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 07:55

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 07:55
Thanks gbc

Good info

Ken
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Follow Up By: KenInPerth - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:10

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:10
Which Evakool model did you settle on ??

They seem to have 3 types currently (not size) - FridgeMate, TravelMate, and RF ??

Ken
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Follow Up By: gbc - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:29

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:29
Mine's an RF60. The shape was perfect for the room I had available and I believe they are better insulated than most. Both the engel and the waecos i've had would be covered with condensation in the mornings, but the RF only gets a little at the seal, and only on the very humid nights. The waeco was especially wet - so much so that the screws in the base rusted.
I have a need for a fridge/freezer, and had the engel combi 60 for a while, but it was impossible to clean the dividing section, got knocked around easily, and needed a dicky cover which lasted one trip and drove me nuts. My fridges live in the back of a work ute and are used daily. The rf60 I have at the moment hasn't been turned off for 4 years except for defrosting and cleaning (turn it off, hose it out, turn it on. The fridge has a bung in it so I don't have to take it out of the vehicle, just slide it out on the slide and it drains onto the ground).
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 07:46

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 07:46
Hi Ken

This is the easiest fridge question. The difference is that your thermo electric unit are never referred to as fridges, but coolers for the very reason that they are designed to cool the contents inside by around 20 degrees of the outside ambient air temperature, while the good major brands of true fridges, will keep things frozen in the very hot weather.

You have answered your own question "I am usually mobile in hot temperatures and want a cold one at the end of the day"

So the only way to go is a true fridge and not the cooler.


Cheers


Stephen
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AnswerID: 455681

Reply By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 08:25

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 08:25
Hi Ken,

I've got and Engel and a Evakool, both superb but if I had the coin and needed my fridge to perform in really high temps regularly I'd look at the Trailblazer with 75mm insulation or even contact em to make a custom with 125mm insulation and 2 compressors in a smaller size then quoted

Pricey yes but it'll work in the hottest places.

Cheers Wilko
AnswerID: 455683

Follow Up By: KenInPerth - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:07

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:07
Thanks Wilko

Evakool seem to have 3 current model types - FridgeMate, TravelMate, and RF.

From what I see FridgeMate and RF are fibreglass with the compressor "bolted on" the outside - and the RF is like the FridgeMate but with a German compressor.

The TravelMate is more like the Engels and Waeco's in "cube" shape with compressor built into housing.

Any preferences in these types?? I guess some are more efficient than others in terms of insulation which equals lower power consumption?

Ken
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Follow Up By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 23:44

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 23:44
Hi Ken,

Mine is a Fridge mate and its made out of Poly. I believe The Engel cycles less (Larger changes in temp) but is more efficient whilst the Fridge mate cycles more (lower change in temp) but is slightly less efficient. I've haven't got facts to back this up just observing how each act but the difference in efficiency would be negligible.

Cheers Wilko
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Reply By: Outback Gazz - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:23

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:23
G'day Ken

Owning and running a tour company that specialises in central Australia I can tell you from my experience that the Trailblazer is the best for extreme high temperatures. My old Patrol ute had 2 fridges permanently bolted to the tray - a 60 litre Engel and a 60 litre Trailblazer and on the days of 45 plus in the sun the only fridge that you could get something "cold" out of was the Trailblazer ! On one trip where the temperature was 50 every day we had 6 vehicles with a total of 9 fridges (all sorts) and ALL the fridges gave up except the Trailblazer which spent all it's time in the sun. So from this, you can work out we didn't put the milk, butter and chops in the Trailblazer !! The downside of the Trailblazer is it's size (obviously because of the 75mm insulation) but it's fine for the back of a traytop but very big and bulky for the back of a wagon. My current personal vehicle is a spacecab Rodeo which has a 50 litre waeco behind the passenger seat and I'm very very happy with it - as long as you are on the move and or hook it up to a gennie once stopped !

Hope this helps !

Happy travelling

Gazz

AnswerID: 455688

Reply By: Nickywoop - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:44

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 09:44
Hi Ken

I have owned a 60 lt. Trailblaza for 14 yrs. and has been held down with turn buckles in 3 traytops, the previous 2 trucks had no canopy. My old blue heeler dog used to stand up on it and look over the rack and suck in the wind!
It's had posts, firewood, 20 lt. drums etc hit up against it, suffering a few dents and abrasions, but never missed a beat. Try that with a tin or plastic fridge.

We have travelled extensively over Aussie, in all weathers and with friends with Engels etc. In all fairness to brand types, other than the Trailbaza, the next best was the Engel, and the main differences being their owners had to,

(a) Alter their settings at sunrise and sunset to suit the up coming conditions.
(b)To get maximum performance to save power, keep an insulated cover on.

I have never had frozen eggs or beer in the mornings, or hot beer and spoiled food in the arvo's in my Trailblaza. I never have to alter the settings.


Good luck Ken

Regards Nick
AnswerID: 455691

Reply By: Member - William W (WA) - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:29

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:29
I too have had all types of compressor fridges. The best has been the National Luna, followed by Engel, Evacool and Waeco way down the bottom of the list. But it does depend on the use, treatment, climate etc, and also dollars might come into the equasion too. I expect my fridges to stand up to rough treatment, be well insulated (work well in hot climates) and refridgerate evenly throughout. Haven't tried the ARB or Trailblazer. Will.
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Reply By: KenInPerth - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:29

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:29
Thanks to all

Like always - you tend to get what you pay for .... and I will very much take the comments on board about the Evakool and the Trailblaza.


Ken
AnswerID: 455696

Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:44

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:44
Don't for get to look at the Autofridge, it uses a eutectic system & is extremely efficient, but quite expensive.
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Follow Up By: KenInPerth - Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 09:22

Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 09:22
Thanks for this one.

Thought I would post this info from their web site for those that might stumble over this.


AF42: 12/24V DC - 42 LITRE
Specifications

Length 710 mm
Width 375 mm
Height 460 mm
Weight 26 kg
Danfoss Compressor - BD35F
Nominal current draw - 3.5 amps

Power Use (per day on battery)
- Eutectic Operation (Most Efficient)
- 2 hours run - morning. Then turned off.
- 3 hours run - evening. Then turned off.
- 5 hours x 3.5 amps = 17.5 Ah

- Cyclic Operation - set Thermostat on 1 or 2. Fridge runs when required. Power use = 22 Ah

- Cyclic Freezer - set Thermostat on 5, 6 or 7. Power use = 44 Ah

AF75: 12/24V DC - 75 LITRE
Specifications

Length 840 mm
Width 480 mm Height 510 mm
Weight 35 kg
Danfoss Compressor BD35F
Nominal current draw 4.5 amps

Power Use (per day on battery)

- Eutectic Operation (Most Efficient)
- 2 hours run - morning. Then turned off.
- 2 hours run - evening. Then turned off.
- 4 hours x 4.5 amps = 18 Ah

- Cyclic Operation - set Thermostat to 1 or 2. Fridge runs when required. Power use = 24 Ah

- Cyclic Freezer - set Thermostat on 5, 6 or 7. Power use = 46 Ah
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Reply By: AlbyNSW - Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 12:55

Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 12:55
4WD Action did a comprehensive comparison with a number of brands out in Central Aus several months ago that would be well worth a read if you can get your hands on it.

Interestingly price did not necessarily relate to best performance.

Interestingly the swing style compressor of the Engel did not perform as well as some of the fridges with Danfross ones in the extreme temps.

Of course fridge size, price and reliability are also factors to consider, for me as good a wrap as the Trailblazer unit gets, it is too bulky for me to carry but may not be an issue for you.

Good Luck
AnswerID: 455700

Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 10:56

Sunday, May 29, 2011 at 10:56
Although I espoused the virtues of the Autofridge above, I have never had issues with my Engel, even in the hottest Outback conditions in an enclosed vehicle.
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