engel

Hi Paul, we have a 30 litre and a 40 litre and i like the flexibility of using one or both, and to be able to use one as a freezer when needed. One stays in the car when at home - great for shopping days, or to have cool drinks available when travelling. Depends on your usage patterns if lowering power use is critical to you.

Motherhen

Hi Paul, I don't like all my eggs in the one basket...pun intended. 2 fridges gives you some flexibility as per MotherHen's post and it also gives you a backup if one fridge happens to fail for whatever reason.

Another consideration is weight. Lifting a fully loaded 40 litre can be a struggle so would imagine a loaded 60 litre would require a lot of muscle.

Paul

I have 2 x 40 litre Engels. I decided to go this way because the 60 litre with the freezer is only a freezer and the freezer cannot be used as a fridge, whereas with the 40 litre I can have both or either.

This was advice I was offered by the Engel rep at the 4WD show when I bought my second fridge.

jack

If cost is not an issue, 2 x 40 litre Engels is a flexible solution.

However, depending on what combinations you require, another cheaper option is one 40 litre Engel plus a twozone option.
The Twozone is an attachment for the Engel that provides a second "compartment" to use as a fridge. The Engel fridge operates as a freezer and the top section as a fridge.

Might be worth further thought although the additional height may be an issue.

I purchased a 60 litre engle around 4 years ago. Thought bigger was better. However, I found the 60 litre to big for over 70% of my use and travels. I have recently purchased an additional 45 litre unit, and I whish I had purchased 2 smaller units rather than the 60 litre unit. The flexibilty is that you can use one as a freezer, and and 1 as a fridge. Weight is a pain for me.....try and lift, or move a fully loaded 60 litre engle.......mate it is heavy. Also I see no comments on this one but the 60 litre unit will not allow a wine or chamapnge bottle to be stood up right. A small issue for some/most, but I find it a real pain in the arse. Also the 60 litre is low in height, but wide and long. Takes up a heap of room.

"I am fully aware that a 60 uses 4.2 amp and a 40 uses 2.7 x 2 = 5.4 amp,"
Paul it's not just a matter of adding the amps together that the compressor runs at. As an example my Autofridge runs at around 4 amps but uses less overall power than an Engel at 2.7 simply because it runs for less time. It's the total Amp Hours that matter.
Possibly one of the Aussie fridge/freezer combo's would be a better opton for your needs?
Cheers Craig..............

G'day Paul,
I own two Evakool 47L and we use one as a freezer, one as a fridge. If we ignore the brand choice (seems you're set on Engel) we went to two smaller ones after speaking to a mate who has an 80L Waeco. It is a nice fridge but too big, takes up all the room in his Prado. Two smaller ones gives you versatility for those days when you're not on holidays, and you just want a fridge in the car to grab a few groceries etc. Also think about the height - you'll want to be able to stand up a full bottle of wine/soft drink at some point.
Happy searching!
Cheers
Corrugate

hello paulj4.
my first engle was an 80lt like most blokes "bigger is better"well it isn't the 80lt took up to much space so i sold it and got a 29 lt can use it as a fridge or freezer as i travel most days without stopping in one place for to long it is ideal for me cheers bill.

Thank you to all the responses, Firstly, as some body pointed out they have baskets, so to move a fully laden fridge, I can take them out.
plus I can use a drop down slider for either.
2 x 40 =320 sq cmts v 1 x 60 =308 sq cmts , Less area for a 60 not more.
I have used other brands, my last was a eva kool 55 the yellow one, I should never have bought it, it did not work as well as i thought it would, plus a few other issues, I still have a cole kool 50 lire, a very good machine still works well for being 20 years old.
But though I would up grade to a more modern system.
I know I can use one as a fridge and one as freezer. But my question was 2x40 v 1 x 60 with 1 x 40 used often as a day to freezer, with the other one used a lot less often as a freezer, ( both as freezers ) v 1 x 60 being used for both as often as the first 1 x 40, which way would draw less currant. ? ----pj

Just did a check on my son in laws 40 L, on fridge mode it was drawing 1.4 to 1.6 amp after he had had it running in his car all day, it was down to 3.5 deg, so I would assume that another 40 litre, on freeze at - 3.5 deg would be drawing about the same.
Now I just need to know what a 1x 60 on freeze, is drawing on cycling.

Take a look at National Luna. 74L which is 40L + 34L in two totally seperate compartments and seperate doors. Either compartment can be a fridge or freezer or off. MUCH better insulation and lower consumptiuon than an Engel. Just like two fridges in one with one compressor and less space as 2 fridges.

It is built for transporting blood for the Red cross in Africa and tough as nails.

I usually use it as one fridge at 2 degrees for the good sutff, and the other at 8 degrees for veges, cheese, etc etc. Sometimes I use one as a freezer.

I love mine.

I have done some actual first hand testing and have found that.
1x 40 L Engel was using 1.4 amp to 1.6 when down to temp.
A 1 x 60 L cole- kool was 3.3 amp ditto.
The new ARB 35 was 3.3 amp ditto.
and the new 90 litre national luna with twin controls was pulling 2.7 when getting down to temps in both sections then cycled at 1.7 ish.
It is a bit dearer than going the 2 x 40 engel way , I was so impressed that I now have put in an order for a 90 L national luna with a drop down slider.
I was very impressed with the luna , even when we turned the luna off and opened the lid to warm it up to bring the temp up, it still was cooling down 2 deg's.

Ahh Crackles, if you were measuring Amphours, you would be measuring Charge use and by implication given fixed 12v, Energy use. Where E =V x I x t

Power is instantaneous work effort. The Power use would be by the Amps ( again by implication given fixed 12V). Where P= V x I

This amp verses Amp hour thing really has people confused. It is a basic and simple concept though.