Fridge

[expanda]

Getting a fridge / freezer for the back of the 4wd.

I don't know why but the idea of having ice cream on board seems an intriguing way to spend a crap load of money but also to have cold drinks + food available all the time when away from the van like just going to the beach etc.

I am over paying $5 for a bag of ice that has been frozen long enough and melts within 5 minutes.

Who else here has a dual zone fridge freezer and can comment on the affectiveness of it?

Looking at the waeco 60l brand thus far, the engel doesn't seem appealing in aesthetics but will go and have a look at some point at both.

Also thinking of getting an 80 amp thumper battery anyone else have one of these kits?

I am pretty sure @relgate has one if memory serves me correctly.

 

[Bushman]

Well, you wont regret having the extra fridge in the tug, I have the Waeco CF50 and it about 6/7 yrs now sits on a slide out which I had in previous tug (R50 Pathie) now the Paj , good for those day trip away from the van chucking the shopping in for trip home from super market etc, mine just runs off dual battery under the bonnet, which you cant do on the Pathie, so the Thumper or Waeco power pack is probably the way to go.

 

[crackacoldie]

We have the Engel 80l dual zone, the friends we did the cape with had the Waeco. Both fridges performed pretty well.

The positives of the engel:

Temperature controlled fridge section (factory set at 2deg) with a fan to move cool air around.
Freezer section has a cover so not all cold air lost out of freezer when opening.
Lower current draw.

The Posatives of the Waeco:

Aesthetics
Digital temperature control
Single lid clip

Negatives of engel:

Double lid clip

Negatives of Waeco:

Because it relies on cold air from freezer to keep fridge section cool, everything at bottom of fridge also freezes.
Flattens battery in no time. Massive current draw.
Buttons to control temp are temperamental when control panel is dusty.


Some food for thought.

 

[14.44-4 pajero]

We have an engel 60 l with the seperate freezer works great as can have frozen stuff one side and cold stuff other side, never missed a beat but they are ugly, a few mates have arb ones they are a good unit and have a drain hole in bottom so you can just hose them out

 

[expanda]

Well, you wont regret having the extra fridge in the tug, I have the Waeco CF50 and it about 6/7 yrs now sits on a slide out which I had in previous tug (R50 Pathie) now the Paj , good for those day trip away from the van chucking the shopping in for trip home from super market etc, mine just runs off dual battery under the bonnet, which you cant do on the Pathie, so the Thumper or Waeco power pack is probably the way to go.

View attachment 19537

Cheers mate, some goind points about the dual battery setup !

We have the Engel 80l dual zone, the friends we did the cape with had the Waeco. Both fridges performed pretty well.

The positives of the engel:

Temperature controlled fridge section (factory set at 2deg) with a fan to move cool air around.
Freezer section has a cover so not all cold air lost out of freezer when opening.
Lower current draw.

The Posatives of the Waeco:

Aesthetics
Digital temperature control
Single lid clip

Negatives of engel:

Double lid clip

Negatives of Waeco:

Because it relies on cold air from freezer to keep fridge section cool, everything at bottom of fridge also freezes.
Flattens battery in no time. Massive current draw.
Buttons to control temp are temperamental when control panel is dusty.


Some food for thought.

Ok converted me of the waeco and the engel as I don't like the sound of frozen food in the fridge lol...

So the fridge freezer in the engel are seperately cooled?

Couple of questions -

1) Is the temperature controlled fridge section something you can change or just set on 2" from the factory regardless?

2) What was the current draw on the waeco and what size battery and time frame where you getting out of it?

3) Is there a drain plug in the engel?

We have an engel 60 l with the seperate freezer works great as can have frozen stuff one side and cold stuff other side, never missed a beat but they are ugly, a few mates have arb ones they are a good unit and have a drain hole in bottom so you can just hose them out

Cheers mate, what battery do you run of yours and how long do you get out of it?

 

[crackacoldie]

No drain plug on the engel. Mate was getting 3 hours out of his 100aH battery using the Waeco. I was getting 8 hours out of same size battery using the Engel.

 

[expanda]

No drain plug on the engel. Mate was getting 3 hours out of his 100aH battery using the Waeco. I was getting 8 hours out of same size battery using the Engel.

Wowser, that's like 12 amp hours per hour constant to get 8 hours before 100amps is gone .

 

[14.44-4 pajero]

Hey mate I run it off second battery a 100 amp hour I have had it running for a couple of days and still heaps of charge left I will try take some readings next time in car,
Also heard the Waeco don't like it when it's hot

 

[expanda]

Hey mate I run it off second battery a 100 amp hour I have had it running for a couple of days and still heaps of charge left I will try take some readings next time in car,
Also heard the Waeco don't like it when it's hot

Yes I have read this to, they sheepishly push there thermal cover though in all there promotional videos.

 

[relgate]

Hi @expanda
Yes, Ihave the 110AH thumper extreme.
Up until last week I would have given it 10 out 0f 10, and may still do depending on the outcome/problem solving for a recent problem. We were away down the south coast and it suddenly stopped working ('dead') when not connected to the engine when running. I also noticed the voltage was climbing up around 14.8v when connected to the engine. Turn the engine off and it was dead.

That aside, it is a great little unit. I can plug all sorts of appliances and my 30l fridge in to it. I also have the van fridge and accessory wire running off it so I don't wreck the car battery.
Definitely contact them before buying as they will haggle. PM me re details.

We love the freedom of having the car fridge and a decent power supply in the vehicle.

 

[expanda]

Hi @expanda
Yes, Ihave the 110AH thumper extreme.
Up until last week I would have given it 10 out 0f 10, and may still do depending on the outcome/problem solving for a recent problem. We were away down the south coast and it suddenly stopped working ('dead') when not connected to the engine when running. I also noticed the voltage was climbing up around 14.8v when connected to the engine. Turn the engine off and it was dead.

That aside, it is a great little unit. I can plug all sorts of appliances and my 30l fridge in to it. I also have the van fridge and accessory wire running off it so I don't wreck the car battery.
Definitely contact them before buying as they will haggle. PM me re details.

We love the freedom of having the car fridge and a decent power supply in the vehicle.

Cheers mate, so you have contacted them for warranty and just waiting the outcome?

P.s Where have you been lol !

 

[relgate]

Cheers mate, so you have contacted them for warranty and just waiting the outcome?

P.s Where have you been lol !

Just got home last night so haven't contacted yet. I'm wondering how it will work out. I'm not so keen to ship it back to SA!

Been away down at Moruya and Racecource beach (Bawley Point) for a couple of weeks.
Turned the phone off and had a great time!

Did I miss much?

 

[crackacoldie]

Wowser, that's like 12 amp hours per hour constant to get 8 hours before 100amps is gone .

Remember though that the fridges cut out when there is less than 10v in he battery, so you don't run it flat of all 100aH. Really a 100aH batter gives you around 40 aH of usable.

 

[expanda]

Just got home last night so haven't contacted yet. I'm wondering how it will work out. I'm not so keen to ship it back to SA!

Been away down at Moruya and Racecource beach (Bawley Point) for a couple of weeks.
Turned the phone off and had a great time!

Did I miss much?

Hope you had a good time !

Nah didn't miss much we are still here licking our wounds at returning to work lol.

Will be keen to here how they deal with the situation!

 

[expanda]

Remember though that the fridges cut out when there is less than 10v in he battery, so you don't run it flat of all 100aH. Really a 100aH batter gives you around 40 aH of usable.

I was going to get an 80 amp hour battery for a 60litre fridge / freezer.

Engel states for the 60 and 80 they range at 0.5 - 4.2 amps Max.

So if going of there max, I get 30 amp hours of an 80 amp hour battery that would be 30 / 4.2 = 7 hours run time at max.

That should be enough but the mind boggles how people are stating they get them running for a weekend on a single battery?

 

[crackacoldie]

I was going to get an 80 amp hour battery for a 60litre fridge / freezer.

Engel states for the 60 and 80 they range at 0.5 - 4.2 amps Max.

So if going of there max, I get 30 amp hours of an 80 amp hour battery that would be 30 / 4.2 = 7 hours run time at max.

That should be enough but the mind boggles how people are stating they get them running for a weekend on a single battery?

There are other factors at play, battery condition, ambient temperature, how often the fridge is accessed, how packed the fridge is, how cold the products in the fridge were before packing and in my case how long before the kids realise they left he lid open.

I know when my battery was new I could get a few days out of it, the battery is now completely stuffed and a new one is on he shopping list. When I know I can get a week out of the caravan batteries, running a compressor fridge, lights TV etc, I would think a weekend from a fridge is reasonable.

 

[expanda]

There are other factors at play, battery condition, ambient temperature, how often the fridge is accessed, how packed the fridge is, how cold the products in the fridge were before packing and in my case how long before the kids realise they left he lid open.

I know when my battery was new I could get a few days out of it, the battery is now completely stuffed and a new one is on he shopping list. When I know I can get a week out of the caravan batteries, running a compressor fridge, lights TV etc, I would think a weekend from a fridge is reasonable.

Fair call !

Just want to make sure i can make it a few days whilst we are at the cape this year with food etc...

 

[crackacoldie]

You'll be fine

 

[Bushman]

Dont know the power useage of my Waeco 50, thought the Pj's dual battery is only 60 amp hr it's only running on fridge at around 2 degree we are on our 7 th night at Batemans (leave tomorrow ) and even with minimal driving I haven't had plug it to 240v yet.

Though Easter last year it had a problem and killed the Battery overnight, and froze 2x 2ltre juice bottle rock solid
turn out the thermistor had blown so the fridge just runs constant and didn't cycle.
All good now though.

 

[cruza driver]

Here you go @expanda