Hi @expanda, I had both 60L waeco and engel but not DZ. Sold the engel, the Waeco draws 4-4.3 amps and if the sizes haven't changed I prefer the dimensions of the waeco, one main factor was the engel wasn't deep enough for my wife's champagne and I just found it a more awkward size to carry.....not to mention heavy. Performance wise I found them both great!
Fridge
- Thread starter expanda
- Start date
6.3-7.4 amps, but it was an old one with a dial for temp control.....probably improved now I'd say!
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!
I rang the manufacturer.
They didnt even ask when I bought it or for any prrof.
Put me straight through to the guys who assemble it.
They reckon that the overload circuit is not resetting properly and will send me out a new part. It looks very easy to replace.
Fingers crossed that the problem will be solved...
Sounds like a good outcome....
But confused a little, but that doesn't take much honestly
!When you say its not resetting properly is it overloading and then not resetting or just faulty?
Do you have to dismantle the box?
It is just faulty. The manufacturer suggested it is not re-setting, but as far as I am concerened the symtoms are that all outputs but the 150amp anderson plug do not work unless powered by the car/engine running.
I will need to take the top off the box. Very easy, already took it off and had a peak. Should be straight forward. I'll take a pic when I do it if you like.
I will need to take the top off the box. Very easy, already took it off and had a peak. Should be straight forward. I'll take a pic when I do it if you like.
We had a Redarc in Vehicle Battery Charger installed to charge the 105ah battery that sits in an Ark Powerpack. The battery runs the Waeco CF50 for 3-4 days. We use the Waeco as a freezer only. It's all worked fine for 3-4 years. It wasn't cheap, but it is good
I have a evakool 60 litre in the hilux, running off a 110 amp/hr battery with 80watt solar panel, it's running all the time ...... last camp was 5 days without moving car, sitting in sunlight with the fridge hanging out on the slide, battery down to 12.5 after that. it's the duty cycle that can kill the battery, mine will run for 5 minutes, then turn off for 10-12mins set to -10c
my choice on the evakool is that they are insulated like a esky anyway, compressor is not in fridge compartment under the "butter tray" mine has digital temp controls, can run as fridge freezer with a removable divider it becomes all fridge, has a drain bung. may not look as cute as other fridges but i was after performance not looks and it runs rings around a waeco or engel
my choice on the evakool is that they are insulated like a esky anyway, compressor is not in fridge compartment under the "butter tray" mine has digital temp controls, can run as fridge freezer with a removable divider it becomes all fridge, has a drain bung. may not look as cute as other fridges but i was after performance not looks and it runs rings around a waeco or engel
An interesting read. We have an 80 ltr waeco which is the CF range. I love its shape and size for fitting stuff and easy accessibility but it seems to drain the battery really quick and starts to error. I was wondering whether I have it set incorrectly. There are override functions etc. What do you guys run on...what temps do u use when using as a fridge and a freezer? We r looking at getting a second one for our Cape trip later this year but now I am uncertain what brand to buy or whether we should sell our waeco too. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
We have the Waeco 65L CFX Dual Zone. Absolutely love it. If we use the entire fridge as a freezer, you can use the dairy section as a fridge for a few drinks, or fridge freezer using the dividers. Have never had a problem freezing anything in the fridge section as I am very cautious about how I stack it.
We love it and it fits beside the third row seat nicely in the rear of the 200.
We love it and it fits beside the third row seat nicely in the rear of the 200.
I have an 80 litre Waeco, that generally sits in the back of the Patrol. I have it running off a 130 amp hour battery, and I also have 120watt solar on the roofrack, that runs in through a CTek D250S. The CTek D250S keeps the solar charging the battery when the car isn't running. I have the fridge sitting in the car and running at around -8 degrees all year round! It took a little while to work out the setup, but I also have the main battery charging off the solar too, which ensures that I should not have a flat starter battery either.
G'day @expanda we have had Waeco CF60 for approx 3 years now (danfoss compressor) with the outer bag. Holds the temperature well with temp setting easy to use. I generally try to put it in the shade where ever we are.
Have had no problems and we have used it a bit. When we are free camping we run it off the van, which has 2x100ah batteries and 2x150w solar panels. Have not wanted for extra power to run it. We also run it the the Paj which has a second battery (55ah) and haven't run that flat either. Very happy with it. We also had a few years ago a CF50 and only sold it due to not using it enough. We are also doing a trip mid year and looking at buying a second fridge (CF40) that are on special at the moment and keep the 60 as a dedicated freezer and the 40 to keep in the car for day trips. Got the CF60 on special as well.
We have friends who swear by their engel that's 15 years old.
I'm assuming you have some sort of solar panels to help as well, if not that's an option to help with running the fridge.
These days I think both are very good and pretty efficient in running.
Cheers
greynt
Have had no problems and we have used it a bit. When we are free camping we run it off the van, which has 2x100ah batteries and 2x150w solar panels. Have not wanted for extra power to run it. We also run it the the Paj which has a second battery (55ah) and haven't run that flat either. Very happy with it. We also had a few years ago a CF50 and only sold it due to not using it enough. We are also doing a trip mid year and looking at buying a second fridge (CF40) that are on special at the moment and keep the 60 as a dedicated freezer and the 40 to keep in the car for day trips. Got the CF60 on special as well.
We have friends who swear by their engel that's 15 years old.
I'm assuming you have some sort of solar panels to help as well, if not that's an option to help with running the fridge.
These days I think both are very good and pretty efficient in running.
Cheers
greynt
Well just to add my 2 cents worth. Back in my younger days my lovely parents brought a 40l steel engel fridge freezer for me as a twenty first pressie. Today I'm mid 40' s and the fridge is running perfect with 25 years under its lid.
It's seen half my life..... Hmmmm
It's been well used, from bouncing round in boats, 4wd, spare fridge for the excess alcohol, even spent 12 months as a full time house fridge for the bare essentials as a bachelor when in my first house.
Therefore I am most likely bias to engel. I have heard the older Engels were built well and a bit sort after second hand.
Second battery and solar panel a great option as mentioned.
Cheers
It's seen half my life..... Hmmmm
It's been well used, from bouncing round in boats, 4wd, spare fridge for the excess alcohol, even spent 12 months as a full time house fridge for the bare essentials as a bachelor when in my first house.
Therefore I am most likely bias to engel. I have heard the older Engels were built well and a bit sort after second hand.
Second battery and solar panel a great option as mentioned.
Cheers
We have the Waeco 50 lt dual zone. We usually leave it in the back of the patrol and run it off the second battery when we bush camp. That way you top up the battery when you do short trips. The waeco v engel argument is a bit like the Holden v ford. I like the waeco because it has the internal light and you can remove the divider to make the fridge larger (or all freezer). There is also a setting to switch off when your battery voltage gets too low.
It's hard to compare fridges unless you are using them for identical uses. For example any fridge will use more power if you are opening it all the time and putting warm drinks in it. The best way to manage it is to plug it in to 240v and cool everything before you leave.
My brother in law has an engel and loves it. I seem to see waecos discounted all the time. We also have a techni ice box for the drinks on the theory that a bag of ice every couple of days when you're going through cans and bottles isn't a drama and it's still the fastest best way to cool a slab:biggrin-26:
I have the waeco CF50. I have it set at 4 deg as a drinks fridge running of a 12v outlet on the outside of the van with a single battery and 120w solar panel. The battery never drops below 12.5v with the rest of the van running of it also. Very happy and it maintains the temp better than the 3way fridge in the van.
I run an older model Engel 40l but have a Two Zone unit that attaches on the top, so if I do want to run as a fridge/freezer I can (mostly just run it as a fridge).
Once thing to bear in mind when running as a freezer, particularly in summer, is that the interior of your vehicle when you are parked can up upwards of 50 degrees C, so the compressor is going to be running continuously in order to keep the freezer cold.
This will significantly reduce the run time from your battery.
I would look to a permanently fitted dual battery option rather than the thumper. It will be less expensive, and linked to a smart battery controller, can also be wired in parallel via an anderson plug with the van battery etc.
Thumpers are good, but they take up a lot of space, and are expensive for what they are.
Once thing to bear in mind when running as a freezer, particularly in summer, is that the interior of your vehicle when you are parked can up upwards of 50 degrees C, so the compressor is going to be running continuously in order to keep the freezer cold.
This will significantly reduce the run time from your battery.
I would look to a permanently fitted dual battery option rather than the thumper. It will be less expensive, and linked to a smart battery controller, can also be wired in parallel via an anderson plug with the van battery etc.
Thumpers are good, but they take up a lot of space, and are expensive for what they are.