TheSamba.com :: View topic - Waeco , Engel , Norcold , fridge/freezer experience and main

Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:55 pm

I did a search online and in the forum but didn't find much.

Do these fridge/freezers require a lot of upkeep or maintenance? Are they like home fridges where you can't tip them to a certain degree? Noisy?

I've read a lot of reviews stating that people leave them plugged in and in use for up to months without problems.

Is storage as easy as unplug, whip out condensation and store in garage?

Please share your experience before I make the plunge.

Thanks!

Mon Mar 03, 2014 6:19 pm

These things are functionally like household refrigerators, you turn them on and they get cold. I have a Norcold installed in place of the stock fridge. It keeps food plenty cold and does not use too much electricity. It is a bit noisy--sort of a low rumble. I run it on high right before bed and turn it off while I sleep. It might not bother a real sound sleeper, but it would startle me when it kicked on.

Mon Mar 03, 2014 7:05 pm

I just picked up a used Waeco/Dometic CF-35. It looks to be about 8 years old. It was freezing everything and I googled it and found the thermisters go bad pretty regularly. It was well buried up in the foam under the plastic. It happens enought that the new models have a tube they added so you could pull it out and replace it more easily. When I replaced it, I could see it had been done before. I didn't google to see what other brands have that same problem.

As far as noise, it seems fine. Haven't camped with it, but I try to sleep to the rear if there are any noise makers like a furnace, or fridge.

After fixing it, it seems to work great. The Waeco Dometics are supposed to be very efficient and use the dan foss compressor like a lot of them do.

The 35 or 40 seems to be a nice size for a portable. Easy to lift and carry and looks like a nice size foot rest in the van. It cools so quickly, you don't have to store you beer in it, just what you can drink in a couple hours.

Mon Mar 03, 2014 7:14 pm

I have had the Engle, Edgestar and now Waeco in several different vehicles and they are well worth the money. Unlike a typical RV type propane fridge, these do not have to be sitting perfectly level to work. They are all pretty efficient and easy to use. I like to plug mine in to the garage wall socket the night before I leave so its already packed to go, then I can just toss it in the van and plug it in to 12v. You do not need to pre-cool, I just don't want to run it off my van battery when I don't have to. I am not running a dual battery set up, just planning solar panels which should be enough to cover any drain.

The Edgestar is probably the worse out of the three in terms of power efficiency. I'm currently running the Waeco 40 which in my opinion is the best. It has a great compressor, nice controls and also an automatic kill switch….it knows if it starts to drain your battery and will shut itself off so you can still start your vehicle. This is pretty much the same fridge as the new ARB….but can be had for much cheaper here: http://www.adventurerv.net/dometic-coolfreeze-port...fgodPmEAUw

Mon Mar 03, 2014 7:45 pm

We purchased a couple of these about (2)two years ago. My son has had is turned on and hooked to his Syncro for the entire time. Never shut off and has had zero issues. When his solar panel will easily run his fridge freezer and we have had ours on for days with our house bank and it does not draw much power at all. Really very quiet when running, all you can hear is a small fan sound. We made insulating covers for them also. I use mine as an assist step to get to the top bunk, so 180 lbs on the hatch does not hurt them. We also use it as a seat while dining on the rear table.

I would recommend these to anyone who is still using the stock fridge. Once we took our westy fridges out and used these we can have ice cream while camping. They work great!

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Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:51 pm

If they are set to freeze, is there a compartment that does not freeze. That is, do they work like a regular refrigerator with a freezer, or a freezer only? I want something that will not freeze everything in it so I don't have to buy two of them, one to use as a freezer and one as a refrigerator.

Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:54 pm

Love My Westy wrote: If they are set to freeze, is there a compartment that does not freeze. That is, do they work like a regular refrigerator with a freezer, or a freezer only? I want something that will not freeze everything in it so I don't have to buy two of them, one to use as a freezer and one as a refrigerator.

Nope sorry we use one of ours as a freezer and the other as a fridge. You just need a camping buddy with one too! :wink:

Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:57 pm

A good thread regarding portable fridges: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=567559&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:35 pm

Love My Westy wrote: If they are set to freeze, is there a compartment that does not freeze. That is, do they work like a regular refrigerator with a freezer, or a freezer only? I want something that will not freeze everything in it so I don't have to buy two of them, one to use as a freezer and one as a refrigerator.

If you are willing to drop some serious coin, National Luna makes a 50L weekender twin that has a 40L fridge and a 10L freezer.

Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:56 am

Truckfridge also makes several models of high-quality chest fridge/freezers and the pricing is oftentimes much better. 31, 41, 51 liter capacity. These are Indel products, sold under other nameplates as well.

Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:39 pm

Syncro Jael wrote: Love My Westy wrote: If they are set to freeze, is there a compartment that does not freeze. That is, do they work like a regular refrigerator with a freezer, or a freezer only? I want something that will not freeze everything in it so I don't have to buy two of them, one to use as a freezer and one as a refrigerator.

Nope sorry we use one of ours as a freezer and the other as a fridge. You just need a camping buddy with one too! :wink:

I also have an ARB and it has been great. It probably has 1-1/2 years of use (continuous) as I have used it in the house as a beer fridge.

Using it for both a fridge and freezer can be done but is tricky. I've frozen a few beer trying. I built a insulated separator to help but it relies on the frozen food to hold up the separator. There is a non freeze area in the fridge but it's pretty small. The fridge has a graduated temp and finding the right temp really depends on the ratio of freeze vs. refrigerate goods.

A trick I've learned is if you want to use it as a fridge but want ice too just get a small lunch size cooler bag, fill it with ice and drop it at the bottom of the fridge and it will stay frozen for at least a week. I keep my ARB set to -4C which keeps the bottom mostly frozen and the top just cool.

Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:13 pm

Anyone have experiance with the Waeco CD-030 drawer fridge? Ive been looking at this model for under the rear seat.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:20 am

0cean wrote: Anyone have experiance with the Waeco CD-030 drawer fridge? Ive been looking at this model for under the rear seat.

That would be sweeeet!

Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:25 am

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Nice rear set up!

Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:38 am

Homercules wrote: A trick I've learned is if you want to use it as a fridge but want ice too just get a small lunch size cooler bag, fill it with ice and drop it at the bottom of the fridge and it will stay frozen for at least a week. I keep my ARB set to -4C which keeps the bottom mostly frozen and the top just cool.

I will have to try that, we love our ARB. :lol:

Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:17 pm

Someone on another forum posted that they were able to use it as a fridge freezer by putting the frozen stuff on the bottom, then a layer of insulated/corrugated plastic sheet stuff, and the fridge items above that. Probably just have to test different insulation layers and temp settings to get it dialed in.

The CF-35 I have has a "dairy" cubby on one end that doesn't have any cooling coils around it. Pretty small section though as the compressor is below it, so it is shallow. Good for salads and pint milk containers or something.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 3:14 pm

Like others, I'm here lookin for the bang for the buck and reliability aspect..

I do have a 5x2ft Kyocera and its going to get a decent standby battery to run the fridge and related loads. It will use the blue sky systems solar controller, and a yandina or something like that..

Are there any comparison charts showing battery use, average temps by someone real/not the manufacturer? I'm still reading this thread and others about fridges and am a bit of a noob.

Thanks.

Wed Mar 05, 2014 3:32 pm

I've owned 4 engel fridges and 3 arb fridges. I can't speak for other models. Engel and arb are the industry leaders and price reflects it. The amp draw is very low on both of them. But the ARB has a edge because it has more features then Engel.

1. Arb has digital control vs. engel is a dial ( easy to accidently turn the dial)

2. Arb has interior light

3. Low voltage cut off - three different cut off voltage

4. Lighter weight

5. Interior has a drain hole for cleaning

6. In the interior there is a compartment that is slightly warmer for eggs

7. $100 less

Noise and amp draw is about the same. Engel is old school and they havent upgraded their model for the longest time.

I sold all my engel fridges and bought ARB and I couldn't be happier.

I looked at the 50qt model but it sits too high and for $100 more I decided to go to 63 qt. sits lower, makes nice bench seat and it is a lot shallower which makes it easy to get stuff out on the bottom.

ARb 63 qt

Engel mt45