Aldi Fridge - Couple of questions

[DeeJay]

I just bought an Aldi 12/240v Fridge to replace the 40 year old engel & have a couple of (dumb?) questions.
As it seems to be identical to other brands & - I assume Waeco- it came with a cover that had this label.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/574.jpg

Is this just the usual disclaimer? Does anybody think I should follow this to the letter? It seems to me that plenty of people who have bought similar fridges would not read this & happily use the cover to save energy.


Also, being different to the Engel, what is this secondary compartment?


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/575.jpg

Is it for butter etc? Would it freeze if the unit is used solely as a freezer?
Apart from it being advertised as a 40 litre & measuring up nearer to 29 main & just under 7 secondary compartment, it runs super quiet & low energy use.


Thanks, David

[PhilipA]

Looking at ebay this fridge looks the same and the smaller part is a freezer.
50L CAR Fridge Freezer CF 50 AC 12V 24V Portable | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/50L-Car-Fridge-Freezer-CF-50-AC-12v-24v-Portable-/331798336367?hash=item4d40b8d36f:m:m5YMJ1i9vbyIKc6-RrxtJgw)
I would think you would have to check that the transit bag has sufficient airflow to let air into the condenser. If not cut out some bits.

Regards Philip A

[DeeJay]

Looking at ebay this fridge looks the same and the smaller part is a freezer.
50L CAR Fridge Freezer CF 50 AC 12V 24V Portable | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/50L-Car-Fridge-Freezer-CF-50-AC-12v-24v-Portable-/331798336367?hash=item4d40b8d36f:m:m5YMJ1i9vbyIKc6-RrxtJgw)
I would think you would have to check that the transit bag has sufficient airflow to let air into the condenser. If not cut out some bits.

Regards Philip A


Thanks Philip,
It's almost identical to that one, but the owners manual has nothing to say about the internals other to say it can be either a fridge or freezer, but not both. The bag certainly has similar mesh & ventilation to any travel bag.
DJ

[Blknight.aus]

the smaller section is a "warmer" it sits over the compressor/condensor and is something like 5 degrees warmer than the main fridge compartment.

The main evaporator is the aluminum textured panel and it cools the main compartment directly, the smaller section is only cooled by convection over the top of the seperator and conduction through the small section of insulation between it and the evaporator.

if you experiment and set the temperature just right the main part will act as a -2 degree freezer and the smaller section a ~2 degree fridge.

[RHS58]

Errr, the caution probably relates to the plastic bag it came in, not the insulted cover?

[DeeJay]

Errr, the caution probably relates to the plastic bag it came in, not the insulted cover?


No, the label is on the cover, but the cover is not the insulated type.
Here is the Aldi ad.


https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/special-buys-sat-12-mar/saturday-detail-wk10/ps/p/40l-portable-fridgefreezer-2/

[Blknight.aus]

just by the look of it I would suggest that it is intended to be used with the fridge in it and running, there should be 2 lots of air vents and matching holes in the bag, if all the vents on the fridge are exposed when in the bag and you can open the fridge in the bag then it should be good to use in the bag.

[DeeJay]

just by the look of it I would suggest that it is intended to be used with the fridge in it and running, there should be 2 lots of air vents and matching holes in the bag, if all the vents on the fridge are exposed when in the bag and you can open the fridge in the bag then it should be good to use in the bag.


I'm running it overnight on freeze in that "travel" bag in a "non combustible" zone in the shed. :D
I'm 99% sure that it is the usual disclaimer, seeing as the next line says to keep children away as it's not a toy !!!
There was a joke 20 years ago that asked what was on the top of an Irish ladder - a Stop sign...
These days it's expected..:confused::confused:

[RHS58]

just by the look of it I would suggest that it is intended to be used with the fridge in it and running, there should be 2 lots of air vents and matching holes in the bag, if all the vents on the fridge are exposed when in the bag and you can open the fridge in the bag then it should be good to use in the bag.

Agree.
Otherwise what would be the point of the mesh openings in the bag?

[scarry]

Looking at ebay this fridge looks the same and the smaller part is a freezer.
50L CAR Fridge Freezer CF 50 AC 12V 24V Portable | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/50L-Car-Fridge-Freezer-CF-50-AC-12v-24v-Portable-/331798336367?hash=item4d40b8d36f:m:m5YMJ1i9vbyIKc6-RrxtJgw)
I would think you would have to check that the transit bag has sufficient airflow to let air into the condenser. If not cut out some bits.

Regards Philip A

Had a quick look at the link.

A couple of porkies.;)

Danfoss compressers and most,if not all their other refrigeration equipment, has been made in China for at least the last couple of years.

Danfoss compressors are not used in Engle refrigerators.

Back to the OP,if you use the large section as a refrigerator,the small section will be warmer,where you can defrost food if necessary,or keep fruit as an example.If it is run as a freezer,as Dave has said,the smaller section may stay at refrigeration temperatures.
You just need to run it and check some temps and you will have it sorted.
From the pics it looks good value for money.

Others are on the money with the bag,good ventilation is extremely important.

[Blknight.aus]

youd be amazed at how many slider/drawer systems have been the cause of "Fridge XYZ" draws too much power and doesnt get properly cold in my vehicle It must be the power feed, can you check that for me?

that then results in me drilling holes and mounting a small computer fan into the draw system to get the fridge some air exchange.

[crash]

that then results in me drilling holes and mounting a small computer fan into the draw system to get the fridge some air exchange.

That is a good point to remember when installing a fridge.

[loanrangie]

The small compartment is not a warmer, merely warmer than the main section.
Waeco call it a dairy compartment for keeping butter etc that you dont want hard.

[Blknight.aus]

so you take something out of the cold part of the fridge and you put it in there. leave it there for a couple of hours and it comes out warmer.

ergo, its a warmer.


(nearly 2 days I waited for someone to bite... 2 days...)

[Don 130]

If you're still in doubt, why not get in touch with Aldi's appointed agent who would be identified on the warranty papers?
Don.

[DeeJay]

Update...
It's been running now for 14 hours on max cold and has 2 x 2 litre milk bottles filled with water. it's in its bag.
Sitting on minus 8 for the last 6 hours, bottles not quite frozen and the secondary compartment - nothing in it- refuses to go below 2 deg !!
I now need to decide if I am to return it to Aldi, as the advertising would have you thinking it could freeze 40 litres.
Edit..
I just moved the temperature probe to against the wall of the main freezer & it went to minus 1.5 deg, so I assume in real life stuff could remain frozen via convection..
Think i'll keep it now..

[Blknight.aus]

14 hours is not long enough to freeze 2x2 bottles of warm water in the center section of a fridge like that.

you need them in the corners

just had a side thought...

does that fridge have an external 240V>12V converter or is it built into the fridge? some of the newer fridges that have the 240V built into them run quite a bit hotter when on 240v, that might be what the warning on the bag is for. for when you're using it as a workshop mains powered beer fridge.

[DeeJay]

It has a built in converter.
I put it on "eco" late last night & just checked it now & the bottles are frozen solid & it's on minus 6.5 using 1.28 amp.
One of the bottles is a 3 litre one too.
The secondary compartment was still on minus 1.5 deg.
The Full River 105 amp battery is on 11.82 volts ( 30%) (and its 4 years old) so the fridge ran on freeze from 9AM to 11PM then economy freeze till 9AM again.
Next test will be to load it up with cold food & see consumptions as a refrigerator. I need to know for an upcoming Desert trip.
The 40 year old Engel was plugging away @ 4.88- 5.3 Amp and minus 18 Deg. The old engel is a great fridge if you are on the move every day...

[scarry]

If it doesn't get to at least minus18,it shouldn't be used as a freezer,as many frozen foods need to be at that sort of temp.
Empty, i would have thought it would get there in 12 hours,24 max.

Water freezes at 0 degrees,so not a good indicater on freezer temperature.

Normal type ice cream is the go;)

This also depends on ambient temps.

Back to Engles,mine is a 1980 model,still going,but a bit noisy,and won't get to minus 18 anymore.As a fridge it works fine.

[d2dave]

Had a quick look at the link.

A couple of porkies.;)

Danfoss compressers and most,if not all their other refrigeration equipment, has been made in China for at least the last couple of years.


It did not claim to be made in Germany.
It stated "German designed compressor"

[scarry]

It did not claim to be made in Germany.
It stated "German designed compressor"

Did you see this?

Down at the bottom of the link.

Although Chinese made compressors are also quite efficient they really cannot be compared to quality and reliability of their German counterparts. This fridge comes with a Danfoss BD-35F compressor. When you are looking at the quality of a car fridge, this is what to look for, everything else is purely cosmetic.

Maybe they are deliberately being vague…..and misleading.

[slug_burner]

You have got the good oil from Dave. My 80 litre Waeco looks similar in terms of configuration of the warmer compartment. You will probably find that the cooling coils are at one end of the compartment that accepts the basket.

I had to buy the insulating cover separately.

Not only do you have to ensure that the cover allows airflow through the compressor and the condenser, when you pack it in the vehicle make sure you leave space for airflow around the fridge end with the fans. I carry a wooden spacer to ensure I allow enough space around the fridge freezer at the end where the fans are.

I picked up one of the Aldi car fridge/freezer but have not started to experiment with it. I expect it to be similar to the Waeco products. I thought they were pretty good value, with a very good Aldi warranty.

[laughto]

So we are now 6 months down the track and Al and Di have these on sale again this weekend (Sept 10 2016) at $499.

Are there any further comments on the quality and operation of these? Are they worth buying, or are there better options around for a 40L fridge?

[loanrangie]

So we are now 6 months down the track and Al and Di have these on sale again this weekend (Sept 10 2016) at $499.

Are there any further comments on the quality and operation of these? Are they worth buying, or are there better options around for a 40L fridge?

For an extra $95 you can get a same size Waeco.

Waeco CF-40 Portable Fridge / Freezer + Cover + Bonus Pack (http://www.seabreeze-industries.com.au/products/Waeco-CF40-Portable-Fridge-Freezer-Cover-Bonus-Pack-668.htm)

[laughto]

For an extra $95 you can get a same size Waeco.

Looks like a very similar fridge, certainly the same compressor. Any advantage in paying the extra for a Waeco over the Aldi (3 yrs warranty vs 2, potentially more power consumption - not sure etc). Not trying to be cheap, but this is a second car fridge and and not prime.

[loanrangie]

Parts may be a problem for the Aldi, i thought the Aldi only had a 1year warranty ?

Edit, it is 2years. Must have been something else i was looking at.