Engel 39ltr or 40ltr series 1 or 40ltr series 2(annivers)?

[JamesH]

Hi All

Tossing up between a new and 2nd hand Engel.

I was wondering if anybody knows what the design developments were for these model Engels; 39l, 40l s1 40l anniversary.

I've heard that when they went from 39 to 40 ltr there was a change to the way the element that made an improvement. Does anyone know about this.

Also heard that the later model 40litres with the temp gauge are noisier.

Some gumpier cynical types say that each passing year sees Engel get a little bit worse and cheaply constructed than the previous. Particularly interested in compressor draw rate changes

Any comments?

(A lot of sensible people have said "go the Waeco" better value but I just prefer Engels in the same way I prefer Landies)

[DeeJay]

You made me realize that my Engel will be 30 next year- I bought it in 1977. I would say the grumpy cynical types are correct in so far that the Engel has gone from a fantastic unit to a fairly good one.
Mine has had a lot of use, and been drowned once, early in its life needing a major repair- new motor I think.
Its noisy and draws a lot of power, but if you think about it, a bigger deep cycle battery every 4-5 years is the cheaper option https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[DaveS3]

OK - AFAIK Engel 39/40/40lt anniversary have the same element / compressor swing motor.
Only difference between the 40lt and the 40lt anniversary is the colout and temperature gauge. The 40lt anniversary is now the new 40lt as the anniversay is past.
Visually the element appears exactly the same.
I would def go engel (I work at a camping shop selling both engel/waeco)
We have reps through very regularly. The engel rep brought in both waeco and engel compressor motors and had one of each cut in half. The difference in the mounting of the motor was amazing - engel was by far the best.
Little things like stainless hinges and latches, rubber fridge seals ect make it an overall better unit.

Engel 40lt basket is physically the same size as the waeco 60lt. So for 'useable' space, the engel is better.
The only feature on the Waecos that engel doesnt have is the voltage regulator cutout. (Waeco has a bypass system for the electrics, but engel doesnt have the same electrical items)

Anyway,
Engel all the way.

Dave.

[rangieman]

well i would,nt have anything other than a engel my 39lt is six years old and still going strong

my mates 3 year old 60lt waeco has had two plastic hingers replaced in that time

go the steel engel


cheers chris https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[seqfisho]

I have had 2 39lt engels, actually still using the second one (7yrs old) only not on the first one because silly me sold it with one of the Defenders :roll:

Still going strong and been around the country twice with my old man

He has a 40lt Waeco and 3 yrs no probs yet, still nor has his 3lt diesel Patrol so maybe he's just lucky :wink: :roll: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[camel_landy]

I too use an Engel... Brilliant thing.

Don't worry about noise... It'll soon be drowned out as soon as you start the engine. :wink:

I've got the 35L & that was enough for a family of 4, on the road for 12mths. It was a tight squeeze at times (especially for the milk needed for the little ones & my beer) but it coped.

One of the things that put me off the larger unit was the length of the lid.... It wouldn't open completely in the location I wanted to put it. Basically, the lid was too long and it would hit the roof before fully open.

The other thing to mention is that the thermostat version is the one to go for, otherwise you'll end up adjusting for different ambient temperatures (I kept freezing the milk & meat!!).

HTH

Mark.

[weeds]

interesting

i thought the 39 litre only had the cooling plates around the sides and it was the 40's that had the new cooling plates which covered the bottom of the fridge as well, i have not look inside the 39L so i will go with what DaveS3 says. must have a look at the older 39/40 we have at work to see where the cooling plates go.

i have a 29/32L (can never remember which it is)that is around six years old and it is rated at 3.5amp/hr and only has cooling plates around the sides. i also have a 40L anniversary which i think draws 2.5amp/hr and the cooling plates covers the bottom of the fridge as well as the sides.

re: low voltage cut out
Captain_Rightfoot and i had a chat with one of the engle reps at the brizzy 4wd show on the weekend and he explained why engle does not need a low voltage cutout like the waeco does. its in the design of the motor, the waeco motor will burn itself out when the voltage drops below 11.?? volts thats why it has a low voltage cutout. the engle motor will continue to cool until a voltage of 10.7 is reached. now in saying that i think engle should install a low voltage cutout to protect ones aux battery. i'm sure there is a waeco version to this story.

interesting point - the hinge lock was not designed by engle, i think the rep mentioned a guy in w.a. designed it and cut a deal with engle. there you go some good thing do come out of w.a.

i see the latest waeco's with the dual voltage inputs have gone up in price so the value for money may not be as great these days

having any sort of fridge is better than eskies and ice

all said and done

GO THE ENGLE

[CraigE]

Go the anniversary model, the temp gauge is a godsend in hostile environments. I have a 60 litre and just realised I have had it for 10 years and it is still like new.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by weeds
interesting
re: low voltage cut out
Captain_Rightfoot and i had a chat with one of the engle reps at the brizzy 4wd show on the weekend and he explained why engle does not need a low voltage cutout like the waeco does. its in the design of the motor, the waeco motor will burn itself out when the voltage drops below 11.?? volts thats why it has a low voltage cutout. the engle motor will continue to cool until a voltage of 10.7 is reached. now in saying that i think engle should install a low voltage cutout to protect ones aux battery. i'm sure there is a waeco version to this story.


GO THE ENGLE
Further on this is that the waeco (and pretty much everyone other than engel) and it has a conventional electric motor driving the the compressor. So as the voltage drops it burns out the motor just like a brownout burns out the motor in you house fridge.

However the Engel has a "swing motor" that basically drives a swing compressor by a electro magnet rocking the arm. As the voltage drops the electromagnet just reduces in effectiveness until nothing happens (or I presume the switching circuitry shuts down). The result is there is nothing to damage by power trailing off.

INTERESTING FACT
Well, not really, but the Engel rep passed on this tip... and that is that all the engels that are 30/40 years old he asks the owner how they run them. He says they always say that they run them all the time. So, the recommendation in the manual is to run them as a bar fridge, and this is backed up by the rep. The more you lose it the less your chance of losing it :wink: :wink:

MY OPINION
I can't help with the older engels, but we've had ours for only a year now (40th anniv) . It would appear to be an excellent fridge. It is quiet (although you can hear the fan occasionally), it is effective, and seems to be the perfect size for our application. I can't comment on the power drain but we haven't had a flat battery and we don't have a dual battery setup. I have never run it for more than 24/36 hours without a run.

The only negative that I can think of is that it would appear the insulation isn't perfect... the case gets cold. Having the engel bag is worthwhile. I like the temp guage as it allows you to accurately set the temp https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[TuffRR]

My engel has been passed on from the parents. Close to 20 years old now i reckon. In that time, it has not had a cent spent on it. While it doesn't help you decided with the new ones, it does at least show how bloody tough they are!!!

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">the newer engels may be a little noisier........because they run a fan to help
with the cooling.....this is what the extra noise is....its just a computer fan....</span>

[JamesH]

thanks heaps for this.

I think I will go the 40 litre but I have some mates keeping an eye out and if I get the 39 at the Right Price I'll change my mind.

I might conceivably get a new one but my prang expenses will probably cure me of this indulgence.

[cols110]

Yep, cant go wrong with an engel, we have a 40th anv model, and it is one of the best additions you can make to your landy. I go an engel over a locker any day. The only thing I can knock on it is the efffing lid keep coming off its hinges. I just found these little suckers and need to get one ASAP as it is really ****ing me off. Why engel did&#96;nt fit em as standard and charge an extra 10 bucks has got me buggered.

I strongly recommend getting one of these with it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by cols110
Yep, cant go wrong with an engel, we have a 40th anv model, and it is one of the best additions you can make to your landy. I go an engel over a locker any day. The only thing I can knock on it is the efffing lid keep coming off its hinges. I just found these little suckers and need to get one ASAP as it is really ****ing me off. Why engel did&#96;nt fit em as standard and charge an extra 10 bucks has got me buggered.

I strongly recommend getting one of these with it.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
If you get the transit bag you don't need these as it stops the door from moving sideways. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ We have a transit bag and the lid has only ever come off when we wanted it to https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">mine has the transit bag and the hinge lock.....


and if the wife opens it....the lid still comes off......



its got me knackered...... </span>8O

[disco_ute]

only prob i have with my engle (40th anv) i also have transit bag and we have trouble locking it... do u guys bother locking it? or do u just use the zips? ( what i have been doing )
Mick

[Captain_Rightfoot]

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK]<span style="color:blue">mine has the transit bag and the hinge lock.....


and if the wife opens it....the lid still comes off......



its got me knackered...... </span>
You really shouldn't put her in the fridge... https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[camel_landy]

Originally posted by mickrangie
only prob i have with my engle (40th anv) i also have transit bag and we have trouble locking it... do u guys bother locking it? or do u just use the zips? ( what i have been doing )
Mick

I'm the same, I just use the zips.

Mark

[abaddonxi]

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK]<span style="color:blue">mine has the transit bag and the hinge lock.....


and if the wife opens it....the lid still comes off......



its got me knackered...... </span>
You really shouldn't put her in the fridge... https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


Probably why the door won't close properly.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

cheers
Simon

[DEFENDERZOOK]

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK]<span style="color:blue">mine has the transit bag and the hinge lock.....


and if the wife opens it....the lid still comes off......



its got me knackered...... </span>
You really shouldn't put her in the fridge... https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


Probably why the door won't close properly.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

cheers
Simon



8O

[numpty]

I too have the 40th Anniversary model and am thoroughly impressed with it.
Have managed on two occasions to run it for 70 hours+ and still start the vehicle. Also have the transit bag which in my opinion only really protects the case from damage and yes that makes it difficult to lock, but only do that whilst travelling.
Perry

[cols110]

Originally posted by Captain_Rightfoot+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Captain_Rightfoot)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-cols110
Yep, cant go wrong with an engel, we have a 40th anv model, and it is one of the best additions you can make to your landy. I go an engel over a locker any day. The only thing I can knock on it is the efffing lid keep coming off its hinges. I just found these little suckers and need to get one ASAP as it is really ****ing me off. Why engel did&#96;nt fit em as standard and charge an extra 10 bucks has got me buggered.

I strongly recommend getting one of these with it.

http://www.compactappliance.com/images/us/local/products/viewlarger/35HLK_vl1.jpg
If you get the transit bag you don't need these as it stops the door from moving sideways. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ We have a transit bag and the lid has only ever come off when we wanted it to https://www.aulro.com/afvb/[/b][/quote]


Got the bag as well. I dont normally zip it up, except for if the vehicle is parked up, as I have our centre rear seat removed and have the fridge mounted in there, thats why I leave the zips un-done. So we can access the fridge on the move, when you reach into the back for a cold drink with one arm whist driving, the lid come off 50% of the time, and it really ****es you off after a while.

Hav&#96;nt tried fitting the wife in there yet, might give it a go, will make for more peaceful driving. 8O

[matbor]

Hinge locks are well worth it for at $6 even with the bag on or off.

[cols110]

Pity I can&#96;t find one for sale in Dubai, will have to wait till I am back in Australia later this year to get one. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/