Engel in the rain

[broonski]

G'day all,

I'm heading off on a bit of a trip in about a week, out to Mt Isa. I was wondering how engel fridges cope with getting wet, as I have a fender 110 ute and my fridge bolts to the tray out in the open (I usually have a frame work and canvas roof over my tray, but it's currently undergoing a rebuild) my fridge is about a 5 or 6 year old 39 litre (pre temp display next to temp dial) and I have the travel cover on it.
I've heard that they cope well with water and it would be fine to leave it uncovered.
Has anyone had any experience with running fridges out in the weather like this?

cheers,
Bryce

[mcrover]

I a few people who run them on their trays but 2 of them are the ones that warned me away from Engles (the new ones anyway) when we bought our Weaco) as they have had lots of trouble with the electronic control boards in their fridges.

Seems yours is the manually controlled one and (so is the 3rd mate who has his on the back of his MQ tray and has had for as long as I can remember) will have the cover over it I dont think it will be a problem.

As long as you dont drown it it should be fine.

[LandyAndy]

I have a new 80lt engel.Dealer warned about letting rain into the grill on the top.
His other warning was NEVER use ANY of those cheap and nasty to power it on 240V,they do spike.He showed me a few circuit boards that had been spiked and blown the capacitor.Its rated at 400V.They are not covered by warantty.If you use a cheap generator,use a battery charger and battery to run the fridge.
This may be the "electronic" issues Mcrover refers to.
Andreew

[mcrover]

I have a new 80lt engel.Dealer warned about letting rain into the grill on the top.
His other warning was NEVER use ANY of those cheap and nasty to power it on 240V,they do spike.He showed me a few circuit boards that had been spiked and blown the capacitor.Its rated at 400V.They are not covered by warantty.If you use a cheap generator,use a battery charger and battery to run the fridge.
This may be the "electronic" issues Mcrover refers to.
Andreew

The two Luxy owners I was refering to had the same moisture related (the Engle bloke recons) problems which I think (but I dont know for sure) is from them sitting on the tray 365 days of the year and the vehicles never being under cover more than being parked under a tree.

They both had the attitude at the time of purchase that Weaco's = crap and Engle were unbreakable, I wouldnt say that the Weaco isnt crap as ours has given us a bit of problems but their Engles are deffinately not unbreakable whe miss treated.

A bit of a mod to their travel covers so that they have a flap that covers the venting but still allows air flow when the fridge is on and neither have had probs since as far as I know but maybe they are not owning up to it anymore as I gave them heaps due to the crap they gave me for buying a Weaco.

[weeds]

a guy down the street has had an engel in the back of his ute for the last 18 months, never turns it off and it still going strong....he has the travel cover fitted

go the engel's, never say die

didn't think engel had electronics, i thought they just added a flash temp display.....will go and have a closer look at mine

[CraigE]

I have seen mayny Engels used for prolonged periods in the back of utes without any dramas.
However we should remember that they are a piece of electric equipment and if exposed to the elements may have some failure at some point.
I would personally make sure that it had some sort of cover and protection for the power plug on the fridge.
As with all equipment there will be some failures.
Even the transit bag will not totally protect the fridge from rain and dust etc as it still has the breathable piece over the grill. More often than not any water or moisture will drain straight through.

[rovercare]

Mine lived on the back of my tray for ages, without issue, I wouldn't have my new 60l "live" there, but wouldn;t worry about a trip, then give it a clean out:)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/584.jpg

[LandyAndy]

Nice ute-job Rangieman:cool::cool::cool::cool:
Engel question.
I just bought a genuine slide,turned up yesterday.It fits using supplied turnbuckles and brackets as yours appears to,I wish to keep the handles fitted like you have,are new longer fixing screws needed?,I thought the handle screws were quite short,not long enought to do both together.
Thanks
Andrew

[rovercare]

Nice ute-job Rangieman:cool::cool::cool::cool:


:eek::eek::eek:

[LandyAndy]

SORRY mr Rovercare.
Wrong name,No I havent had a pint YET,or yesterday for that matter.Perhaps I need one:angel::angel::angel::angel:.
Question still applies.
Andrew

[rovercare]

Yep, fitted longer screws;)

[barney]

the model you have is the same as mine. they have an electronic thermostat control which is not waterproof.
as a precaution, throw a good canvas tarp over it, especially around the bck of it where the control is at the top and the openings are at the back an around the supply socket.
as was said before, it's an electrical item and it's not made to be waterproof.

[rovercare]

I wouldn;t be covering it with a tarp, as in direct over the fridge, the condensation and lack of ventilation will kill it well before the dust and rain:eek:

But with an air gap would be the go:D