Fridge bags. Worth it?

I have always used a fridge bag - both for protection and to hopefully improve performance. Without having the facility for accurate testing I can't say if it helps performance or not.
On my latest Waeco, the fridge bag has a silver lining and a dark grey outer fabric. That seemed stupid to me, so I simply turned the bag inside out. As the fridge has symmetrical vents, it works well. I figure it was better to reflect the radiant heat away from the fridge than to try to reflect the "coolth" back at the fridge...

https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/...psrxowsjc0.jpg

Cheers
Numb Thumbs ;)

If you are going to keep your fridge in the back of a wagon where it is protected i wouldn't bother with the bag But if you intend to put it on the back of a ute or have it outside at your camp a bag is a Great idea to keep the heat from the sun or the hot wind off the fridge.

One with, two without.......

The only way to actually know is to collect data, problem is have the same conditions for both tests would be tough.

Bag will keep your fridge looking new.....

Any fridge in a lock up car is going to chew battery regardless of bag or no bag

Bag lid can be a pain zipping and unzipping depending on install....in the work cars we just leave the lid unzipped, bag is only there to protect the fridge.


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Hi. I believe and am no expert in this matter but fridges like the Norcoast one Trailblaza it's not recommended to fit a cover as the condenser coil sits hard against the aluminium outer skin, this is how it dissipates heat without using a fan running over a condensing coil. When that fridge is running feel the outside cover. It will be quite warm. Fitting a cover on this type of cooling will have a negative effect. If a fridge cannot cool the refrigerant sufficiently the head pressure will rise greatly and the fridge will draw more amps and run for longer. When positioning a fridge in your 4wd make sure it has sufficient access to enough airflow through the condenser fan. If you have an Engel in the back of a Ute then a fridge cover is essential.

Fairly complete comparison here which says that bags can protect against sun & scratches etc but also says they can trap heat just as effectively,.

Best 12 Volt Portable Fridge Comparison Test

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Originally Posted by Disco-tastic

Thanks everyone for your input.




I'm assuming you never took the fridge oit of the car/camper in order for mold to build up?

I'm mainly interested in lowering the amp draw to make it last as long as possible, as I only have the single 55Ah secondary battery

The covers are $60. The fridge will sit in the rear of the D3 and may get a bit of sun on it during the day.

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The Fridge has been running off a 55AH battery for as long as we have had it, nearly 14yrs, 12 of that without a bag, never had an issue when camped running off out Optima 55ah, usually it will run the fridge for around 3 days without charging the battery, pretty much the same when we had it with the bag on. and yes the fridge comes out of the car after each trip and runs at home as a beer fridge on 240v.

Up until 12mths ago we have only ever had the fridge running off of a 55ah battery, the fridge virtually runs 24/7 and has done for 14yrs.

3 days is pretty good. What sort of fridge?

I managed about 40hrs off the optima in 36°+ temperatures with the fridge set at 1°. Its one of the newer kings fridges which is a rebadged nova look or waeco. The lid is a bit thin and I think has a hard time keeping the cool in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Numb Thumbs

I have always used a fridge bag - both for protection and to hopefully improve performance. Without having the facility for accurate testing I can't say if it helps performance or not.
On my latest Waeco, the fridge bag has a silver lining and a dark grey outer fabric. That seemed stupid to me, so I simply turned the bag inside out. As the fridge has symmetrical vents, it works well. I figure it was better to reflect the radiant heat away from the fridge than to try to reflect the "coolth" back at the fridge...

https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/...psrxowsjc0.jpg

Cheers
Numb Thumbs ;)

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That's interesting. I'm not sure which way to go on that.
The compressor must be able to vent heat or it could overheat. The heat comes out the vent, but the wall of the fridge also gets hot. The silver inside of the cover would repel compressor heat and force it along the gap between the fridge wall and the cover towards the vent holes in the cover.
The sun would be absorbed by the insulated cover with the grey side out.
So which side should face outwards - the grey insulation or the silver?
Is the silver layer actually double-sided, so no matter which way it is fitted there are silver layers facing both in and out?
I'm not sure. What do others think?