Thread: OMG! Here we go.... Which fridge to buy :-)

Aus Army use trailblazer on there M1A1 tanks and on the old leopard tanks. I have seen one come off the back of a leopard at 50km and we bolted it back on worked fine can t brake the trailblazer keep our cokes cold when were out bush love these fridges.

Can someone tell me - if trailblazer refrigerators get stuff down to temp so quickly, what is their maximum current draw?

Our Engel seemed to be able to keep everything at the preset temp while sitting in a locked up car (in the sun) on a 34 degree day. This is sufficient for my needs. I've got a feeling that if anything had more capability than this it would use more power and be physically much bigger due to more insulation.

Thoughts?

I have a 25-30 year old Engel and its probably getting a bit tired but has been a trouble free unit.
The old ones are great there have been some through history that were not as good but I understand the latest ones are OK.
I have heard too many horror stories with the Waco to consider one

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Can someone tell me - if trailblazer refrigerators get stuff down to temp so quickly, what is their maximum current draw?

Our Engel seemed to be able to keep everything at the preset temp while sitting in a locked up car (in the sun) on a 34 degree day. This is sufficient for my needs. I've got a feeling that if anything had more capability than this it would use more power and be physically much bigger due to more insulation.

Thoughts?

The compressor used by trailblaza can run at 2000 rpm to 3500 rpm. At 12V it requires 3.5 amp for 2000 rpm, 4.4 amp for 2500 rpm, 5.3 amp for 3000 rpm or 6.2 amp for 3500 rpm.

Because the trailblaza cabinet design is so good, the power consumed is the same to cool a reasonable quantity at 2000 rpm as at 3500 rpm. At 3500 rpm the current draw is higher, but the contents are cooled quicker and the compressor doesn't run as long (so power consumed is the same). So all trailblazers run at 3500 rpm.

The results would probably be different with a different make, but with trailblazas, looking at current draw is only one part of the picture, because the compressor does not run for as long.

They claim Queensland University of Technology and World Health Organization, tested the 60 litre Trailblaza with normal insulation and found, operating as a refrigerator and maintaining contents at +2*C
22 amp hrs per 24 hours was used at constant 25*C ambient
32 amp hrs per 24 hrs was used at constant 35*C ambient
46 amp hrs per 24 hrs was used at constant 45*C ambient

freezer mode uses 1/3 more power than refrigerator.

A single 64 watt solar panel can run up to 80 litre trailblaza as a refrigerator
2, 64 watt panels can run 80 litre as a freezer.

The trailblazas do have more insulation than most of the competitors. They also have other technological features that the competitors don't have, run for less time and are quieter while running than most others.

How does that compare to engels?

Leaving a refrigerator, trailblaza, engel and others undisturbed is no big deal. It is when you go and add a quantity of warm food/drinks that they have to cool down when the ambient temp and humidity is high, with no relief overnight, that sorts them out.

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Can someone tell me - if trailblazer refrigerators get stuff down to temp so quickly, what is their maximum current draw?

Our Engel seemed to be able to keep everything at the preset temp while sitting in a locked up car (in the sun) on a 34 degree day. This is sufficient for my needs. I've got a feeling that if anything had more capability than this it would use more power and be physically much bigger due to more insulation.

Thoughts?

The other advantage of the Trailblaza over some of the competitors is in the way in which the evaporator (the bit which cools the fridge down) is configured.
In the Trailblaza this is horizontal working it's way from the bottom to the top. On some of the competitors it is vertical, working it's way around the frodge.

In the case of the trailblaza the bottom of the fridge is always colder than the top. We insert a polystyrene insulator between the frozen items at the bottom and the drinks and vegies at the top - works brilliantly as both a fridge and freezer, once you get used to the settings.

I don't know how the current Engels are configured but the very early ones were vertical.

Erich

i have a 40ltr evakool and it fits nicly in my discovery and was cheaper buy a long way to the engles i was looking at

i have a few freinds who use engals and love them i think either would be a good buy

we have an engel 42 litre heaps good how ver i think that the arb fridges might be a bit better

For me if I had a wagon I would have bought an Engel - nice and compact. But my fridge rides in the tub on my 130 , thats why I bought a Trailblazer - a much more rugged fridge than all the others. Expense mitigated by having the 240v transformer option fitted and using it as a drinks fridge on the deck when not in the 130.