Thread: Brass Monkey Fridges - what are they like?

To those that own then...How do you tie them down?

On the Jaycar site it doesn't show any handles that you can use to secure the fridge.

Am I missing something?

I’d thought of using an Anderson plug anyway. I’ve been camping a couple of times to find the fridge has vibrating its way loose.

Originally Posted by Corgie Carrier

To those that own then...How do you tie them down?

On the Jaycar site it doesn't show any handles that you can use to secure the fridge.

Am I missing something?

I have mine “secured” by resting against the cargo barrier on some artificial lawn
The weight of the supplies inside keeps it in place
It’s never moved since it’s been there and if I did decide that the VW transporter needed to be turned upside down the cargo barrier will stop it colliding with my skull

3.5 amp current draw set at 1 degree used 19ah over a 7 hour period
Mild day (32 degrees)
Was in the direct sun for a while as my helper (10 year old son) left the van sliding door open
Lid got opened and closed more times than the brides legs on her honeymoon as we had some extra sweeties in there for the boy

Got to love the specs ...............

Average power consumption over 24 hours is 0.2kWh

So, given that your average 4WD battery is 100 ah capacity or 12v X 100ah = 1200 watt hours or 1.2 kWh this means that the brass monkey fridge will run for a full 6 days without re-charging the battery, wow, beware of flying pigs or the most efficient compressor fridge of all time

Sorry I'm not convinced.

Deano

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Got to love the specs ...............

Average power consumption over 24 hours is 0.2kWh

So, given that your average 4WD battery is 100 ah capacity or 12v X 100ah = 1200 watt hours or 1.2 kWh this means that the brass monkey fridge will run for a full 6 days without re-charging the battery, wow, beware of flying pigs or the most efficient compressor fridge of all time

Sorry I'm not convinced.

Deano

A bit like how car manufacturers somehow obtain spectacular fuel consumption figures.

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Got to love the specs ...............

Average power consumption over 24 hours is 0.2kWh

So, given that your average 4WD battery is 100 ah capacity or 12v X 100ah = 1200 watt hours or 1.2 kWh this means that the brass monkey fridge will run for a full 6 days without re-charging the battery, wow, beware of flying pigs or the most efficient compressor fridge of all time

Sorry I'm not convinced.

Deano

Indeed...the claim of 0.2KWH does seem at first to be optimistic.
However that's claimed as an average not an absolute figure. Also we are not told of the measurement conditions
Gav110 has 'hard data' showing 19AH or 228 WH used over 7 hrs. If the fridge compressor was operating continuously over those 7 hrs it would have consumed 7 x 3.5 =24.5 AH or 294 WH. It was set at 1 deg C in 32 deg C ambient and underwent constant opening/closing of the lid. Even then, the fridge actually only operated at approx 78% duty cycle... equivalent to 781WH in 24 hrs.

Supposing that the fridge was filled with cans of beer to its capacity, then stabilised at 4 deg C and ambient temp is 22 deg C and the fridge has the advertised insulated cover attached. It is then switched to battery power. The lid is opened say once per hr to withdraw one or two cans. We know that the fridge draws 3.5 amps max or 42Wh (0.042KWH). At 20% duty cycle over 24hrs equates to 42WH x 24 x 20% = 0.202KWH. Leaving the fridge unopened for 24hrs with a full capacity and at same or less ambient temp could mean that an even lower duty cycle reduces the total power consumption further.
...you can bet the test conditions were "optimal"for the best result!

I only started using 12v fridges about 8 years ago so I am by No means an expert on them But in that time I have bought 4 of them all different brands.
The first on I bought was a 40l Primus that is still running perfectly and I have had absolutely No issues with the fridge.
The second one I bought was an 80l Waco that runs fine But the clasps that hold the lid down are Crap and I replaced 5 or 6 of them before I resorted to fitting a pair of stainless clasp hitches to replace the useless plastic ones and the temp control buttons fell out when the stick on cover peeled back so now I have to use a screwdriver/biro to adjust the temp settings.
The third fridge I bought is a 38l Engel that is working perfectly still without issue.
The Last fridge I bought is a fairly cheap dual zone Pro Power unit that now only the 80l side works and not the 40l side and it comes with only a 12v inlet that you have to plug in a 240v adaptor to run off mains power.

I have No idea what the Brass Monkey units are like But at that price I wouldn't expect it the be a World Beater of a fridge and in the longer term will it actually be value for money.
$500 for a BM fridge that even IF it lasts the 3 years will end up costing you better than $160 a year for ownership or a $800 Engel that will easily last 10 years which works out at half the price at $80 a year of use.
Then there is the reliability factor and lets face it Nobody want hot beer at the end of the day.

Regardless of how often or how long you want to use the fridge for it HAS to be reliable, it HAS to be economical and it HAS to be as frugal as possible as far as power usage goes.

Now ask yourself, does this Brass monkey fridge tic ALL the boxes??

Buy Well and only buy once applies to many things, 12v are one of these things

I have one of the little 9L Brass Monkey fridges which cost a whole $129 just for cool drinks and lunch in the ute when out and about. Sits in the passengers footwell or on the passengers seat when I'm by myself or in the tray with a ratchet strap over it when I have a passenger.
Ute has a 45ah AGM auxilary battery and a Renogy DC to DC charger to keep the battery charged. Have never run out of power and fridge easily maintains 4 degrees C in all conditions when at the beach for the day or off MTB riding.