Thread: Camp fridge

Originally Posted by PhilipA

3 Way good for camping for a long time on gas. Not much good at 12v on a hot day. Good on 240V.
As they draw 8amps DO NOT forget to take it out of the car and put it on gas every day. DO NOT go to a National Park and leave it on in the back of the car when you go for a long walk. I had one for about 10 years and my daughter now has it and still going strong.

Compressor fridge ( Engel)GREAT for touring. Works perfectly in car on 12v. Put the beer in before driving and it will pull down.
BUT if you put a hot dozen ( or a hot chicken) in after stopping will use a LOT of power overnight, say 2.5-3amps per hour.
NOT so good for long camping as second battery needed and /or gennie/solar. Mine goes 3 days. My Engel now about 7 years old and goes perfectly, but surface rust on box.

Peltier effect ( bi metal)not much good for anything on a hot day.
Regards Philip A

Philip,

We have an Engel 25l, as well.
Fantastic fridge, nothing beats the old compressor
I even use it when we go shopping, keeps all the frozen goods frozen.

Cheers

Ok thanks for the advice looks like i will save my doe

Originally Posted by V8Landy

Ok thanks for the advice looks like i will save my doe

Mate, It really depends on the situation
As I said, we have two, an expensive Engel that is used often in the Disco and Caravaning. It was around $700, but has a compressor like a normal fridge and gets cold within minutes.

However it is not suitable for camping due to the power problem.
That is why we bought the 30litre "Primus Camping Fridge" from Anaconda. Far cheaper at $300 and it can be fired up on 240V, put in the car and top up on 12v and when we get to the camping spot, attach a gas bottle and switch it over to LPG. Those fridges work quite well and don't use a lot of gas. Same principle as the large one in our Caravan

Cheers

Originally Posted by RonMcGr

Mate, It really depends on the situation
As I said, we have two, an expensive Engel that is used often in the Disco and Caravaning. It was around $700, but has a compressor like a normal fridge and gets cold within minutes.

However it is not suitable for camping due to the power problem.
That is why we bought the 30litre "Primus Camping Fridge" from Anaconda. Far cheaper at $300 and it can be fired up on 240V, put in the car and top up on 12v and when we get to the camping spot, attach a gas bottle and switch it over to LPG. Those fridges work quite well and don't use a lot of gas. Same principle as the large one in our Caravan

Cheers

That's true. We are happy with the 3 way fridge in our camper.
However this ebay fridge only mentions 12V, 24V and 240V.
No mention of gas.
So the only option at the camping spot would be 12V (or 24) which tends to be much less efficient than 240 and gas.

Over the years I've had a couple of thermoelectric "fridges" that have come my way for free. I own none now. In my experience they are only useful as an esky that keeps things cooler for longer than and esky with no ice in it!
and draw heaps of power too (for what they do).
No good as boat anchors either as they float.
I had a funny experience with a friend of mine and a thermoelectric fridge, we were heading away for a weekend and the weather was hot so my friend switced the fridge to "hot"!!!!!
Anyway, 6 hours later we got to our destination, opened the fridge to see the most discusting mess i've ever seen, cheese, milk, sausages, chops, chocholate, all running and curddling and festering nicely at about 50 degrees for 6 hours!!!!
Never let him forget that one.
There are some cheaper 12volt fridges hitting ebay now that use the Danfoss compressors as seen in the waecos, I would say they are probably okay, but I can't recommend my Quirks Autofridge highly enough, although they are a bit heavy. If you can stretch your budget go for an engel, if not, get a second hand one.
Just my 2 cents!
Fraser