12 volt chest cooler... your advise please...

[Willy]

I thikn the term "combination" is a little misleading: many of these have only a single compartment, which can be EITHER a refrigerator OR a freezer.    But others are dual-zone.

 My Engel has one big compartment while the Waeco (now Dometic) has a large (colder compartment) and a smaller (warmer) one above the compressor. The same setup there as my old CF-50 had, the smaller compartment being used for stuff kept cold, but not frozen.

 As for search terms, I only ever had luck with Waeco and Engel. With Whynter I'd get their 110v units. ..Willy.

 

[buckwilk]

Coolers in discussions that don't fit, ????

 

[SternWake]

Truck Fridge uses Danfoss/Secop compressors and have some of the best pricing, on both chest style units and front loading units:

http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html

I Now have a Vitrifrigo c51is with extra insulation and a well ventilated condenser/compressor. It is very efficient, Much better overall than my Failed Norcold de-0040 which failed at ~5 years.

 

[darude]

i bought one of these though there not NOT cheap. they seem pretty tough

http://www.engelcoolers.com/acdc/fr...oading-models/engel-mt80-ac-dc-fridge-freezer

 

[ahh_me2]

i bought one of these though there not NOT cheap. they seem pretty tough

http://www.engelcoolers.com/acdc/fr...oading-models/engel-mt80-ac-dc-fridge-freezer

I bought this Engel, close to a year ago.

Well built solid units, mine is currently used as a freezer.

 

[29chico]

I bought this Engel, close to a year ago.

Well built solid units, mine is currently used as a freezer.

I bought the same model back in '07.  No problems at all and it has been used a lot.   Very low power draw in fridge mode, a bit less so when being used as a freezer. 

Also very important is that parts are available and priced within reason.  I checked parts availability and pricing.  For example the entire cooling unit, compressor, condenser and the cooling assembly in the food box, fully charged with refrigerant and ready to swap right in was around $370 and in stock for our unit.  This price was just last fall.

 

[masterplumber]

I'd love to have an Engle, or similar, but as with many, there always seems to be something else that needs money spent on it, For now I use a Coleman Extreme ice chest. When my son and I left for RTR last month it was of course below freezing in Colorado, but thankfully warmed up nicely by the time we reached RTR. Our ice chest is 70 quarts size, and I put 4 large juice bottles with water frozen in the ice chest. I also put all the meat we took into the ice chest frozen. But things like milk, eggs, vegetables, etc... were of course just cold and not frozen. After 6 days there was still a little tiny bit of ice in the bottles, and what was left of the food, and more importantly the beer, was still cold. On the 7th day I bought a block of ice and that was all the ice I bought for the entire 15 days I was on the road. I tried not to ever leave the ice chest lid open while I was cooking, but I did get into it several times each day.

Hopefully that gives you a good comparison for what a good ice chest vs a cheap one is capable of. And if you do ever get the funds for a fridge the ice chest still makes a great back up, or just dry food storage. As others have noted, I wouldn't waste my money on one of the thermal electric coolers. And as much as I think they're cool, I also wouldn't go for the really high end ice chests like Yeti's. A good Coleman or other brand that is listed as a "5 day" cooler will serve you well for your needs.

 

[highdesertranger]

here's a hint, this is what I do if using an Engel as a freezer. when you go shopping load up your freezer and turn it all the way up. this will freeze everything rock solid. I find it takes between 12-24 hours depending on ambient temp remember you want everything like a rock. then you can turn it way down. my Engel goes from 0-6 on the dial with 0-1 being cool and 6 being a freezer. I usually keep it around 2 for refrigeration. so after it freezes everything I can turn it to 3 and it keeps everything frozen and uses much less energy. btw at 2 1/2 it will freeze beer. I don't know if this works with other brands but it does work with Engel's. highdesertranger

 

[Silver]

The Dometic seems to be the most popular and most reliable.


Dometic CFX-65DZUS Portable Freezer/Refrigerator - 2.2 cu. ft.
This is the best size for a mini-van or regular sized van.

Dometic CFX-65DZUS Portable Freezer/Refrigerator - 2.2 cu. ft.

If Finances is a problem, then the Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size, Gray
maybe a better choice.

Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size

Or you can get a regular cooler and get ice every few days . .
Rubbermaid FG2C0902MODBL Extreme 5-Day Wheeled Ice Chest/Cooler, 75-Quart, Blue

Rubbermaid FG2C0902MODBL Extreme 5-Day Wheeled Ice Chest/Cooler, 75-Quart

 

[29chico]

Dometic more reliable than Engel???

 

[darude]

Dometic more reliable than Engel???

I know that the engels have a better door seal than the dometics!! I have the 64 qt unit. I can say the hunters love the engels and that says a lot seeings how the unit can take some abuse and mines not cheap plastic like to dometics. and some of those smaller units to take up more power and watts than the bigger ones.
 if your gonna invest in something like this make sure it's gonna last unlike that plastic crapola

 

[darude]

I bought this Engel, close to a year ago.

Well built solid units, mine is currently used as a freezer.

http://www.engelcoolers.com/acdc/fr...oading-models/engel-mt60-ac-dc-fridge-freezer

this is the one I got I use mine as a fridge. and you are right there very well built and they can run in 12v dc and or 120 v ac. that's why there NOT cheap

 

[darude]

 

[darude]

 

[darude]

Dometic more reliable than Engel???

engel is the cadi compared to the dometic. the dometic in my eyes is nothing more than plastic rubbish made in china!!
I don't know what size you want but there 64 qt is selling now for 1320.00 and it was like 1700.00 a year or two ago . ide rather just suck up the cost and buy something that will last me a while and not have to worry about it failing and loosing all of my food!!

 

[SternWake]

I think the Sawafuji"swing' compressor is likely more vibration resistant than the Danfoss/Secop compressor.

But If Noise is a factor, I found the SawaFuji compressor in my fromt loading Norcold to be significantly louder and more vibration prone than my front loading Vitrifrigo's Danfoss/Secop compressor.

I expended much effort to isolate the sawafuji swing compressor and fridge from the extra insulated cabinet designed around it.

Not only have I found the Danfoss superior in cooling ability, and significantly quieter, but it also uses less battery power, and it can be refilled with refrigerant.

My norcold failed due to low refrigerant levels and refilling it cost the same as a new fridge.

Its door was filled with knuckle marks as it could annoy me so greatly when that swing motor's vibrations started harmonics and tickled my temper.

Perhaps those knuckle marks and my efforts to reduce the noise and vibration led to its early demise, but Perhaps not.

Apparently some Sawafuji swing compressors are worse than others in the noise/vibration factor than others as some here report them being quiet and there is no way mine was quiet. When first installed with minimal vibration suppression measures, From 15 feet away from the Van on a quiet day I could hear the compressor running. Touch the van body and feel it vibrate.

I think Dometic is now using a Waeco compressor which appears, visually very similar to the Danfoss compressor and controller.

 

[Silver]

I forgot about the Engel. Thank you for the reminder.
We all have to consider costs / budgets / longevity etc.
How long do we plan on having the unit?
What is the warranty?
How is the customer service? etc

 

[darude]

I forgot about the Engel.  Thank you for the reminder.
We all have to consider costs / budgets / longevity etc.
How long do we plan on having the unit?
What is the warranty?
How is the customer service? etc

https://www.buyengelcoolers.com/warranty-information_a/261.htm

i plan on having my unit till it croaks i'm cheap
the warranty is posted above for different units!!
i never had to call customer service so i have no idea what its like!!

in my mid id'e rather pay for a better build quailty upfront than spend more in the long run than spending more on cheap junk!!

though i wish i had went for the 84 qt combo unit

 

[masterplumber]

And if money were no object, there's always this.
http://www.equipt1.com/item/weekender-50-liter-fridge-freezer-stainless-steel

 

[darude]

And if money were no object, there's always this.
http://www.equipt1.com/item/weekender-50-liter-fridge-freezer-stainless-steel

I like that!! that's what the 84 qt engel combo unit will cost you!! I love these things because they sip very little power so you can run em off two golf cart batteries and the thing will run for days . though there prices will give you sticker shock . though we bought our engel because we were living on a 40 ft sail boat and we needed the extra space