Interesting read.
Waeco developing its own compressor was interesting. I saw pics a while back showing what looked similar to a danfoss bd35f but also obviously different in the shape of the compressor controller.
It is also interesting the different products available in Australia compares to North America.
I had a front loading Norcold which had a Sawafuji compressor, which I found loud and annoying. Could vibrate the whole van. Impeded sleeping to some degree in the beginning. I spent considerable effort isolating that fridge for noise and vibration suppression and maximum heat dissipation. It failed after 5 years of running 11 months a year. Loss of refrigerant. Attempts at increasing compressor isolation could have been a contributing factor to that loss.
I absolutely despised going back to a cooler and block ice. I spent 18 dollars in ice in 3 weeks, not including the gas and inconvenience required to go get it to not let my food spoil.
Replaced with A Vitrifrigo c51is with a Danfoss/Secop bd35f. Much quieter, much less vibration. Condenser and fan design allowed me to optimize airflow over cooling unit to also greatly increase insulation on 5 of the 6 sides. Pulled 270 ohm resistor from thermostat circuit to slow compressor speed to 2000 from 2500. Averages 0.6 amp hours consumption over an hour in ~ average 70F ambient with a sub 35.5f interior.
The Norcold de0040 averaged ~ 0.8AH for sub 38f.
What appeared to be the same exact Norcold was sold under an Engel label as well for a while
I heard that Norcold had switched to using Secop compressors, but no idea if that was just internet rumor. I've not kept on top of all the latest offerings from Dometic Waeco, Isotherm, truckfridge, Whytner, norcold, Engel, Edgestar, NovaKool and Vitrifrigo. I am not sure who rebadges what nor what Dometic's relationship with Waeco is in this, or other countries.
This thread could be a good place for going into the various 12v compressor fridge options available in North America as of July 2015. Both front loading and chest style 12v compressor fridges.
Sitting diagonally on my Driver's seat for about the last 3 weeks is the ARB fridge tested in that article that belongs to my Friend. It has the extra insulative bag on it, and a good amount of free space on both sides near the vents. It varies the compressor speed depending on different variables. I noticed anywhere from 39 to 67 watts when the compressor is running. I have it set to 27f, and things can just barely freeze. When the compressor cycles on it runs for 15 minutes or so and the temperature gauge goes from 29 to 21 F, and it might not run again for another Hour or more. My VF comes on at least 3 times an hour, but for much shorter durations.
The ARB has a Ciggy plug cord which appears to be of better than average quality.. If battery voltage lowers to 12.1v, it refuses to run when set on the lowest battery protection setting, which the manual claims is 10.1v. 2 volts drop across the provided power cord seems excessive to me. My ciggy receptacle is wired with 10AWG. My IR gun revealed the ciggy plug to raise 7.5 degrees after the compressor was running for 10+ minutes. I'm going to splice an Anderson powerpole into the original cord so the ciggy plug can be bypassed, but still available for use.
The ARB has been averaging 0.65 to 0.78 AH every hour, so a bit more than my front Loading Vitrifrigo. The Fan on the ARB is Louder. Both can make a single clunk when the compressor first fires up. My VF makes a small click, then the subdued clunk when the compressor kicks in. The ARB is just the clunk, like a distant car door slamming, then you hear the fan spool up. I'm told I have sensitive hearing, but I do not agree.
The Click and clunk of my VF is much preferable to the humming and buzzing and weird harmonics the Norcold's Sawafuji compressor. The sawafuji cycled on and off similar to the Danfoss, A few times an hour for about 4 to 7 minutes on average but this could go as high as 11 minutes.
So thats my Experience with 12v compressor fridges, what's yours?
