Dometic fridge - opinions

[akrvbob]

I have a Waeco/Dometic compressor fridge, and I love it. I have solar so I have no problem running it off my batteries. It draws 35 watts but rarely runs more than 3-4 hours a day even in the summer. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one when this one dies. Here is a place that sells the 35 quart for $545 http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Do...eezer-AC110-CF-35-Trailer-Camper-RV_p_69.html<br /><br />I am now blogging, follow me at: http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/ Bob

 

[caseyc]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the link, this is the same model I am interested in. Good to know it works well for you. Do you mean that you have solar panels that charge your rechargeable batteries, in turn powers your Dometic fridge? I don't have solar, but will soon have a 35 hour auxilary battery with a 1000 watt inverter to power my fridge. By the way, I called the same company from your link and was told they don't offer any 3 way powered fridges, only way.

 

[Willy]

A Waeco compressor fridge uses a highly efficient Danfoss compressor.. like a regular fridge but less electricity used. No propane.

 

[caseyc]

Waeco and Domestic are one and the same, correct?

 

[Willy]

Dometic bought up Waeco, I believe, but a Waeco fridge/freezer/cooler is still one of 2 types, a Peltier junction (garbage) or a compressor style. Both work off electricity. Dometic is known for their Ammonia cycle brine absorption fridges/coolers, which use heat (via propane flame or electrical heating element) to operate. The absorption fridges aren't as 'efficient' as the Danfoss compressor fridges and need to be kept fairly level.&nbsp; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator<br />&nbsp;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator<br />&nbsp;http://www.australiandirect.com.au/...r-camping-fridge.-buying-guide-review/2&nbsp; ..Willy.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>What an awesome solution!&nbsp; <br /><br />I'm running a Koolatron which is okay for short trips but day in and day out it is an energy drain and just doesn't keep things that cool... It's good for pop and water, but that's about it...<br /><br />I think Santa Claus is going to bring a Waeco/Dometic compressor fridge like the CF 35 model.&nbsp; It's uses less energy and has twice the storage as what I'm using now... <br /><br />Thanks for posting the info...<br /><br />V.T.</p>

 

[Lifemagician]

Almost a decade ago now I bought a Waeco CF35 (in Australia) and have used it in my vehicles ever since.&nbsp; It has been with me to the Outback, through Tasmania, and on weekly shopping trips.&nbsp; (Saves the perishables from spoiling when you meet a friend and decide on the spur of the moment to go have lunch.)&nbsp; It permanently lives in my vehicle.&nbsp; I would not be without it.&nbsp; It keeps things cold and fresh.&nbsp; Has never failed, despite the ambient temperature.<br /><br />Three months ago I bought a Dometic CF35 (same animal, newer model) in Detroit for my conversion van, which I am using to travel across North America.&nbsp; It has worked extremely well during the first 15K miles, keeping milk, juice, deli products etc. cold and fresh.&nbsp; (I limit keeping meat, chicken and fish to 36 hours.)&nbsp; An auto electrician installed a second battery to run the fridge overnight, without draining the van's battery.<br /><br />Turned down low, it has at times frozen my milk and juice - despite the heatwave across the northern States.&nbsp; <br /><br />I too was quoted $600 at camp world, and then told if I took out a Good Sam membership, the price would be $450.&nbsp; All up, with the membership and tax it cost me around $500.&nbsp; Well worth it.<br /><br />If you are still thinking which way to go, I can highly recommend this unit.<br /><br />Lifey

 

[caseyc]

Thanks for the info! Im going to Camping World today to check out the Dometic fridge!

 

[akrvbob]

That's right, Dometic bought Waeco. I ordered a Waeco and was delivered a Dometic, exact same product. They are only electric, they can't be run on propane. I have 190 watts of solar and two AGM golf cart batteries. The Dometic comes with a cigarette lighter plug and you don't need an inverter.&nbsp; Even in the heat of the summer my fridge rarely ever comes on more than 3-4 hours a day. When it comes on at night it runs off the batteries but it has virtually no impact on them.&nbsp;<br /><br />I love mine and highly recommend it. <br /><br />I'm now blogging, follow me at http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/ Bob

 

[caseyc]

I bought the Dometic CF35 fridge! Works well, chilled my room temperature bottled water rather quickly even at the low setting! Question please. Why is there no secure hinge on the other side of the top lid? I have already accidently flipped open the entire lid off the unit a few times. Is this normal, is everyone else's same fridge the same way? Thanks, Casey

 

[Lifemagician]

Casey, you'll get used to it.&nbsp; Just open it gently, and close it gently.&nbsp; When you need to get several items out, it is great to be able to take the lid right off, and put it back when your hands are empty.<br /><br />Remember, cold air falls, so none will escape from your fridge, so long as you don't leave it sitting open, and go and chat on your phone.<br /><br />To start with, just make sure each time you close the lid gently, that it is properly closed.&nbsp; When you've had it a little while, this will all come automatically.<br /><br />Congratulations on your purchase.&nbsp; I am sure you will get many years of use out of it.&nbsp;&nbsp; BTW, what did you have to pay? and Good Sam membership?<br /><br />Lifey

 

[caseyc]

Hi Lifey,

Thanks for letting me know this lid design is normal, I was worried! The fridge is directly behind my driver side seat, so trying to open the lid carefully while driving is a little challenging! First time the lid came off, I thought I broke it! I suppose the lid design is meant for convenience, but it's still a little strange to me. By the way, did you get the special insulation cover for this fridge which I noticed somewhere online? I paid $599.99 plus tax, but only after I insisted to the cashier I wanted to pay the lower online sale price of $599.99 versus their in-store sale price of around $635. What is more weird is when I had reserved this fridge by phone, the order clerk told me if I want to pay the lower online $599.99 price, I would have to also pay their $27 shipping fee even though I was going to buy it directly from the store in person! Bunch of crock, they should pay me the shipping fee instead! The cashier didn't bother to charge me the shipping fee, instead gave me the lower online price of $599.99 (plus tax) after I mentioned their online lower price. Yes I am a Camping World member which I think makes me a Sam's Club member too.

 

[Lifemagician]

Casey, No wonder you had problems.&nbsp; These are not designed to be accessed while you drive.&nbsp; It is a very dangerous practice, putting you, and those with whom you share the road, at the risk of being involved in an accident.<br /><br />And don't tell me you were being careful!<br /><br />When you are trying to access a fridge, your mind and concentration are not on your driving.&nbsp; You are hurtling a two ton missile down the road at, goodness only knows how many miles an hour, and that needs and deserves your 100% concentration, 100% of the time.<br /><br />Believe me, as a retired professional driver, I have seen many horrible things on the road.&nbsp; Don't let it happen to you.&nbsp;&nbsp; Pull over where it is safe, then get up and attend to whatever it is, you want.&nbsp; Your life is worth it.<br /><br />If you have it behind the driver seat, which way is the open side facing.&nbsp; It should be along the side of the vehicle.&nbsp; In which case you would not be able to access it without getting out of your seat.&nbsp; The other three sides need&nbsp;a minimum 15cm of space clear around them for the compressor to work efficiently.&nbsp; Take some time to read the manual.&nbsp; (Mine is behind the driver seat as well.)<br /><br />Lifey

 

[caseyc]

Lifey, thanks for the tip. My fridge is placed not along the side of the van wall, but horizontally within a couple inches of driver side seat. This means I can easily reach to open the lid. I just didn't expect the lid to come off. I now have adapted quickly to this design.

 

[Blaker55]

Question about these frig's:<br />As they cool the interior, do they pump heat into the cab?<br />Bob says his only runs 3 - 4 hrs/day so maybe it isn't much of an issue and might be welcomed during cool/cold days.

 

[caseyc]

Here is a picture of my fridge setup.

 

[caseyc]

As you can see from the picture going from right to left, starting from driver side seat. Directly overhead on the ceiling is a flip down DVD player that has a built-in television tuner in addition to watching movies. Below on floor is the Dometic fridge front view. There is approx slightly more than 1" of space around to allow fan circulation from bottom rear and sides of fridge. Behind the fridge is a 1000 watt inverter that is powering the fridge, plus a Sony Playstation 3 connected to the overhead DVD player for playing games and watching BlueRay movies (the DVD player only plays regular non BlueRay movies). The auxilary battery is hidden underneath the driver seat. To the left of fridge is a 10" box enclosure housing a bass amplified subwoofer for booming music, also powered by the auxilary battery. Above the box is a moveable table. In front of the box is a Thetford porta-potty. There are 2 collapsable container boxes whereby one box is holding towels, toilet paper and cleaning stuff, and the other box is holding Sony PS3 controllers, chargers and cords, remote control for BlueRay movie viewing. As you can see, I can easily reach the front lid of the fridge while seated in the driver seat. The left side of the pic is a twin size (real) bed with 10" of memory foam mattress on top of a 9" wood platform bed frame whereby I can store stuff underneath the bed.

 

[Lifemagician]

Thanks for the pic.&nbsp; As the saying goes.... a jpeg is worth a 1000 txts.<br /><br />Casey, your set up is far from ideal, and certainly not conducive to getting the most out of your fridge, both in terms of efficiency and lifespan.<br /><br />You need to do two things <span style="text-decoration: underline;">immediately</span>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Turn it around, and have the open side behind your left elbow, and the hinge behind your right elbow.&nbsp; This has two great advantages.&nbsp; It will be more efficient and the compressor will last longer.&nbsp; Secondly, you will not be tempted to use it while the car is in motion.&nbsp; (You will also discover how handy it is for the lid to be able to come off.)<br /><br />Do not store anything on top of it.... ever!&nbsp; I ocassionally use the top of mine as a table when eating, but do not store anything on it.&nbsp; (Have you read the manual?)<br /><br />Did you invest in a bracket to hold it in place?&nbsp;&nbsp; These are an excellent idea.&nbsp; For one thing it won't move, but much more important, should you ever be unfortunate enough to be involved in a crash which causes you to roll, at least it will not come and hit you on the head.&nbsp; Heavy object like that need to be secured when driving for your safety.&nbsp; They can be extremely dangerous.<br /><br />Lifey

 

[caseyc]

Thanks for the suggestion. But the one big problem of reversing the fridge is that the AC cord sticks out from the back side. This would mean I would trip on the cord every time I got up and went to the back. Big problem.

 

[Lifemagician]

Casey, such a small problem can be overcome.&nbsp;&nbsp; There are extension cords available for 12 outlets.&nbsp; Better still, speak with a <strong>specialist auto electrician</strong>, and see if you can have another outlet put in.&nbsp; Should not be expensive.&nbsp; Do not go to an RV outfitter, as they are horrendously expensive (they can only think BIG!).&nbsp;&nbsp; Neither would I get an unqualified person to do it. <br /><br />I have an outlet near the fridge, behind the driver seat, as well as a deep cell battery behind the driver seat.&nbsp; The cord where it sticks out, is 'fastened' to the carpet, so that I do not trip.&nbsp; (I am no longer as fleet of foot as I used to be. lol)&nbsp; These were installed by a specialist auto electrician in West Chester PA, exactly to my specifications.&nbsp; He even covered the battery with carpet to match my van.&nbsp; The whole lot cost me&nbsp; $600, but you can get it done much simpler, especially if you do not have a second battery.<br /><br />How do you run the fridge overnight?<br /><br />At home I have a 12v outlet in the cargo area of my Subaru, where the fridge<em> lives.<br /><br />Lifey<br /></em>